No association between hOGG1, XRCC1, and XPD polymorphisms and risk of reflux esophagitis, Barrett's Esophagus, or esophageal adenocarcinoma: Results from the factors influencing the Barrett's adenocarcinoma relationship case-control study

Reflux of gastric contents can lead to development of reflux esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus. Barrett's esophagus is a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma. Damage to DNA may lead to carcinogenesis but is repaired through activation of pathways involving polymorphic enzymes, including human 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (hOGG1), X-ray repair cross-complementing 1 (XRCC1), and xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD). Of the single nucleotide polymorphisms identified in these genes, hOGG1 Ser 326Cys, XRCC1 Arg 399Gln, and XPD Lys 751Gln are particularly common in Caucasians and have been associated with lower DNA repair capacity. Small studies have reported associations with XPD Lys 751Gln and esophageal adenocarcinoma. XRCC1 Arg 399Gln has been linked to Barrett's esophagus and reflux esophagitis. In a population-based case-control study, we examined associations of the hOGG1 Ser 326Cys, XRCC1 Arg 399Gln, and XPD Lys 751Gln polymorphisms with risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma, Barrett's esophagus, and reflux esophagitis. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples collected from cases of esophageal adenocarcinoma (n = 210), Barrett's esophagus (n = 212), reflux esophagitis (n = 230), and normal population controls frequency matched for age and sex (n = 248). Polymorphisms were genotyped using Taq-Man allelic discrimination assays. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were obtained from logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounding factors. There were no statistically significant associations between these polymorphisms and risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma, Barrett's esophagus, or reflux esophagitis.

Cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms and risk of reflux esophagitis, Barrett's Esophagus, and esophageal adenocarcinoma

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has increased in recent years, and Barrett's esophagus is a recognized risk factor. Gastroesophageal reflux of acid and/or bile is linked to these conditions and to reflux esophagitis. Inflammatory disorders can lead to carcinogenesis through activation of "prosurvival genes," including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Increased expression of these enzymes has been found in esophageal adenocarcinoma, Barrett's esophagus, and reflux esophagitis. Polymorphic variants in COX-2 and iNOS genes may be modifiers of risk of these conditions. In a population-based case-control study, we examined associations of the COX-2 8473 T>C and iNOS Ser 608 Leu (C>T) polymorphisms with risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma, Barrett's esophagus, and reflux esophagitis. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples collected from cases of esophageal adenocarcinoma (n = 210), Barrett's esophagus (n = 212), and reflux esophagitis (n = 230) and normal population controls frequency matched for age and sex (n = 248). Polymorphisms were genotyped using TaqMan allelic discrimination assays. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were obtained from logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounding factors. The presence of at least one COX-2 8473 C allele was associated with a significantly increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (adjusted odds ratio, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-2.40). There was no significant association between this polymorphism and risk of Barrett's esophagus or reflux esophagitis or between the iNOS Ser 608 Leu polymorphism and risk of these esophageal conditions. Our study suggests that the COX-2 8473 C allele is a potential genetic marker for susceptibility to esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Alien gosd in the new epics: Noah remythologised through the ancient astronaut hypothesis in Abel's Montagut's "La gesta d'Utnoa"

Modern scientific world-view has undermined traditional myths, the functional survival of which seems to depend today in the West on a positivist justification. This would place them in the field of real History, through their study and revitalization by pseudoscientific disciplines such as the Atlantis and the ancient astronaut hypotheses. These have inspired new epic poems in (regular) verse that combine classic and/or biblical myths with a (pseudo)scientific modern world-view. For example, the critical rewriting of Noah’s myth by using the ancient astronaut hypothesis as a fictional device to produce a contemporary kind of plausibility allowed Abel Montagut to renew epic poetry, updating it also by adopting science fiction chronotopes in order to structure his fictional construction and to generate a high ethical sense for our time. Thus, his Poemo de Utnoa (1993) / La gesta d’Utnoa (1996), which has become a major classic of the literature in Esperanto thanks to its original version in this language, is a landmark of both science fiction and neo-biblical epics. This poem is written from a secular and purely literary perspective.

Analysis of malts by capillary electrophoresis

A range of malts, as well as their high- and low-molecular-mass fractions, has been examined by capillary electrophoresis in phosphate buffer, pH 2.5, and in carbonate buffer, pH 9.5, and the results have been compared with those for roasted barley and for caramels. The malts fall into two categories: (i) the lightly roasted malts, where the high-molecular-mass coloured fraction is negatively charged at pH 9.5 and positively charged at pH 2.5; and (ii) the highly roasted malts (and the roasted barley), where the high-molecular-mass fraction migrates close to the electro-osmotic flow at both pH 9.5 and 2.5, implying that it carries little or no charge. The former category shows migration patterns similar to Class III caramels, whereas the latter migrates differently from Class I, III and IV caramels as well as from the former. Capillary electrophoresis therefore has considerable potential for differentiating between malts and between malts and caramels and roasted barley. (C) 2002 Society of Chemical Industry.

Karyometry of the colonic mucosa

Objective: The study summarizes results of karyometric measurements in epithelial cells of the colorectal mucosa to document evidence of a field effect of preneoplastic development among patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma or adenoma.

Comparative study of diastereoisomer interconversion in chiral BINOL-ate and diamine platinum complexes of conformationally flexible NUPHOS diphosphines

A thorough and detailed study of diastereointerconversion in the chiral platinum complexes [(NUPHOS)Pt{(S)-BINOL}] (3a-e) has been undertaken and compared with the results of a similar study with [(BIPHEP)Pt{(S)-BINOL}]. Rate data revealed that this process obeys first-order relaxation kinetics, and rate constants for conversion of the minor to the major diastereoisomer have been obtained. Eyring analysis of the data gave DeltaH(double dagger) and DeltaS(double dagger) values of 22-25 kcal mol(-1) and -1 to -16 eu, respectively. In combination with computational analysis, these studies indicate that atropinversion most likely occurs via an on-metal pathway involving a planar seven-membered transition state. Substitution of (S)-BINOL for (S,S)-DPEN results in a marked reduction in the barrier to atropinversion; a DeltaH(double dagger) value of 17 kcal mol(-1) has been determined for the conversion of delta-[(Ph-4-NUPHOS)Pt{(S,S)-DPEN}]Cl-2 to lambda-[(Ph-4-NUPHOS)Pt{(S,S)-DPEN}]Cl-2, which could indicate that an alternative mechanism operates.

Hematopoietic malignancies associated with viral and alcoholic hepatitis

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) have been associated with hematopoietic malignancies, but data for many subtypes are limited. From the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database, we selected 61,464 cases (=67 years) with hematopoietic malignancies and 122,531 population-based controls, frequency-matched by gender, age, and year (1993-2002). Logistic regression was used to compare the prevalence of HCV, HBV, and alcoholic hepatitis in cases and controls, adjusted for matching factors, race, duration of Medicare coverage, and number of physician claims. HCV, HBV, and alcoholic hepatitis were reported in 195 (0.3%), 111 (0.2%), and 404 (0.7%) cases and 264 (0.2%), 242 (0.2%), and 798 (0.7%) controls, respectively. HCV was associated with increased risk of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [odds ratio (OR) 1.52, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.05-2.18], Burkitt lymphoma (OR 5.21, 95% CI 1.62-16.8), follicular lymphoma (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.17-3.02), marginal zone lymphoma (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.22-3.95), and acute myeloid leukemia (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.00-2.37). In contrast, HBV was unrelated to any hematopoietic malignancies. Alcoholic hepatitis was associated with decreased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma overall, but increased risk of Burkitt lymphoma. In summary, HCV, but not other causes of hepatitis, was associated with the elevated risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and acute myeloid leukemia. HCV may induce lymphoproliferative malignancies through chronic immune stimulation. Copyright © 2008 American Association for Cancer Research.


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Reaxys Database Information|

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Enantioselective Rhodium-Catalyzed Alkylative Desymmetrization of 3,5-Dimethylglutaric Anhydride

A rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective cross-coupling of sp³ organozinc reagents and 3,5-dimethylglutaric anhydride has been developed to afford the corresponding products, syn-deoxypolypropionates, in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. This reaction has been developed so that both commercially available and in situ prepared organozinc reagents are competent coupling partners.

A Synthesis of (S)-(-)-Umbelactone and Related α,β-Butenolides

The development of an asymmetric route for the synthesis of alpha,beta-butenolide building blocks, starting from commercially available D-mannitol, is described. The devised route was applied to a synthesis of the (S)-(–)-enantiomer of the antiviral natural product umbelactone, together with the construction of other synthetically useful lactone structures.

LDL particle size in habitual exercisers, lean sedentary men and abdominally obese sedentary men

Habitual exercisers enjoy considerable protection from coronary heart disease (CHD). Often, however, only modest differences in traditional CHD risk factors are apparent between habitual exercisers and their sedentary counterparts. For this reason, there is increasing interest in novel predictors of CHD, such as a preponderance of small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to separate lipoprotein subfractions in 32 lean exercisers, 36 lean sedentary men and 21 obese sedentary men aged 30-45 years. Well-validated equations were used to determine LDL concentration and peak particle diameter. Waist girth was used to identify lean (<100 cm) and obese ( >= 100cm) individuals. LDL concentration was lower in lean exercisers than in lean sedentary men (2.64 +/- 0.44 vs. 3.76 +/- 0.79 mmol.l(-1), p <0.001), suggesting that habitual exercise influences this risk factor. In contrast, there were no significant differences in LDL peak particle diameter between lean exercisers, lean sedentary men and obese sedentary men (27.92 +/- 0.67, 28.09 +/- 0.62 and 27.77 +/- 0.77 nm, respectively). In multiple linear regression analysis, triglyceride concentration was the only significant predictor of LDL PPD. These data suggest that habitual exercise influences LDL concentration but does not influence LDL particle size in men aged 30-45 years.