The molecular mechanisms between metabolic syndrome and breast cancer.

Metabolic syndrome, which is extremely common in developed and some developing countries, is a clustering of at least three of five of the following medical conditions: abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting plasma glucose, high serum triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein levels. It has been proved that there is a strong association between metabolic syndrome and breast cancer. Metabolic syndrome could increase the risk of breast cancer and influence the prognosis of the breast cancer patients. Some characteristic of metabolic syndrome such as obesity and lack of physical exercise are all risk factors for developing breast cancer. The metabolic syndrome mainly include obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and each of them impacts the risk of breast cancer and the prognosis of the breast cancer patients in different ways. In this Review, we focus on recently uncovered aspects of the immunological and molecular mechanisms that are responsible for the development of this highly prevalent and serious disease. These studies bring new insight into the complex associations between metabolic syndrome and breast cancer and have led to the development of novel therapeutic strategies that might enable a personalized approach in the management of this disease.

Association between RECQL5 genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to breast cancer.

Previous studies indicated that the RECQL5 gene polymorphism was associated with human cancers. However, the association of RECQL5 gene polymorphism with breast cancer remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the association between polymorphisms of the RECQL gene and breast cancer in a Chinese population. We selected four polymorphisms of the RECQL5 gene (rs820186, rs820196, rs820200, and rs4789223) for the present study. The genotyping was performed using the TaqMan method in 510 patients with breast cancer and 510 age- and sex-matched non-cancer controls. We found that rs820196 and rs828200 polymorphisms of RECQL5 were associated with breast cancer. For rs820196, the CC genotype (16.7 vs 9.4 %, P < 0.001) and C allele (42.5 vs 34.3 %, P < 0.001) were common in the breast cancer patients than in the control subjects, respectively. For rs828200, the GG genotype (23.7 vs 18.0 %, P < 0.001) and G allele (52.7 vs 43.8 %, P < 0.001) were common in the breast cancer patients than in the control subjects, respectively. Haplotype analysis showed that C-G (odds ratio (OR) = 2.247, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.854∼2.722; P < 0.001) was associated with increased risk for breast cancer. However, the C-T (OR = 0.175, 95 % CI 0.110∼0.278; P < 0.001) and T-G (OR = 0.544; 95 % CI 0.428∼0.692; P < 0.001) were associated with decreased risk for breast cancer, respectively. The present study indicated that the RECQL5 genetic polymorphism and haplotypes were associated with breast cancer in a Chinese population.

Surgical management of intestinal malrotation in adults.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review our experience with diagnosis and surgical management of intestinal malrotation in adult patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of the surgical outcome of adults with intestinal malrotation was performed. Twelve patients were observed and treated between July 1996 and July 2006 (4 women and 8 men; the mean age of the patients was 28.5 years). Surgical outcomes, including postoperative complications, deaths, and resolution of preoperative symptoms, were measured. RESULTS: A diagnosis of malrotation was made preoperatively in five patients by upper gastrointestinal contrast study, barium enema, or computed tomography scan. The anomaly was discovered incidentally at laparotomy in seven patients. All cases were proved to be malrotation intraoperatively. Nine patients underwent laparotomy and three underwent laparoscopic surgery (one converted to an open procedure). Follow-up ranged from 2 months to 118 months. Three patients had complications: one had wound infection, one had delayed gastric emptying, and one developed adhesive ileus. There were only two recurrences detected and one patient with recurrence required reoperation. No one died. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal malrotation is a rare but important cause of abdominal pain in adults. It may present with chronic or acute symptoms. Laparotomy and laparoscopy are alternative and feasible techniques with low rates of complications for the treatment of intestinal malrotation in adults.