7 research outputs found
Genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes and lung cancer risk
Genetic polymorphisms of the genes encoding for the xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes result in individual variations in the efficiency of detoxification of environmental carcinogens, and have been extensively associated with variable risk for lung neoplasms in different ethnic and environmental backgrounds. In this study, using PCR-RFLP based assays, we investigated the distribution of genetic polymorphisms in CYP1A1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in Greek lung cancer patients (N=122) and healthy controls (N=178). The frequency of CYP1A1 m1 homozygous genotype was 0.04 in patients and 0.02 in controls (detected in 4.10% of patients and in 1.69% of controls, respectively), that of GSTM1 null genotype was 0.52 in patients and 0.54 in controls, whereas those of GSTT1 null genotype was 0.17 and 0.11, in patients and controls, respectively. The GSTM1 null genotype was more frequent in adenocarcinoma, as well as in lung cancer patients with history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The GSTT1 null genotype correlated with advanced age of the patients at the time of diagnosis. Three combinations of rare genotypes - in subjects carrying simultaneously deviations from the common genotype in more than one gene - were over-represented in lung cancer patients, compared to control population, and were furthermore significantly associated with history of heavy tobacco consumption in lung cancer patients. The results imply involvement of specific genotype combinations of CYP1A1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 alleles in the development of lung cancer in heavy smokers
Severe Asthma: Definitions, risk factors and phenotype characterization
SUMMARY. The correct diagnosis of asthma is usually made easily and most patients with asthma respond to therapy. Approximately 5-10% of patients with asthma, however, have disease that is difficult to control despite administration of maximal doses of inhaled medications. It appears that asthma is a heterogeneous disorder which presents not as a single disease but rather as a complex of multiple, separate syndromes that overlap. Although the various different phenotypes of asthma have been long recognized, they are still poorly characterized. Improved phenotypical characterization and understanding of the underlying pathobiology are necessary for linkage of specific genotypes with clinical disease manifestations, for possible development of biomarkers and for devising advanced, phenotype-targeted asthma treatment. This review reports on the asthma phenotypes that have been best described and analyses the methods used to define them. Pneumon 2010, 23(3):260-292
P2-169: Carboplatin and Gemcitabine as adjuvant therapy in completely resected stage I-IIIA non small cell lung cancer patients
Self-perceived quality of sleep among COPD patients in Greece: the SLEPICO study
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of
morbidity and mortality worldwide accompanied by a substantial social
and economic burden for the patient and the society. Poor sleep quality
among COPD patients is frequently unnoticed and unaddressed by
physicians and patients themselves, although it is a major source of
further deterioration of these patients’ quality of life. The aim of the
present study was to record the quality of sleep in COPD patients among
the Greek population and correlate these findings with various features
of these patients, using the COPD and Asthma Sleep Impact Scale (CASIS).
This was a cross-sectional observational study. Forty different
variables (demographics, vital sign measurements, COPD-related medical
history parameters, comorbidities, CASIS questionnaire results, COPD
assessment test, COPD severity based on spirometry measurements, COPD
stage based on the ABCD assessment approach, inhaled COPD treatment
report) were collected from 3454 nation-wide COPD patients (Greece). The
study sample consisted of COPD patients, mainly male (73%) with a
median age of 69 years and a median BMI of 27.2. More than half of COPD
patients (60.6%) suffered from moderate disease severity and 23.8%
from severe disease, while less than half (42.1%) suffered from at
least one exacerbation of the disease over the last year prior study
enrollment. About 14% reported frequent to very frequent issues
affecting their sleep quality, between a fourth and a third of them
reported occasional night sleep disturbances, and at least half of them
reported no or very infrequent problems in their night sleep. Our study
indicates that the COPD assessment test (CAT) and the spirometry-based
disease severity can predict the poorness in the quality of sleep
(F-2,F-3451 = 1397.5, p < 0.001, adj. R2 = 0.45) as assessed by CASIS
score, and that the latter also correlates with age (rho = 0.122, p <
0.001) and disease duration (rho = 0.104, p < 0.001). On the contrary,
there appears to be no correlation between sleep quality and number of
exacerbations. Finally, untreated patients with COPD suffer from poorer
quality of sleep compared to treated subjects, independently of the use
of inhaled corticosteroids (F-2,F-3451 = 21.65, p < 0.001). The results
of the SLEPICO study show that increased age, prolonged disease
duration, and especially CAT score >= 10, and severe COPD stage, might
act as important indicators for deterioration in the quality of sleep,
with potential consequences in the daily routine of those patients, thus
urging potentially for further pharmacological interventions or
modifications