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Background and Aims: The coexistence of RAS and BRAF mutations is extremely rare, occurring in approximately 0.05% of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Starting from a case presentation, this review aims to examine the prevalence, clinical, histopathological and molecular features of tumors with concomitant mutations. Methods: Case report and systematic review. We performed a systematic literature search in PubMed and EMBASE using the following MeSH terms: “coexistence” OR “concomitant” AND “RAS” AND “BRAF” AND “colorectal cancer” from the inception of the databases onwards. Results: We present the case of a 53-year-old man diagnosed with metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma with both a KRAS and a BRAF mutation. The review included eleven papers reporting on a total of 30 mCRC cases with concomitant RAS and BRAF mutations. The male/female ratio was 11/5. The average age was 58.5 years. The tumor was located in nine cases on the right colon and in two cases in the left colon. 43.3% of subjects had liver metastases, and 6.6% had lung metastases. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used in 36.6% of cases and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 16.6% of cases. KRAS mutations were present in 83.3% of patients and NRAS mutations in 16.6% of patients. Survival could be assessed in 10 patients and the median was 21.1 months (about 30% lower than the survival in the general mCRC population). Conclusion: The results of this systematic review suggest the need to design a cohort study (either prospective or retrospective) to better characterize the patients with concomitant RAS and BRAF mutations and to establish the optimal treatment for this rare situation.

Micronutrient deficiencies can arise in various conditions, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and diagnosing these deficiencies can be challenging in the absence of specific clinical signs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of various trace elements hair concentration in IBD patients compared to a healthy control group and to identify potential correlations between the micronutrient status and relevant parameters related to disease activity. The concentrations of iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and sulfur in the hair of 37 IBD patients with prior diagnosed IBD (12 Crohn’s disease and 25 ulcerative colitis) and 31 healthy controls were evaluated by Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX). Significant differences in hair concentration profile of studied trace elements were identified for IBD patients compared to healthy controls. A significantly decreased hair concentration of iron, magnesium, calcium and selenium and a significantly increased sulfur hair concentration were observed in IBD patients at the time of evaluation. A decreased hair calcium concentration (r = −0.772, p = 0.003) and an increased sulfur concentration (r = 0.585, p = 0.046) were significantly correlated with disease activity. Conclusion: Hair mineral and trace elements evaluation may contribute to a proper evaluation of their status in IBD patients and improving the management of nutritional status of IBD patients.

Background Colorectal cancer is a successful model of genetic biomarker development in oncology. Currently, several predictive or prognostic genetic alterations have been identified and are used in clinical practice. The RAS gene family, which includes KRAS and NRAS act as predictors for anti-epithelial growth factor receptor treatment (anti-EGFR), and it has been suggested that NRAS mutations also play a role in prognosis: patients harboring NRAS alterations have a significantly shorter survival compared to those with wild type tumours. BRAF V600E mutations are rare and occur mostly in tumors located in the ascending colon in elderly female patients. BRAF is instrumental in establishing prognosis: survival is shorter by 10–16 months in BRAF-mutant patients, and BRAF may be a negative prognostic factor for patients who undergo hepatic or pulmonary metastasectomy. Moreover, this mutation is used as a negative predictive factor for anti-EGFR therapies. Two new biomarkers have recently been added to the metastatic colorectal cancer panel: HER2 and microsatellite instability. While HER2 is still being investigated in different prospective studies in order to validate its prognostic role, microsatellite instability already guides clinical decisions in substituted with advanced colorectal cancer. Conclusions There are current evidences that support using above mentioned genetic biomarkers to better identify the right medicine that is supposed to be used in the right patient. This approach contributes to a more individualized patient-oriented treatment in daily clinical practice.

A persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is the most frequent anomaly of the venous drainage system. While both a right and left superior vena cava (SVC) are usually present, a unique, left-sided SVC, also known as an isolated PLSVC, accounts for only 10–20% of cases. It is frequently associated with arrhythmias and other congenital cardiac anomalies. Though it is usually an asymptomatic condition, it may pose significant problems whenever central venous access is needed. We report a case of an isolated PLSVC that was diagnosed incidentally during pacemaker implantation for sinus node dysfunction. The venous anomaly was associated with subvalvular aortic stenosis determined by a subaortic membrane; this particular association of congenital cardiovascular anomalies is a rare finding, with only a few cases reported in the literature. We aim to highlight the clinical and practical implications of this condition, as well as to discuss the embryonic development and diagnostic methods of this congenital defect.

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP), described for the first time by JB Barlow in 1966 as the displacement of abnormally thickened mitral valve leaflets into the left atrium during systole, is the most frequently valvulopathy in clinical practice. Usually asymptomatic and predominantly in woman, MVP could associate atypical chest pain. Electrocardiogram (ECG) is normal in majority of cases but sometimes ST segment depression and negative T waves in inferior leads could occur. Previous ECG and the absence of coronary risk factors are the key of differential diagnosis for acute coronary syndrome. We present the case of a 48 year-old female known with MVP, hospitalized for persistent atypical anterior chest pain, ST-T segment depression and T-wave inversion in inferior and lateral leads suggesting an acute coronary syndrome. Patient’s symptoms and ECG changes have disappeared 12 hours after admission under specific treatment. MDCT coronary angiography done after 1 month showed normal coronary arteries and the treatment was stopped. This case confirms that MVP diagnosis, a rare cause of ST segment depression, must be differentiated from an acute coronary syndrome.