Interactions between CYP7A1 A-204C and ABCG8 C1199A polymorphisms on lipid lowering with atorvastatin.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Cholesterol excretion by ATP binding cassette transporters G5 and G8 (ABCG5/G8) and bile acid biosynthesis by 7a-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) are major pathways for the removal of cholesterol into bile. This suggests that variations in the CYP7A1 and ABCG8 genes may influence the statin response. We aimed to investigate the effect of CYP7A1 A-204C and ABCG8 C1199A polymorphisms and their interactions on the lipid-lowering response to atorvastatin in a Chinese population. METHODS: Genotypes were determined by using polymerase chain reaction-restrict fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 185 hyperlipidaemic patients treated with atorvastatin, 20 mg once daily for 4 weeks. Serum levels of triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined before and after treatment. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: For 181 patients (89 males), variant allele frequencies of CYP7A1 -204C and ABCG8 1199A were 0.347 and 0.128, respectively. Among all patients, homozygotes for the -204A allele showed a slightly significant mean percentage reduction from baseline in TG level after treatment than heterozygotes and homozygotes for the -204C allele (-25.49 ± 8.12%vs. -22.80 ± 8.72%, P = 0.054, and -25.49 ± 8.12%vs.-22.51 ± 8.82%, P = 0.048, respectively). For patients with the ABCG8 C1199A variant allele, the difference in percentage reduction from baseline in TG level was increased between the CYP7A1 A-204C wild-type allele homozygotes and variant allele homozygotes after atorvastatin treatment (-28.35%vs.-19.28%, P = 0.001), and increased differences were found between the CYP7A1 A-204C wild-allele homozygotes and variant allele homozygotes (-18.95%vs.-15.61%, P = 0.009) and between the CYP7A1 A-204C variant allele heterozygotes and homozygotes (-18.69%vs.-15.61%, P = 0.012, respectively). WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: The CYP7A1 -204A and ABCG8 1199A alleles appear to interact to affect lipid-lowering response to atorvastatin. However, given the relatively small number of subjects with the influential variant allele combinations, and the heterogeneity in response, even in the selected sub-populations, testing would be of little clinical utility in the Chinese population sampled.

The efficacy and safety of probiotics for prevention of chemoradiotherapy-induced diarrhea in people with abdominal and pelvic cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A systematic review and meta-analysis were designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of probiotics for prevention of chemoradiotherapy-induced diarrhea in people with abdominal and pelvic cancer. We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science up to November 2015. We also hand searched the citation lists of included studies and previously identified systematic reviews to identify further relevant trials. Odds ratio (OR) was used to compare efficacy, and the pooled OR was estimated using a random effects model; heterogeneity was assessed with Cochran's Q and the Higgins' I2-test. Two reviewers assessed trial quality and extracted data independently. Analysis and bias for each included study were performed using Review Manager 5.2. Nine randomized and placebo-controlled studies (N=1265 participants) were included for assessing efficacy, of which seven were about radiotherapy and two about chemotherapy. Probiotic groups were compared with control groups with respect to the the incidence of diarrhea, OR=0.47 (95% confidence interval 0.28-0.76; P=0.002). Eleven studies, including 1612 people (873 consuming probiotics and 739 not consuming probiotics), were used for the analysis of safety of probiotics. Of the 11 studies, seven studies had no adverse events (AEs) caused by probiotics, whereas four studies reported varying degrees of AEs in their treatment. Probiotics may have a beneficial effect in prevention of chemoradiotherapy-induced diarrhea generally, especially for Grade⩾2 diarrhea. Probiotics may rarely cause AEs.

Monitoring of organochlorine pesticide residues--the GEMS/Food program in China.

This paper covers the monitoring activities of organochlorine (OCS) pesticide residues in the GEMS/Food program, which China took part in for the first time in 1992. The levels of HCH and DDT were determined in 355 samples of eight main varieties of food, taken from five provinces and cities. The results show that the positive rate of HCH is 69%, of which 99.44% is in accord with the National Standards of Food Hygiene of China. As to DDT, the two rates are 42% and 100% respectively. The daily intakes of HCH and DDT are 0.22 mg/kg.bw and 0.54 mg/kg.bw respectively, which are far below their corresponding ADls. Compared with those in 1970s, the OCS residues have decreased significantly. Therefore the monitored varieties of food are safe to people's health.