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Background/aim Increasing evidence indicates a relevance of the vitamin D endocrine system for pathogenesis of malignant melanoma. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to update previous reports that investigated the association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and melanoma risk. Materials and methods A comprehensive literature search (PubMed, ISI Web of Science) identified a total of 14 studies that were eligible for inclusion in our meta-analysis. In the statistical analysis, the ORs and the 95% CIs were calculated for the dominant and recessive models for seven VDR gene polymorphisms, namely rs2228570 (FokI), rs731236 (TaqI), rs1544410 (BsmI), rs4516035 (A-1012G), rs11568820 (Cdx2), rs7975232 (ApaI) and rs739837 (BglI). Results were illustrated in Forest Plots. Publication bias was tested using Funnel Plots and the Egger's test. Results Our meta-analysis showed in the dominant model (Bb + BB vs. bb) a significant association of a 15% risk reduction in malignant melanoma incidence for carriers of the rarer allele B of rs1544410 (Bsml). Notably, the dominant model (Ff + ff vs. FF) of rs2228570 (FokI) demonstrates that carriers of the rarer allele f are 22% more likely to develop malignant melanoma. For rs7975232 (ApaI), there is a 20% higher risk of melanoma for carriers of the rarer a allele (Aa + aa vs. AA). The results of the meta-analysis revealed no significant association between melanoma risk and the other investigated VDR polymorphisms. Conclusion The VDR variants FokI, ApaI and BsmI may influence the susceptibility to developing melanoma. These findings support the concept, that the vitamin D endocrine system is of importance for pathogenesis of malignant melanoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM To optimize public health campaigns concerning UV exposure, it is important to characterize factors that influence UV-induced cutaneous vitamin D production. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the impact of different individual and environmental factors including exposed body surface area (BSA), UVB dose and vitamin D status, on serum 25(OH)D concentration. MATERIALS AND METHODS In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses, and Meta-analysis of Observational studies in Epidemiology guidelines, a systematic literature search was conducted (MEDLINE; 01/1960-07/2016) investigating the impact of these factors on vitamin D status after artificial UV exposure as main outcome measure. Summary mean differences [and 95% confidence interval (CI)] were derived from random-effects meta-analysis to account for possible heterogeneity across studies. Meta-regression was conducted to account for impact of UVB dose, baseline 25(OH)D level and BSA. RESULTS We identified 15 studies, with an estimated mean 25(OH)D rise per standard erythema dose (SED) of 0.19 nmol/l (95% CI 0.11-0.26 nmol/l). Results from meta-regression suggest a significant impact of UV dose and baseline 25(OH)D concentration on serum 25(OH)D level (p

Vitamin D deficiency is common and associated with higher risk for and unfavourable outcome of many diseases. Limited data exist on genetic determinants of serum 25(OH)D concentration. In a cohort of the LURIC study (n=2974, median 25(OH)D concentration 15.5 ng/ml), we tested the hypothesis that variants (SNPs, n=244) of several genes (n=15) involved in different aspects of skin pigmentation, including melanosomal biogenesis (ATP7A, DTNBP1, BLOC1S5, PLDN, PMEL), melanosomal transport within melanocytes (RAB27A, MYO5A, MLPH); or various melanocyte signaling pathways (MC1R, MITF, PAX3, SOX10, DKK1, RACK1, CNR1) are predictive of serum 25(OH)D levels. Eleven SNPs located in 6 genes were associated (p0.05) with low or high serum 25(OH)D levels, 3 out of these 11 SNPs reached the aimed significance level after correction for multiple comparisons (FDR). In the linear regression model adjusted for sex, body mass index (BMI), year of birth and month of blood sample rs7565264 (MLPH), rs10932949 (PAX3), and rs9328451 (BLOC1S5) showed a significant association with 25(OH)D. The combined impact on variation of 25(OH)D serum levels (coefficient of determination (R(2))) for the 11 SNPs was 1.6% and for the 3 SNPs after FDR 0.3%. In Cox Regression we identified rs2292881 (MLPH) as having a significant association (advantage) with overall survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis did not show any significant impact of individual SNPs on overall survival. In conclusion, these results shed new light on the role of sunlight, skin pigmentation and vitamin D for human evolution.

To compare nuclear matrix protein 22 expression by BladderChek® and ELISA, as urine-based assays for bladder cancer (BC) detection.Urine samples of 100 BC patients and 100 controls were analyzed. Comparative statistical evaluations were based on sensitivity and specificity.Seventy-one patients had primary and 29 recurrent BC. The sensitivity of BladderChek® was significantly higher compared to ELISA in the overall cancer cohort and in patients with primary BC (p0.0001 and p=0.0001, respectively). Both tests demonstrated significant correlation of sensitivities and tumor stage/grade for the overall cancer cohort and for patients with primary BC. Both tests had specificity values of 100% in healthy individuals. Specificity was 93% for BladderChek® and 99% for ELISA in patients with benign diseases (p=0.048).BladderChek® may be clinically more useful for BC detection. Due to high specificity, BladderChek® could be used for high-risk screening. However, due to its low sensitivity, BladderChek® cannot replace but only complement cystoscopy for BC detection.