Metachronous Uterine Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma and Peritoneal Mesothelioma in Lynch Syndrome: A Case Report.

Lynch syndrome is a hereditary disease with germline mutation in a DNA mismatch repair gene, most often presenting with colorectal and/or endometrial carcinomas; however, the spectrum of Lynch syndrome-associated tumors is expanding. In this article, we report a case of a primary peritoneal epithelioid mesothelioma that developed in a Lynch syndrome patient 10 months after diagnosis of uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a Lynch syndrome patient with metachronous uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma and primary peritoneal mesothelioma.

Non-response bias in a surveillance program for asbestos-related lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: In a cohort study non-response might lead to a biased selection of cohort members and may affect the validity and reliability of the study outcome. To detect the possible effects of a non-response bias on study results, we evaluated the reasons for non-participation and the differences of respondents and non-respondents in a health surveillance program for power industry workers, formerly exposed to asbestos. METHODS: A cohort of former power plant workers was formed to participate in an early detection program for lung cancer. We evaluated the results of 1,019 individuals (mean age 66 yr), of which 839 took part in at least one examination, 180 refused to participate or did not respond. To obtain the reasons for non-response, we interviewed the cohort members by telephone or we requested them by mail to complete and return a brief questionnaire. Further sources of information were the communal registration offices and local health offices. RESULTS: The main reasons for non-participation were refusal (35%), illness (23.3%), death (16.7%) and difficulties with traveling (13.3%). It was impossible to make contact with or obtain an explanation from 11.7%. In a logistic regression model we demonstrated that advanced age and a long travel distance from the study center negatively affected the participation rate (p<0.001). There was no difference between respondents and non-respondents regarding prevalence (p=0.559) and incidence of lung cancer (p=0.882). CONCLUSION: We concluded that in our cohort non-participation did not cause a selection bias in terms of lung cancer rates.

Analysis of news of the Japanese asbestos panic: a supposedly resolved issue that turned out to be a time bomb.

BACKGROUND: Asbestos-linked public health problems were widely reported in Japan, in 2005. The objective is to apply text mining with network analysis to characterize these problems. METHODS: Text mining with network analysis of newspaper headlines including the word 'asbestos' published in 1987 and 2005 was conducted. Outcome measures are occurrence of the words and simultaneous occurrence of two words in the newspaper headlines. RESULTS: In 36 headlines, which contained the word 'asbestos' in 1987, the word 'pollution' (40%) appeared most frequently, followed by 'removal' (31%) and 'campaign' (29%). For combinations of words, the following occurred most frequently: 'campaign and expulsion' (26%) followed by 'removal and campaign' (14%). Of 293 headlines in 2005, the following words appeared: 'hazard' (31%), 'person' (16%) and 'death' (13%). For combinations, the following appeared: 'person and death' (9%). Asbestos pollution and removal campaigns were reported in 1987, but the death of citizens was reported in 2005. CONCLUSIONS: Text mining with network analysis, which presents one of the methods for visualization of text data, suggests the following insight. Insufficient steps against asbestos had been taken for 20 years, which is compatible with the latency period. It has resulted in widespread exposure to asbestos and more severe asbestos-related public health problems among citizens. This methodology suggests that analyzing text data by this method can serve future surveillance and efficient use of epidemiological knowledge.

Cytotoxic effects of macrophages and asbestos on transformed rat mesothelial cells.

Asbestos produced a cytotoxic effect on transformed cells of rat pleural mesothelium and on IAR2 epithelial cells and Rat1 fibroblasts transformed by ras oncogene, but not on normal cells of these strains under conditions of coculturing with peritoneal macrophages. Contact of mesothelioma cells, but not macrophages with asbestos was necessary and sufficient for attaining the cytotoxic effect. Macrophage-conditioned medium potentiated asbestos cytotoxicity for transformed mesothelial cells, but not for IARS-ras and Rat1-ras.

Mesotelioma pleural maligno: experiencia del Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (1935-1954)

Introducción: El mesotelioma pleural maligno (MPM) es una neoplasia casi invariablemente fatal, relaciónada la gran mayoría de las veces con la exposición a asbesto. La frecuencia de aparición de MPM es creciente en el mundo entero y, en nuestro país su aumento es alarmante. Sin embargo, hay pocos estudios que describan la experiencia con esta entidad en nuestro medio. Objetivo: Presentar la experiencia del Instituto Nacional de Cancerología de Santafé de Bogotá en MPM. Diseño: estudio observacional descriptivo (serie de casos) Pacientes y Métodos: se revisaron los registros de pacientes con diagnóstico de MPM entre 1935 y 1994. Se escogieron 32 que tuvieron la información requerida. Las variables seleccionadas fueron analizadas estadísticamente por los métods de chi cuadrado, T de student, Kaplan-Meier, Log-Rank-Test y Cox. Resultados: Se diagnósticaron 32 pacientes con Mesotelioma Pleural Maligno. Veintidós (69 por ciento), consultaron en los últimos 6 años; fueron 24 hombres y 8 mujeres (relación 3:1), con edad promedio de 46,5 años (rango 6-76 años). El tiempo promedio de evolución de los síntomas fue de 8 meses (rango 1-72 meses). Se presentó disnea en 22 (69 por ciento) pacientes, dolor torácico en 21 (66 por ciento)y tos en 17 (53 por ciento). Todos presentaron alteraciones radiológicas: 27 derrames pleurales, 24 engrosamientos pleurales y 9 masas. Se definió, si hubo o no exposición a asbesto en 18 pacientes; 14 estuvieron expuestos (78 por ciento). La broncospía y citología del líquido pleural nunca confirmaron el diagnóstico. La biopsia pleural ciega detectó malignidad, pero sólo confirmó el diagnóstico en 2 de 21 pacientes (9,5 por ciento). Las biopsias por toracoscopia o cirugía, siempre permitieron el diagnóstico. Histológicamente fueron 16 epiteliales (51,6 por ciento) 8 mixtos (25.8 por ciento) y 7 sarcomatosos (22,6 por ciento); Veintiocho (90,3 por ciento) fueron difusos. Diez pacientes se consideraron en estado I (34,5 por ciento) y 14 en estado II (48,3 por ciento). Cirugía radical se realizó en 11, con una mortalidad operatoria de 2 (8 por ciento), y una morbilidad de 4 (16 por ciento). Radioterapia se administró a 11 pacientes y quimioterapia a 7. El tiempo libre de enfermedad promedio fue 37,9 meses (rango 1-137), el cual se disminuye a 14,1 meses si excluimos al paciente que duró 137 meses. este tiempo fue influido si la cirugía fue o no...