Increased bone fragility in dialysis patients is associated with vitamin D deficiency and relative hypoparathyroidism in addition to reduced BMD at the radius. Further studies are needed to determine whether patients with vitamin D deficiency benefit from vitamin D supplementation to reduce fracture risk.

Adherent and tight junction molecules have been described to contribute to carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Additionally, the group of claudin-low tumors have recently been identified as a molecular subgroup of breast carcinoma. In our study, we examined the expression pattern of claudins, beta-catenin and E-cadherin in invasive ductal (IDCs) and lobular (ILCs) carcinomas and their corresponding lymph node metastases (LNMs). Tissue microarrays of 97 breast samples (60 invasive ductal carcinomas, 37 invasive lobular carcinomas) and their corresponding LNMs have been analyzed immunohistochemically for claudin-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -7, beta-catenin and E-cadherin expression. The stained slides were digitalized with a slide scanner and the reactions were evaluated semiquantitatively. When compared to LNMs, in the IDC group beta-catenin and claudin-2, -3, -4 and -7 protein expression showed different pattern while claudin-1, -2, -3, -4 and -7 were differently expressed in the ILC group. Lymph node metastases developed a notable increase of claudin-5 expression in both groups. Decrease or loss of claudin-1 and expression of claudin-4 in lymph node metastases correlated with reduced disease-free survival in our patients. According to our observations, the expression of epithelial junctional molecules, especially claudins, is different in primary breast carcinomas compared to their lymph node metastases as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. Loss of claudin junctional molecules might contribute to tumor progression, and certain claudin expression pattern might be of prognostic relevance.

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The etiology of tumors in young age is not precisely known yet, but studies on the topic generally agree that in this group of patients the traditionally known behavioural risk factors (tobacco and alcohol abuse) play no or a significantly less important role. Oral squamous cell carcinoma occurring at a young age is a topic of utmost importance that is extensively and intensively researched as, while the overall incidence of oral cancer is decreasing worldwide, that of squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed in young adults is steadily increasing. The present article aims at presenting the main questions and characteristics of tumors in young adults in Central-Eastern Europe and in developed West European countries as contrasted to tumors found in middle aged and elderly patients. Factors influencing the development of oral cancer include regulatory factors of the cell cycle, the inherited vulnerability of the genetic code of certain proteins and the presence of HPV infection with an oncogenic genotype. The connections of HPV infection and genetic damages are studied intensively. It is known that the prevalence of oral HPV infections is growing with a background of potentially changing sexual habits. It is debated, however, whether smoking and alcohol consumption could have a connection to HPV associated oral cancer and whether the spread of HPV in itself could be an explanation for the growing occurrence of young-age tumors. There is no consensus in the literature as to the prognostic significance of age. Some research groups have found a better life expectancy for young patients, while other authors found a worse prognosis for these patients. It is known that the prognosis of head and neck tumors, the prevalence of HPV infections as well as genetic mutations show regional and ethnic variations. This might be explained by differences in the degree of development of a preventive system, in the quality of care and in the attitudes of young patients towards visiting a doctor. The study is made difficult by incomparable patient selection criteria as well as by the question of the intraoral localisation of tumors as an independent risk factor.

Low PTH levels are not associated with low BMD in patients with end-stage kidney disease. Furthermore, bone metabolism seems to be independent of iPTH in patients with relative hypoparathyroidism likely reflecting skeletal resistance to PTH.

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