In recent years, considerable effort has been devoted to identifying genes that contribute to the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Genetic factors can be used to identify individuals who have additional genetic risks. Genetic variations might contribute to cardiovascular disease differentially in men and women. D 4476 Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) may be involved in the development of atherosclerotic diseases.

To examine the associations between genetic variations of DPP-4 in men and women with CAD.

In this case-control study, blood samples of patients with angiographically documented CAD and of those without CAD were collected. We focused on the DPP-4 gene (rs7608798 and rs3788979 polymorphisms) to assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of CAD.

We identified 1 SNP (rs3788979) that was significantly related to angiographic CAD in women (odds ratio (OR) = 2.437; p = 0.019). Moreover, the SNP (rs7608798) seemed to have a protective effect (OR = 0.291; p = 0.032). We did not find an association between CAD risk factors and DPP-4 polymorphisms. Our study is the first to demonstrate that CAD pathogenesis is influenced by gender differences in polymorphisms in the DPP-4 gene.

This study provides new information on the association of DPP-4 polymorphisms with the risk of CAD in the Taiwanese population, especially in women. Further studies should be performed to verify this association.

This study provides new information on the association of DPP-4 polymorphisms with the risk of CAD in the Taiwanese population, especially in women. Further studies should be performed to verify this association.

Treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) represents a major challenge for oncologists. Multimodality treatment, which generally involves induction chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy have recently shown promising results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the locoregional control and toxicity of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) after pleurectomy and decortication (P/D) as part of trimodality therapy for patients with locally advanced MPM.

We prospectively analyzed data from 20 patients with MPM treated at a single tertiary-care institution. Initially every patient received induction chemotherapy with platinum-based chemotherapy. After chemotherapy, patients without progression underwent P/D, and if feasible, hemi-thoracic IMRT was administered at a planned dose of 50.4-54 Gy in 28-30 fractions and treated with 9-11 noncoplanar fields.

A total of 15 of the 20 enrolled patients underwent P/D followed by IMRT to the hemi-thoracic cavity. The median total radiotherapy dose was 48.7 Gy (23.4-54 Gy). Radiation pneumonitis (RP) developed in nine patients (60%), and of these, two patients (13.3%) experienced G3 or G4 RP. The estimated locoregional-relapse-free survival at two years was 75.9%, and the main pattern of recurrence was distant (72.7%). For the entire cohort median follow-up was 22.7 months, median progression-free survival was 18.9 months and median overall survival 23.6 months.

Platinum-based chemotherapy followed by lung-sparing surgery (P/D) and IMRT is a feasible and safe treatment modality that yields acceptable locoregional control in patients with locally advanced MPM; however, these results should be corroborated in larger studies.

Platinum-based chemotherapy followed by lung-sparing surgery (P/D) and IMRT is a feasible and safe treatment modality that yields acceptable locoregional control in patients with locally advanced MPM; however, these results should be corroborated in larger studies.

Some observational data suggest that the progestogen injectable contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) may increase a woman’s risk of HIV acquisition but a randomized clinical trial did not find a statistically significant increase in HIV risk for women using DMPA compared to two other methods. However, it could not rule out up to 30% increased HIV risk for DMPA users. We evaluate changes to contraceptive method mix in South Africa under different assumptions about the existence and strength of a possible undetected relationship between DMPA use and HIV risk.

A mathematical model was developed to simulate the ongoing HIV epidemic and contraceptive method mix in South Africa to estimate how changes in method mix could impact HIV- and reproductive health-related outcomes. We made different assumptions about the relationship between DMPA use and HIV risk, from no relationship to a 30% increase in HIV risk for women using DMPA. Scenario analyses were used to investigate the impact of switchingctive and acceptable alternative contraceptive methods for all women.

If there is any real increased HIV risk for DMPA users that has not been detected by the recent randomized trial, a reduction in DMPA use could reduce the ongoing number of new HIV infections. However, such a change would place more women at risk of adverse reproductive health effects. It is imperative that these effects are minimized by focusing on expanding access to safe, effective and acceptable alternative contraceptive methods for all women.Mutations in the transforming growth factor β-binding protein-like domain 5 (TB5) region of FBN1 can lead to autosomal acromelic dysplasia and Marfan syndrome, which are two diseases with apparently opposite phenotypes. We identified six patients with acromelic dysplasia carrying either the previously reported mutations c.5284G > A (p.Gly1762Ser) and c.5096A > G (p.Tyr1699Cys) or the novel mutation c.5260G > A (p.Gly1754Ser). A systematic review of patients with mutations in the FBN1-TB5 region showed that acromelic dysplasia is caused only by in-frame amino acid substitutions. In contrast, truncating mutations in the FBN1-TB5 have been reported only in Marfan syndrome. Acromelic dysplasia subtypes that share symptoms with Marfan syndrome are associated with FBN1-TB5 disulfide disruptions, which are also commonly found in Marfan syndrome. These results suggest that the type and location of mutations in the FBN1-TB5 region determine the clinical spectrum of fibrillinopathy.