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Objective: Rare disease. Background: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-associated disease (MOGAD) is a recently described inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), which needs to be distinguished from aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-IgG-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-IgG+NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Case Report: A 42-year-old woman presenting with loss of vision due to optic neuritis was admitted to the Naval Medical Center in October 2022. She had optic disc edema, blurred visual margins, optic disc pallor, and deficient visual field in both eyes. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed bilateral optic nerve thickening, tortuosity, and swelling, especially on the right side. Orbital MRI T2 sequence showed the typical "double track sign" change. The titers of MOG-IgG in CSF and serum were 1: 1 (+) and 1: 32 (+) separately, so MOGAD was diagnosed. The primary treatment was intravenous methylprednisolone for 2 weeks, after which the blurred vision improved and MRI showed the optic nerve lesions disappeared. She was discharged and oral corticosteroids were tapered gradually, and 1 month later, the symptom had vanished without recurrence, cranial MRI was normal, and MOG-IgG in CSF and serum were negative. Low-dose oral corticosteroids were continued for 6 months, with no relapse and normal cranial MRI, so we stopped corticosteroid therapy. At 1-year follow-up, the symptoms had not recurred. Conclusions: A 42-year-old woman presented with loss of vision due to optic neuritis and positive antibody testing for MOG. MOGAD was diagnosed, and timely immunotherapy was effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), one of the most vital food crops worldwide, is sensitive to salinity. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are crucial in tolerance to various abiotic stresses. The constitutive photomorphogenesis and dwarf (CPD) gene encodes C-3 oxidase, which is a rate-limiting enzyme that controls the synthesis of BRs. Methods: In this study, we used StCPD gene overexpression (T) and un-transgenic (NT) plants obtained from our former research to illustrate adaptive resistance to salt stress at levels of phenotype; cell ultrastructure, physiology, and biochemistry; hormone; and transcription. Results: Results showed the accumulation of 2,4-epibrassionolide (EBL) in T potatoes. We found that under high salt situations, the changed Na+/K+ transporter gene expression was linked with the prevalent ionic responses in T plants, which led to lower concentrations of K+ and higher concentrations of Na+ in leaves. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data elucidated that gene expressions in NT and T plants were significantly changed with 200-mM NaCl treatment for 24 h and 48 h, compared with the 0-h treatment. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that most of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were related to the regulation of BR-related gene expression, pigment metabolism process, light and action, and plant hormone signal transduction. Discussion: These findings suggested that StCPD gene overexpression can alleviate the damage caused by salt stress and enhance the salt resistance of potato plantlets. Our study provides an essential reference for further research on BR regulation of plant molecular mechanisms in potatoes with stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic GMP‐AMP synthase (cGAS) is a double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) sensor that functions in the innate immune system. Upon binding dsDNA, cGAS and dsDNA form phase‐separated condensates in which cGAS catalyzes the synthesis of 2′3′‐cyclic GMP‐AMP that subsequently triggers a STING‐dependent, type I interferon (IFN‐I) response. Here, we show that cytoplasmic RNAs regulate cGAS activity. We discover that RNAs do not activate cGAS but rather promote phase separation of cGAS in vitro. In cells, cGAS colocalizes with RNA and forms complexes with RNA. In the presence of cytoplasmic dsDNA, RNAs colocalize with phase‐separated condensates of cGAS and dsDNA. Further in vitro assays showed that RNAs promote the formation of cGAS‐containing phase separations and enhance cGAS activity when the dsDNA concentration is low. Cotransfection of RNA with a small amount of dsDNA into THP1 cells significantly enhances the production of the downstream signaling molecule interferon beta (IFNB). This enhancement can be blocked by a cGAS‐specific inhibitor. Thus, cytoplasmic RNAs could regulate cGAS activity by modulating the formation of cGAS‐containing condensates. Synopsis: cGAS‐dsDNA phase separation is critical for the dsDNA‐induced activation of cGAS. This study shows that RNA‐modulated phase separation of cGAS plays a role in regulating cGAS activity. RNA does not directly activate cGAS but modulates the formation of cGAS‐dsDNA condensates.RNA promotes phase separation of cGAS‐dsDNA and enhances cGAS activity at low dsDNA concentrations.RNA competes with dsDNA in phase‐separated granules of cGAS and inhibits cGAS activity at high dsDNA concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Let f be a normalized primitive holomorphic cusp form of even integral weight k for the full modular group Γ = SL(2, Z). Denote by λf (n) the nth normalized Fourier coefficient of f. In this paper, we are interested in an asymptotic formula for the sum X n≤x n -¡ l(mod q) λ 2j f (n), where j ≥ 5 is any positive integer, and q is a prime with (l, q) = 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let λf(n), σ(n) and φ(n) be the nth Hecke eigenvalue of normalized cuspidal Hecke eigenform, the sum-of-divisors function and the Euler totient function, respectively. In this paper, we investigate the asymptotic behavior of the summatory function X n ≤ x λ j f (n)σ b (n)φ c (n) as x → ∞, where j ≥ 9 is any fixed integer. This generalizes the previous work in this direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory-guided neural network (TgNN) is a kind of method which improves the effectiveness and efficiency of neural network architectures by incorporating scientific knowledge or physical information. Despite its great success, the theory-guided (deep) neural network possesses certain limits when maintaining a tradeoff between training data and domain knowledge during the training process. In this paper, the Lagrangian dual-based TgNN (TgNN-LD) is proposed to improve the effectiveness of the training process. We convert the original loss function into a constrained form with several items, in which partial differential equations (PDEs), engineering controls (ECs), and expert knowledge (EK) are regarded as constraints, with one Lagrangian variable per constraint. These Lagrangian variables are incorporated to achieve an equitable trade-off between observation data and corresponding constraints, to improve prediction accuracy and training efficiency. To investigate the performance of the proposed method, the original TgNN model with a set of optimized weight values adjusted by ad-hoc procedures is compared on a subsurface flow problem, with their L2 error, R square (R2), and computational time being analyzed. Experimental results demonstrate the superiority of the Lagrangian dual-based TgNN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For patients with symptomatic intracranial and vertebral artery stenosis who receive endovascular treatment, in-stent restenosis (ISR) is associated with the recurrence of ischemic stroke. This study evaluated a drug-eluting stent (DES) vs. bare metal stent (BMS) for the treatment of symptomatic intracranial and vertebral artery stenosis. Methods: The trial was a multicenter, 1:1 randomized, prospective feasibility clinical trial with 10 participating centers in China from March 2014 to October 2015. Eligible patients had symptomatic intracranial and vertebral artery stenosis (70%-99%) and had medical drug treatment failure. The primary endpoint was the rate of in-stent restenosis at 180 days of randomization. The secondary endpoint was a composite of the following two outcomes: (1) ischemic stroke or transient cerebral ischemia (TIA) in the same territory as the presenting event (distal to the target lesion) between 30 days and 1 year after randomization and (2) successful stent implantation. The safety outcome was the presence of stroke in any territory and death within 30 days of randomization or adverse events. Group t-tests or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used for the intergroup comparison of quantitative data according to the data distribution. The chi-square test or exact probability method was used for the classification data. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test or CMH test was used for the categorical data. Results: We enrolled 188 patients at 10 medical centers in China (92 assigned to the DES group and 96 to the BMS group). The mean age of the 188 study participants was 61.6 years (range, 38-75 years); 152 participants (80.9%) were male. There were 28 patients (43.8%) with an ISR at 180 days in the BMS group and 10 patients (14.5%) in the DES group [risk difference, 29.3% (95% CI, 14.5%-44.0%); P = 0.001]. The percent of patients with ischemic stroke or TIA in the same territory between 30 days and 1 year was 5.2% (5/96) in the BMS group and 2.2% (2/92) in the DES group [risk difference, 3.0%; (95% CI, -2.3% to 8.2%); P = 0.354]. The percent of patients with successful stent implantation was 99.0% (95/96) in the BMS group and 97.8% (90/92) in the DES group [risk difference, 1.1%; (95% CI, -1.7% to 3.9%); P = 0.584]. In total, five patients (5.2%) in the BMS group and three patients (3.3%) in the DES group [risk difference, 1.9%; (95% CI, -2.3% to 6.1%); P = 0.721] had stroke in any territory and death within the 30-day follow-up. Total adverse events occurred 167 times in 72 patients (75.0%) in the BMS group compared with 114 times in 59 patients (64.1%) in the DES group [risk difference, 10.9%; (95% CI, -0.1% to 21.7%); P = 0.115]. Conclusions: Among patients with symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis and vertebral artery stenosis, the use of a drug-eluting stent compared with a bare metal stent resulted in a decreased risk of ISR, similar successful stent implantation, and similar adverse events. These findings support the use of a drug-eluting stent for patients with symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis and vertebral artery stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo leaves extract (BLE) has a variety of physiological functions such as antitumour, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and blood fat reduction activities and the flavonoids of bamboo leaves are the major active constituents. To profile the flavonoids in the complex BLE, a rapid and sensitive analytical method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was developed for the structural identification of the flavonoids in Bambusa chungii leaves extract using accurate mass measurements and characteristic fragmentation patterns. After separation on an Agilent SB-C18 Rapid Resolution High Definition (RRHD) column (2.1 mm × 150 mm, 1.8 μm) by gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution and acetonitrile as the mobile phase, the sample was analysed by ESI-QTOF-MS/MS in the negative mode. A total of 22 flavonoids were detected, and eight of these were identified by comparison with reference standards, while the other fourteen were tentatively identified according to their MS/MS data. The main fragmentation pathways of flavonoid C-glycosides (compounds 1, 5 and 10), flavonoid di-C,O-glycosides (compound 4), flavonoid di-C-glycosides (compound 7) and flavonoid C,O-di-glycosides (compounds 2 and 14) are shown in this article. This is the first report on the analysis of the flavonoids in the extract of B. chungii leaves. The present work demonstrates that UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS is an efficient technique for identifying multiple flavonoids of BLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The T‐cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing molecule 3 (TIM‐3), a crucial immune regulatory molecule, is an emerging immune checkpoint target for cancer therapy. Our study aimed to investigate the association between TIM‐3 polymorphisms (rs10053538 C > A, rs10515746 C > A, and rs1036199 A > C) and the susceptibility and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We further detect the effects of polymorphisms on TIM‐3 expression. Two independent case–control sets (population‐based and hospital‐based sets) were performed in total 994 ESCC patients and 998 controls. TIM‐3 polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction‐ligase detection reaction (PCR). Survival data were available for 198 patients who received platinum‐based chemotherapy after surgery. The regulation on TIM‐3 expression by the polymorphisms was investigated in 35 patients using real‐time quantitative PCR. The association between mRNA level of TIM‐3 and survival was detected by using Kaplan–Meier plotter database. We found that for rs10053538 C > A polymorphisms, A allele was associated with significant increased risk of ESCC (odds ratios [OR] = 1.34, 95%CI = 1.05–1.72), and CA/AA genotypes enhanced susceptibility to ESCC for smokers (adjusted OR = 1.61, 95%CI = 1.00–2.59). The patients with AA genotypes had significantly poor prognosis (adjusted HR = 4.98, 95%CI = 1.14–21.71). The patients carrying CA/AA genotypes had significantly higher mRNA levels of TIM‐3 than those carrying the CC genotype. Furthermore, high mRNA level of TIM‐3 had a shorter overall survival in patients (HR = 2.56, 95%CI = 1.04–6.28). For rs10515746 C > A and rs1036199 A > C polymorphisms, there were no statistical correlation with the progression of ESCC. These data demonstrate that rs10053538 C > A polymorphisms may be associated with the susceptibility and prognosis of ESCC patients through regulating expression of TIM‐3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose In-stent restenosis (ISR) is one of the long-term adverse outcomes of endovascular angioplasty and stenting for symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis. In this study, we try to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment for intracranial ISR. Methods We retrospectively collected patients with intracranial ISR who underwent endovascular treatment from June 2012 to August 2019 at a high-volume stroke center. Successful recanalization was defined as ≤30% residual stenosis. Stroke, myocardial infarction, and death after stenting within 30 days were used to evaluate periprocedural safety. Recurrent stroke in the territory of the culprit vessel and re-ISR in patients with clinical and vascular imaging follow-up data were used to evaluate the long-term outcome. Results 32 patients (59.6±7.2 years old) with ISR were recruited, including 22 patients (68.8%) treated with balloon dilatation, 8 patients (25%) with stenting, and 2 patients (6.3%) with failed procedures. Successful recanalization was achieved in 71.9% (23/32) of patients. There was no stroke, myocardial infarction or death within 30 days after the procedure. Recurrent stroke was found in 10.7% (3/28) of the patients, and re-ISR was found in 42.1% (8/19) of the patients. The re-ISR rate was lower in patients with stenting than in those with balloon dilatation (0% vs 57.1%, p=0.090), and in patients with successful recanalization than in those with unsuccessful recanalization (33.3% vs 75.0%, p=0.352), but with no statistically significant difference. Conclusions The periprocedural safety of endovascular treatment for intracranial ISR may be acceptable, but the long-term rates of recurrent stroke and re-ISR remain at high levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most important anti‐tumour immune response is mediated by T lymphocytes. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte‐associated protein 4 (CTLA4) plays a critical role in the immune surveillance against tumours as an inhibitory immune checkpoint molecule of T‐cell activation. This study was designed to explore the association of CTLA4 polymorphisms with the susceptibility to oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and prognosis of patients with ESCC in a high‐incidence population from northern China. CTLA4 rs5742909 C/T and rs231775 G/A single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction–ligase detection reaction (PCR‐LDR) method in 577 ESCC patients and 580 controls. Upper gastrointestinal cancer family history increased the risk of ESCC (the sex‐, age‐ and smoking status‐adjusted OR = 1.383, 95%CI = 1.094–1.749). The genotype frequencies of these two SNPs in the patients with ESCC were similar to that in the controls. Survival analyses were conducted in 204 patients with ESCC with five‐year survival information. The mean survival time of ESCC patients with rs231775 SNP A/A genotype in age over 60 years group was 23.2 months, significantly shorter than that of those with G/G genotype (47.3 months). The A/A genotype was associated with increased death risk of patients with ESCC older than 60 years (adjusted HR = 4.544, 95%CI = 1.913–10.790). CTLA4 rs231775 SNP might be used as genetic marker of worse prognosis for patients with ESCC over 60 years in a high‐incidence population from northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of prediction strategies are specific to a dynamic multiobjective optimization problem (DMOP) with only one type of the Pareto set (PS) change. However, a continuous DMOP with more than one type of the unknown PS change has been seldom investigated. We present a multimodel prediction approach (MMP) realized in the framework of evolutionary algorithms (EAs) to tackle the problem. In this paper, we first detect the type of the PS change, followed by the selection of an appropriate prediction model to provide an initial population for the subsequent evolution. To observe the influence of MMP on EAs, optimal solutions obtained by three classical dynamic multiobjective EAs with and without MMP are investigated. Furthermore, to investigate the performance of MMP, three state-of-the-art prediction strategies are compared on a large number of dynamic test instances under the same particle swarm optimizer. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach outperforms its counterparts under comparison on most optimization problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes of early stenting (≤14 days) or late stenting (>14 days) in patients who underwent intracranial stent placement. Methods Patients with ischemic stroke caused by 70-99% intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis combined with poor collaterals were enrolled. The early stenting group, who underwent stenting within 14 days of last ischemic symptoms, were compared with the late stenting group who underwent stenting >14 days from last ischemic symptom. The patients were treated either with a balloon-mounted stent or a self-expanding stent as determined by the operators following a guideline. The baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were evaluated and compared. Results One hundred and fifteen stroke patients were recruited into the study. Four patients (4/41) in the early stenting group and two patients (2/74) in the late stenting group were diagnosed with a cerebral vascular event associated with stenting within 3 days (p=0.184). In the long-term follow-up, eight patients in the early stenting group had restenosis ≥50%, which was higher than patients in the late stenting group (8/41 vs 4/74, p=0.018). The total rates of any ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, hemorrhagic stroke, and death in the early stenting group were higher than in the late stenting group (9/41 vs 6/74, p=0.035). The recurrence rate of ischemic stroke in the early stenting group was higher than in the late stenting group (5/41 vs 2/74, p=0.041). Conclusions Stent placement in the setting of ischemic stroke caused by intracranial artery stenosis within 14 days may confer a higher risk of long-time cerebral vascular events and lead to a higher risk of restenosis. Clinical trial registration NCT01968122. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various real-world multiobjective optimization problems are dynamic, requiring evolutionary algorithms (EAs) to be able to rapidly track the moving Pareto front of an optimization problem once an environmental change occurs. To this end, several methods have been developed to predict the new location of the moving Pareto set (PS) so that the population can be reinitialized around the predicted location. In this paper, we present a multidirectional prediction strategy to enhance the performance of EAs in solving a dynamic multiobjective optimization problem (DMOP). To more accurately predict the moving location of the PS, the population is clustered into a number of representative groups by a proposed classification strategy, where the number of clusters is adapted according to the intensity of the environmental change. To examine the performance of the developed algorithm, the proposed prediction strategy is compared with four state-of-the-art prediction methods under the framework of particle swarm optimization as well as five popular EAs for dynamic multiobjective optimization. Our experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can effectively tackle DMOPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gynecological Endocrinology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis repeat-containing 5 (BIRC5) is an inhibitor of apoptosis proteins and plays a key role in apoptosis or programmed cell death. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of BIRC5 gene polymorphisms on the risk of developing oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and patients' outcomes in a high-incidence population from northern China. A population-based case-control study was performed in 597 ESCC patients and 597 control subjects.Survival data were available for 211 patients who received platinum-based chemotherapy after surgery. Five polymorphisms (-31 C>G, -241 C>T, -625 G>C, -644 T>C and -1547 A>G) in the promoter of the BIRC5 gene were genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) method. Compared with the -31 CC genotype, the -31 CG/GG genotype of -31 C>G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was associated with a significant elevated risk of ESCC [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07–1.84]. Interestingly, this association was stronger among females, younger patients and non-smokers in stratified analyses (adjusted OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.07–2.75; adjusted OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.10–2.36; adjusted OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.26–2.58, respectively]. Survival analyses showed that the T allele of -241 C>T SNP was associated with poor prognosis [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.99, 95% CI = 1.09–8.19) and that the C allele of -625 G>C SNP was associated with good prognosis (HR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.38–0.99) in ESCC patients. The -31 C>G polymorphism may be involved in the development of ESCC, and the -241 C>T and -625 G>C polymorphisms may be useful prognostic markers for ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic multi-objective optimization problems (DMOPs) not only involve multiple conflicting objectives, but these objectives may also vary with time, raising a challenge for researchers to solve them. This paper presents a cooperative co-evolutionary strategy based on environment sensitivities for solving DMOPs. In this strategy, a new method that groups decision variables is first proposed, in which all the decision variables are partitioned into two subcomponents according to their interrelation with environment. Adopting two populations to cooperatively optimize the two subcomponents, two prediction methods, i.e., differential prediction and Cauchy mutation, are then employed respectively to speed up their responses on the change of the environment. Furthermore, two improved dynamic multi-objective optimization algorithms, i.e., DNSGAII-CO and DMOPSO-CO, are proposed by incorporating the above strategy into NSGA-II and multi-objective particle swarm optimization, respectively. The proposed algorithms are compared with three state-of-the-art algorithms by applying to seven benchmark DMOPs. Experimental results reveal that the proposed algorithms significantly outperform the compared algorithms in terms of convergence and distribution on most DMOPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy plus rescue therapy for intracranial large artery occlusion (ILAO) with underlying intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS). Methods Patients enrolled in the intervention group of easT (endovascular Therapy for acute ischemic Stroke Trial) were analyzed. For underlying ICAS identified during the stent retrieval procedure, rescue treatment was required for those with (1) a degree of arterial stenosis >70% or (2) any degree of arterial with blood flow impairment or (3) evidence of re-occlusion. Outcomes were compared between the ICAS group and the embolic group. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine independent predictors of functional independence at 90 days. Results Among the 140 patients included in the analysis, underlying ICAS was identified in 47 (34%), and 30 patients (21.4%) were considered to be eligible to receive rescue treatment. Of the 30 patients, 27 (90%) actually received rescue therapy. recanalization rate (95.7% vs 96.8%, P=0.757) and functional independence at 90 days (63.8% vs 51.6%, P=0.169) were comparable between the ICAS group and the embolic group. no significant difference in symptomatic hemorrhage (4.3% vs 4.3%, P=1.000) or death (12.8% vs 12.9%, P=0.982) was found between the two groups. National Institutes of health Stroke scale score at presentation (OR=0.865, 95% CI 0.795 to 0.941; P=0.001) and modified Thrombolysis in cerebral infarction after the procedure (Or=2.864, 95% CI 1.018 to 8.061; P=0.046) were independently associated with functional independence at 90 days. Conclusions Mechanical thrombectomy is safe in patients with ILAO with underlying ICAS. By employing a standard rescue therapy, favorable outcomes could be achieved in such patients. Clinical trial registration ncT02350283 (Postresults). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitive and rapid identification of illicit drugs in a non-contact mode remains a challenge for years. Here we report three film-based fluorescent sensors showing unprecedented sensitivity, selectivity, and response speed to the existence of six widely abused illicit drugs, including methamphetamine (MAPA), ecstasy, magu, caffeine, phenobarbital (PB), and ketamine in vapor phase. Importantly, for these drugs, the sensing can be successfully performed after 5.0 x 105, 4.0 x 105, 2.0 x 105, 1.0 x 105, 4.0 x 104, and 2.0 x 10² times dilution of their saturated vapor with air at room temperature, respectively. Also, presence of odorous substances (toiletries, fruits, dirty clothes, etc.), water, and amido-bond-containing organic compounds (typical organic amines, legal drugs, and different amino acids) shows little effect upon the sensing. More importantly, discrimination and identification of them can be realized by using the sensors in an array way. Based upon the discoveries, a conceptual, two-sensor based detector is developed, and non-contact detection of the drugs is realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the utilization of domestic computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine, give full play to the use efficiency. Based on the hydraulic system design technology, the remote design of the hydraulic system was realized with powerful analysis and reasoning function of expert system and the convenience features of the Internet. The results show that the machine data sharing was effectively realized by embedding the modules of on-site server accessing the NC kernel into the server program. In addition, the unattended server function was realized. The result shows that the labor intensity of the operator was reduced, and the efficiency was improved. It is concluded that the hydraulic network remote control system of CNC milling machine can effectively reduce the labor intensity and improve work efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent genome-wide association studies identified susceptibility loci for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the most common histological type of esophageal cancer, in the phospholipase C ε-1 gene (PLCE1). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether polymorphisms of PLCE1 were associated with the prognosis of ESCC patients in a high-incidence region of northern China. The PLCE1 rs2274223 A/G and rs11599672T/G single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-ligase detection reaction method in 207 ESCC patients with survival information. The mean age ± standard deviation of the 207 ESCC patients was 60.3±7.9 years. Sex, age, smoking status and family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer were not found to be associated with the survival time of ESCC patients. The mean survival time of rs2274223 SNP A/A, A/G and G/G genotype carriers were 42.9, 43.4 and 46.3 months, respectively; for rs11599672 SNP T/T, T/G and G/G genotype carriers the survival time were 42.8, 43.8 and 42.7 months, respectively. There was no significant difference in survival time among the ESCC patients with different genotypes of rs2274223 and rs11599672 SNPs. In conclusion, PLCE1 rs227423 and rs11599672 SNPs cannot be used as predictive markers for the survival of ESCC patients from a high-incidence region of northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastatic bone tumor-induced changes in gene transcription and translation in pain-related regions of the nervous system may participate in the development and maintenance of bone cancer pain. Epigenetic modifications including DNA methylation regulate gene transcription. Here we report that intrathecal injection of decitabine, a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, dosedependently attenuated the development and maintenance of bone cancer pain induced by injecting prostate cancer cells (PCC) into the tibia. The level of the de novo DNA methyltransferase DNMT3a, but not DNMT3b, time-dependently increased in the ipsilateral L4/5 dorsal horn (not L4/5 dorsal root ganglion) after PCC injection. Blocking this increase through microinjection of recombinant adeno-associated virus 5 (AAV5) expressing Dnmt3a shRNA into dorsal horn rescued PCC-induced downregulation of dorsal horn Kv1.2 expression and impaired PCC-induced pain hypersensitivity. In turn, mimicking this increase through microinjection of AAV5 expressing full-length Dnmt3a into dorsal horn reduced dorsal horn Kv1.2 expression and produced pain hypersensitivity in the absence of PCC injection. Administration of neither decitabine nor virus affected locomotor function and acute responses to mechanical, thermal, or cold stimuli. Given that Dnmt3a mRNA is co-expressed with Kcna2 mRNA (encoding Kv1.2) in individual dorsal horn neurons, our findings suggest that the increased dorsal horn DNMT3a contributes to bone cancer pain through silencing dorsal horn Kv1.2 expression. DNMT3a may represent a potential new target for cancer pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The risk of recurrent ischaemic events is related to platelet function, which is often assessed by thromboelastography (TEG). TEG has high interindividual variability.Objective: To identify causal variants associated with TEG parameters in patients who receive aspirin and clopidogrel after intra- or extracranial stenting.Methods: Patients who underwent stenting for extracranial or intracranial stenosis (70-99%) were recruited into the study. Blood samples were obtained for TEG to assess the platelet function before stenting. Aspirin- and clopidogrel-related genetic polymorphisms were determined by the MassARRAY method. Minor allele frequency and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) tests and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis were carried out. The influences of genetic polymorphism on TEG parameters were analysed by linear regression.Results: A total of 249 patients were included in this study. Twenty-two selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped, and no significant deviation from HWE was found for any SNP in the study patients. Four SNPs-rs2104543, rs12772169, rs1998591 and rs1042194-within CYP2C18 were in high LD, and the genetic polymorphisms had a significant impact on the TEG parameters maximal clot strength (MAThrombin) and ADP-induced platelet-fibrin clot strength (MAADP). Patients who carried the loss-of-function CYP2C19*2 (rs4244285) allele were also at risk of increased MAThrombin and MAADP.Conclusions: Testing for these polymorphisms may be valuable in the identification of patients at high risk of recurrent ischaemic events. Alternative treatments may be considered for these high-risk patients.Trial Registration Number: NCT01925872. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The most important anti-tumor immune response is mediated by T lymphocytes. The interaction of programmed death-1 ligand-1 (PD-L1) with its receptor provides an inhibitory signal in T lymphocytes activation and proliferation. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether polymorphisms of PD-L1 were associated with the risk and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in a high-incidence population from Northern China. METHODS: PD-L1 rs2890658 A/C and rs4143815 C/G single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) method in 575 ESCC patients and 577 healthy controls. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the genotype frequencies of these two SNPs between the ESCC patients and the healthy controls. However, for rs2890658 A/C SNP, compared with the C/C genotype, the A/C genotype increased the risk of ESCC for the smokers (OR = 1.513, 95% CI = 1.006-2.287). Among the 575 ESCC patients, the survival information of 202 ESCC patients was collected. Neither the rs2890658 A/C SNP nor the rs4143815 C/G SNP was associated with the survival of ESCC patients. CONCLUSIONS: PD-L1 rs2890658 A/C SNP might be used as risk marker of the susceptibility to ESCC for the Han nationality in a high-incidence population from Northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most aggressive malignancies worldwide. Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 is a nuclear matrix attachment region binding protein which participates in higher order chromatin organization and tissue-specific gene expression. However, the role of special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma remains unknown. In this study, western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis were performed to identify differentially expressed special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 in a series of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue samples. The effects of special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 silencing by two short-hairpin RNAs on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were assessed by the CCK-8 assay and transwell assays in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in vitro. Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 was significantly upregulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue samples and cell lines. Silencing of special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 inhibited the proliferation of KYSE450 and EC9706 cells which have a relatively high level of special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1, and the ability of migration and invasion of KYSE450 and EC9706 cells was distinctly suppressed. Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 could be a potential target for the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and inhibition of special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 may provide a new strategy for the prevention of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma invasion and metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose Thrombelastography (TEG) is widely used for the measurement of platelet function. However, few studies have investigated the TEG parameters in patients receiving extracranial or intracranial artery stenting for ischemic cerebrovascular disease. This study sought to describe the association of TEG parameters before the procedure with post-procedural ischemic events after extracranial or intracranial artery stenting. Methods Patients in whom stenting was performed for extracranial or intracranial artery stenosis (70-99%) were recruited into the study. Blood samples were obtained for TEG to assess platelet function before stenting. The primary endpoint was ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack in the territory of the stented artery. Results A total of 218 patients were included in the study. During a mean follow-up period of 132 days (range 98-226 days), 18 (8.3%) primary endpoint events were recorded. Compared with patients without ischemic events, the ADP-induced platelet-fibrin clot strength (MAADP) was significantly higher (41.57±15.10 vs 33.50±13.86, p=0.020) and the ADP inhibition rate (ADP%) was significantly lower in patients with ischemic events (39.54±23.15 vs 55.29±24.43, p=0.009). Multivariate analysis identified MAADP and ADP% as significant independent predictors of subsequent ischemic events with HRs of 1.036 and 0.965, respectively. From receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, MAADP >49.95 mm had the best predictive value of ischemic events. Conclusions Our study suggests that TEG parameters MAADP and ADP% are associated with subsequent ischemic events in patients with extracranial or intracranial stents. Clinical trial number NCT01925872. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the present study, we performed this meta-analysis to estimate the association between excision repair cross-complementation group 1 ( ERCC1) gene polymorphism and clinical resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy in the patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods: A total of 10 studies consist of 1479 EOC patients relating ERCC1 rs11615C/T and rs3212986C/A polymorphisms to the response of platinum-based chemotherapy were included in this meta-analysis. Results: The analysis showed that the AA genotype of the rs3212986C/A polymorphism in ERCC1 was associated with progression-free survival of EOC patients (HR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.12-1.73) and that the CA or AA genotypes could influence overall survival (HR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.05-1.56; and HR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.17∼2.05, respectively). Conclusions: The ERCC1 rs3212986C/A polymorphism may be a useful prognostic marker in platinum-based treatment of EOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: The miR-196a2 gene contains a C/T polymorphism (rs11614913). Its presence could change the conformation of secondary structure of miR-196a2 RNA, and directly affect the binding to target mRNAs and the miRNA maturation process. Both of which eventually alter protein expression and contributed to cancer susceptibility. This study assessed whether the rs11614913 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) could affect an individual's susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC). Methods: SNP rs11614913 was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) in 597 ESCC patients and 597 control subjects. Results: Overall, there were no significant differences in the frequency of the miRNA-196a2 SNP rs11614913 genotype between the ESCC cases and the controls ( χ2 = 1.395, p = 0.498). The TT genotype, CT genotype and CT/TT combined genotype (dominant model) did not modify the risk of ESCC as compared with the CC genotype. Comparisons of the TT genotype to the CT/CC combined genotype did not reveal a significant association to ESCC, too. However, further analyses revealed an increased risk of ESCC in the dominant model (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.08-2.26) and the allele frequency comparison (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.06-1.63) in the ≤60-year-old group. Conclusions: These results suggest that the miRNA-196a2 functional polymorphism rs11614913 might be an effective genetic marker for ESCC risk assessment in individuals younger than 60 years of age from a region of high ESCC incidence in northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A C/T polymorphism (rs11614913) was identified in the microRNA (miRNA) 196a2 (miR-196a2) gene and was implicated in the susceptibility to cancer. Numerous studies have investigated its association with the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the results were inconsistent and inconclusive. The present meta-analysis was conducted based on the results of six published case-control studies comprising 1,754 cases and 2,430 controls (up to November, 2012). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for the allelic and genotypic comparisons following the co-dominant, dominant and recessive genetic models. The Chi-square-based Q-test was used to assess heterogeneity. Egger's test and inverted funnel plots were used to investigate publication bias. Subgroup analysis was also performed. The results demonstrated that almost all the genetic models (except the model of CT vs. TT) indicated a significant association between rs11614913 polymorphism and CRC risk. The subgroup analysis in an Asian population also demonstrated similar results. However, there was no significant association of miR-196a2 rs11614913 polymorphism with the clinical characteristics of CRC patients. Our results confirmed the association of the polymorphism rs11614913 with the risk of CRC, but not with tumor stage and grade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the association of tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) gene with susceptibility to endometriosis. Methods: This study comprised 571 patients with endometriosis and 580 women in the control group. Five tag SNPs in the VEGFR-2 gene were selected using a Haploview program, and those SNPs were genotyped by a method of polymerase chain reaction and ligase detection reaction. Results: Statistical results show that there was a significant difference in the genotype and allele distribution of the 1192C/T polymorphism between the disease group and the control group (p = 0.041 and 0.017). The women carrying the T allele (C/T+T/T genotype) had a lower risk of developing endometriosis compared with the women with the C/C genotype (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57-0.99). There was no significant difference in the allele and genotype distribution of four other tag SNPs (1719T/A, +31C/T, IVS25-92A/G and IVS6+ 54C/T) between the disease group and the control group (all p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggested that the 1192C/T polymorphisms on the VEGFR-2 gene might affect the risk of developing endometriosis in Northern Chinese women of Han ethnicity. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis causes acute ischemic stroke in a significant number of patients. Nowadays, the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) is a major method for the treatment of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis, which can be used in patients with acute or subacute ischemic stroke, especially in patients with severe intracranial arterial stenosis, avoiding the onset of stroke. The periprocedural and long-term complications include implantation failure, intracranial bleeding, vessel rupture, embolism and in - stent restenosis. Medical treatment with anticoagulant drugs in periprocedural stage may prevent for the happening of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poor prognosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients with del(17p13) is well established. Several studies have shown that cases with TP53 mutations and TP53 mutations without del(17p13) may be adverse prognostic factors. We studied 173 well-characterized CLL patients by direct sequencing to detect TP53 mutations (exons 2-11). TP53 mutations were detected in 14.5% (25 of 173) of samples. Most patients with del(17p13) had TP53 mutations (72.2%). Mutations in the absence of del(17p13) were found in 8.3% in our cohort, which were higher than other countries. Compared with cases without TP53 alterations, TP53 mutations and deletions were both associated with advanced stages and unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region status. Survival analysis showed that the occurrence of TP53 mutations and del(17p13) were associated with shorter overall survival (OS), treatment-free survival (TFS), and resistance to chemotherapy. TP53 mutations were the variables strongly associated with OS and TFS by multivariate Cox regression analysis. Moreover, we also found that cases with TP53 mutations in the absence of del(17p13) had a similar clinical and biological course and similar poor short OS as cases carrying del(17p13) in Chinese patients with CLL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article evaluates the clinical effectiveness and safety of the treatment of patients with fludarabine refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia by supplying fresh frozen plasma (FFP) to rituximab. The characteristics of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which is a progressive accumulation of monoclonal B-lymphocytes in the bone marrow, lymphatic organs and blood is discussed. Rituximab is a chemeric monoclonal antibody that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The human multidrug resistance gene ( MDR1, ABCB1) codes for P-glycoprotein (P-gp) that affects the pharmacokinetics of many drugs. MDR1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with drug clearance. Imatinib is a substrate of P-gp-mediated efflux. We investigated the MDR1 T1236C, G 2677T/A, and C3435T polymorphism in 52 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with imatinib. The distribution of MDR1 1236, 2677, or 3435 genotypes was significantly different between the resistance patients and sensitivity patients. The resistance incidence correlated with the number of T alleles at locus 1236 and 3435. Resistance was higher for patients homozygous for the 1236T allele when compared to patients with CT/CC genotype groups (75% vs. 31.3%, P = 0.004). For the G2677T/A polymorphism, a better complete cytogenetic remission was observed for patients with genotype AG/AT/AA, when compared to other genotype groups (TT/GT/GG, P = 0.02). Patients with 3435 TT/CT genotypes showed a higher resistance when compared with patients with CC genotype (59.4% vs. 25%, P = 0.023). In conclusion, determination of 1236T, C3435T, and G2677T MDR1 polymorphisms might be useful in response prediction to therapy with imatinib in patients with CML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis appears to be an important event in the pathophysiology of endometriosis (EM) and adenomyosis. Two angiogenic factors, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 1 and 2, play a central role in the initiation of angiogenesis. We investigated whether FGF1 -1385A/G and FGF2 754C/G polymorphisms are associated with a risk of developing EM and adenomyosis. METHODS: Genotypes were analyzed by the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method in two groups of women, of Han ethnicity in north China, aged 16-55 years: (1) 421 EM patients and 421 controls; (2) 269 adenomyosis patients and 269 controls. RESULTS: There was no difference in genotype distribution of the FGF1 -1385A/G polymorphism between adenomyosis cases and controls (P > 0.05), but the frequency of the A allele in EM patients was lower than that in controls (P = 0.013). Genotype and allele frequencies of the FGF2 754C/C polymorphism were significantly different in both EM and adenomyosis cases versus control groups. Compared with C/C homozygotes, the G allele (C/G + G/G) was associated with a decreased susceptibility to developing EM [odds ratio (OR) = 0.575, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.387-0.854] and adenomyosis (OR = 0.577, 95% CI = 0.367-0.906). Combined genotype analysis of both polymorphisms also showed differences between cases versus controls (all P , 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows for the first time that the FGF2 754C/G polymorphism may be associated with a risk of developing EM and adenomyosis in north Chinese women. Carriers of the G allele in the FGF2 gene appear to be protected from these gynecological diseases. Further studies in other populations, and of other candidate genes, are now warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The FAS and FASL system play an important role in regulating apoptotic cell death. This study was designed to investigate the correlation of FAS-1377 G/A, -670 A/G and FASL-844 T/C polymorphisms with susceptibility to gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma in a population of a high-incidence region of Hebei Province. Methods: FAS-1377 G/A, -670 A/G and FASL-844 T/C polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 262 gastric cardiac carcinoma (GCA) patients and 524 healthy controls. Results: Family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGIC) might increase the risk of developing GCA (age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02–1.86). The overall allelotype and genotype distributions of FAS-1377 G/A, and FASL-844 T/C polymorphisms in GCA patients did not significantly differ from that in healthy controls ( P > 0.05). Compared with individuals with a FAS-670 A/A genotype, individuals with an A/G genotype in a smoker group had a lower risk of developing GCA (age, sex, and family history of UGIC adjusted OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.34–0.88). When the genotypes of FAS and FASL single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were combined to analyze, no significant correlation was found between these SNP and the risk for GCA development. Conclusion: In the high-incidence region of Hebei Province, FAS-1377 G/A and FASL-844 T/C polymorphisms were not associated with the risk of GCA. However, the FAS-670 A/G genotype might decrease the risk of GCA for smoker individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapid and effective treatment of cancer-induced bone pain remains a clinical challenge and patients with bone metastasis are more likely to experience severe pain. The voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.8 plays a critical role in many aspects of nociceptor function. Therefore, we characterized a rat model of cancer pain and investigated the potential role of Nav1.8. Methods: Adult female Wistar rats were used for the study. Cancer pain was induced by inoculation of Walker 256 breast carcinosarcoma cells into the tibia. After surgery, mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia and ambulation scores were evaluated to identify pain-related behavior. We used real-time RT-PCR to determine Nav1.8 mRNA expression in bilateral L4/L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) at 16-19 days after surgery. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to compare the expression and distribution of Nav1.8 in L4/L5 DRG between tumor-bearing and sham rats. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) against Nav1.8 were administered intrathecally at 14-16 days after surgery to knock down Nav1.8 protein expression and changes in pain-related behavior were observed. Results: Tumor-bearing rats exhibited mechanical hyperalgesia and ambulatory-evoked pain from day 7 after inoculation of Walker 256 cells. In the advanced stage of cancer pain (days 16-19 after surgery), normalized Nav1.8 mRNA levels assessed by real-time RT-PCR were significantly lower in ipsilateral L4/L5 DRG of tumor-bearing rats compared with the sham group. Western-blot showed that the total expression of Nav1.8 protein significantly decreased bilaterally in DRG of tumor-bearing rats. Furthermore, as revealed by immunofluorescence, only the expression of Nav1.8 protein in small neurons down regulated significantly in bilateral DRG of cancer pain rats. After administration of antisense ODNs against Nav1.8, Nav1.8 protein expression decreased significantly and tumor-bearing rats showed alleviated mechanical hyperalgesia and ambulatory-evoked pain. Conclusions: These findings suggest that Nav1.8 plays a role in the development and maintenance of bone cancer pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) with the risk of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Genotypes were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism method in 592 patients and 624 healthy individuals. Significant differences in allele and genotype distributions of MMP-2 -1306C → T SNP were observed between ESCC and controls (P = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). Compared with the C/T  T/T genotypes, C/C genotype significantly increased the risk of ESCC (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.10–2.23), especially in individuals in smoker group and in the group with positive family history. The stratification analysis showed there were risk changes of GCA for -735C/C genotype carrier in nonsmoker, for MMP-12 -82G allele and MMP-13 -77A/G genotype carrier in smoker. Our study indicated that these four functional polymorphisms might play roles in developing ESCC and GCA in high incidence region of North China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in tumor angiogenesis and cancer progression. The VEGF genetic polymorphisms were shown to be independently associated with an adverse outcome in various malignancies. We investigated the possible associations of two polymorphisms (−2578C/A and +936C/T) in the VEGF gene with the clinicopathologic parameters for patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). We studied the genotype and allele frequencies of the −2578C/A and +936C/T polymorphism in DNA samples of 431 patients with NHL using restriction fragment length polymorphism typing analysis. The −2578A allele was significantly associated with less frequent clinical staging III, IV and bone marrow involvement (The odds ratio (OR) 0.59; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43–0.82; and OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.48–0.91, respectively). The CA and CA + AA genotype of the −2578C/A were significantly associated with less frequent bone marrow involvement than CC genotypes (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.38–0.86; and OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.39–0.85, respectively). The TT genotype of the +936C/T polymorphism was significantly associated with less frequent T cell histological type, clinical staging III, IV and bone marrow involvement (OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.07–0.89; OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.15–0.89; and OR 0.31; 95% CI 0.10–0.96, respectively). The +936 T allele was marginally associated with less frequent bone marrow involvement and with Clinical staging III, IV (OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.49–1.01; and OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.49–1.00, respectively). None of the evaluated genotypes of −2578C/A was significantly associated with the gender, age, tumor size, B symptoms and immunohistological subtype. No significant associations between the genotype of +936C/T and the clinicopathologic variables, gender, age, tumor size and B symptoms were ascertained. Both of the −2578C/A and +936C/T polymorphisms were not related to the patients’ overall survival. We present the first data on VEGF gene polymorphisms in NHL. Our findings support the hypothesis that the −2578 CA and CA + AA and +936 TT VEGF genotypes and −2578A and +936T alleles are associated with decreased risk for invasion. But the investigated VEGF gene polymorphisms were not associated with prognosis in patients with NHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in the development of endometriosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of polymorphisms in the VEGF gene with the susceptibility to endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]