Genotyping for polymorphism of STK-15, a low-penetrance gene in colorectal cancer

STK-15 protein or Aurora-A kinase play a vital role in regulating the cell division process. This preliminary study was conducted to investigate the association of polymorphisms Phe3llle with colorectal cancer development. This nonsynonymous coding region was believed to have important function in regulating the periodically proteasomal-ubiquitination degrading mechanism of STK-15 protein. To examine whether functional variation in STK-15 may affect the susceptible risk, DNA samples from colorectal cancer patients (n = 11) and healthy individual (n = 1) were genotyped for Phe31IIe polymorphisms. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used in this study. A restriction enzyme cutting site of Apol is created when there is a polymorphism. Out of 11 samples, 9.09% were Phe/Phe genotype, 72.73% were Phe/Ile genotype and 18.18% were Ile/Ile genotype. The heterozygous might possibly have the highest risk in developing colorectal cancer. The samples were in Hardy-Weinberg-proportion (χ² = 2.393, N=11). Risk of association between polymorphisms of Phe3llle in both alleles and colorectal cancer were investigated using OR, allele Ile was found to have high susceptibility risk (OR=1.20,95% CI = 0.1-22.0) as compared to allele Phe. However, acting as a preliminary study, data obtained indicated that high occurrence rate of Phe3IIle polymorphism can be found in colorectal cancer individuals and it is worth to conduct a large scale and well-designed study in the future

Integration of an On-Axis General Sun-Tracking Formula in the Algorithm of an Open-Loop Sun-Tracking System

A novel on-axis general sun-tracking formula has been integrated in the algorithm of an open-loop sun-tracking system in order to track the sun accurately and cost effectively. Sun-tracking errors due to installation defects of the 25 m2 prototype solar concentrator have been analyzed from recorded solar images with the use of a CCD camera. With the recorded data, misaligned angles from ideal azimuth-elevation axes have been determined and corrected by a straightforward changing of the parameters' values in the general formula of the tracking algorithm to improve the tracking accuracy to 2.99 mrad, which falls below the encoder resolution limit of 4.13 mrad

What are the barriers faced by patients using insulin? a qualitative study of Malaysian health care professionals' views

BACKGROUND: Patients with type 2 diabetes often require insulin as the disease progresses. However, health care professionals frequently encounter challenges when managing patients who require insulin therapy. Understanding how health care professionals perceive the barriers faced by patients on insulin will facilitate care and treatment strategies. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the views of Malaysian health care professionals on the barriers faced by patients using insulin. METHODS: Semi-structured qualitative interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with health care professionals involved in diabetes care using insulin. Forty-one health care professionals participated in the study, consisting of primary care doctors (n = 20), family medicine specialists (n = 10), government policymakers (n = 5), diabetes educators (n = 3), endocrinologists (n = 2), and one pharmacist. We used a topic guide to facilitate the interviews, which were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a thematic approach. RESULTS: FIVE THEMES WERE IDENTIFIED AS BARRIERS: side effects, patient education, negative perceptions, blood glucose monitoring, and patient adherence to treatment and follow-up. Patients perceive that insulin therapy causes numerous negative side effects. There is a lack of patient education on proper glucose monitoring and how to optimize insulin therapy. Cost of treatment and patient ignorance are highlighted when discussing patient self-monitoring of blood glucose. Finally, health care professionals identified a lack of a follow-up system, especially for patients who do not keep to regular appointments. CONCLUSION: This study identifies five substantial barriers to optimizing insulin therapy. Health care professionals who successfully identify and address these issues will empower patients to achieve effective self-management. System barriers require government agency in establishing insulin follow-up programs, multidisciplinary diabetes care teams, and subsidies for glucometers and test strips

Stroke Factors Associated with Thrombolysis Use in Hospitals in Singapore and US: A Cross-Registry Comparative Study

Background and Objectives: This paper aims to describe and compare the characteristics of 2 stroke populations in Singapore and in St. Louis, USA, and to document thrombolysis rates and contrast factors associated with its uptake in both populations. Methods: The stroke populations described were from the Singapore Stroke Registry (SSR) in -Singapore and the Cognitive Rehabilitation Research Group Stroke Registry (CRRGSR) in St. Louis, MO, USA. The registries were compared in terms of demographics and stroke risk factor history. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with thrombolysis uptake. Results: A total of 39,323 and 8,106 episodes were recorded in SSR and CRRGSR, respectively, from 2005 to 2012. Compared to CRRGSR, patients in SSR were older, male, and from the ethnic majority. Thrombolysis rates in SSR and CRRGSR were 2.5 and 8.2%, respectively, for the study period. History of ischemic heart disease or atrial fibrillation was associated with increased uptake in both populations, while history of stroke was associated with lower uptake. For SSR, younger age and males were associated with increased uptake, while having a history of smoking or diabetes was associated with decreased uptake. For CRRGSR, ethnic minority status was associated with decreased uptake. Conclusions: The comparison of stroke populations in Singapore and St Louis revealed distinct differences in clinicodemographics of the 2 groups. Thrombolysis uptake was driven by nonethnicity demographics in Singapore. Ethnicity was the only demographic driver of uptake in the CRRGSR population, highlighting the need to target ethnic minorities in increasing access to thrombolysis

Consideration of pannexin 1 channels in covid-19 pathology and treatment

Copyright © 2020 the American Physiological Society Pannexin 1 (PANX1) is a ubiquitously expressed, channel-forming protein found in a number of tissues throughout the body (e.g., lung, vasculature, liver, central nervous system, immune system) that is important in many key physiological and immune responses (18, 55). PANX1 channels passively flux ATP (predominantly), multiple metabolites, and likely other small anions (37, 39). PANX1 channels regulate inflammation and host responses to several pathogens, including viruses (36, 42, 53). While there is currently no evidence suggesting novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and PANX1 directly interact, there is an urgent need for therapeutic strategies, especially those targeting the hyperinflammation and cytokine storm that occurs in severe cases of COVID-19 (27, 41). Here we argue that PANX1, and drugs known to target PANX1 (including the FDA-approved drug probenecid), should be the focus of further investigation in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its associated pathology in COVID-19 patients

Incremental cost-effectiveness analysis of gestational diabetes mellitus screening strategies in Singapore

10.1177/1010539515612908Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health28115-25GUSTO (Growing up towards Healthy Outcomes

Assessing risk of breast cancer in an ethnically South-East Asia population (results of a multiple ethnic groups study)

10.1186/1471-2407-12-529BMC Cancer12-BCMA

Genome-wide trans-ancestry meta-analysis provides insight into the genetic architecture of type 2 diabetes susceptibility.

To further understanding of the genetic basis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) susceptibility, we aggregated published meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), including 26,488 cases and 83,964 controls of European, east Asian, south Asian and Mexican and Mexican American ancestry. We observed a significant excess in the directional consistency of T2D risk alleles across ancestry groups, even at SNPs demonstrating only weak evidence of association. By following up the strongest signals of association from the trans-ethnic meta-analysis in an additional 21,491 cases and 55,647 controls of European ancestry, we identified seven new T2D susceptibility loci. Furthermore, we observed considerable improvements in the fine-mapping resolution of common variant association signals at several T2D susceptibility loci. These observations highlight the benefits of trans-ethnic GWAS for the discovery and characterization of complex trait loci and emphasize an exciting opportunity to extend insight into the genetic architecture and pathogenesis of human diseases across populations of diverse ancestry