Single nucleotide polymorphism in the FLT4 gene is associated with atopic dermatitis in Koreans.

BACKGROUND: The histology of atopic dermatitis includes dilated, tortuous vessels within the papillary dermis and perivascular edema. METHOD: This study included 1120 case-control samples (646 AD patients and 474 normal controls), for which we genotyped 34 SNPs from four VEGF family genes and the FLT4 gene. For the rs11607007 SNP in the VEGFB gene and three SNPs (rs10085109, rs3736062, and rs11949194) in the FLT4 gene, which had significant p-values in the initial stage, were further investigated using 1132 independent samples (440 AD patients and 692 normal controls). RESULT: Of the four SNPs, rs10085109 in the FLT4 gene was only significantly associated with the AD phenotype in both initial and replication samples. Although no SNPs in the VEGFA gene were significantly associated with AD, the rs2010963 SNP had a marginally significant effect on log-eosinophil counts. CONCLUSION: The rs10085109 SNP in the FLT4 gene were associated with susceptibility to AD.

Association between ST8SIA2 and the Risk of Schizophrenia and Bipolar I Disorder across Diagnostic Boundaries.

BACKGROUND: Findings from family studies and recent genome-wide association studies have indicated overlap in the risk genes between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BD). After finding a linkage between the ST8SIA2 (ST8 alpha-N-acetyl-neuraminide alpha-2, 8-sicalyltransferase 2 gene) locus (15q26) and mixed families with schizophrenia and BD, several studies have reported a significant association between this gene and schizophrenia or BD. We investigated the genetic association between ST8SIA2 and both schizophrenia and BD in the Korean population. METHODS: A total of 582 patients with schizophrenia, 339 patients with BD, and 502 healthy controls were included. Thirty-one tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the ST8SIA2 region and three other SNPs showing significant associations in previous studies were genotyped. The associations were evaluated by logistic regression analysis using additive, dominant, and recessive genetic models. RESULTS: Fourteen of 34 SNPs showed a nominally significant association (p < 0.05) with at least one diagnostic group. These association trends were strongest for the schizophrenia and combined schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder (BD-I) groups. The strongest association was observed in rs11637898 for schizophrenia (p = 0.0033) and BD-I (p = 0.0050) under the dominant model. The association between rs11637898 and the combined schizophrenia and BD-I group (p = 0.0006, under the dominant model) remained significant after correcting for multiple testing. DISCUSSION: We identified a possible role of ST8SIA2 in the common susceptibility of schizophrenia and BD-I. However, no association trend was observed for bipolar II disorder. Further efforts are needed to identify a specific phenotype associated with this gene crossing the current diagnostic categories.

Nursing Staffing and Quality of Life in Western New York Nursing Homes.

This study investigated the relationship between nurse staffing and quality of life (QOL) in Western New York State nursing homes. This was a cross-sectional, correlational study. The independent variables were hours per resident day (HPRD), skill mix, and turnover rate of nursing staff. The outcomes were measured using the self-reported QOL instrument. No coefficients were statistically significant with registered nurses' (RNs) HPRD. Certified nursing assistant (CNA) HPRD had a statistically significant positive impact on the spiritual well-being domain. There was a statistically negative relationship between the amount of licensed practical nurse (LPN) HPRD and food enjoyment; and the ratio of more RNs to fewer LPNs and CNAs had a statistically significant negative influence on the meaningful-activity, food-enjoyment, and security domains. The turnover of RNs had a statistically negative relationship with the sum of each domain. None of the coefficients was statistically significant with LPN turnover.

Combined interaction of multi-locus genetic polymorphisms in cytarabine arabinoside metabolic pathway on clinical outcomes in adult acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients.

Cytarabine arabinoside (ara-C) is the key agent for treating acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Here, we genotyped 139 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the ara-C transport and metabolic pathway using the Illumina Golden Gate Assay in 97 patients with previously non-treated de novo AML other than M3. DCK rs4694362 (CC genotype) was a significant poor prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR], 33.202 [95% confidence interval (CI), 4.937-223.273], P<0.0001, P(Bonferroni)=0.017). SLC29A1 rs3734703 (AA or AC genotype) in combination with TYMS rs2612100 (AA genotype) was significantly associated with shorter relapse free survival (RFS) (HR, 17.630 [95% CI, 4.829-64.369], P<0.0001, P(Bonferroni)=0.021). These SNPs showed moderate or large inter ethnic divergence in allele frequencies from African or Caucasian populations. The results of our study suggest that a single SNP and SNP-SNP interactions may help to predict the drug response and provide a guide in developing individualised chemotherapy for AML patients receiving ara-C based chemotherapy.

Staphylococcus aureus Colonization in Acute and Chronic Skin Lesions of Patients with Atopic Dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus (SA) has peculiar abilities to colonize the skin in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the colonization rates of SA in acute and chronic skin lesions of AD patients, to find any difference in colonization rates according to age and to find the influences of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and eosinophil counts to the colonization of SA. METHODS: We evaluated the total IgE level and eosinophil counts, and cultured SA from the skin lesions of 687 AD patients (131 acute and 556 chronic skin lesions) and 247 control urticaria patients (July 2009 to November 2010; Samsung Medical Center Dermatology Clinic, Seoul, Korea). RESULTS: The SA colonization rates were 74%, 38% and 3% in acute, chronic skin lesions and control skin, respectively, and they were increased with age in AD patients. The colonization rate in chronic skin lesions was higher in the high IgE/eosinophilia groups as compared to the normal IgE/eosinophil groups. CONCLUSION: The SA colonization rate was higher in AD patients and especially in acute lesions, and had a tendency to increase with age. As the colonization rates were only higher in the high IgE/eosinophilia groups of chronic skin lesions, we suggested that SA may invade the skin through barrier defects in acute skin lesions, but the colonization in chronic lesions may be orchestrated through many different factors.

IL-31 Serum Protein and Tissue mRNA Levels in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Severe pruritus is the primary symptom in atopic dermatitis (AD). Recently, the novel cytokine IL-31 has been implicated in the itching associated with AD. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study to determine whether IL-31 serum levels are elevated in AD patients and to better characterize the relationship between serum IL-31 level and other established laboratory parameters. METHODS: We recruited 55 AD patients, 34 with allergic type AD and 21 with non-allergic type AD, and 38 healthy, non-atopic controls. We checked the laboratory values, severity score, and serum IL-31 levels in all patients and controls, and IL-31 mRNA levels in lesion skin were measured in 13 subjects with AD and in four controls. RESULTS: AD patients displayed significantly higher levels of serum IL-31 that were associated with serum IgE, disease severity, and subjective itch intensity. In AD patients, IL-31 mRNA levels from the lesional skin samples also correlated with serum IL-31 level. CONCLUSION: IL-31 is likely one of the many mediators inducing inflammation and pruritus in AD. Although our limited sample size prevents us from making any definitive conclusions, our data demonstrate a strong correlation between IL-31 mRNA level and serum IL-31 protein level, which has never been reported before. Moreover, we found correlations between serum IL-31 level and serum IgE, eosinophil cationic protein, disease severity, and subject itch intensity in certain degrees in AD patients.