Expression of Cyclin A, B1, D1, D3, and E in Non-Small Lung Cancers

PURPOSE: Cyclins, and their associated cyclin dependent kinases, regulate progression of the cell cycle through the G1 phase and into the S-phase during the DNA replication process. Cyclin E regulation is an important event in cell proliferation. Despite its importance, abnormalities of these genes and their protein products have yet to be found in lits asoociation with lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The relationships between expression of cyclin A, cyclin B1, cyclin D1, cyclin D3, and cyclin E and clinicopathologic factors were investigated in 103 cases with non-small cell carcinomas, using immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: The positive immunoreactivity was observed in 51 cases (50%) for cyclin A, 33 cases (32%) for cyclin B1, 83 cases (81%) for cyclin D1, 19 cases (18%) for cyclin D3, and 11 cases (11%) for cyclin E. Expression of cyclin E was significant for lymph node metastasis (p=0.004, Chi-square test). There was no relationship between cyclin A, B1, D1, and E and histological typing, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, or pathological tumor, node and metastasis staging. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the expression of cyclin E played a role, to some degree, in the lymph node metastasis.

An Association Study of Apolipoprotein E Gene Polymorphism and Cataracts

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association of apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphism and cataracts in the Korean population. METHODS: The present research included participants from a population-based study in Incheon, Korea. A sample of 126 adults genotyped for polymorphisms of APOE underwent a medical interview, an eye examination which included visual acuity testing, slitlamp cataract evaluation and fundus examination. The APOE polymorphism was determined using a polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: Eighty-eight participants (69.8%) were diagnosed with cataracts or had undergone cataract surgery in 1 or both eyes, and 38 participants (30.2%) demonstrated no signs of cataract. The frequencies of the APOE genotypes and alleles were not significantly different from the cataract and the control group. APOE epsilon2 carriers were less likely to have cataracts than non-epsilon2 carriers with an odds ratio of 0.367 which was almost statistically significant with the multiple logistic regression analysis (p = 0.052). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant correlation of APOE genotype and cataracts. However, a slight negative association of APOE epsilon2 and cataracts were found in the Korean population.

Association of Educational Level and Socioeconomic Status with Glucose Metabolism / 당뇨병

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to examine the association of educational level and socioeconomic status with glucose metabolism including prediabetes. METHODS: This cross-sectional study subjects were 882 (mean age: 51.0 +/- 13.4 years, M:F = 241:641) without diabetes, aged more than 20 years and residing in Whasu 2 dong in Incheon. We classified them into three levels according to their educational level: primary (illiterate or up to elementary school), secondary (middle school or high school) and tertiary (university), and into three levels according to their socioeconomic status by self reported questionnaire: low, middle and high. Subjects were diagnosed as three groups (normal, prediabetes and diabetes) by American Diabetes Association criteria using 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. The association of educational level and socioeconomic status with glucose metabolism was analyzed. RESULTS: The number of normal group was 300 (34.0%), that of prediabetes was 470 (53.3%) and that of diabetes was 112 (12.7%). In women, the proportion of primary educational group was larger than that of secondary educational group in diabetes (Odds ratio [OR] = 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-3.51) and larger than that of tertiary educational group in prediabetes ([OR] = 2.00; [CI]: 1.06-3.78). But socioeconomic status did not have the statistical association with glucose metabolism in women. Also both educational level and socioeconomic status had no statistical association with glucose metabolism in men. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of low educational level is larger in prediabetes and diabetes compared with normal group in women.