Polymorphisms of an Innate Immune Gene, Toll-Like Receptor 4, and Aggressive Prostate Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is one of the best known TLR members expressed on the surface of several leukocytes and tissue cells and has a key function in detecting pathogen and danger-associated molecular patterns. The role of TLR4 in the pathophysiology of several age-related diseases is also well recognized, such as prostate cancer (PCa). TLR4 polymorphisms have been related to PCa risk, but the relationship between TLR4 genotypes and aggressive PCa risk has not been evaluated by any systematic reviews. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of candidate-gene and genome-wide association studies analyzing this relationship and included only white population. Considering appropriate criteria, only nine studies were analyzed in the meta-analysis, including 3,937 aggressive PCa and 7,382 controls. Results: Using random effects model, no significant association was found in the ten TLR4 SNPs reported by at least four included studies under any inheritance model (rs2737191, rs1927914, rs10759932, rs1927911, rs11536879, rs2149356, rs4986790, rs11536889, rs7873784, and rs1554973). Pooled estimates from another ten TLR4 SNPs reported by three studies also showed no significant association (rs10759930, rs10116253, rs11536869, rs5030717, rs4986791, rs11536897, rs1927906, rs913930, rs1927905, and rs7045953). Meta-regression revealed that study type was not a significant source of between-study heterogeneity. Conclusions: TLR4 polymorphisms were not significantly associated with the risk of aggressive PCa

An Overview of Regional Experiments on Biomass Burning Aerosols and Related Pollutants in Southeast Asia: From BASE-ASIA and the Dongsha Experiment to 7-SEAS

By modulating the Earth-atmosphere energy, hydrological and biogeochemical cycles, and affecting regional-to-global weather and climate, biomass burning is recognized as one of the major factors affecting the global carbon cycle. However, few comprehensive and wide-ranging experiments have been conducted to characterize biomass-burning pollutants in Southeast Asia (SEA) or assess their regional impact on meteorology, the hydrological cycle, the radiative budget, or climate change. Recently, BASEASIA (Biomass-burning Aerosols in South-East Asia: Smoke Impact Assessment) and the 7-SEAS (7- South-East Asian Studies) Dongsha Experiment were conducted during the spring seasons of 2006 and 2010 in northern SEA, respectively, to characterize the chemical, physical, and radiative properties of biomass-burning emissions near the source regions, and assess their effects. This paper provides an overview of results from these two campaigns and related studies collected in this special issue, entitled Observation, modeling and impact studies of biomass burning and pollution in the SE Asian Environment. This volume includes 28 papers, which provide a synopsis of the experiments, regional weatherclimate, chemical characterization of biomass-burning aerosols and related pollutants in source and sink regions, the spatial distribution of air toxics (atmospheric mercury and dioxins) in source and remote areas, a characterization of aerosol physical, optical, and radiative properties, as well as modeling and impact studies. These studies, taken together, provide the first relatively complete dataset of aerosol chemistry and physical observations conducted in the sourcesink region in the northern SEA, with particular emphasis on the marine boundary layer and lower free troposphere (LFT). The data, analysis and modeling included in these papers advance our present knowledge of source characterization of biomass-burning pollutants near the source regions as well as the physical and chemical processes along transport pathways. In addition, we raise key questions to be addressed by a coming deployment during springtime 2013 in northern SEA, named 7-SEASBASELInE (Biomass-burning Aerosols Stratocumulus Environment: Lifecycles and Interactions Experiment). This campaign will include a synergistic approach for further exploring many key atmospheric processes (e.g., complex aerosol-cloud interactions) and impacts of biomass burning on the surface-atmosphere energy budgets during the lifecycles of biomass burning emissions

Screening for low bone mass with quantitative ultrasonography in a community without dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry: population-based survey

BACKGROUND: Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the criterion standard to identify low bone mineral density (BMD), but access to axial DXA may be limited or cost prohibitive. We screened for low bone mass with quantitative ultrasonography (QUS) in a community without DXA, analyzed its reliability and obtained reference values and estimated the prevalence of low QUS values. METHODS: We enrolled 6493 residents of Kinmen, Taiwan, and a reference group (96 men and 70 women aged 20–29 years) for this cross-sectional, community-based study. All participants completed a questionnaire and underwent ultrasonographic measurements. Reliability and validity of QUS measurements were evaluated. Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) values were obtained and statistically analyzed by age, sex and weight. Annual loss of BUA was determined. Trends in the prevalence of QUS scores were evaluated. RESULTS: Two QUS were used and had a correlation coefficient of 0.90 (p < 0.001). Calcaneal BUA was significantly correlated with BMD in the femoral neck (r = 0.67, p < 0.001) and BMD of the total lumbar spine (r = 0.59, p < 0.001). BUAs in the reference group were 92.72 ± 13.36 and 87.90 ± 10.68 dB/MHz for men and women, respectively. Estimated annual losses of calcaneal BUA were 0.83% per year for women, 0.27% per year for men, and 0.51% per year for the total population. The prevalence of severely low QUS values (T-score = -2.5) tended to increase with aging in both sexes (p < 0.001). Across age strata, moderately low QUS values (-2.5 < T-score < -1.0) were 31.6–41.0% in men and 23.7–38.1% in women; a significant trend with age was observed in men (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Age-related decreases in calcaneal ultrasonometry, which reflected the prevalence of low bone mass, were more obvious in women than in men

Pitfalls in assessing stromal tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) in breast cancer

Abstract: Stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) are important prognostic and predictive biomarkers in triple-negative (TNBC) and HER2-positive breast cancer. Incorporating sTILs into clinical practice necessitates reproducible assessment. Previously developed standardized scoring guidelines have been widely embraced by the clinical and research communities. We evaluated sources of variability in sTIL assessment by pathologists in three previous sTIL ring studies. We identify common challenges and evaluate impact of discrepancies on outcome estimates in early TNBC using a newly-developed prognostic tool. Discordant sTIL assessment is driven by heterogeneity in lymphocyte distribution. Additional factors include: technical slide-related issues; scoring outside the tumor boundary; tumors with minimal assessable stroma; including lymphocytes associated with other structures; and including other inflammatory cells. Small variations in sTIL assessment modestly alter risk estimation in early TNBC but have the potential to affect treatment selection if cutpoints are employed. Scoring and averaging multiple areas, as well as use of reference images, improve consistency of sTIL evaluation. Moreover, to assist in avoiding the pitfalls identified in this analysis, we developed an educational resource available at www.tilsinbreastcancer.org/pitfalls

Assessing Product Satisfaction Performance using 6-Sigma Methodology and S/N Ratio Approach - the case of PDA

With the advent of the Internet, personal digital assistants (PDAs), which were originally meant for management of personal information, are now equipped with the features of network connection and wireless communication. No longer restricted by time and space, PDAs can access information anytime and anywhere, thus resembling a palm-top computer. Nevertheless, the upsurge of Information Appliances (IAs) has bred over-optimism on the development of PDAs. In terms of importance, PDAs are inferior to mobile phones; while in terms of functions, they are less versatile than notebook PCs. Such perspective, however, has neglected the uniqueness of PDAs. In view of the sluggish sale of PDAs, this study aims to explore how production satisfaction, brand name, and service convenience affect the desire to purchase PDAs, which can serve as useful references for planning IA promotion strategies. By utilizing the DMAIC methodology of 6-sigma, a comprehensive assessment and improvement model is constructed. This model enables enterprises to quickly and effectively measure, analyze, improve and control their service quality, which would in turn promote the overall satisfaction of customers, thus creating high value-added quality competitiveness and enhancing the profitability of enterprises

Persistent exudative retinal detachment after photodynamic therapy and intravitreal bevacizumab injection for multiple retinal capillary hemangiomas in a patient with von Hippel–Lindau disease

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used in treating peripheral retinal capillary hemangioma (RCH) with satisfactory results. We report a rare case of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease with three large peripheral RCHs, treated with PDT and intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB), who developed persistent bullous exudative retinal detachment (RD) despite significant tumor regression. The patient is a sporadic case of VHL disease, with a de novo nonsense mutation in codon 161 with C → T transition at nucleotide position 694 of the VHL gene. Multiple RCHs were noted in both eyes. Four small RCHs were found in the left eye and were treated with laser photocoagulation. Three large RCHs in the peripheral retina of the right eye were complicated with cystoid macular edema and subretinal fluid accumulation. The RCHs were treated with PDT combined with IVB, and bullous exudative RD developed on the second day after treatment. Three months after PDT, the tumors had regressed significantly, but exudative RD persisted, despite multiple IVB and intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection (IVTA). External drainage with sclera buckling, IVB, and IVTA were performed, and the retina attached after surgical intervention. The application of PDT in the treatment of RCHs and its possible complications are discussed

Intraocular involvement of T-cell lymphoma presenting as inflammatory glaucoma, neurotrophic keratopathy, and choroidal detachment

Intraocular involvement of T-cell lymphoma is rare. We report a case presented with inflammatory glaucoma, neurotrophic keratopathy, and choroidal detachment. An 81-year-old man presented with unilateral high intraocular pressure and keratic precipitates. Polymerase chain reaction of the aqueous humor was negative for herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, varicella zoster virus, and cytomegalovirus. Progressive pupil dilatation, cornea anesthesia with large epithelial defect, and choroidal detachment were noted in the following month. Diagnostic vitrectomy was then performed, and cytology of the vitreous suggested malignant lymphoma. Further systemic workup revealed ulcerative lesions in the stomach, and biopsy with special stains led to the diagnosis of peripheral T-cell lymphoma of the stomach with ocular involvement. Intraocular involvement of T-cell lymphoma is very rare. Most typically, the skin, followed by the central nervous system, has the most frequently occurring concurrent systemic involvement. In fact, stomach involvement has not been reported. Most cases of intraocular lymphomas presented with vitritis and anterior uveitis, and elevated intraocular pressure was not commonly observed. A review of the literature indicates that a large corneal epithelium defect has been described only in a case of peripheral T-cell lymphoma with the involvement of sclera and oropharynx. Although very rare, inflammatory glaucoma, neurotrophic keratopathy, and choroidal detachment can be the initial presentation of intraocular involvement of T-cell lymphoma