Aberrant DNA methylation is associated with aggressive clinicopathological features and poor survival in cutaneous melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Promoter methylation of tumour suppressor genes (TSGs) has recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of several types of cancer. Regarding melanoma, over 100 genes that contribute to its pathogenesis have been identified to be aberrantly hypermethylated. OBJECTIVES: This is a retrospective observational study that aims to analyse the prevalence of CpG island methylation in a series of primary melanomas, to identify the associations with the main clinicopathological features, and to explore the prognostic significance of methylation in melanoma survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA methylation was analysed using methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification in a series of 170 melanoma formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumour samples. The relationship between the methylation status, known somatic mutations and clinicopathological features was evaluated. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were displayed by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: In the entire cohort, one or more genes were detected to be methylated in 55% of the patients. The most prevalent methylated genes were RARB 31%, PTEN 24%, APC 16%, CDH13 16%, ESR1 14%, CDKN2A 6% and RASSF1 5%. An association between aberrant methylation and aggressive clinicopathological features was observed (older age, increased Breslow thickness, presence of mitosis and ulceration, fast-growing melanomas, advancing stage and TERT mutations). Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a correlation of methylation and poorer DFS and OS. CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant methylation of TSGs is a frequent event in melanoma. It is associated with aggressive clinicopathological features and poorer survival. Epigenetic alterations may represent a significant prognostic marker with utility in routine practice.

Elevated advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) indicate metabolic risk in severely obese children.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The assessment of oxidative stress may aid in the identification of subsequent metabolic risk in obese children. The objective of this study was to determine whether the plasma level of advanced oxidation protein products, analyzed with a recently proposed modified assay that involves a delipidation step (mAOPPs), was related to metabolic risk factors (MRFs) in severely obese children. METHODS AND RESULTS: The plasma levels of mAOPPs were determined by spectrophotometry in 54 severely obese and 44 healthy children. We also measured lipid peroxidation biomarkers (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, malondialdehyde, and 8-isoprotane F(2α)) and sulfhydryl groups, a marker of antioxidant defense. Protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation markers were higher and sulfhydryl levels were lower in obese children compared with controls. Taking metabolic risk into account, obese children were subdivided according to the cutoff point (53.2 µmol/L) obtained for their mAOPPs values from the ROC curve. Anthropometric measures and the existence of hypertension did not differ between groups. The presence of dyslipidemia and insulin resistance was significantly higher in the group with higher mAOPPs levels. The highest levels of mAOPPs were found in the children with ≥3 MRFs. The level of mAOPPs was positively correlated with triglycerides and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. There was no correlation of this marker of protein oxidation with biomarkers of lipid peroxidation. CONCLUSION: The determination of mAOPPs in delipidated plasma is an easy way to evaluate protein oxidation. It may be useful in severely obese children for better cardiovascular risk assessment.

New factors of cardiometabolic risk in severely obese children: influence of pubertal status / Nuevos factores de riesgo cardiometabólico en niños con obesidad severa: influencia del estado puberal

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the utility of new biochemical markers to assess cardiometabolic risk in severely obese children and adolescents. A total of 107 subjects aged 7 to 14 years, were clinically assessed and anthropometric measures and percentage of fat mass by single frequency bioimpedance analysis were recorded. Of these, 44 were non-overweight and 63 severely obese (body mass index Z-score >2.5) which were stratified by Tanner stages. To estimate the metabolic risk the following variables were considered for analysis: Waist circumference/height >0.5, fasting glucose >100 mg/dL, triglycerides >110 mg/dL, HDL-C <40 mg/dL, and systolic or diastolic blood pressure >95th percentile for age and gender. Fasting insulinemia, apoprotein A1 and B, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, alanine aminotransferase, homocysteine, and folic and uric acids were determined. In severely obese children, metabolic risk was present more frequently in mid puberty. The normalized anthropometric parameters with respect to 50th percentile for age and gender did not differ in the presence of metabolic risk. Insulin resistance was an independent determinant of metabolic risk, adjusted by Tanner stages. Elevated high-sensitive C-reactive protein was noted without any effect of metabolic risk or pubertal stage. Homocysteine, apoprotein B, and alanine aminotransferase values increased with metabolic risk and were not influenced by puberty. Although insulin resistance remains the main factor influencing metabolic risk, biochemical markers as homocysteine, apoprotein B, and alanine aminotransferase, may be useful for identifying severe obese pubertal subjects particularly prone to comorbidities (AU)

El objetivo de este estudio prospectivo ha sido evaluar la utilidad de nuevos marcadores bioquímicos para evaluar el riesgo cardiometabólico en niños y adolescentes extremadamente obesos. Un total de 107 sujetos de entre 7 a 14 años, se valoraron clínicamente registrando sus medidas antropométricas y el porcentaje de masa grasa mediante bioimpedancia. De ellos, 44 presentaban un peso normal para su edad y género y 63 estaban gravemente obesos (puntuación Z del índice de masa corporal > 2,5), los cuales fueron estratificados por estadios de Tanner. Para valorar el riesgo metabólico se consideraron las siguientes variables: Circunferencia cintura/altura> 0,5, glucosa en ayunas >100 mg/dL, triglicéridos >110 mg/dL, HDL-C <40 mg/dL y presión arterial sistólica o diastólica > percentil 95 para edad y género. Se determinaron la insulinemia en ayunas, apoproteinas A1 y B, proteína C reactiva ultrasensible, alaninaminotransferasa, homocisteína y ácidos fólico y úrico. En los niños obesos severos, la presencia de factores de riesgo metabólico se producía con más frecuencia en la pubertad. Los parámetros antropométricos normalizados con respecto al percentil 50 para la edad y género no se diferenciaban según existiera o no mayor riego metabólico. La resistencia a la insulina fue un factor independiente de riesgo metabólico, ajustado por etapas de Tanner. La proteína C reactiva ultrasensible estaba elevada, sin relación con la mayor presencia de factores de riesgo del síndrome metabólico o la etapa puberal. La homocisteína, apoproteína B, y la alaninaminotransferasa se incrementaron con el riesgo metabólico y no fueron influidos por la pubertad. Aunque la resistencia a la insulina sigue siendo el principal factor que influye en el riesgo metabólico, los marcadores bioquímicos como la homocisteína, apoproteína B, y la alaninaminotransferasa, pueden ser útiles para identificar individuos con obesidad grave en etapa puberal predispuestos a padecer enfermedades relacionadas (AU)

New factors of cardiometabolic risk in severely obese children: influence of pubertal status.

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the utility of new biochemical markers to assess cardiometabolic risk in severely obese children and adolescents. A total of 107 subjects aged 7 to 14 years, were clinically assessed and anthropometric measures and percentage of fat mass by single frequency bioimpedance analysis were recorded. Of these, 44 were non-overweight and 63 severely obese (body mass index Z-score>2.5) which were stratified by Tanner stages. To estimate the metabolic risk the following variables were considered for analysis: Waist circumference/height>0.5, fasting glucose>100 mg/dL, triglycerides>110 mg/dL, HDL-C<40 mg/dL, and systolic or diastolic blood pressure>95th percentile for age and gender. Fasting insulinemia, apoprotein A1 and B, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, alanine aminotransferase, homocysteine, and folic and uric acids were determined. In severely obese children, metabolic risk was present more frequently in mid puberty. The normalized anthropometric parameters with respect to 50th percentile for age and gender did not differ in the presence of metabolic risk. Insulin resistance was an independent determinant of metabolic risk, adjusted by Tanner stages. Elevated high-sensitive C-reactive protein was noted without any effect of metabolic risk or pubertal stage. Homocysteine, apoprotein B, and alanine aminotransferase values increased with metabolic risk and were not influenced by puberty. Although insulin resistance remains the main factor influencing metabolic risk, biochemical markers as homocysteine, apoprotein B, and alanine aminotransferase, may be useful for identifying severe obese pubertal subjects particularly prone to comorbidities.