Associations among global long interspersed nuclear element-1 DNA methylation, metal exposure, and chronic kidney disease.

Long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) methylation serves as an indicator of global DNA methylation. This study explored the correlation between LINE-1 methylation and chronic kidney disease (CKD). We also evaluated whether LINE-1 methylation could modify the association between CKD and metal exposure. A total of 213 patients with clinically defined CKD, without hemodialysis and 416 age and sex matched controls were recruited. Levels of LINE-1 methylation, total urinary arsenic, blood lead, blood cadmium, and plasma selenium were assessed. The results reveal a positive association between LINE-1 methylation and CKD, with an odds ratio (OR) of 5.30 (95% confidence interval: 2.81 to 9.99). Total urinary arsenic and blood cadmium concentrations were positively related with LINE-1 methylation. This study was the first to observe that low plasma selenium, high blood cadmium, and high blood lead levels significantly and additively interact with increased LINE-1 methylation to increase the OR of CKD. Additionally, high LINE-1 methylation interacted multiplicatively with low plasma selenium to increase the OR of CKD (p < 0.001). This study highlighted the significant association between LINE-1 hypermethylation and CKD. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that LINE-1 methylation can interact with high blood cadmium or low plasma selenium to affect CKD risk.

COVID-19 vaccination: 2023 Taiwan Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (TAGG) consensus statements.

The COVID-19 pandemic remains challenging due to the rapid evolution of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. This article discusses recent findings on high-risk groups for COVID-19 mortality and morbidity, along with consensus statements from the 2023 Taiwan Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (TAGG) meeting. It examines evidence on viral mutation mechanisms, emerging variants, and their implications for vaccination strategies. The article underscores advanced age, immunocompromised status, chronic medical conditions, occupational exposure, and socioeconomic disparities as significant risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. TAGG's consensus emphasizes robust vaccination promotion, prioritizing elderly, and immunocompromised groups, individualized multi-dose regimens for immunocompromised patients, and simplified clinical guidelines. Discussions on global and regional recommendations for regular, variant-adapted boosters highlight the non-seasonal nature of COVID-19. Key agreements include escalating domestic preparedness, implementing vigorous risk-based vaccination, and adapting global guidelines to local contexts. Given ongoing viral evolution, proactive adjustment of vaccination policies is essential. Scientific consensus, tailored recommendations, and rapid knowledge dissemination are vital for optimizing COVID-19 protection among vulnerable groups in Taiwan. This article seeks to inform clinical practice and public health policy by summarizing expert-driven vaccination perspectives.

Chronic Kidney Disease: Interaction of Adiponectin Gene Polymorphisms and Diabetes.

Adiponectin is an adipokine multipeptide hormone with insulin-sensitizing; anti-atherosclerotic; and anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be associated with low adiponectin. The adiponectin gene ADIPOQ is thought to be the only major gene responsible for plasma adiponectin levels; which are associated with diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between ADIPOQ polymorphism and CKD. In addition; the combined effects of ADIPOQ polymorphism and diabetes and levels of total urinary arsenic and blood cadmium on CKD were also explored. This study included 215 CKD patients and 423 age-sex matched controls. The ADIPOQ polymorphisms were determined using the Agena Bioscience Mass ARRAY System. The levels of blood cadmium and urinary arsenic species were measured. The ADIPOQ rs182052 GA/AA genotype had a marginally lower odds ratio (OR) for CKD than the GG genotype. The OR (95% confidence interval; CI) was 16.33 (5.72-46.66) of CKD in subjects carrying the ADIPOQ rs182052 GG genotype and diabetes compared to non-diabetes subjects carrying the ADIPOQ rs182052 GA/AA genotype; the interaction term had p = 0.015; and the synergy index was 6.64 (1.81-24.36) after multivariate adjustment. A significant interaction of diabetes and ADIPOQ rs1501299 risk genotype increased the OR of CKD after multivariate adjustment with a synergy index of 0.31 (0.11-0.86) and a multiplicative interaction with p = 0.001. These results suggest that ADIPOQ rs182052 and rs1501299 risk genotypes may significantly modify the association between diabetes and CKD but not the association between total urinary arsenic and blood cadmium and CKD.

Combined effect of polymorphisms of MTHFR and MTR and arsenic methylation capacity on developmental delay in preschool children in Taiwan.

Polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and methionine synthase (MTR) are related to cognitive dysfunction and mental disability. These genes, along with folate and vitamin B12 levels, are regulators of one-carbon metabolism, which synthesizes S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) as a methyl donor for arsenic methylation. The aim of this study was to explore whether polymorphisms of MTHFR and MTR influence arsenic methylation capacity and plasma folate and vitamin B12 levels and if these influences cause developmental delay in preschool children. A total of 178 children with developmental delay and 88 without developmental delay were recruited from August 2010 to March 2014. A high-performance liquid chromatography-hydride generator and atomic absorption spectrometer were used to determine urinary arsenic species. Plasma folate and vitamin B12 concentrations were measured by SimulTRAC-SNB radioassay. Polymorphisms of MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298C, and MTR A2756G were examined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length variation. The results show that MTHFR C677T C/T and T/T genotypes had a lower risk of developmental delay than the C/C genotype (odds ratio [OR] = 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.85). Subjects with the MTHFR C677T C/C genotype had significantly lower plasma folate and vitamin B12 levels than those with the MTHFR C677T C/T and T/T genotype. The MTHFR C677T C/C genotype combined with high total urinary arsenic and poor arsenic methylation capacity indices significantly increased the OR of developmental delay in a dose-response manner. This is the first study to show the combined effect of MTHFR C677T genotype and poor arsenic methylation capacity on developmental delay.

Direct and Label-Free Determination of Human Glycated Hemoglobin Levels Using Bacteriorhodopsin as the Biosensor Transducer.

Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels are an important index for the diagnosis and long-term control of diabetes. This study is the first to use a direct and label-free photoelectric biosensor to determine HbA1c using bacteriorhodopsin-embedded purple membranes (PM) as a transducer. A biotinylated PM (b-PM) coated electrode that is layered with protein A-oriented antibodies against hemoglobin (Hb) readily captures non-glycated Hb (HbA0) and generates less photocurrent. The spectra of bacteriorhodopsin and Hb overlap so the photocurrent is reduced because of the partial absorption of the incident light by the captured Hb molecules. Two HbA0 and HbA1c aptasensors that are prepared by conjugating specific aptamers on b-PM coated electrodes single-step detect HbA0 and HbA1c in 15 min, without cross reactivity, with detection limits of ≤0.1 µg/mL and a dynamic range of 0.1-100 µg/mL. Both aptasensors exhibit high selectivity and long-term stability. For the clinical samples, HbA0 concentrations and HbA1c levels that are measured with aptasensors correlate well with total Hb concentrations and the HbA1c levels that are determined using standard methods (correlation gradient = 0.915 ± 0.004 and 0.981 ± 0.001, respectively). The use of these aptasensors for diabetes care is demonstrated.

Characterization of Fecal Microbiota with Clinical Specimen Using Long-Read and Short-Read Sequencing Platform.

Accurate and rapid identification of microbiotic communities using 16S ribosomal (r)RNA sequencing is a critical task for expanding medical and clinical applications. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is widely considered a practical approach for direct application to communities without the need for in vitro culturing. In this report, a comparative evaluation of short-read (Illumina) and long-read (Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT)) platforms toward 16S rRNA sequencing with the same batch of total genomic DNA extracted from fecal samples is presented. Different 16S gene regions were amplified, bar-coded, and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq and ONT MinION sequencers and corresponding kits. Mapping of the sequenced amplicon using MinION to the entire 16S rRNA gene was analyzed with the cloud-based EPI2ME algorithm. V3-V4 reads generated using MiSeq were aligned by applying the CLC genomics workbench. More than 90% of sequenced reads generated using distinct sequencers were accurately classified at the genus or species level. The misclassification of sequenced reads at the species level between the two approaches was less substantial as expected. Taken together, the comparative results demonstrate that MinION sequencing platform coupled with the corresponding algorithm could function as a practicable strategy in classifying bacterial community to the species level.

Associations of secreted phosphoprotein 1 and B lymphocyte kinase gene polymorphisms with autoimmune thyroid disease.

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of the type 1 interferon (IFN)-related signalling pathway predisposes one to autoimmune diseases. Possible associations of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) and B lymphocyte kinase (BLK) of the type 1 IFN-related signalling pathway with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) in an ethnic Chinese (ie Taiwanese) population were tested. METHODS: Totally, 83 Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) patients, 319 Graves' disease (GD) patients and 369 controls were enrolled. Genotypes of the two SNPs (rs1126772 and rs1126616) of SPP1 and two SNPs (rs13277113 and rs2736340) of BLK were determined. RESULTS: Our results showed reduced percentages of the G allele of rs13277113 of BLK in GD (P = 0.037, odds ratio [OR] = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.62-0.99) and HT (P = 0.002, OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.36-0.81), compared to the controls. At the same time, lower frequencies of the C allele of rs2736340 of BLK in GD (P = 0.025, OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.60-0.97) and HT (P = 0.003, OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.35-0.81) than the controls were also observed. There were significantly higher AT haplotype frequencies of rs1327713 and rs2736340 in GD and HT patients than in the controls (P = 0.025, OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.03-1.67, and P = 0.003, OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.24-2.87, respectively). Moreover, the anti-microsomal antibody titre was associated with rs2736340. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic variants of rs13277113 and rs2736340 of BLK were associated with susceptibility to GD, HT and AITD in an ethnic Chinese population. Our results suggest the BLK may participate in the pathogenesis of GD, HT and AITD.

Plasma selenium influences arsenic methylation capacity and developmental delays in preschool children in Taiwan.

Inefficient arsenic methylation capacity has been associated with developmental delay in preschool children. Selenium has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that protect experimental animals from chemically induced neurotoxicity. The present study was designed to explore whether plasma selenium levels affects arsenic methylation capacity related to developmental delay in preschool children. A case-control study was conducted from August 2010 to March 2014. All participants were recruited from the Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Teaching Hospital. In total, 178 children with a developmental delay and 88 children without a delay were recruited. High-performance liquid chromatography-linked hydride generator and atomic absorption spectrometry were used to determine urinary arsenic species, including arsenite (AsIII), arsenate (AsV), monomethylarsonic acid (MMAV), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAV). Plasma selenium levels were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. As results, plasma selenium concentration was significantly inversely associated with the odds ratio (OR) of developmental delay. Plasma selenium concentration was positively associated with arsenic methylation capacity [percentage of inorganic arsenic and percentage of MMAV (MMAV%) decreased, and percentage of DMAV (DMAV%) increased]. High plasma selenium concentration and high DMA% significantly and additively interacted to decrease the OR of developmental delay; the OR and 95% confidence interval were 0.40 (0.18-0.90). This is the first study to show a combined dose-response effect of plasma selenium concentration and that efficient arsenic methylation capacity decreased the OR of developmental delay in preschool children.

Association of plasma folate, vitamin B12 levels, and arsenic methylation capacity with developmental delay in preschool children in Taiwan.

Developmental delay has been associated with inefficient arsenic methylation capacity in preschool children. Folate and vitamin B12 are important nutrients that produce s-adenosylmethionine during single-carbon metabolism and provide methyl groups for arsenic methylation. The aim of the present study was to explore whether plasma folate and vitamin B12 levels influence arsenic methylation capacity and in turn are related to developmental delay in preschool children. A case-control study was conducted in 178 children with developmental delay and 88 normal children, who were recruited from Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Teaching Hospital from August 2010 to March 2014. Arsenite (AsIII), arsenate (AsV), monomethylarsonic acid (MMAV), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAV) in the urine was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-linked hydride generator and atomic absorption spectrometry. Plasma folate and vitamin B12 levels were measured using a SimulTRAC-SNB radioassay. The results show that the combination of high plasma folate and high vitamin B12 levels were correlated with efficient arsenic methylation capacity (low MMAV %, low InAs %, and high DMAV %). High MMAV % significantly increased and high DMAV % and secondary methylation index decreased the odds ratio (OR) of developmental delay in a dose-dependent manner in both low plasma folate and low vitamin B12 (low/low) groups; the multivariate OR and 95% confidence interval were 5.01 (0.83-30.06), 0.21 (0.04-1.23), and 0.20 (0.03-1.20), respectively. This is the first study to show that the combination of high plasma folate and high vitamin B12 levels increases arsenic methylation capacity and indirectly decreases the OR of developmental delay in preschool children.

Adiponectin gene polymorphisms and obesity increase the susceptibility to arsenic-related renal cell carcinoma.

Our recent study found that high urinary total arsenic levels were associated with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Recent studies demonstrated that low circulating adiponectin was related to RCC. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) polymorphisms and RCC and investigate whether individuals with an ADIPOQ risk genotype, obesity, and high urinary total arsenic levels have a modified odds ratio (OR) of RCC. A total of 389 RCC patients and 389 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited between November 2006 and December 2012 in Taiwan. Image-guided biopsy or surgical resection of renal tumors was performed to pathologically verify RCC. Genomic DNA was used to examine the genotypes of the ADIPOQ rs182052, ADIPOQ rs2241766, ADIPOQ rs1501299, and ADIPOQ rs1063539 SNPs by PCR-RFLP. HPLC-HG-AAS was used to measure the concentrations of urinary arsenic species. Participants with the ADIPOQ rs182052 G/A+A/A genotype had a significantly higher OR of RCC compared with those with the ADIPOQ rs182052 G/G genotype. The OR (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 1.70 (1.23-2.36). The OR of RCC for the combined effect of high urinary total arsenic levels and obesity, which was dose-dependent, in individuals with the ADIPOQ rs182052 G/A+A/A genotype was 9.33 (3.85-22.62). The present study found significant combined effects of obesity and the ADIPOQ rs182052 G/A+A/A genotype on the arsenic-related risk of RCC in a population with low arsenic exposure. Arsenic exposure, obesity, and the ADIPOQ rs182052 polymorphism could be predictors of a higher OR of RCC.

Health-related behaviors moderate the association between age and self-reported health literacy among Taiwanese women.

The role of health-related behaviors in the association between age and health literacy has not been well-elucidated. The present cross-sectional study evaluated the interactions between age and health-related behaviors in 942 women in Taiwan between February and October 2013. Women aged 18-78 years were randomly sampled and recruited from the national administrative system. Self-reported health literacy was measured by the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47) in Mandarin, asking about sociodemographics and essential health-related behaviors (watching health-related television, community involvement). The interviews were conducted confidentially by well-trained interviewers after having participants' consent. In multiple linear regression models adjusted for education attainment, self-perceived social status, ability to pay for medication, and health-related behaviors, health literacy was significantly negatively related to age (unstandardized regression coefficient, B = -0.04; 95% confidence interval [CI] = (-0.07; 0.00); p = .03). The lower health literacy among older women was significantly modified by watching health-related television programs (from "rarely/not-at-all", B = -0.08 (-0.12, -0.04), p < .001 to "often"; B = 0.10 (0.07, 0.12); p < .001) and community involvement (from "rarely/not-at-all", B = -0.06 (-0.10, -0.03); p = .001 to "often", B = 0.06 (0.03, 0.08); p < .001). Specific health behaviors were protective of older women's health literacy and likely their health.

The polymorphism XRCC1 Arg194Trp and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine increased susceptibility to arsenic-related renal cell carcinoma.

This study was designed to explore the relationship between X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) gene polymorphisms and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to investigate whether individuals with an XRCC1 risk genotype, a high level of 8-OHdG or a high urinary total arsenic concentration have a modified odds ratio (OR) of RCC. We recruited 180 RCC patients and 360 age- and sex-matched controls from a hospital-based pool. Image-guided biopsy or surgical resection of renal tumors was performed on RCC patients for pathological verification. Genomic DNA was used to examine the genotype of XRCC1(Arg399Gln), XRCC1(Arg194Trp), XRCC3(Thr241Met) and XPD(Lys751Gln) by PCR-RFLP. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was used to determine urinary 8-OHdG levels. A HPLC-HG-AAS was used to determine the concentrations of urinary arsenic species. Participants with the genotype XRCC1(Arg194Trp) Arg/Trp+Trp/Trp had a significantly higher OR of RCC than those with the Arg/Arg genotype; the OR and 95% confidence interval was 0.66 (0.45-0.97) after multivariate adjustment. The OR of RCC for the combined effect of high urinary 8-OHdG levels and high urinary total arsenic concentration in individuals with a XRCC1(Arg194Trp) Arg/Trp+Trp/Trp genotype was higher than in patients with an Arg/Arg genotype, which was evident in a dose response manner. In conclusion, this is the first study to show that the XRCC1 Arg194 allele is a predicting factor for RCC. The more risk factors (high urinary 8-OHdG levels, high urinary total arsenic concentrations, and XRCC1 Arg194 allele) that were present, the higher the OR of RCC.

Relation of polymorphism of arsenic metabolism genes to arsenic methylation capacity and developmental delay in preschool children in Taiwan.

Inefficient arsenic methylation capacity has been associated with developmental delay in children. The present study was designed to explore whether polymorphisms and haplotypes of arsenic methyltransferase (AS3MT), glutathione-S-transferase omegas (GSTOs), and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) affect arsenic methylation capacity and developmental delay. A case-control study was conducted from August 2010 to March 2014. All participants were recruited from the Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Teaching Hospital. In total, 179 children with developmental delay and 88 children without delay were recruited. Urinary arsenic species, including arsenite (AsIII), arsenate (AsV), monomethylarsonic acid (MMAV), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAV) were measured using a high-performance liquid chromatography-linked hydride generator and atomic absorption spectrometry. The polymorphisms of AS3MT, GSTO, and PNP were performed using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform with iPLEX Gold chemistry. Polymorphisms of AS3MT genes were found to affect susceptibility to developmental delay in children, but GSTO and PNP polymorphisms were not. Participants with AS3MT rs3740392 A/G+G/G genotype, compared with AS3MT rs3740392 A/A genotype, had a significantly lower secondary methylation index. This may result in an increased OR for developmental delay. Participants with the AS3MT high-risk haplotype had a significantly higher OR than those with AS3MT low-risk haplotypes [OR and 95% CI, 1.59 (1.08-2.34)]. This is the first study to show a joint dose-response effect of this AS3MT high-risk haplotype and inefficient arsenic methylation capacity on developmental delay. Our data provide evidence that AS3MT genes are related to developmental delay and may partially influence arsenic methylation capacity.

Combined effects of DNA methyltransferase 1 and 3A polymorphisms and urinary total arsenic levels on the risk for clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Our previous study showed that high urinary total arsenic levels were associated with higher odds ratio (OR) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) might influence DNMT enzyme activity associated with tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigated the association of five SNPs from DNMT1 (rs8101626 and rs2228611), DNMT3A (rs34048824 and rs1550117), and DNMT3B (rs1569686) with the risk of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). We also examined the combined effects of DNMT genotypes and urinary arsenic levels on ccRCC risk. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study, which included 293 subjects with ccRCC and 293 age- and gender-matched controls. The urinary arsenic species were determined by a high performance liquid chromatography-linked hydride generator and atomic absorption spectrometry. Genotypes were investigated using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. We observed that the DNMT1 rs8101626 G/G genotype was significantly associated with reduced odds ratio (OR) of ccRCC [OR=0.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14-0.99]. Subjects with concurrent DNMT1 rs8101626 A/A+A/G and DNMT3A rs34048824 T/T+T/C genotypes had significantly higher OR for ccRCC [OR=2.88, 95% CI 1.44-5.77]. Participants with the high-risk genotype of DNMT1 rs8101626 and DNMT3A rs34048824 with concurrently high urinary total arsenic levels had even higher OR of ccRCC in a dose-response manner. This is the first study to evaluate variant DNMT1 rs8101626 and DNMT3A rs34048824 genotypes that modify the arsenic-related ccRCC risk in a geographic area without significant arsenic exposure in Taiwan.

Polymorphisms of human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine increase susceptibility to arsenic methylation capacity-related urothelial carcinoma.

Arsenic causes oxidative stress in cultured animal and human cells, and it is a well-documented human carcinogen. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study including 167 cases of urothelial carcinoma (UC) and 334 age- and gender-matched healthy controls to evaluate the relationships between urinary arsenic profiles, urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels, and human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (hOGG1) genotypes and UC. The urinary arsenic species were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and hydride generator-atomic absorption spectrometry. Genotyping for hOGG1 (Ser326Cys) and hOGG1 (-15C>G) was performed using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform with iPLEX Gold chemistry. Urinary 8-OHdG was measured with high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The results indicated that the hOGG1 326 Cys/Cys genotype and the hOGG1 -15C>G G/G genotype were associated with an increased risk of UC (OR [95 % CI] 1.57 [1.04-2.35] and 1.57 [1.04-2.35], respectively). Participants with high urinary total arsenic, regardless of the haplotype of hOGG1 Ser326Cys and the -15C>G polymorphism, had significantly higher urinary 8-OHdG compared to participants with low urinary total arsenic. This is the first study to investigate the joint effects of high urinary total arsenic or inefficient arsenic methylation capacity indices, and the high-risk G-G haplotype of hOGG1 on the risk of UC. The findings are especially meaningful for participants with risk factors such as high urinary total arsenic, inefficient arsenic methylation indices, high urinary 8-OHdG, and the high-risk G-G haplotype of hOGG1 which are all associated with an increased UC risk.

Association of IRF8 gene polymorphisms with autoimmune thyroid disease.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is known to have a major adverse effect on interferon (INF)-α treatment. The genetic variant of the INF regulatory factor 8 (IRF8), a type 1 INF regulator, is associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis. In this study, we investigated possible associations of the IRF8 polymorphisms, rs17445836 and rs2280381, with AITD in an ethnic Chinese population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In total, 278 patients with Graves' disease (GD) and 55 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), and 252 healthy controls were enrolled. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and direct sequencing were used for genotyping. RESULTS: Significantly lower frequencies of the GA genotype and A allele of rs17445836 were found in the HT group than in the control group (P = 0·028, odds ratio (OR) = 4·71 and P = 0·022, OR = 4·40, respectively). Both rs17445836 and rs2280381 were associated with the presence of an antimicrosomal antibody (AmiA), and rs2280381 was also associated with the presence of an antithyroglobulin antibody (ATA) in AITD. Moreover, rs17445836 was associated with the level of AmiA in AITD. CONCLUSIONS: rs17445836 of IRF8 is a possible genetic variant associated with the development of HT. rs17445836 was associated with the production of thyroid antibody, and the GG genotype of rs17445836 was associated with a higher AmiA titre than the GA genotype.

4-Acetylantroquinonol B inhibits colorectal cancer tumorigenesis and suppresses cancer stem-like phenotype.

4-Acetylantroquinonol B (4-AAQB), closely related to the better known antroquinonol, is a bioactive isolate of the mycelia of Antrodia camphorata, a Taiwanese mushroom with documented anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, vasorelaxative, and recently demonstrated, antiproliferative activity. Based on its traditional use, we hypothesized that 4-AAQB may play an active role in the suppression of cellular transformation, tumor aggression and progression, as well as chemoresistance in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). In this study, we investigated the antiproliferative role of 4-AAQB and its underlying molecular mechanism. We also compared its anticancer therapeutic potential with that of antroquinonol and the CRC combination chemotherapy of choice - folinic acid, fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX). Our results showed that 4-AAQB was most effective in inhibiting tumor proliferation, suppressing tumor growth and attenuating stemness-related chemoresistance. 4-AAQB negatively regulates vital oncogenic and stem cell maintenance signal transduction pathways, including the Lgr5/Wnt/ß-catenin, JAK-STAT, and non-transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathways, as well as inducing a dose-dependent downregulation of ALDH and other stemness related factors. These results were validated in vivo, with animal studies showing 4-AAQB possessed comparable tumor-shrinking ability as FOLFOX and potentiates ability of the later to reduce tumor size. Thus, 4-AAQB, a novel small molecule, projects as a potent therapeutic agent for monotherapy or as a component of standard combination chemotherapy.

XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln polymorphisms and arsenic methylation capacity are associated with urothelial carcinoma.

The association between DNA repair gene polymorphisms and bladder cancer has been widely studied. However, few studies have examined the correlation between urothelial carcinoma (UC) and arsenic or its metabolites. The aim of this study was to examine the association between polymorphisms of the DNA repair genes, XRCC1 Arg194Trp, XRCC1 Arg399Gln, XRCC3 Thr241Met, and XPD Lys751Gln, with urinary arsenic profiles and UC. To this end, we conducted a hospital-based case-control study with 324 UC patients and 647 age- and gender-matched non-cancer controls. Genomic DNA was used to examine the genotype of XRCC1 Arg194Trp, XRCC1 Arg399Gln, XRCC3 Thr241Met, and XPD Lys751Gln by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP). Urinary arsenic profiles were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) linked with hydride generator and atomic absorption spectrometry. The XRCC1 399 Gln/Gln and 194 Arg/Trp and Trp/Trp genotypes were significantly related to UC, and the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were 1.68 (1.03-2.75) and 0.66 (0.48-0.90), respectively. Participants with higher total urinary arsenic levels, a higher percentage of inorganic arsenic (InAs%) and a lower percentage of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA%) had a higher OR of UC. Participants carrying XRCC1 risk diplotypes G-C/G-C, A-C/A-C, and A-T/G-T, and who had higher total arsenic levels, higher InAs%, or lower DMA% compared to those with other XRCC1 diplotypes had a higher OR of UC. Our results suggest that the XRCC1 399 Gln/Gln and 194 Arg/Arg DNA repair genes play an important role in poor arsenic methylation capacity, thereby increasing the risk of UC in non-obvious arsenic exposure areas.

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system related gene polymorphisms and urinary total arsenic is related to chronic kidney disease.

A recent study demonstrated that an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was associated with high urinary total arsenic levels. However, whether genomic instability is related to CKD remains unclear. An association between CKD and genetic polymorphisms of regulation enzymes of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R), and aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) has not been shown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between arsenic, genetic polymorphisms of RAAS enzymes and CKD. A total of 233 patients and 449 age- and gender-matched controls were recruited from the Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital and the Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital. Concentrations of urinary arsenic were determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography-linked hydride generator, and atomic absorption spectrometry. Polymorphisms of ACE(I/D), AGT(A[-20]C), (T174M), (M235T), AT1R(A1166C) and CYP11B2(C[-344]T) were examined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Subjects carrying the CYP11B2 TT genotype had a higher odds ratio (OR), 1.39 (0.96-2.01), of CKD; while those with the AGT(A[-20]C) CC genotype had an inverse OR of CKD (0.20 (0.05-0.81)), and a high-risk genotype was defined as A/A+A/C for AGT(A[-20C]) and T/T for CYP11B2(C[-344]T). The trend test showed a higher OR for CKD in patients who had either high urinary total arsenic levels or carried the high-risk genotype, or both, compared to patients with low urinary total arsenic levels, who carried the low-risk genotype, and could also be affected by the hypertension or diabetes status.

Zoledronic acid induces apoptosis and autophagy in cervical cancer cells.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological cancers in association with high mortality and morbidity. The present study was aimed to investigate the in vitro effects of zoledronic acid (ZA) on viability and induction of apoptosis and autophagy as well as inflammatory effects in three human cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa, SiHa, and CaSki). Cell viability was measured by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay. Induction of apoptosis was determined by quantitation of expression level of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bax messenger RNA (mRNA) and identification of the proteolytic cleavage of poly (ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3. Autophagic effects were examined by quantitation of mRNA expression of autophagy protein 5 (ATG5) and beclin1 and identifying accumulation of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II. Inflammatory effect was determined by measuring expression and production of IL-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2). The results showed ZA significantly inhibited cell viability of cervical cancer cells. ZA-induced cell death displayed features characteristic to both apoptosis and autophagy and was associated with different changes in the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax in the various cervical cancer lines. Expression of metastatic cytokines, IL-6 and Cox-2, was upregulated in the presence of ZA at low concentration. Our data revealed that ZA inhibits cervical cancer cells through the synergistic effect of apoptosis induction and autophagy activation.