Quantitative assessment of the relationship between Fas/FasL genes polymorphisms and head and neck cancer risk.

BACKGROUND: Molecular epidemiological studies have demonstrated a closer association between Fas/FasL polymorphisms and head and neck cancer (HNC) risk, and the results of these published studies were inconsistent. We therefore performed this meta-analysis to explore the associations between Fas/FasL polymorphisms and HNC risk. METHODS: Four online databases (PubMed, Embase, CNKI, and Wanfang) were searched. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (95% CIs) were calculated to assess the association between Fas -670A>G, Fas -1377G>A, and FasL -844C>T polymorphisms and HNC risk. In addition, heterogeneity, accumulative/sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were conducted to check the statistical power. RESULTS: Overall, 9 related publications (20 independent case-control studies) involving 3179 patients and 4217 controls were identified. Significant association of protective effects was observed between FasL -844C>T polymorphism and HNC risk in codominant and dominant model models (CT vs CC: OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.79-1.00, P = .05, I = 38.3%, CT+TT vs CC: OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.79-0.98, P = .02, I = 35.8%). Furthermore, the similar protective effects were observed the subgroup analysis of in Asian population and population-based controls group. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis indicated that FasL -844C>T polymorphism plays a protective role against HNC development, but the Fas -670A>G and Fas -1377G>A polymorphisms maybe not associated with HNC risk.

Bactericidal effect of plasma jet with helium flowing through 3% hydrogen peroxide against Enterococcus faecalis.

The aim of the present study was to assess the antimicrobial activity of plasma jet with helium (He) flowing through 3% hydrogen peroxide in root canals infected with Enterococcus faecalis. A total of 42 single-rooted anterior teeth were prepared, sterilized, inoculated with an E. faecalis suspension and incubated for 7 days. Next, the teeth were randomly divided into six experimental groups (including groups treated by plasma jet with or without He for different time durations) and one control group treated without plasma. The number of surviving bacteria in each canal was determined by counting the colony forming units (CFU)/ml on nutrient agar plates. The results indicated that statistically significant reduction in CFU/ml (P<0.005) existed for all treatment groups relative to the control group. The greatest reductions in CFU/ml were observed for Group 3 (7.027 log unit reduction) and Group 2 (6.237 log unit reduction), which were treated by plasma jet sterilization with He flowing through 3% hydrogen peroxide for 4 min or for 2 min, respectively. In addition, the reduction in Group 3 was significantly greater compared with that in Group 2 or in the groups treated by plasma jet sterilization without He flowing through 3% hydrogen peroxide for 1, 2 or 4 min. In conclusion, plasma jet with or without He flowing through 3% hydrogen peroxide can effectively sterilized root canals infected with E. faecalis and should be considered as an alternative method for root canal disinfection in endodontic treatments.

CCND1 G870A polymorphism contributes to the risk of esophageal cancer: An updated systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis.

The common functional cyclin D1 (CCND1) G870A polymorphism may influence the risk of esophageal cancer. However, the conclusions of previous studies have been inconsistent for the association between the CCND1 G870A polymorphism and esophageal cancer risk. A meta-analysis of 11 published case-control studies was performed, including 2,111 patients with esophageal cancer and 3,232 controls, to investigate the association between the CCND1 G870A polymorphism and esophageal cancer risk. The odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied to assess the association between the CCND1 G870A polymorphism and esophageal cancer risk. A significant association between the CCND1 G870A polymorphism and esophageal cancer risk was observed for the allele contrast (A vs. G: OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.02-1.48; P=0.029), codominant (AA vs. GG: OR, 1.58; 95% CI; 1.06-2.35; P=0.024) and recessive models (AA vs. GG + GA: OR, 1.33, 95% CI, 1.03-1.73; P=0.030). However, in the stratified analysis by ethnicity, study design and pathology, there was no significant association detected in these genetic models. In conclusion, results of the meta-analysis suggested that the CCND1 G870A polymorphism is a potential risk factor in the development of esophageal cancer.