Meta-analysis of association between GSTM1 gene polymorphism and cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate association between glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and cervical cancer.@*METHODS@#Published literature from PubMed, EMBASE, and other databases were retrieved. All studies evaluating the association between GSTM1/GSTT1 polymorphisms and cervical were included. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects model.@*RESULTS@#A total of 15 case-control studies were included in the meta-analysis of GSTM1 genotypes (1,825 cases and 2,104 controls). The overall result showed that the association between GSTM1 null genotype and risk for cervical cancer was statistically significant (OR=1.53, 95%CI=1.18-2.00). Great heterogeneity was found between studies. Subgroup analysises were performed based on smoking and ethnicity. Our results showed that smokers with null GSTM1 genotype had higher risk of cervical cancer (OR=1.56, 95%CI=1.01-2.41). For the ethnicity stratification, significant increased risk of null GSTM1 genotype was found in Chinese and Indian population, but no increased risk in other population.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This meta-analysis provides strong evidence that the GSTM1 null genotype is associated with the development of cervical cancer, and especially in Chinese and Indian population, and smoking shows a modification on the association between GSTM1 null genotype and cervical cancer.

Effects of eight environmental endocrine disruptors on insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a preliminary investigation / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between 8 endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the serum and insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study was conducted among 60 patients with PCOS, including 23 with insulin resistance (PCOS-IR) and 37 without insulin resistance (PCOS-NIR), and 29 non-PCOS women seeking medical attention for infertility or menstrual disorder (control group). The serum levels of 6 phthalic acid esters (PEAs), bisphenol A (BPA) and octylphenol (OP) were measured in all the subjects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of PAEs, BPA and OP showed no significant differences between PCOS patients and the control group (P>0.05). The serum level of OP was significantly lower in patients PCOS-IR than in those with PCOS-NIR (47.89 ng/ml vs 60.24 ng/ml, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PEAs and BPA do not produce obvious effect on the pathogenesis of PCOS or contribute to insulin resistance, but OP may play a role in insulin resistance in PCOS patients.</p>

Sexual hormone and traditional Chinese patent medicine for early postmenopausal women: effect on quality of life and cost-utility analysis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of Premarin and Kuntai capsule (a traditional Chinese patent medicine) on the quality of life (QOL) and their cost-utility in early postmenopausal women.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-seven women with menopausal syndrome in the early postmenopausal stage were randomly allocated into Premarin group (0.3 mg/day and 0.6 mg/day alternately, n=29) and Kuntai group (4 g/day, n=28). The therapies lasted for one year and the patients were followed up every 3 months. The QOL of the patients was evaluated and the utility scores were obtained from rating scale to conduct a cost-utility analysis (CUA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At each follow-up examination, no significant difference was found in the QOL between the two groups (P>0.05). The QOL obviously increased after the 1-year-long therapy in both the groups, and Kuntai required longer treatment time than Premarin to take effect. The cost-utility ratio of Premarin and Kuntai were 13581.45 yuan/QALY (quality adjusted life year) and 25105.12 yuan/QALY, respectively. Both incremental cost analysis and sensitivity analysis showed that Kuntai was more costly than Premarin. The result of per-protocol analysis was consistent with that of intention-to-treat analysis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>At early stage of menopause, the QOL of women with menopausal syndrome can be significantly improved by low-dose Premarin and Kuntai capsule, but the latter is more costly.</p>

Reliability and validity regarding the Chinese version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaires (long self-administrated format) on women in Chengdu,China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To test the reliability and validity of International Physical Activity Questionnaires (long self-administrated format)( IPAQ), Chinese version on women of 12-44 years old, in Chengdu city. Methods Clustered sampling was used, according to the age distribution of investigated population. One community, one university and two middle schools (including one high school and one junior high school) in Chengdu were selected. The reliability study was conducted in a 28-day period.Participants were contacted three times within 28 days (on the 1st , the 8th and the 28th day respectively).In the validity study, participants completed the same questionnaire and Bouchard physical activity diary(PA diary) each day for seven days between visit 1 and visit 2 before comparing the IPAQ's result with Bouchard physical activity diary's for validity study. Pearson or Spearman' correlation coefficients were calculated for validity and interclass correlation coefficients for reliability according to date distribution.Results (1)One hundred and eighty six participants were recruited for the reliability study. All of them completed the first questionnaire with 143(76.88%) and 172 (92.50%) finished the second and third questionnaires. One hundred and fifty eight participants were recruited in the validity study. Qualified questionnaire accounted for 90.59 % (143). (2) Results from the test-retest reliability of the Chinese version of long self-administrated format (IPAQ) showed: the ICC after one week ranged from 0.7373 to 0.972(mean:0.870) which were higher than those interval's reliability [ ICC= 0.472-0.948 for three weeks interval (mean:0.721), and 0.473-0.925 for four weeks interval (mean:0.696)]. The ICCs of three weeks interval and four weeks interval were not significantly different. ICCs for vigorous physical activity and leisure time physical activity were the best. (3)The validity for different intensity, total physical activity and sitting time showed the correlation coefficients between IPAQ and PA diary ranged from 0.445 to 0.696, with correlation for vigorous physical activity the best (r=0.696). Conclusion IPAQ-C seemed a reliable and validated measure of physical activity for 12-44 year-old women in Chengdu city.