Search

Introduction: Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is regularly altered in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). Serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf (BRAF) V600E mutations were observed very frequently in PTC along with less frequent rat sarcoma (RAS) and rearranged during transfection (RET) gene, also known as RET/PTC translocation. The present study aimed to analyze the mutational profile of PTCs from an endemic Goiter area of North India. Methodology: Tissues from 109 PTC patients were used to isolate DNA and RNA. BRAF V600E was detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism.polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RAS mutations were screened by using Sanger's sequencing method. RET/PTC rearrangements were analyzed by real.time PCR. Results: BRAF V600E mutation was detected in 51.38% (56/109) of PTCs, whereas RAS mutations were less frequent. No RET/PTC rearrangements were observed. BRAF V600E was found to be associated with the aggressive clinicopathological features such as lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, higher tumor.node.metastasis stages, and high.risk groups. Conclusion: The prevalence of BRAF V600E is high in patients from Indian Subcontinent and found to be associated with aggressive features of PTC. Concomitant mutations of BRAF V600E and RAS mutations impart more aggressiveness to PTCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To develop a population specific pharmacogenetic acenocoumarol dosing algorithm for north Indian patients and show its efficiency in dosage prediction. Methods: Multiple and linear stepwise regression analyses were used to include age, sex, height, weight, body surface area, smoking status, VKORC1 -1639 G>A, CYP4F2 1347 G>A, CYP2C9*2,*3 and GGCX 12970 C>G polymorphisms as variables to generate dosing algorithms. The new dosing models were compared with already reported algorithms and also with the clinical data for various performance measures. Odds ratios for association of genotypes with drug sensitive and resistant groups were calculated. Results: The pharmacogenetic dosing algorithm generated by multiple regression analysis explains 41.4% (p-value <0.001) of dosage variation. Validation of the new algorithm showed its predictive ability to be better than the already established algorithms based on similar variables. Its validity in our population is reflected by increased sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and decreased rates of over- and under- estimation in comparison to clinical data. The VKORC1-1639 G>A polymorphism was found to be strongly associated with acenocoumarol sensitivity according to recessive model. Conclusions: We have proposed an efficient north India specific pharmacogenetic acenocoumarol dosing algorithm which might become a baseline for personalised medicine approach for treatment of patients in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: CYP4F2 and γ-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX) have small but significant roles in the maintenance dose of coumarinic oral anticoagulants (COAs). CYP4F2 1347 G>A and GGCX 12970 C>G polymorphisms have been used in the pharmacogenetic dosing algorithms of warfarin for Caucasians and Chinese populations. India has a large population with multiple ethnic groups but there are no reports about the frequencies of these polymorphisms in north Indians. In the present study, we aimed to find out the allelic frequencies of CYP4F2 1347 G>A and GGCX 12970 C>G polymorphisms in a north Indian population and relate these to daily maintenance drug dose requirements of COA. Methods: CYP4F2 1347 G>A and GGCX 12970 C>G polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction -- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) protocols and Taqman SNP discrimination assays in healthy volunteers (n=102) and patients (n=225) receiving acenocoumarol, an oral anticoagulant, after cardiac valve replacement surgery. Results: In healthy volunteers, the allele frequencies for CYP4F2 1347 G>A and GGCX 12970 C>G were 43.14 and 1.43 per cent, respectively. No significant differences in mean weight normalized doses of acenocoumarol were found for these CYP4F2 and GGCX genotypes. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed no significant association of any of the genotypes or alleles with the dosing phenotypes for both the SNPs. Interpretation & conclusions: We report distinct frequencies of CYP4F2 1347 G>A and GGCX 12970 C>G polymorphisms in north Indians but these polymorphisms did not have significant bearing on maintenance dose of acenocoumarol oral anticoagulant in cardiac valve replacement patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]