Associations between XPD Asp312Asn Polymorphism and Risk of Head and Neck Cancer: A Meta-Analysis Based on 7,122 Subjects

Background: To investigate the association between XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism and head and neck cancer risk through this meta-analysis. Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of 9 published case-control studies including 2,670 patients with head and neck cancer and 4,452 controls. An odds ratio (OR) with a 95 % confidence interval (CI) was applied to assess the association between XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism and head and neck cancer risk. Results: Overall, no significant association between XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism and head and neck cancer risk was found in this meta-analysis (Asn/Asn vs. Asp/Asp: OR = 0.95, 95%CI = 0.80–1.13, P = 0.550, Pheterogeneity = 0.126; Asp/Asn vs. Asp/Asp: OR = 1.11, 95%CI = 0.99–1.24, P = 0.065, P heterogeneity = 0.663; Asn/Asn+Asp/Asn vs. Asp/Asp: OR = 1.07, 95%CI = 0.97–1.19, P = 0.189, P heterogeneity = 0.627; Asn/Asn vs. Asp/Asp+Asp/Asn: OR = 0.87, 95%CI = 0.68–1.10, P = 0.243, Pheterogeneity = 0.089). In the subgroup analysis by HWE, ethnicity, and study design, there was still no significant association detected in all genetic models. Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates that XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism may not be a risk factor for developing head and neck cancer

Melatonin and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI): the Treviso Longeva (Trelong) study

Introduction: It has been reported that elderly subjects have a compromised ability to produce melatonin nightly, and that reduced melatonin levels may be a risk factor for cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between melatonin levels and chronic diseases in a cohort of elderly subjects using the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Design: We performed a secondary data analysis of a longitudinal study of a representative, age-stratified, sample population. Setting: The Treviso Longeva (Trelong) study, in Treviso, Italy. Participants: A total of 114 men and 146 women, aged 77 years and older, still alive after 7 years of follow-up. Measurements: As an estimation of serum melatonin secretion levels, urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) was assayed in the urine of 260 elderly subjects using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (product 01-EK-M6S, ALPCO Immunoassays, Windham, NH). All aMT6s levels were creatinine standardized ([aMT6s]/[creatinine]), and the CCI was calculated. Results: The melatonin levels decreased with aging despite not reaching statistical significance, and the decrease was more evident in males than in females (40.5 ng vs 47.0 ng aMT6s/mg creatinine, ns). Melatonin levels were significantly lower in patients reporting insomnia (p=0.05). The CCI score was inversely correlated with the levels of melatonin (p=0.03). Melatonin levels of subjects affected by CCI pathologies were significantly lower than those of healthy subjects (p=0.03) and of subjects suffering from diseases not included in the CCI and, therefore, less severe (p=0.03). Conclusion: Melatonin appears to be a marker of disease state and severity, as well as of sleep disorders, in the elderly. These early findings would confirm the protective role of melatonin against several chronic diseases. The benefits of this agent as a possible medication should be more thoroughly clinically tested

Melatonin and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI): the Treviso Longeva (Trelong) study.

Introduction: It has been reported that elderly subjects have a compromised ability to produce melatonin nightly, and that reduced melatonin levels may be a risk factor for cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between melatonin levels and chronic diseases in a cohort of elderly subjects using the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Design: We performed a secondary data analysis of a longitudinal study of a representative, age-stratified, sample population. Setting: The Treviso Longeva (Trelong) study, in Treviso, Italy. Participants: A total of 114 men and 146 women, aged 77 years and older, still alive after 7 years of follow-up. Measurements: As an estimation of serum melatonin secretion levels, urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) was assayed in the urine of 260 elderly subjects using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (product 01-EK-M6S, ALPCO Immunoassays, Windham, NH). All aMT6s levels were creatinine standardized ([aMT6s]/[creatinine]), and the CCI was calculated. Results: The melatonin levels decreased with aging despite not reaching statistical significance, and the decrease was more evident in males than in females (40.5 ng vs 47.0 ng aMT6s/mg creatinine, ns). Melatonin levels were significantly lower in patients reporting insomnia (p=0.05). The CCI score was inversely correlated with the levels of melatonin (p=0.03). Melatonin levels of subjects affected by CCI pathologies were significantly lower than those of healthy subjects (p=0.03) and of subjects suffering from diseases not included in the CCI and, therefore, less severe (p=0.03). Conclusion: Melatonin appears to be a marker of disease state and severity, as well as of sleep disorders, in the elderly. These early findings would confirm the protective role of melatonin against several chronic diseases. The benefits of this agent as a possible medication should be more thoroughly clinically tested

Uncommon disorders and decay in near-isogenic lines of melon and reference cultivars Acidentes fisiológicos e podridões atípicas em linhas quase-isogénicas de melão e em cultivares de referência

Postharvest disorders and rots can produce important economic losses in fruits stored for long time for exportation. The genetic and physiological basis of some disorders in melon (Cucumis melo L.) are unknown and particularly the possible relation with climacteric behavior. A collection of melon near-isogenic lines (NILs) (SC3-5 and seven more showing climacteric and two non-climacteric ripening pattern) were analyzed to study genetic and physiological aspects of fruit disorders and rots. Two non-climacteric (Nicolás; Inodorus Group; and Shongwan Charmi PI161375, Conomon Group) and two climacteric cultivars (Fado, Reticulatus Group; Védrantais, Cantaloupensis Group) were used as reference. The field was divided in eight blocks containing one three-plant replication for each NIL, two for the parental cultivar Piel de Sapo and one or two for the reference cultivars. Replications evaluated were more than six in the cultivars studied. Plant problems included aphids, powdery mildew, and leaf wind injury. Preharvest fruit disorders included whole fruit cracking in cultivar Védrantais and NIL 5M2, and stylar-end cracking in cultivar Fado. Climacteric NILs with yellow skin were particularly affected by over-ripening, stylar-end cracking, and sunburn during cultivation. At harvest, two NILs showed slight placental tissue necrosis which was inherited from SC and were also detected after storage. Other uncommon disorders seen at harvest or 30 days after storage at 8ºC included warted skin (scarring), flesh discoloration (light brown or translucent areas), hollow flesh disorder, and deep furrow netting inherited from SC. Less common rots included grey mould, bacterial soft rot, Penicillium rot, cottony leak and internal Cladosporium rot. Stylar-end hardness below 20 N·mm-1 was associated with cracking and softening. The incidence of the disorders and rots was too low to confirm that the genetic component played a role in their development.<br>Analisaram-se frutos de melão (Cucumis melo L.) provenientes de uma coleção de linhas quase-isogénicas (NIL), SC3-5 e outras sete climatéricas e duas não-climatéricas, para avaliar a ocorrência de acidentes fisiológicos e a suscetibilidade a podridões. Como termo de comparação utilizou-se duas cultivares não-climatéricas (Nicolás, grupo Inodorus, e Shongwan Charmi ou acesso PI161375, grupo Conomon) e duas cultivares climatéricas (Fado, grupo Reticulatus, e Védrantais, grupo Cantaloupensis). O experimento foi dividido em oito blocos contendo três plantas por repetição para NIL, dois para a cultivar parental Piel de Sapo (PS), e um ou dois para a cultivar testemunha. As repetições avaliadas foram mais de seis para as cultivares em estudo. Durante a produção, as folhas foram afetadas por pulgão, oídio e acidentes meteorológicos. Os acidentes fisiológicos que ocorreram nos frutos durante a produção incluíram fendilhamento na cultivar Védrantais e na NIL 5M2 e fendilhamento da zona pistilar na cultivar Fado. As NIL climactéricas com casca amarela revelaram-se muito suscetíveis à sobre-maturação, fendilhamento pistilar e queimaduras solares durante a produção. Duas NIL exibiram uma ligeira necrose do tecido placentar, carater herdado da linha PI161375. Outros acidentes fisiológicos atípicos observados na colheita ou após 30 dias a 8ºC incluíram casca verrugosa, descolorações castanho-claras na polpa, translucência da polpa, cavidades na polpa e ornamentação profundamente sulcada na casca, herdada do PI161375. Observou-se a ocorrência de podridões pouco usuais em melão, nomeadamente podridão cinzenta, podridão bacteriana, Penicillium sp., Phytium sp. e cladosporiose interna. Uma dureza da região pistilar inferior a 20 N mm-1 estava associada ao fendilhamento e ao amolecimento excessivo. A ocorrência destes acidentes fisiológicos ou podridões foi baixa para assegurar o envolvimento de fatores genéticos no seu desenvolvimento

HPV-associated lung cancers: An international pooled analysis

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the etiologic risk factor for cervical cancer. Some studies have suggested an association with a subset of lung tumors, but the etiologic link has not been firmly established. We performed an international pooled analysis of crosssectional studies (27 datasets, n = 3249 patients) to evaluate HPV DNA prevalence in lung cancer and to investigate viral presence according to clinical and demographic characteristics. HPV16/18 were the most commonly detected, but with substantial variation in viral prevalence between geographic regions. The highest prevalence of HPV16/18 was observed in South and Central America, followed by Asia, North America and Europe (adjusted prevalence rates = 22, 5, 4 and 3%, respectively). Higher HPV16 prevalence was noted in each geographic region compared with HPV18, except in North America. HPV16/18-positive lung cancer was less likely observed among White race (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.12-0.90), whereas no associations were observed with gender, smoking history, age, histology or stage. Comparisons between tumor and normal lung tissue show that HPV was more likely to be present in lung cancer rather than normal lung tissues (OR = 3.86, 95% CI = 2.87-5.19). Among a subset of patients with HPV16-positive tumors, integration was primarily among female patients (93%, 13/14), while the physical status in male cases (N = 14) was inconsistent. Our findings confirm that HPV DNA is present in a small fraction of lung tumors, with large geographic variations. Further comprehensive analysis is needed to assess whether this association reflects a causal relationship. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved

HPV-associated lung cancers: An international pooled analysis

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the etiologic risk factor for cervical cancer. Some studies have suggested an association with a subset of lung tumors, but the etiologic link has not been firmly established. We performed an international pooled analysis of crosssectional studies (27 datasets, n = 3249 patients) to evaluate HPV DNA prevalence in lung cancer and to investigate viral presence according to clinical and demographic characteristics. HPV16/18 were the most commonly detected, but with substantial variation in viral prevalence between geographic regions. The highest prevalence of HPV16/18 was observed in South and Central America, followed by Asia, North America and Europe (adjusted prevalence rates = 22, 5, 4 and 3%, respectively). Higher HPV16 prevalence was noted in each geographic region compared with HPV18, except in North America. HPV16/18-positive lung cancer was less likely observed among White race (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.12-0.90), whereas no associations were observed with gender, smoking history, age, histology or stage. Comparisons between tumor and normal lung tissue show that HPV was more likely to be present in lung cancer rather than normal lung tissues (OR = 3.86, 95% CI = 2.87-5.19). Among a subset of patients with HPV16-positive tumors, integration was primarily among female patients (93%, 13/14), while the physical status in male cases (N = 14) was inconsistent. Our findings confirm that HPV DNA is present in a small fraction of lung tumors, with large geographic variations. Further comprehensive analysis is needed to assess whether this association reflects a causal relationship

Multi-institutional prostate cancer study of genetic susceptibility in populations of African descent.

International audienceProstate cancer disparities have been reported in men of African descent who show the highest incidence, mortality, compared with other ethnic groups. Few studies have explored the genetic and environmental factors for prostate cancer in men of African ancestry. The glutathione-S-transferases family conjugates carcinogens before their excretion and is expressed in prostate tissue. This study addressed the role of GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletions on prostate cancer risk in populations of African descent. This multi-institutional case-control study gathered data from the Genetic Susceptibility to Environmental Carcinogens (GSEC) database, the African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium (AC3) and Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate Consortium (MADCaP). The analysis included 10 studies (1715 cases and 2363 controls), five in African-Americans, three in African-Caribbean and two in African men. Both the GSTM1 and the GSTT1 deletions showed significant inverse associations with prostate cancer [odds ratio (OR): 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83-0.97 and OR 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82-0.96, respectively]. The association was restricted to Caribbean and African populations. A significant positive association was observed between GSTM1 deletion and prostate cancer in smokers in African-American studies (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.01-1.56), whereas a reduced risk was observed in never-smokers (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.46-0.95). The risk of prostate cancer increased across quartiles of pack-years among subjects carrying the deletion of GSTM1 but not among subjects carrying a functional GSTM1. Gene-environment interaction between smoking and GSTM1 may be involved in the etiology of prostate cancer in populations of African descent