Assessment of Environmental and Hereditary Influence on Development of Pituitary Tumors Using Dermatoglyphic Traits and Their Potential as Screening Markers

The role of hand fingerprints on predisposition of cancer development

Fingerprints or dermatoglyphics contain patterns that were formed by parallel ridges on the bare skin of fingertips. This property on the skin, especially on the finger, makes it possible to hold objects with our fingers, and this feature can also be used to determine identity. After cardiovascular diseases, cancer is the second cause of death worldwide. In this paper, we reviewed the associations reported between fingerprint patterns (dermatoglyphics) and cancer types. In this review, we focused on six types of cancer, including gynecological cancers, oral cancer, prostate cancer, gastric cancer, leukemia, and pituitary tumors, and their connection with fingerprints. The dermatoglyphic could be a potentially useful tool for early diagnosis of predisposition in developing some diseases. As some patterns inform us about leading to deadly diseases, such as cancer, which could be prevented, or at least by early diagnosis and taking proper care, the mortality rate could decline. Thus, the fingerprints that have been primarily observed in particular cancers require more research.

Is fingerprint ridge density influenced by hand dimensions?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Various aspects of fingerprint resarch were extensively explored in the past. However, the correlation between fingerprint ridge density and hand dimensions has not yet been documented. Therefore, the present study has investigated the relationship so that some conclusions regarding the association can be established.

METHODS

The study included 500 subjects (250 males and 250 females) between the ages of 18 to 25 years who belonged to the Rajput community of the Shimla and Solan districts of Himachal Pradesh state of North India. The sexual dimorphism among the ridge count was examined using student's t-test. The relationship of fingerprint ridge density with hand dimensions among both the sexes and pooled data was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

All the fingers on both hands showed statistically significant sex differences. When all digits were considered together, the left little finger in males and right middle finger in females showed a weak but significant correlation with hand length while all the digits when considered in combination reported strong correlation hand length measurements. Similarly, right thumb showed significant correlation with hand breadth. All the ten digits showed highly significant correlation with hand breadth when pooled data was examined.

CONCLUSION

The ridge density correlates with the hand dimensions in the case of pooled data. This relationship can then be used to devise prediction equations for hand dimensions based on ridge density, or vice-versa for pooled data. The equations will also help in estimating hand dimensions based on ridge density and vice-versa.

A bifunctional fluorescent sensor for CCCP-induced cancer cell apoptosis imaging

The detailed mechanism and the extent of pH/SO₂ changes during apoptosis remain unknown. The developed sensor NPCF for SO₂ and pH dual detection illustrates that SO₂ can reduce the inflammation caused by LPS and the acidification of the environment. The levels of SO₂ and pH change during carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP)-induced apoptosis.

The Relationship Between Phospho-p38, Matrix Metalloproteinase 9, and Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Chain-Related Molecule A Expression in Pituitary Adenomas Demonstrates a New Mechanism of Pituitary Adenoma Immune Escape

BACKGROUND

The major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related molecule A (MICA) is one of the natural killer group 2D ligands. Soluble major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related molecule A (sMICA) mediates tumor immune escape, but the mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, we examined the expression of phospho-p38, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and MICA and their relationships among each other in pituitary adenoma tissues to provide a histologic basis for the mechanism of pituitary adenoma immune escape.

METHODS

We applied immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot to detect phospho-p38, MMP-9, and MICA expression at the mRNA and protein levels in pituitary adenoma tissues. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to examine the expression levels of MMP-9 and sMICA in peripheral blood serum from patients with pituitary adenoma.

RESULTS

We found that p38, MICA, and MMP-9 mRNA levels were greater in pituitary adenomas than in normal tissues. The phospho-p38, MMP-9, and MICA proteins were overexpressed in pituitary adenomas, and the expression of MMP-9 and MICA were positively correlated with the expression of phospho-p38. In addition, the serum levels of sMICA and MMP-9 proteins in pituitary adenoma patients were significantly greater than those in normal controls.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that activation of the p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway may increase MICA expression and induce MMP-9 expression. MMP-9 is involved in the shedding of sMICA from MICA to promote tumor immune escape. Furthermore, p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase could potentially represent a novel target for inhibiting pituitary adenoma immune escape.