By applying new cut-offs obtained following modification of standard testing, AAS is quite prevalent in hypertensive individuals and correlates highly with arterial blood pressure. This may have relevance for both the aetiology of the hypertension and its optimal therapy.

Current clinical problems in colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnostics and therapeutics include the disease complexity, tumor heterogeneity, and resistance to targeted therapeutics. In the present study, we examined 171 CRC adenocarcinomas from Greek patients undergoing surgery for CRC to determine the frequency of KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA point mutations from different areas of tumors in heterogeneous specimens. Ninety two out of 171 (53.8%) patients were found to bear a KRAS mutation in codons 12/13. Of the 126 mutations found, 57.9% (73/126) were c.38G>A mutations (p.G13D) and 22.2% (28/126) were c.35G>T (p.G12V). Remarkably, RAS mutations in both codons 12 and 13 were recorded in the same tumor by pyrosequencing. Moreover, differences in KRAS mutations between tumor center and periphery revealed tumor heterogeneity in 50.7% of the specimens. BRAF c.1799T>A (V600E) mutations were moderately detected in 4/171 (2.3%) specimens, whereas most PIK3CA mutations were revealed by pyrosequencing 6/171 (3.5%). Remarkable tumor heterogeneity is revealed, where double mutations of KRAS in the same tumor and different KRAS mutation status between tumor core and margin are detected with high frequency. It is expected that these findings will have a major impact in cancer diagnosis and personalized therapies.

SummaryObjectiveThere is limited knowledge about the natural history of normocalcaemic, vitamin D‐sufficient hyperparathyroidism (nHPT). The aim was to study the prevalence of nHPT and its relation to morbidity.DesignCross‐sectional and retrospective study at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.SubjectsA random population of 608 men and women, age 25–64 years, was studied in 1995 as part of the WHO MONICA study and reinvestigated in 2008 (n = 410, of whom 277 were vitamin D sufficient).MeasurementsA serum intact parathyroid hormone (S‐PTH) ≥60 ng/l was considered as HPT, S‐calcium 2·15–2·49 mmol/l as normocalcaemia and S‐25(OH)D ≥ 50 nmol/l as vitamin D sufficiency. Data on fractures, stroke and myocardial infarction were retrieved until 2013, that is a 17‐year follow‐up.ResultsThe prevalence of nHPT was 2·0% in 1995 (age 25–64) and 11·0% in 2008 (age 38–79). S‐PTH was positively correlated with age and BMI. After adjustment for these variables, a high S‐PTH level (≥60 ng/l) at follow‐up was associated with previously low S‐25(OH)D, high osteocalcin, S‐PTH and both past and presently treated hypertension. No relation was seen with creatinine, cystatin C, malabsorption markers, thyroid function, glucose, insulin, lipids, calcaneal quantitative ultrasound, fractures, myocardial infarction, stroke or death at follow‐up.ConclusionsThis small random population study showed that nHPT was common, 11% at follow‐up. Only one individual developed mild hypercalcaemia in 13 years. Previous S‐PTH was predictive of nHPT and hypertension was prevalent, but no increase in hard end‐points was seen over a 17‐year period.

Compared to previous studies, we noticed a low incidence of "true" incidental prostatic carcinoma but a high ratio of poorly differentiated tumors (all stage T1b). Compared to the group as a whole, patients with incidental prostate cancer were older and had smaller prostate and transition zone volumes. Further research is needed to identify parameters that may aid in the earlier identification of incidental prostate cancer, as patients may benefit from curative treatment.