Urinary bladder cancer risk in relation to a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs2854744) in the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) gene.

Currently, twelve validated genetic variants have been identified that are associated with urinary bladder cancer (UBC) risk. However, those validated variants explain only 5-10% of the overall inherited risk. In addition, there are more than 100 published polymorphisms still awaiting validation or disproval. A particularly promising of the latter unconfirmed polymorphisms is rs2854744 that recently has been published to be associated with UBC risk. The [A] allele of rs2854744 has been reported to be associated with a higher promoter activity of the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) gene, which may lead to increased IGFBP-3 plasma levels and cancer risk. Therefore, we investigated the association of rs2854744 with UBC in the IfADo case-control series consisting of 1,450 cases and 1,725 controls from Germany, Hungary, Venezuela and Pakistan. No significant association of rs2854744 with UBC risk was obtained (all study groups combined: unadjusted P = 0.4446; adjusted for age, gender and smoking habits P = 0.6510), besides a small effect of the [A] allele in the Pakistani study group opposed to the original findings (unadjusted P = 0.0508, odds ratio (OR) = 1.43 for the multiplicative model) that diminished after adjustment for age, gender and smoking habits (P = 0.7871; OR = 0.93). Associations of rs2854744 with occupational exposure to urinary bladder carcinogens and smoking habits were also not present. A meta-analysis of all available case-control series including the original discovery study resulted in an OR of 1.00 (P = 0.9562). In conclusion, we could not confirm the recently published hypothesis that rs2854744 in the IGFBP3 gene is associated with UBC risk.

Rs11892031[A] on chromosome 2q37 in an intronic region of the UGT1A locus is associated with urinary bladder cancer risk.

Recently, rs11892031[A] has been identified in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to confer increased risk of urinary bladder cancer (UBC). To confirm this association and additionally study a possible relevance of exposure to urinary bladder carcinogens, we investigated the IfADo UBC study group, consisting of eight case-control series from different regions including 1,805 cases and 2,141 controls. This analysis was supplemented by a meta-analysis of all published data, including 13,395 cases and 54,876 controls. Rs11892031 A/A was significantly associated with UBC risk in the IfADo case-control series adjusted to cigarette smoking, gender, age and ethnicity (OR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.02-1.37; P = 0.026). In the meta-analysis, a convincing association with UBC risk was obtained (OR = 1.19; 95% Cl = 1.12-1.26; P < 0.0001). Interestingly, the highest odds ratios were obtained for individual case-control series with a high degree of occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aromatic amines: cases with suspected occupational UBC (OR = 1.41) and cases from the highly industrialized Ruhr area (OR = 1.98) compared with Ruhr area controls (all combined OR = 1.46). Odds ratios were lower for study groups with no or a lower degree of occupational exposure to bladder carcinogens, such as the Hungary (OR = 1.02) or the ongoing West German case-control series (OR = 1.06). However, the possible association of rs11892031[A] with exposure to bladder carcinogens still should be interpreted with caution, because in contrast to the differences between the individual study groups, interview-based data on occupational exposure were not significantly associated with rs11892031. In conclusion, the association of rs11892031[A] with UBC risk could be confirmed in independent study groups.

Genotyping NAT2 with only two SNPs (rs1041983 and rs1801280) outperforms the tagging SNP rs1495741 and is equivalent to the conventional 7-SNP NAT2 genotype.

Genotyping N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) is of high relevance for individualized dosing of antituberculosis drugs and bladder cancer epidemiology. In this study we compared a recently published tagging single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs1495741) to the conventional 7-SNP genotype (G191A, C282T, T341C, C481T, G590A, A803G and G857A haplotype pairs) and systematically analysed if novel SNP combinations outperform the latter. For this purpose, we studied 3177 individuals by PCR and phenotyped 344 individuals by the caffeine test. Although the tagSNP and the 7-SNP genotype showed a high degree of correlation (R=0.933, P<0.0001) the 7-SNP genotype nevertheless outperformed the tagging SNP with respect to specificity (1.0 vs. 0.9444, P=0.0065). Considering all possible SNP combinations in a receiver operating characteristic analysis we identified a 2-SNP genotype (C282T, T341C) that outperformed the tagging SNP and was equivalent to the 7-SNP genotype. The 2-SNP genotype predicted the correct phenotype with a sensitivity of 0.8643 and a specificity of 1.0. In addition, it predicted the 7-SNP genotype with sensitivity and specificity of 0.9993 and 0.9880, respectively. The prediction of the NAT2 genotype by the 2-SNP genotype performed similar in populations of Caucasian, Venezuelan and Pakistani background. A 2-SNP genotype predicts NAT2 phenotypes with similar sensitivity and specificity as the conventional 7-SNP genotype. This procedure represents a facilitation in individualized dosing of NAT2 substrates without losing sensitivity or specificity.

Rs710521[A] on chromosome 3q28 close to TP63 is associated with increased urinary bladder cancer risk.

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs710521[A], located near TP63 on chromosome 3q28, was identified to be significantly associated with increased bladder cancer risk. To investigate the association of rs710521[A] and bladder cancer by new data and by meta-analysis including all published data, rs710521 was studied in 1,425 bladder cancer cases and 1,740 controls that had not been included in previous studies. Blood samples were collected from 1995 to 2010 in Germany (n = 948/1,258), Hungary (n = 262/65), Venezuela (n = 112/190) and Pakistan (n = 103/227) supplemented by a meta-analysis of 5,695 cases and 40,187 controls. Detection of a A/G substitution (rs710521) on chromosome 3q28, position 191128627 was done via fast real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR). Rs710521[A] is associated with increased risk in the unadjusted analysis (OR = 1.21; 95% Cl = 1.04-1.40; P = 0.011) and in the recessive model adjusted for age, gender, smoking habits and ethnicity (OR = 1.23; 95% Cl = 1.05-1.44; P = 0.010). No difference between individuals occupationally exposed versus not occupationally exposed to urinary bladder carcinogens was observed concerning the relevance of rs710521[A]. Similarly, rs710521[A] did not confer different susceptibility in smokers and non-smokers. Performing a meta-analysis of 5,695 cases and 40,187 controls including all published studies on rs710521, a convincing association with bladder cancer risk was obtained (OR = 1.18; 95% Cl = 1.12-1.25; P < 0.0001). However, the odds ratio is relatively small.

Glutathione S-transferase P1 ILE105Val polymorphism in occupationally exposed bladder cancer cases.

The genotype glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) influences the risk for bladder cancer among Chinese workers occupationally exposed to benzidine. Studies of Caucasian bladder cancer cases without known occupational exposures showed conflicting results. Research was thus conducted to define the role of GSTP1 genotypes in Caucasian bladder cancer cases with an occupational history of exposure to aromatic amines. DNA from 143 cases reported to the Industrial Professional Associations (Berufsgenossenschaften) in Germany from 1996 to 2004, who had contracted urothelial cancer due to occupational exposure, and 196 patients from one Department of Surgery in Dortmund, without known malignancy in their medical history, were genotyped using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (LightCycler) in relation to GSTP1 A1578G (Ile105Val) polymorphism. Among the subjects with bladder cancer, 46% presented the AA genotype, 39% the AG genotype, and 15% the GG genotype. In the surgical (noncancer) control group analyzed, 42% presented the AA genotype, 42% the AG genotype, and 16% the GG genotype. A subgroup of bladder cancer cases, represented by 46 painters, showed a distribution of 41% of the AA genotype, 48% of the AG genotype, and 11% of the GG genotype. Data indicated that in Caucasians exposed to aromatic amines the GSTP1 A1578G polymorphism did not appear to play a significant role as a predisposing factor for bladder cancer incidence.

Bladder cancer documentation of causes: multilingual questionnaire, 'bladder cancer doc'.

There is a considerable discrepancy between the number of identified occupational-related bladder cancer cases and the estimated numbers particularly in emerging nations or less developed countries where suitable approaches are less or even not known. Thus, within a project of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health, a questionnaire of the Dortmund group, applied in different studies, was translated into more than 30 languages (Afrikaans, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Georgian, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Kannada, Kazakh, Kirghiz, Korean, Latvian, Malay, Persian (Farsi), Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese/Brazilian, Romanian, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Slovak, Spanish, Spanish/Mexican, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese). The bipartite questionnaire asks for relevant medical information in the physician's part and for the occupational history since leaving school in the patient's part. Furthermore, this questionnaire is asking for intensity and frequency of certain occupational and non-occupational risk factors. The literature regarding occupations like painter, hairdresser or miner and exposures like carcinogenic aromatic amines, azo dyes, or combustion products is highlighted. The questionnaire is available on www.ifado.de/BladderCancerDoc.

Selenium, copper and zinc in seminal plasma of men with varicocele, relationship with seminal parameters.

Varicocele has been associated with decrease in seminal parameters. Selenium (Se), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) are trace elements essential for normal spermatogenesis of mammals and play a critical role as antioxidant defense system enzymes. Se, Cu, and Zn are associated with sperm quality in fertile and infertile men. However, there is little information about Se, Cu, and Zn concentrations in semen in patients with varicocele and its association with seminal parameters. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of Se, Cu, and Zn in semen of patients with varicocele and the relationship with seminal parameters. Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence was used for the fist time in the seminal fluid analysis. The concentration of selenium in men with varicocele was smaller than the normozoospermic group, while no differences were observed for both concentrations of zinc and copper. A significant positive correlation between zinc and selenium concentration was observed. Selenium in seminal plasma correlates with a good spermatozoa concentrations, motility, and morphology. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was observed between zinc levels and sperm count. In conclusion, a decrease in selenium concentration was associated with detriment of seminal parameters. A study should be conducted to evaluate the benefits of both zinc and selenium supplementation to improve seminal parameters in patients with varicocele.

Tabaquismo, Glutation S-Transferasa, N-Acetiltransferasa 2 y riesgo de cáncer de vejiga / Tabaquism, S-Transferase Glutation, N-Acetiltrasferase 2 and bladder cancer risk

El hábito tabáquico es el factor de riesgo más conocido para cáncer de vejiga. Ciertas arilaminas presentes en el cigarrillo han sido identificadas como carcinógenos para la vejiga en humanos. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es establecer el riesgo de padecer de cáncer de vejiga en individuos fumadores, acetiladores lentos para NAT2 y genotipos nulos de GSTM1 y GSTT1. Materiales y métodos: Se reunieron en total 150 pacientes, 75 pertenecientes al grupo de carcinoma urotelial de vejiga y 75 del grupo control, en este último no se incluyeron pacientes con enfermedad neoplásica de ninguna índole. El ADN se aisló de la muestra de sangre a partir de linfocitos utilizando un kit disponible comercialmente (QIAmp DNA Blood Mini and Maxi Kit, QIAGen GMBH). Mediante el uso de técnicas de reacción en cadena de polimerasa y de restricción/ fragmentación se determinaron los polimorfismos de las enzimas: NAT2, GSTT1 y GSTM1.Resultados: Se incluyeron un total de 150 pacientes, de los cuales 75 pertenecían al grupo controly 75 al grupo de cáncer de vejiga, la media de edad del grupo de cáncer de vejiga fue 60,5 +/-11,4 y del grupo control fue 51,3 +/- 11,4. En cuanto al género en grupo de cáncer de vejiga 64 por ciento pertenecían al sexo masculino. En el grupo control 41 por ciento pertenecían al sexo masculino. Al estudiar el hábito tabáquico se halló que 51 por ciento de los pacientes del grupo de cáncer de vejiga continuaban siendo fumadores, mientras que sólo 21 por ciento fumaba en el grupo control. En el análisis de los genotipos de la enzima NAT2 en el grupo de los pacientes con cáncer de vejiga 52 por ciento resultaron acetiladores lentos, y 4 por ciento acetiladores rápidos. En el grupo control 45 por ciento de los pacientes eran acetiladores lentos y 12 por ciento acetiladores rápidos. En cuanto a la determinación de GSTT1 19 por ciento de los pacientes del grupo de cáncer de vejiga y 24 por ciento del grupo control exhibieron el genotipo nulo...

Introduction: Smoking is the most studied risk factor for bladder cancer. Certain arilamines present in cigarettes have been identified as carcinogenic for the bladder in humans. The purpose of this study is to establish the risk of bladder cancer in smokers, slow acetilators for NAT2 and none active genotypes for GSTM1 and GSTT1. Material and methods: 150 patients were studied, 75 in the group of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder and 75 in the control group. The DNA was isolated from lymphocytes of blood samples using commercially available kit (QIAmp DNA Blood Mini and Maxi Kit, QIAG en GMBH). Enzyme polymorphisms of NAT2, GSTT1 and GSTM1 were determined using techniques of polymerase chain reaction and restriction/fragmentation. Results: 150 patients were included, of who 75 belonged to the control group and 75 had bladder cancer, the average of age of the bladder cancer group was 60.5 +/- 11.4 and of the control group 51.3 +/- 11.4. Regarding gender, in the bladder cancer group 64 percent were males. In the control group 41percent were males. 51 percent of the patients in the bladder cancer group continued being smokers, whereas only 21 percent smoked in control group. In NAT2 enzyme genotype analysis the bladder cancer group 52 percent were slow acetilators, and 4 percent fast acetilators. In the control group 45 percent were slow acetilators and 12 percent fast acetilators. Regarding GSTT1 determination, 19 percent of the bladder cancer group and 24 percent of the control group showed the non-active genotype. GSTM1 showed its non-active form in 44 percent of the bladder cancer group and 48 percent of the control group. Discussion: Bladder cancer is clearly related with smoking habit. We observed a very significant relationship when evaluating smoking habit, slow acetilators for NAT2, and none-active genotypes of GSTM1 and bladder cancer...

Tratamiento de la otitis media aguda / Treatment of the acute otitis media

Veinte pacientes ambulatorios pediátricos, con el diagnóstico clínico-laboratorial de otitis media aguda, fueron estudiados prospectivamenteen un protocolo clínico abierto, no comparativo, a fin de eval;uar la eficacia terapéutica de la combinación de Eritromicina/Sulfisoxazol (Pediazole, Abbott Laboratories). Los pacientes fueron controllados durante un periíodo de 14 días. Además de una evaluación clínica y laboratorial exhaustiva, se practicó inicialmente timpanocentesis así como también timpanometría en cada paciente, este último procedimiento fue repetido junto con la evaluación clínico-laboratorial, los días 4 y 10. Los patógenos bacterianos más comúnmente aislados fueron: Haemophilus influenzae..

Determinación de elementos trazas en cataratas humanas mediante fluorescencia de rayos X por reflección total / Determination of the elements to trace in human waterfalls using the technique of fluorescence of X-rays in total reflection

La finalidad del presente trabajo de investigación fue desarollar una metodología experimental, utilizando la Técnica de Fluorescencia de Rayos-X en Reflexión Total, adaptada específicamente para el análisis multielemental en muestra de cataratas humanas. Se determinaron las concentraciones de 13 elementos trazas, en dos grupos de cataratas humanas- seniles y diabéticas- con peso atómico Z < 14. Los elementos detectados fueron:P,S,CI,K,Ca,Ti,Cr,Fe,Cu,Zn,Se,Br y Rb. De estos, Br,Cl y Rb mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p<0,005), al comparar las concentraciones de las cataratas diabéticas con aquellas relacionadas con la edad. La TXRF es un procedimiento con amplio potencial de aplicaciones prácticas, que abre nuevas líneas de investigación, particularmente en el análisis de muestras de fluidos y tejidos oculares