The role of Vitamin D level and related single nucleotide polymorphisms in Crohn's disease.

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of Crohn's Disease (CD) in the world, and there is much speculation as to why this might be. A high risk of CD has been associated with deficient or insufficient levels of Vitamin D (Vit D), lifestyle as well as various genetic polymorphisms. In this study we sought to analyse the relevance of serum Vit D levels, lifestyle and genotype to CD status. Serum samples were analysed for 25-OH-Vitamin D levels. DNA was isolated from blood and cheek-swabs, and Sequenom and ImmunoChip techniques were used for genotyping. Serum Vit D levels were significantly lower in CD patients (mean = 49.5 mg/L) than those found in controls (mean = 58.9 mg/L, p = 4.74 × 10⁻6). A total of seven single nucleotide polymorphisms were examined for effects on serum Vit D levels, with adjustment for confounding variables. Two variants: rs731236[A] (VDR) and rs732594[A] (SCUBE3) showed a significant association with serum Vit D levels in CD patients. Four variants: rs7975232[A] (VDR), rs732594[A] (SCUBE3), and rs2980[T] and rs2981[A] (PHF-11) showed a significant association with serum Vit D levels in the control group. This study demonstrates a significant interaction between Vit D levels and CD susceptibility, as well as a significant association between Vit D levels and genotype.

The evolution of prostate pathology diagnosis at the UHWI: trends over a ten-year period

OBJECTIVE: During the last decade, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) used as a screening tool for prostate carcinoma, and the 18-guage prostate biopsy gun, which allows for relative ease of prostate gland sampling, became available at the University Hospital of the West Indies. The aim of this study was to investigate what impact these diagnostic tools have had on the histopathogy services and in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. METHODS: A retrospective search of all prostate tissue specimens received in the Department of Pathology over the ten-year period 1991 to 2000 was conducted and their histology reports examined. Parameters recorded included the type of specimen received and the diagnosis issued by the pathologist. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated a small but gradual increase in the total number of prostate specimens accessioned until 1997, followed by a marked and sustained rise. This pattern reflected almost exclusively a similar trend in the number of biopsy specimens reviewed. During the period under review, there was a marginal decrease in the number of chips accessioned but a slight increase in the number of open prostatectomies. Radical prostatectomies were frequently performed. A total number of 106 cases of carcinoma of the prostate was diagnosed from biopsy specimens (35 percent of the biopsies received) during the first 5 years of the study, compared with 362 in the latter period (48 percent of biopsies received). CONCLUSION: The availability of the serum PSA test and the prostate biopsy gun had a significant impact on the number of specimens received in the histopathology laboratory and in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in particular. (AU)

Right ventricular cardiomyopathy: a rare and underdiagnosed cause of sudden death in young adults

We present an example of right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a very uncommon condition which caused sudden death in an adolescent boy. This case report is used to highlight the pathological features of this rare and poorly understood condition, which is often undiagnosed (AU)