Is leukocyte telomere length related with lung cancer risk?: a meta-analysis

Background: Epidemiological studies have probed the correlation between telomere length and the risk of lung cancer, but their findings are inconsistent in this regard. The present meta-analysis study has been carried out to demonstrate the association between relative telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes and the risk of lung cancer using an established Q-PCR technique

Methods: A systematic search was carried out using PubMed, EMBASE, and ISI before 2015. A total of 2925 cases of lung cancer and 2931 controls from 9 studies were employed to probe the relationship between lung cancer and telomere length .ORs were used at 95% CI. Random-effects models were used to investigate this relationship based on the heterogeneity test. Heterogeneity among studies was analyzed employing subgroup analysis based on type studies and the year of publication

Results: Random-effects meta-analysis revealed that patients with lung cancer were expected to have shorter telomere length than the control [1.13, 95% CI: 0.82-1.81, P=0.46]. The summary of the pooled ORs of telomere length in adenocarcinoma lung cancer patients was 1 [95%CI=0.68-1.47, I2=93%] compared to patients with squamous cell lung cancer, which was 1.78 [95% CI=1.25-2.53, I2=3.9%]. The meta-regression revealed that the effect of telomere length shortening, decreased and increased with the year of publication and the age of risks to lung cancer, was clearly related to short telomeres lengths

Conclusion: Lung cancer risks clearly related with short telomeres lengths. In patients with breathing problems, lung cancer risk can be predicted by telomere length adjustment with age, sex, and smoking

Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation on lipid and lipoprotein profile in hypertriglyceridemic subjects with different proliferator-activated receptor alpha genotypes

We determined the blood lipid-lowering effects of eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] on hypertriglyceridemic subjects with Leu162/Val in exon 5 and G/C in intron7 polymorphism of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha [PPAR alpha]genotypes that, to our knowledge, have not been previously studied. A total of 170 hypertriglyceridemic subjects were enrolled and genotyped for Ala54Thr, Leu162Val, and intron 7 polymorphism by the use of a polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism method. After determination of their genotypes, the first 23 eligible subjects who were found as Ala54 carriers and the first 23 eligible Thr54 carriers were enrolled in the study and stratified for PPAR alpha genotypes. Participants took 2 g of pure EPA daily for 8 weeks. Fasting blood lipid and lipoprotein profiles were determined and changes from baseline were measured. We observed significant difference between EPA supplementation and Leu162 and Val162, Interon 7 [GG and GC] carriers [P < 0.001]. We did not observe significant associations between the PPAR alpha L162V single nucleotide polymorphism and multiple lipid and lipoprotein measures. Although EPA consumption lowered lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in Leu162 and Val162 carriers and Interon 7 CC and GC carriers, these differences between the studied groups were not statistically significant. EPA consumption has a lipid-lowering effect in hypertriglyceridemic subjects in both Leu162 and Val162 carriers. But there was no significant interaction between EPA supplementation and PPAR alpha genotypes. Thus, genetic variation within the PPAR alpha Leu162/Val cannot modulate the association of EPA intakes with lipid and lipoprotein profile. However, we must note that the sample size in this study was small

[Validation of food frequency questionnaire to assess folate intake status in breast cancer patients]

Inadequate folate intake could be associated with increased breast cancer risk. The aim of the present study was to assess the folate intake by designed Food Frequency Questionnaire [FFQ] using plasma folate concentration. This analytic cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the validity of the semi-quantitative FFQ [136 items] in 152 women with confirmed breast malignancy aged between 35 - 85 years old.. Folate plasma level was assessed by means of automated electrochemiluminescence. The Pearson and partial correlation coefficients were performed between the plasma level of folate and crude, total and energy-adjusted [residual] folate intakes. Area under ROC curve [AUC], sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and odds ratio were fulfilled in two models in order to achieve validity assessment. The folate plasma level was significantly correlated with total intake of vegetables, bread and cereal groups [p=0.001] and also with total intake of fruits [p=0.001] and dairy products [p=0.026]. After adjusting for confounders, the folate plasma levels were correlated significantly with daily [beta=0.39], and residual [beta=0.41] folate intake levels [p=0.001]. The area under ROC curves in model I [folate plasma level <5.9 ng/ml] was 0.74 [95%CI=0.63-0.85] and for model II [folate plasma level <10.0 ng/ml] was estimated as 0.61[95%CI= 0.51- 0.71]. Model I indicated more appropriate predictive value [p=0.001] of folate intake assessment via FFQ. The results of this study showed that FFQ described in this study could be a valid and appropriate tool for assessing folate intake status in dietary content of breast cancer patients and also could be representative and valid for assessing the folate rich-food intake status

cytogenetic study of couples with repeated spontaneous abortions

The frequency of chromosomal aberrations in Iran is not definitely known. This study determined the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in a series of couples with two or more spontaneous abortions and compared the findings with that reported from other countries. This was a descriptive study conducted on 100 couples with recurrent abortions. Both partners were karyotyped as part of the primary investigation. Other probable causes of abortion were also investigated. Chromosomal aberrations were found in 8 [8%] of the females and 5 [5%] of the males. The prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities was as follows: 4 [30.8%] balanced reciprocal translocations, 3 [23%] Robertsonian translocations, 3 [23%] pericentric inversions, 1 [7.7%] paracentric inversion, 1 [7.7%] chromosomal marker, and 1 [7.7%] polymorphism 9qh+. The pattern of chromosomal aberrations was similar to that reported in other studies, but the prevalence of chromosomal aberrations was higher

Epidemiological aspects of cleft lip and palate in Iran

Orofacial clefts, including cleft lip with or without cleft palate [CL [P]], are common congenital malformations, second only to clubfoot in frequency of occurrence. The epidemiology and genetics of this disorder have been studied extensively in various countries by several investigators. The objective of this study is to assess the epidemiology and some genetic aspects of orofacial clefting at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran. This study was a 7-year case series [retrospective] study from 1999 to 2006. The setting for the study was Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, and the participants were all consecutive surgical cases with orofacial clefts referred to this hospital. One hundred and 77 cases of cleft lip and/or cleft palate were recorded during these 7 years. Seventy four of them [41.8%] were female and 103[58.2%] were male [M/F Ratio=l .39]. Of all patients, 40 persons [22.6%] had isolated CP, 45 [25.4%] had cleft lip without cleft palate, and 92 [52%] had cleft lip with cleft palate [CL+P]. Their M/F ratios were 1.66, 0.6 and 1.96 respectively. Of all CL [P] probands, 41 patients [29.9%] were bilaterally affected. In unilateral cases, the left side was affected nearly twice as frequently as the right side. Among the patients, 23 cases [13%] had other malformations; most commonly head and face abnormalities and then congenital heart disease. Fifty-four patients [30.5%] had consanguine parents; 33 [18.6%] were first cousins, 7 [4%] were second cousins, and 14 [7.9%] were distant relatives. There was a positive family history for cleft syndrome in 23 cases; most commonly CL-P. Our study reveals that the epidemiologic aspects of oral clefts in Iran are very similar to other Caucasian populations. It also suggests that a routine screening such as echocardiography and ruling out skeletal, hearing and visual problems may be necessary in cleft patients especially in children. It seems that genetic counseling and karyotyping can be very useful in patients with multiple malformations

Penetrance of BRCA1/BRCA2 specific gene mutations in Iranian women with breast cancer

To estimate the penetrance of breast cancer genes 1 and 2 BRCA1/BRCA2 specific gene mutations in Iranian women with breast cancer. We conducted this study in the Department of Biostatistics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran between January and May 2008. The information was collected from the referral database of the Cancer Clinics, Day General Hospital, Tehran, Iran. We estimated the penetrance of breast cancer in carriers of BRCA1/2 specific gene mutations based on the modified kin-cohort method. Three hundred and forty-five probands were examined for specific mutations of BRCA1/2 genes. The estimated penetrance for the age groups among BRCA1/2 carriers was 31.9% < 50 years and 46.2% >/= 50 years. The reliable information of penetrance is considered important in genetic counseling. The low value of the estimated penetrance in this study might be attributed to the rare mutation in Iranian patients. Establishment and use of a kin-cohort gene databank is proposed as a solution for the preparation of the screening programs and the estimation of the penetrance to help reduce the risk of cancer