Association between the Epidermal Growth Factor +61G/A Polymorphism and Glioma Risk: A Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Background</p><p>Gliomas account for almost 80% of primary malignant brain tumors. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is an interesting research candidate in which to look for genetic polymorphisms because of its role in mitogenesis and proliferation. Extensive studies have found that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) +61G/A (rs4444903) in the EGF gene is associated with the susceptibility of glioma, however, the results have been controversial. Furthermore, the association between EGF +61G/A polymorphism with the development and grade progress of glioma has not been established.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We examined the association of EGF +61G/A polymorphism and glioma by performing a meta-analysis. Nine studies testing the associations between EGF +61G/A polymorphism and risk of glioma with 1758 cases and 2823 controls were retrieved. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of the association. The pooled ORs were performed for the allele model, codominant model, dominant model, and recessive model, respectively.</p><p>Results</p><p>Overall, this meta-analysis showed significant associations between the EGF +61G/A polymorphism and glioma susceptibility in all four genetic models. However, in the stratified analysis by the grade of glioma, we only found this association existed in patients with Grade IV glioblastoma, but not in patients with Grade I-III glioma. We further compared EGF +61G/A polymorphism in patients with glioblastoma and Grade I-III glioma accordingly, the stronger association between the EGF +61G/A polymorphism and the malignancy of glioma was found.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The results of this meta-analysis suggested that the EGF +61G/A polymorphism is associated with both the susceptibility of glioma and the malignance of glioma.</p></div

Begg's funnel plot of publication bias for EGF +61G/A polymorphism (a versus A).

<p>Plots are shown with pseudo 95% confidence limits. s.e., standard error.</p

Characteristics of individual studies included in meta-analysis.

<p>Na, not available.</p

Sensitivity analysis of the association between EGF +61G/A polymorphism and glioma risk (a versus A).

<p>Results were computed by omitting each study in turn. Meta-analysis fixed-effects estimates (exponential form) were used. Open circle indicates the pooled OR, given named study is omitted. The two ends of the dotted lines represent the 95% CI.</p

Forest plot of glioma risk for EGF +61G/A polymorphism (a versus A) by glioma grade.

<p>The dots and horizontal lines correspond to the study-specific OR and 95% CI. The diamond represents the pooled OR and 95% CI.</p

Flow chart of the study selection process.

<p>Flow chart of the study selection process.</p

Forest plot of EGF +61G/A polymorphism associated with glioblastoma and Grade I-III glioma risk (a versus A).

<p>The squares and horizontal lines correspond to the study-specific OR and 95% CI. The area of the squares reflects the study-specific weight (inverse of the variance). The diamond represents the pooled OR and 95% CI.</p

Meta-analysis of the association between EGF +61G/A polymorphism and glioma risk.

a<p>Number of comparisons; ^bP value of Q-test for heterogeneity test; ^cEstimates for random-effects mode.</p

Additional file 9: Figure S7. of Occurrence, diversity and community structure of culturable atrazine degraders in industrial and agricultural soils exposed to the herbicide in Shandong Province, P.R. China

BOX-PCR typing of ERIC type B isolates. Lanes are designated by the strain names. Lane T – pattern of the species type strain A. ureafaciens CGMCC 1.1897T. Lanes M contain a 100 bp DNA Ladder (Takara Biotechnology (Dalian) Co., Ltd., China). (TIF 1179 kb

Effects of metal ions on MBC biodegradation.

<p>The means of three independent experiments were plotted with error bars indicating standard deviations. Different letters above each column indicate significant differences among treatments (P<0.05).</p