BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is a major health concern of men. Vitamin D can modulate innate or adaptive immune responses. The anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects of Vitamin D are mediated through gene transcription by Vitamin D receptor (VDR), including angiogenesis and tumor cell invasion. Targeted therapy in carcinoma prostate such as is as calcitriol is an alternative therapy for better treatment outcome. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We investigated VDR immunoexpression in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate adenocarcinoma. The cross-sectional study, categorical analysis of 60 paraffin blocks consist of 30 samples diagnosed as BPH, and 30 samples of prostate adenocarcinoma were divided three grading groups based on Patterns of Gleason: low, moderate, and high grade. Immunostaining was used to evaluate the VDR immunoexpression by histoscore. RESULTS: The results showed that strong expression of VDR was 40% in BPH and 33.33% in prostate adenocarcinoma (p = 0.961). The strong expression of VDR in low, moderate, and high grade was 10%, 3.33%, and 20%, respectively. Statistically, there is no significant different (p = 0.906). CONCLUSION: Positive immunoexpression of VDR affected the differentiation of prostatic adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Premature canities or premature hair graying is a terminology for early hair graying at an unusual age, with unclear etiology. The pathogenesis of graying is multifactorial such as genetic, environmental, and nutritional factors. The risk factor of premature graying is a deficiency of micronutrient serum such as zinc, copper, and selenium. AIM: The aim of the present study was to examine the role of zinc and copper serum concentrations in premature hair graying as well as the relationship between them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional recruited 40 consecutive respondents suffering from premature graying and healthy controls, male sex and aged <25 years. The serum samples were collected to detect zinc and copper with atomic absorption spectrophotometry. RESULTS: The mean age of cases was 20.28 ± 1.99 years and controls were 21.25 ± 2.02. Zinc serum concentration was significantly lower in premature hair graying compared with controls (0.48 ± 0.19 vs. 1.92 ± 0.68 ug/dL, p = 0.001) while copper serum concentration was not significantly lower in premature hair gray compared with controls (0.08 ± 0.03 vs. 0.09 ± 0.18 ug/dL, p = 0.706). CONCLUSION: A low zinc serum level may contribute to premature hair graying of college students at Universitas Sumatera Utara.

Obesity is a worldwide problem that has been steadily increasing even in developing countries. Obesity has been linked to various types of cancer, one of which is breast cancer. Breast cancer has been classified into various types based on gene and hormone receptor expressions, which offered new insights to therapies and prognoses. We conducted a case-control study using 42 breast cancer patients and 43 healthy women, all of which are older than 55 years of age and have experienced menopause, and for case subjects, additional immunohistochemistry profiles have been provided. Data were collected by interviews and medical records. For data analysis, we used Pearson’s Chi-Square test and Fisher’s Exact test. Results showed that high BMI is significantly associated with breast cancer, and risk is elevated (p < 0.05, OR = 1.263, 95% CI = 1.007-1.583). No significant association with molecular subtypes was observed.

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BACKGROUND: Molecular genetics suggest that hair pigmentation is related to the melanocortin-1 receptor gene. It is a G protein-coupled receptor, which is activated by a number of peptides to stimulate melanogenesis. Melanocortin-1 receptor gene mutation tends to produce functional variability in premature hair graying (PHG) or canities. AIM: Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine melanocortin-1 receptor expression and asses serum melanin in college students canities at Universitas Sumatera Utara. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional design. We recruited 80 subjects equally divided into normal (control) and premature hair graying groups. The sample included males, aged 25 years who had gray hair and had no history of pigmentary disorders of the skin. Expression of melanocortin-1 receptor was detected with conventional PCR and serum melanin was measured with Elisa using Elisa kit melanin for human. RESULTS: The results showed that the Mean ± SD graying age was 20.28 ± 1.99 years with an age range of 19–24 years and the average age in the control group was 21.25 ± 2.02 years with an age range of 18–24 years. Melanocortin-1 receptor gene expression was shown in the control and PHG groups. Serum melanin levels were decreased significantly (p = 0.0001) in the gray-haired group was 9.27 ± 1.62 μg/dl and the control group was 10.72 ± 1.78 μg/dl. CONCLUSION: Melanocortin-1 receptor gene plays a role in hair graying at young age and there serum melanin levels were low significantly.