Significance of common variants on human chromosome 8q24 in relation to the risk of prostate cancer in native Japanese men

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Common variants on human chromosome 8q24, rs1447295 (C/A) and rs6983267 (T/G), have been recently linked to the prevalence of prostate cancer in European and American populations. Here, we evaluated whether the single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs1447295 and rs6983267 were associated with the risk of sporadic prostate cancer as well as latent prostate cancer in a native Japanese population.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We analyzed genomic DNA samples from 391 sporadic prostate cancer patients, 323 controls who had died from causes unrelated to cancer and 112 Japanese men who were diagnosed as having latent prostate cancer based on autopsy results. The polymorphisms were determined by allelic discrimination using a fluorescent-based TaqMan assay. The A allele of rs1447295 was significantly associated with the risk of sporadic prostate cancer (<it>p </it>= 0.04; age-adjusted OR, 1.34), while the G allele of rs6983267 showed a trend towards being a high-risk allele (<it>p </it>= 0.06; age-adjusted OR, 1.27). No significant difference between these two polymorphisms and the risk of latent prostate cancer was observed in the present Japanese population.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Known variants on human chromosome 8q24 may be risk factors for sporadic prostate cancer in native Japanese men.</p

ジドウ ソウサホウ ニヨル ガン チリョウヨウ 125 Ｉ シード ホウシャセン キョウド ケンテイ システム ノ カイハツ

A new scanning system using a NaI(Tl) scintillation survey meter, copper slit and drive-unit has been developed for quality control of radioactive seeds. Radioactive seed implants, also called brachytherapy, are widely used modality in the treatment of early stage prostate cancers. Seeds containing the iodine-125 are most commonly used for permanent implant prostate brachytherapy. These seeds are commercially available and delivered in a sterile environment in the form of packaged cartridge. It is impractical to re-sterilize and re-load seeds after calibration. This paper describes a new method to calibrate all seeds in the seed cartridge in a sterile package

Spatial Distribution of the Input of Insoluble Particles Into the Surface of the Qaanaaq Glacier, Northwestern Greenland

From glaciological observations, we found spatial variation in the input of insoluble particles (ISP) on a glacier surface from atmospheric deposition and outcropping at the surface of the glacier by surface ablation at the ablation area of the Qaanaaq Ice Cap in northwestern Greenland. Possible sources of ISP input to the glacier surface were outcropping at the surface of the glacier by ablation at intermediate and low elevations, and from atmospheric deposition at high elevations. The annual atmospheric deposition of ISP was larger at high elevations than at intermediate and low elevations. The annual abundance of outcropping ISP was larger at intermediate elevations than at low elevations, where the annual ablation rate of the glacier surface was 1.5 times larger than at intermediate elevations. The ISP concentration in the glacier ice at intermediate sites was approximately 10 times larger than at low sites. The water stable isotopes of glacier ice at intermediate sites indicated that glacier ice at the intermediate sites did not form since the last glacial maximum, possibly the Holocene Thermal Maximum. Therefore, the accumulation of the ISP, which is outcropping at the intermediate site, occurred at high elevations after Holocene Thermal Maximum

Increased oceanic dimethyl sulfide emissions in areas of sea ice retreat inferred from a Greenland ice core

Summer sea ice retreat in the high latitude North Atlantic since 2000 is associated with increases in oceanic emissions of dimethyl sulfide, according to a record of methane sulfonic acid fluxes from an ice core in southeast Greenland

Field activities at the SIGMA-A site, northwestern Greenland Ice Sheet, 2017

During spring 2017, we conducted research expeditions to the SIGMA-A site, which is located on the northwestern Greenland Ice Sheet. We maintained an automated weather station (AWS) to enable continuous meteorological observations. We extended 1.5-m long poles of the AWS and replaced two aerovane sensors, two thermo-hydrometers and an ultrasonic snow gauge. We also drilled an ice core and recovered a core with a total length of 60.06 m, conducted stratigraphic observations, and measured the density of the ice core. In addition, we conducted snow-pit observations and snow sampling, measured the specific surface area of snow using near-infrared reflectance, performed sunphotometry observations, and measured the spectral albedo. To schedule research activities in the field camp and helicopter pick-up flights, we received weather forecasts from the Meteorological Research Institute of Japan through the Internet using a satellite phone every day. We took a male dog to the field camp to alert us to approaching animals