Global methylation levels in peripheral blood leukocyte DNA by LUMA and breast cancer: a case-control study in Japanese women.

BACKGROUND: Global hypomethylation has been suggested to cause genomic instability and lead to an increased risk of cancer. We examined the association between the global methylation level of peripheral blood leukocyte DNA and breast cancer among Japanese women. METHODS: We conducted a hospital-based case-control study of 384 patients aged 20-74 years with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer, and 384 matched controls from medical checkup examinees in Nagano, Japan. Global methylation levels in leukocyte DNA were measured by LUminometric Methylation Assay. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between global hypomethylation and breast cancer were estimated using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Compared with women in the highest tertile of global methylation level, ORs for the second and lowest tertiles were 1.87 (95% CI=1.20-2.91) and 2.86 (95% CI=1.85-4.44), respectively. Global methylation levels were significantly lower in cases than controls, regardless of the hormone receptor status of the cancer (all P values for trend <0.05). INTERPRETATION: These findings suggest that the global methylation level of peripheral blood leukocyte DNA is low in patients with breast cancer and may be a potential biomarker for breast cancer risk.

Long-term results of gastrectomy for alpha-fetoprotein-producing gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP)-producing gastric cancer is a rare tumour. It is said to have a high incidence of liver metastasis and poor prognosis. This study sought to evaluate long-term outcomes in such patients. METHODS: Records of consecutive patients with gastric carcinoma who underwent preoperative measurement of serum AFP levels and gastrectomy were reviewed to identify those who satisfied the following criteria: preoperative AFP level exceeding 40 ng/ml with a decrease after gastrectomy, or raised preoperative AFP level (10-39 ng/ml) and resected tumour showing histologically characteristic features or immunohistochemically positive AFP production. RESULTS: Of 3374 patients with gastric cancer, 53 (1.6 per cent) met the selection criteria. Tumours were characterized by a high incidence of nodal (79 per cent) or liver (53 per cent) metastasis. Preoperative serum AFP levels showed no correlation with tumour size, depth of invasion, disease stage or survival. The 5-year survival rate was 34 per cent. Five patients survived after recurrence following multimodal treatment. A rising AFP level during follow-up always led to tumour recurrence, but the level remained normal in 11 of 31 patients with recurrence. CONCLUSION: AFP-producing tumours represent a small subgroup of gastric cancer with high metastatic potential. Postoperative serum AFP level can help predict recurrence but a normal level does not mean absence of recurrence. Prognosis is not as poor as previously thought, and multimodal treatment may be worthwhile even in patients with recurrent tumour.

Blood thiamine levels in outpatients with diabetes mellitus.

In 46 diabetic outpatients consisting of 20 males and 26 females not given thiamine treatment, the blood thiamine level was 46.9 +/- 28.5 ng/ml (mean +/- SD) and only 23.9% of all cases had a value of more than the normal lower limit (50 ng/ml). Erythrocyte transketolase activity was 443.8 +/- 107.7 micrograms/ml/h and only 20.9% had a value of ore than the normal lower limit (50 micrograms/ml/h), and the erythrocyte TPP effect was 16.6 +/- 13.2%. Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.97) between the blood thiamine level and erythrocyte transketolase activity, and a significant inverse correlation (r = -0.525, r = -0.576) between blood thiamine level and/or erythrocyte transketolase activity and the erythrocyte TPP effect. In 24 diabetic outpatients consisting of 14 males and 10 females given thiamine treatment, the blood thiamine level was 96.5 +/- 44.5 ng/ml/h excluding one case (621.7 ng/ml), and it was higher than the normal lower limit in 83% of all cases. Erythrocyte transketolase activity was 513.9 +/- 133.4 micrograms/ml/h and it was higher than the normal lower limit in 58.3%. Erythrocyte TPP effect was 5.84 +/- 8.39%. There was also a significant positive correlation (r = 0.663) between blood thiamine level and erythrocyte transketolase activity, and a significant inverse correlation (r = 0.0668, r = 0.834) between blood thiamine level and/or erythrocyte transketolase activity and erythrocyte TPP effect. Blood thiamine level and erythrocyte transketolase activity were significantly higher in diabetic outpatients given thiamine treatment than in diabetic outpatients not given thiamine treatment, while the erythrocyte TPP effect was significantly lower in diabetic outpatients given thiamine treatment than in diabetic outpatients not given thiamine treatment. There was no direct relationship between the lowered response of patellar tendon reflex and the biochemical status of thiamine. From the above findings it was concluded that diabetic outpatients tend to have a low blood thiamine level, with low erythrocyte transketolase activity and high erythrocyte TPP effect, and showed marginal thiamine deficiency.

The relationship between blood thiamine levels and dietary thiamine content in diabetic outpatients and healthy subjects.

Forty-six diabetic outpatients consumed (1,533 +/- 308 kcal (mean +/- SD) per day, 205 +/- 42 g of carbohydrates, 73 +/- 18 g of protein, 49 +/- 18 g of fat, and 0.05 +/- 0.34 mg of thiamine. No significant correlation was found in 46 diabetic between blood thiamine level and the intake of dietary energy, carbohydrate or thiamine. In 13 healthy subjects given prepared diets, a significant correlation was found between blood thiamine level and dietary thiamine content, thiamine content per 1,000 kcal, and 24-h urinary thiamine amount divided by urinary creatinine. When 9 healthy subjects (6 males, 3 females) consumed 1,600 kcal with 0.6 mg of thiamine for two days, their blood thiamine level was 47 +/- 29.1 ng/ml before and 29.7 +/- 7.1 ng/ml after eating the diet, showing low blood thiamine levels due to the low content of dietary thiamine. When 5 or 6 healthy female subjects consumed 1,400 kcal with 1.6 mg of thiamine or 2,000 kcal with 1.9 mg of thiamine for two days, their blood thiamine level was 45.3 +/- 4.8 ng/ml or 57.7 +/- 8.4 ng/ml before and 51.5 +/- 11.7 ng/ml or 56.4 +/- 11.7 ng/ml after eating the diets, respectively. In both diabetic outpatients and healthy subjects, a significant positive correlation was found between blood thiamine levels and dietary thiamine concentrations per 1,000 kcal, and a significant positive correlation was also found between erythrocyte transketolase activity and dietary thiamine content.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)