HRAS1 Variable Number of Tandem Repeats Polymorphism in Japanese Patients with Colorectal Adenoma and Cancer

The highly polymorphic HRAS1 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) has been described as an inherited predisposing factor in various human cancers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the presence of rare HRAS1 VNTR alleles and colorectal adenoma and cancer. A total of 165 Japanese patients underwent total colonoscopy with informed consent, and were divided into 2 groups: colorectal neoplastic and non-neoplastic patients. Two hundred and sixteen HRAS1 VNTR alleles from 108 colorectal neoplastic patients (67 adenomas and 41 cancers) and 114 alleles from 57 non-neoplastic patients were genotyped using PCR-based long-agarose gel electrophoresis assay of peripheral blood leukocyte DNA. Rare alleles were differentiated from 4 types of common allele (a1, a2, a3 and a4) by shifts in electrophoretic mobility. The prevalence of rare HRAS1 VNTR alleles was higher in colorectal neoplastic patients than in non-neoplastic patients (25.4% and 34.1% versus 8.8%). The adjusted odds ratio with at least one rare allele was 8.65 (95% confidence interval = 2.93 ? 25.53, P < 0.0001) in colorectal neoplastic patients. The presence of rare HRAS1 VNTR alleles could be a genetic predisposing factor for risk of colorectal neoplasm in Japanese people

Functional Polymorphisms in the Promoter Regions of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2, -3, -7, -9 and TNF-alpha Genes, and the Risk of Colorectal Neoplasm in Japanese

Colorectal carcinogenesis involves environmental factors and genetic predispositions. Recent studies have suggested the associations between colorectal neoplasm and functional polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cytokine genes. In this study, we analyzed polymorphisms of MMPs and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha genes, focusing on the susceptibility to colorectal neoplasm and the tumor progression. The subjects were 186 patients (95 men and 91 women) who underwent total colonoscopy, and were classified into cancer, adenoma and non-neoplasm (control) groups of 47, 72 and 67 patients, respectively. The polymorphisms at the MMP-2 ?1306C/T, MMP-3 ?1171 5A/6A, MMP-7 ?181A/G, MMP-9 ?1562C/T and TNF-alpha ?308G/A loci were analyzed. Regarding background factors, significant differences were found in the age, sex ratio and alcohol-drinking and cigarette-smoking histories in the adenoma and cancer groups, compared to those in the control group. On these factors-adjusted logistic regression analysis of polymorphisms and disease susceptibility, no significant difference was noted in the frequency of any polymorphism in the adenoma and cancer groups, compared to those in the control group. The analysis of the involvement of polymorphisms in tumor progression in the adenoma and cancer groups revealed that the odds ratio for the MMP-3 5A allele was significantly higher in the cancer group (2.74; 95% confidence interval = 1.11?6.74, P = 0.02). The polymorphisms of MMP genes and TNF-alpha genes were not associated with the susceptibility to colorectal neoplasm, but the involvement of the MMP-3 5A allele in the progression of adenoma to cancer was suggested

Impact of dispatcher-assisted bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation on neurological outcomes in children with out-of-hospital cardiac arrests: A prospective, nationwide, population-based cohort study

Background-The impact of dispatcher-assisted bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on neurological outcomes in children is unclear. We investigated whether dispatcher-assisted bystander CPR shows favorable neurological outcomes (Cerebral Performance Category scale 1 or 2) in children with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Methods and Results-Children (n=5009, age < 18 years) with OHCA were selected from a nationwide Utstein-style Japanese database (2008-2010) and divided into 3 groups: no bystander CPR (n=2287); bystander CPR with dispatcher instruction (n=2019); and bystander CPR without dispatcher instruction (n=703) groups. The primary endpoint was favorable neurological outcome at 1 month post-OHCA. Dispatcher CPR instruction was offered to 53.9% of patients, significantly increasing bystander CPR provision rate (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 7.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.60 to 8.57). Bystander CPR with and without dispatcher instruction were significantly associated with improved 1-month favorable neurological outcomes (aOR, 1.81 and 1.68; 95% CI, 1.24 to 2.67 and 1.07 to 2.62, respectively), compared to no bystander CPR. Conventional CPR was associated with increased odds of 1-month favorable neurological outcomes irrespective of etiology of cardiac arrest (aOR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.56 to 3.41). However, chest-compression-only CPR was not associated with 1-month meaningful outcomes (aOR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.67 to 1.64). Conclusions-In children with OHCA, dispatcher-assisted bystander CPR increased bystander CPR provision rate and was associated with improved 1-month favorable neurological outcomes, compared to no bystander CPR. Conventional bystander CPR was associated with greater likelihood of neurologically intact survival, compared to chest-compression-only CPR, irrespective of cardiac arrest etiology. © 2014 The Authors

REGIOSELECTIVITY OF THE INTRAMOLECULAR BIARYL COUPLING REACTION OF 3-SUBSTITUTED PHENYL 2-IODOBENZOATE USING A PALLADIUM REAGENT

This study investigated the regioselectivity of the intramolecular coupling reaction of the phenyl benzoate derivative which possesses a methyl or methoxy group at the meta-position of the phenoxy moiety. The type of base and the presence/absence of the phosphine ligand influenced the product ratio. A transition state model and the regioselectivity of the reaction are discussed

Unraveling the Nature of Unidentified High Galactic Latitude Fermi/LAT Gamma-ray Sources with Suzaku

We report on the results of deep X-ray follow-up observations of four unidentified Fermi/LAT gamma-ray sources at high Galactic latitudes using Suzaku. The studied objects were detected with high significance during the first 3 months of Fermi/LAT operation, and subsequently better localized in the Fermi/LAT 1 year catalog (1FGL). Possible associations with pulsars and active galaxies have subsequently been discussed, and our observations provide an important contribution to this debate. In particular, an X-ray point source was found within the 95% confidence error circle of 1FGL J1231.1-1410. X-ray spectrum is well-fitted by a blackbody with an additional power-law. This supports the recently claimed identification of this source with a millisecond pulsar (MSP) PSR J1231-1411. Concerning 1FGL J1311.7-3429, two X-ray sources were found within the LAT error circle. Even though the X-ray spectral and variability properties were accessed, their nature and relationship with the gamma-ray source remain uncertain. We found several weak X-ray sources in the field of 1FGL J1333.2+5056, one coinciding with CLASS J1333+5057. We argue the available data are consistent with the association between these two objects. Finally, we have detected an X-ray source in the vicinity of 1FGL J2017.3+0603. This object was recently suggested to be associated with a newly discovered MSP PSR J2017+0603, because of the spatial-coincidence and the gamma-ray pulse detection. We have only detected the X-ray counterpart of the CLASS J2017+0603, while we determined an X-ray flux upper limit at the pulsar position. All in all, our studies indicate while a significant fraction of unidentified high Galactic latitude gamma-ray sources is related to the pulsar and blazar phenomena, associations with other classes of astrophysical objects are still valid options.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Ap

Association of Functional Gene Polymorphisms of Interleukin-1β and Transforming Growth Factor-β1 with the Progression of Liver Fibrosis in Japanese Patients with Hepatitis C Virus-Related Chronic Liver Disease

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN) are key cytokines in an inflammatory response, and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) promotes hepatic fibrogenesis. The association of polymorphisms in the genes for these cytokines with liver fibrosis is controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the possible association of IL-1β, IL-1RN and TGF-β1 polymorphisms with the progression of liver fibrosis in the Japanese population using cross-sectional and longitudinal study designs. We examined 183 patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease (93 chronic hepatitis and 90 with cirrhosis). Some of the chronic hepatitis cases were divided into progressive fibrosis and non-progressive fibrosis. IL-1β ?31T/C, IL-1RN variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) and TGF-β1 +869 T/C polymorphisms were analyzed using a polymerase-chain reaction-based assay. In the cross-sectional study, there were no significant differences in the genotype distributions of IL-1β, IL-1RN and TGF-β1 between chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. No significant differences were found among Child-Pugh grades in cirrhosis patients. In the longitudinal study, there were no significant differences in the genotype distributions of IL-1β, IL-1RN and TGF-β1 between progressive fibrosis and non-progressive fibrosis. No significant differences in the speed at which liver fibrosis develop were found among the genotypes of IL-1β, IL-1RN and TGF-β1. In disagreement with other studies, the functional gene polymorphisms of IL-1β, IL-1RN and TGF-β1 were not associated with the progression of liver fibrosis in Japanese patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease