Association between Serum 25 (OH) Vitamin D Concentrations and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs) Activity

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are immune mediated diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Several environmental factors in concert with genetic susceptibilities can trigger IBDs. Recently, one of the important environmental factors contributing to the development of autoimmune diseases is vitamin D (VitD) deficiency. Furthermore, some new evidence points to VitD deficiency and its receptor dysfunction as an underlying factor for the emergence experimental IBDs. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the correlation between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and IBD activity in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Sixty patients with confirmed diagnosis of IBD were recruited for a cross sectional study. Most of the identified confounders affecting serum VitD concentrations were excluded. Disease activity was assessed using validated questionnaires, including Truelove for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn Disease Activity Index (CDAI) for Crohn disease. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were determined by chemiluminescent assay. Serum 25(OH)D≤10 (ng/ml) was considered as VitD deficiency and 11≤25(OH)D<29(ng/ml) as VitD insufficiency. Mean serum 25(OH)D value was 13.1 ± 11.1(ng/ml) in IBD patients. Almost 95% of patients were vitamin D insufficient or deficient. Forty one percent of IBD patients had active disease. VitD deficiency was not associated with IBD activity (p=0.23). However, VitD deficiency was significantly associated with a history of IBD related intestinal surgery (p=0.001). In conclusion, this cross-sectional prospective study suggested that there is no association between vitamin D deficiency and disease activity in a relatively small number of IBD patients in a short period of time.

Online information needs of cancer patients and their organizations

Increasingly patients, relatives and carers are accessing health information via the internet. However, the health profession and people affected by cancer are becoming concerned with the quality of that information. A European survey was conducted under the auspices of the FP7 European Commission funded Eurocancercoms project during the period September 2010-March 2011. Its aim was to assess current online information needs of people with cancer particularly those who seek information using online social media technologies and the internet more broadly. A literature review was undertaken to gain a greater understanding of health seeking behaviour regarding cancer patients' information needs and patient preferences for accessing different formats and media. This was used to inform the design and validation of online pan-European, multi-lingual questionnaires distributed via patient organizations and via specific Eurocancercoms partner organizations. This paper presents the results of this survey and suggests recommendations to be incorporated into the design of the online platform, ecancerHub, one of the intended outcomes of the Eurocancercoms project following this research. People want a wide variety of easy to find, easy to understand accurate information about cancer and how it is likely to impact on their everyday lives and on those close to them. They differ in the amount and detail of the information they would like and on their ability to identify quality information and understand it sufficiently to base their health-care decisions on. The majority of respondents raised the issue of quality of information and many requested recommendations of websites by the people who usually influence them most, the health professionals involved in their care.

Laryngocele masquerading as a soft tissue neck mass

Laryngocele is a rare entity which can clinically present as a neck mass and requires Computed Tomography (CT) and laryngoscopy for diagnosis. We present an interesting case of bilateral laryngocele in a 45-year-old male presented clinically as hoarseness and left sided neck mass without any history of predisposing factors. Ultrasonography (USG) and CT features of laryngocele is also presented here.

Relationship of Age at First Live Birth, Parity and Duration of Breast Feeding with Non Familial Breast Cancer in Pakistani Women. A Study of the Cancer Research Group Pakistan

Background and objectives; This multicenter case control study is being conducted at seven different centers in Pakistan in order to find out the association and relationship of different hormonal and reproductive factors with breast cancer. These factors have been identified either as risk factors or protective factors for breast cancer in other communities but not in Pakistani women. Preliminary results from four centers are being reported here.Method; Patients attending these cancer treatment centers were interviewed by the trained medical personals and the findings were recorded in a proforma. Age and area matched unrelated controls were randomly selected and interviewed with same questions and findings were recorded in a corresponding proforma. SPSS version 11.5 was used for statistical analysis.Results; From June, 2008 to May, 2009 six hundred eighty eight cases were compared with an equal number of controls. Median age of cases was 47 years (26-70 years) and controls 47.5 years (25-71 years). One hundred ninety eight of cases (28.78%) and 208 of controls (30.23 %) gave first full term live birth before the age of 20. Sixty two cases (09.01%) and 38 controls (5.52%) gave first full term live birth after the age of 30. Seventy one cases and 65 controls were nulliparous.Fifty cases (07.27%) and 51 controls (07.41%) had only one child whereas 104 (15.12%) cases and 118 controls (17.15%) had more then 7 children.Breast feeding duration was more then 24 months in 410 (72.31%) of all women who had more then 1 child. Duration of breast feeding in cases Vs. control in women with 2-4 children, 5-7 children and more then 7 children was similar. Statistical analysis reveals that first live birth below the age of 20 and duration of breast feeding of greater then 24 months duration are not associated as protective factors in this patient population. Odds ratio of 1.35, 95% CI; 1.01-1.70 and 1.014, 95% CI; 0.80-1.22 respectively. Age at first live birth after 30 years of age seems to be positively associated with breast cancer. Odds ratio of 1.75, 95% CI; 1.15-2.65. These results do not support the young age at first full term pregnancy and prolonged duration of breast feeding as protective factors against the breast cancer.Key Words: Breast Cancer, Breast feeding, Parity, Risk Factor

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 2071.