Multi-omics approaches for revealing the etiology of cancer: from genomics, exposomics, metabolomics to system epidemiology / 中华流行病学杂志

Identifying risk factors of the disease are one of the main tasks of epidemiology. With the advancement of omics technologies (e.g., genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and exposome), cancer etiology research has entered the stage of systems epidemiology. Genomic research identifies cancer susceptibility loci and uncovers their biological mechanisms. Exposomic research investigates the impact of environmental factors on biological processes and disease risks. The metabolome is downstream of biological regulatory networks, reflecting the effects of the gene, environment, and their interactions, which can help elucidate the biological mechanisms of genetic and environmental risk factors and identify new biomarkers. Here, we reviewed the applications of genomic, exposomic, and metabolomic studies in the etiologic research on cancer. We summarized the importance of multi-omics approaches and systems epidemiology in cancer etiology research and outlined future perspectives.

Rethinking of institutional reform and development of disease control and prevention system in post COVID-19 epidemic era in China / 中华流行病学杂志

The problems and shortcomings revealed in our response to COVID-19 epidemic have suggested us to take measures to improve the disease control and prevention system of China. For the reform and development of China's disease control and prevention institution in the new era,we need to rethink the function orientation of the disease control and prevention institution, the key and difficult points in institutional mechanism reform and the building of core competence and essential capacity of disease control and prevention system.

Dexmedetomidine attenuates inflammation and pancreatic injury in a rat model of experimental severe acute pancreatitis via cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Excessive inflammatory responses play a critical role in the development of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), and controlling such inflammation is vital for managing this often fatal disease. Dexmedetomidine has been reported to possess protective properties in inflammatory diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether dexmedetomidine pre-treatment exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in rats with SAP induced by sodium taurocholate, and if so, to determine the potential mechanism.@*METHODS@#SAP was induced with sodium taurocholate. Rats received an intraperitoneal injection of dexmedetomidine 30 min before sodium taurocholate administration. α-bungarotoxin, a selective alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAchR) antagonist, was injected intra-peritoneally 30 min before dexmedetomidine administration. The role of the vagus nerve was evaluated by performing unilateral cervical vagotomy before the administration of dexmedetomidine. Efferent discharge of the vagal nerve was recorded by the BL-420F Data Acquisition & Analysis System. Six hours after onset, serum pro-inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor α [TNF-α] and interleukin 6 [IL-6]) levels and amylase levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and an automated biochemical analyzer, respectively. Histopathological changes in the pancreas were observed after hematoxylin and eosin staining and scored according to Schmidt criteria.@*RESULTS@#Pre-treatment with dexmedetomidine significantly decreased serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and amylase, strongly alleviating pathological pancreatic injury in the rat model of SAP (TNF-α: 174.2 ± 30.2 vs. 256.1±42.4 pg/ml; IL-6: 293.3 ± 46.8 vs. 421.7 ± 48.3 pg/ml; amylase: 2102.3 ± 165.3 vs. 3186.4 ± 245.2 U/L). However, the anti-inflammatory and pancreatic protective effects were abolished after vagotomy or pre-administration of α-bungarotoxin. Dexmedetomidine also significantly increased the discharge frequency and amplitude of the cervical vagus nerve in the SAP rat model (discharge frequency: 456.8 ± 50.3 vs. 332.4 ± 25.1 Hz; discharge amplitude: 33.4 ± 5.3 vs. 20.5 ± 2.9 μV).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Dexmedetomidine administration attenuated the systemic inflammatory response and local pancreatic injury caused by SAP in rats through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway involving vagus- and α7nAChR-dependent mechanisms.

The history, present and prospect of cancer prevention and control in China / 中华疾病控制杂志

Cancer is a major chronic disease that seriously harms human health. Cancer prevention and control has become one of the priorities of health strategy for governments around the world. We have gradually explored the way of cancer prevention and control in China and produced many research achievements with Chinese characteristics since the 1950s, which has a major impact in cancer prevention and control in the world. This paper systematically reviewed the major historical events of cancer prevention and control in China since the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, and introduced the current situation of cancer prevention and control in modern era, and pointed out the prospect of future work.

Evaluation of an item-specific physical activity scale for Chinese children and adolescents(I-PASCA) / 中华疾病控制杂志

Objective To evaluate the validity and reliability of an item-specific physical activity scale for Chinese children and adolescents(I-PASCA). Methods Students from Grade 4-12 in Nanjing were randomly selected using a multi-stage sampling approach, 7-days physical activity (PA) level was recorded by self-reported I-PASCA and PA log and were objectively measured with accelerometers. The total moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA) time was calculated. Cronbach α was calculated to estimate the reliability of I-PASCA. Pearson correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman were used to examine I-PASCA's validity. Results There were 815 students recruited in 2013 to evaluate the reliability and validity of I-PASCA using PA log. Cronbach α for I-PASCA was 0.73 regarding moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA). The Spearman correlation coefficients of the values of PA recorded by I-PASCA and PA log were 0.59 for MVPA, and the Bland-Altman coefficient was 95.8% for MVPA. 624 students were involved to examine the reliability and validity of I-PASCA using accelerometers. Cronbach α for I-PASCA was 0.72 regarding MVPA. The Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.36 for MVPA, while the Bland-Altman coefficient was 95.5% for MVPA. Conclusions The I-PASCA, the first physical activity questionnaire specific to Chinese children and adolescents, shows acceptable reliability and validity and can be used to evaluate Chinese students' physical activity level in population-based studies.

Association of polymorphisms of potassium voltage-gated channel, KQT-like subfamily, member 1 and type 2 diabetes in Jiangsu province, China / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the association of polymorphisms in the potassium voltage-gated channel, KQT-like subfamily,member 1(KCNQ1) gene with type 2 diabetes in Chinese population from Jiangsu province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Subjects consisting of 2925 cases and 3281 controls were enrolled from a community based cohort study of type 2 diabetes in Wuxi in 2007 and a community based cross-sectional survey on chronic non-communicable disease in Nantong in 2009. Epidemiological questionnaire survey and physical examinations were conducted and 10 h overnight fasting blood samples of 5 ml were drawn for all subjects.Genotypes were determined by TaqMan OpenArray Genotyping System and i-PLEX Sequenom MassARRAY platform. The relationship between KCNQ1 gene polymorphism and risk of type 2 diabetes after adjustment for age,sex and body mass index (BMI) was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The C allele of rs2237897, rs2237892 and rs2237895 at KCNQ1 increased the risk of type 2 diabetes with adjusted OR (95%CI) value being 1.41(1.30-1.54), 1.35(1.24-1.47), 1.22(1.12-1.33) respectively (all P value < 0.05) under the additive genetic model after adjusted by age,sex and BMI. Stratification analyses in additive genetic model showed that the C allele of rs2237897 increased the risk of type 2 diabetes in subgroups stratified by age ( ≤ 56 years and > 56 years), sex (females and males), BMI (< 24 kg/m(2) and ≥ 24 kg/m(2)) with OR (95%CI) value being 1.39(1.22-1.59), 1.43(1.28-1.60), 1.40(1.26-1.55), 1.44(1.26-1.66), 1.48(1.33-1.66), 1.34(1.17-1.53) respectively (all P value< 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Polymorphisms of rs2237897, rs2237892 and rs2237895 in the KCNQ1 gene were associated with occurrence of type 2 diabetes among Jiangsu province population.</p>

Epidemiologic differences in esophageal cancer between Asian and Western populations / 癌症

Esophageal cancer is a common cancer worldwide and has a poor prognosis. The incidence of esophageal squamous cell cancer has been decreasing, whereas the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has been increasing rapidly, particularly in Western men. Squamous cell cancer continues to be the major type of esophageal cancer in Asia, and the main risk factors include tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, hot beverage drinking, and poor nutrition. In contrast, esophageal adenocarcinoma predominately affects the whites, and the risk factors include smoking, obesity, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. In addition, Asians and Caucasians may have different susceptibilities to esophageal cancer due to different heritage backgrounds. However, comparison studies between these two populations are limited and need to be addressed in the near future. Ethnic differences should be taken into account in preventive and clinical practices.

Single nucleotide polymorphism in flanking region of miR-30c influences the maturing process of miR-30c in lung carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of a common polymorphism rs928508(A/G) in flanking region of miR-30c on the expression of pri, pre and mature miR-30c, and discuss the effect of this polymorphism on the maturing process of miR-30c in lung carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The pGL3-promoter-miR-30c-A and pGL3-promoter-miR-30c-G luciferase plasmids were created containing A or G allele of miR-30c flanking region. Taqman assay was used to genotype rs928508 polymorphism in 50 lung cancer tissues. RT-PCR was performed to determine the expression of pri-miR-30c, pre-miR-30c, mature miR-30c and miR-30c host gene NFYC in the 50 lung cancer tissues.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The luciferase expression level of the pGL3-promoter-miR-30c-A construct group was not significantly different compared with that in the the pGL3-promoter-miR-30c-G construct group (A549 cells, P = 0.758; 293A cells, P = 0.554; CHO cells, P = 0.175). The results demonstrated that rs928508(A/G) variant had no effect on the transcriptional regulation of pri-miR-30c. In the genotype-phenotype collection analysis of the 50 lung cancer tissues, the expression of pre-miR-30c and mature miR-30c for rs928508 AG/GG genotypes showed significantly lower levels compared with those in the AA genotype (P = 0.009, P = 0.011). However, the expression of pri-miR-30c showed no significant difference between AG/GG genotypes and AA genotype. Similarly, the expression of host NFYC gene was correlated with pri-miR-30c, showed no significant difference between AG/GG genotypes and AA genotype.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The rs928508(A/G) polymorphism in flanking region of miR-30c could influence the processing from pri-miR-30c to mature miR-30c, but does not influence the transcription of pri-miR-30c.</p>

Cancer risk and key components of metabolic syndrome: a population-based prospective cohort study in Chinese / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The key components of metabolic syndrome (MS) are waist circumference, blood pressure, fast blood glucose, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and triglycerides (TG). These components have, separately and jointly, been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between MS components and cancer risk in a population-based cohort in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We established a population-based cohort with 17 779 individuals aged 35 and above at baseline in 2004 and 2005 in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. All participants were face-to-face interviewed to complete a questionnaire and were accepted physical examinations including blood tests for glucose and lipids and physical measurements for obesity and blood pressure. In 2009, a total of 16 284 subjects (6886 men and 9398 women, 91.6%) attended the flow-up interviews and the participants or their family members reported all the hospitalizations and diseases including cancer occurred during the follow-up period. Multivariate Cox regression was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) of metabolic syndrome components and cancer incidence.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a dose-response association between cancer risk and the number of MS components presented at baseline (P for trend = 0.012) and the HR (95% confidence interval (CI)) was 2.63 (1.27 - 5.45) for subjects carrying 3 or more metabolic syndrome components after adjustment for possible confounding factors. Specifically, the multivariate-adjusted HRs (95%CIs) for cancer risk in subjects with central obesity, high fasting glucose, low HDL-c were 1.94 (1.01 - 3.74), 2.04 (1.10 - 3.77) and 2.05 (1.09 - 3.88), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In this population-based, prospective cohort study in China, we found MS components, e.g., central obesity, high fasting glucose, low HDL-c were risk factors for cancer development. Early intervention of MS components may be also beneficial to reduce cancer burden.</p>

Fatty acid desaturase 1 polymorphisms are associated with coronary heart disease in a Chinese population / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>A recent genome-wide association study in Caucasians revealed that three loci (rs174547 in fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1), rs2338104 near mevalonate kinase/methylmalonic aciduria, cobalamin deficiency, cblB type (MVK/MMAB) and rs10468017 near hepatic lipase (LIPC)) influence the plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG). However, there are few reports on the associations between these polymorphisms and plasma lipid concentrations in Chinese individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between these three polymorphisms with HDL-C and TG concentrations, as well as coronary heart disease (CHD) susceptibility in Chinese individuals.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We conducted a population-based case-control study in Chinese individuals to evaluate the associations between these three polymorphisms and HDL-C and TG concentrations, and also evaluated their associations with susceptibility to CHD. Genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays and TaqMan genotyping assays.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We found significant differences in TG and HDL-C concentrations among the TT, TC and CC genotypes of FADS1 rs174547 (P=0.017 and 0.003, respectively, multiple linear regression). The CC variant of rs174547 was significantly associated with hyperlipidemia compared with the TT variant (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.71, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.16-2.54). The FADS1 rs174547 CC variant was also associated with significantly increased CHD risk compared with the TT and TC variant (adjusted OR=1.53, 95%CI: 1.01-2.31), and the effect was more evident among nonsmokers and females. The polymorphisms rs2338104 and rs10468017 did not significantly influence HDL-C or TG concentrations in this Chinese population.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>rs174547 in FADS1 may contribute to the susceptibility of CHD by altering HDL-C and TG levels in Chinese individuals.</p>

Relationship between genetic polymorphism in microRNAs precursor and genetic predisposition of hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between genetic polymorphism in microRNAs (miRNAs) precursor and genetic predisposition of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A case-control study including 963 HCC cases and 829 HBsAg positive controls and 852 HBsAg negative controls was conducted. hsa-mir-146a rs2910164 C→G and hsa-mir-196-a2 rs11614913 T→C were selected, where the genotypes were determined by the primer introduced restriction analysis-PCR (PIRA-PCR) assay. Odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were evaluated by logistic regression analysis to investigate the relationship between onset risk of HCC and different genotypes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The genotype frequencies of CC, CG and GG at rs2910164 gene locus were separately 34.5% (319/925), 48.6% (450/925) and 16.9% (156/925) in cases; 36.4% (274/753), 45.0% (339/753) and 18.6% (140/753) in HBsAg positive controls; and 36.1% (303/840), 46.0% (386/840) and 18.0% (151/840) in HBsAg negative controls. The genotype frequencies of TT, CT and CC at rs11614913 were respectively 29.7% (277/934), 48.1% (449/934) and 22.3% (208/934) in cases; 30.3% (238/785), 51.0% (400/785) and 18.7% (147/785) in HBsAg positive controls; and 28.6% (239/837), 49.8% (417/837) and 21.6% (181/837) in HBsAg negative controls. No significant relationships were observed between these two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and onset risk of HCC after adjusting the factors as age, gender, smoking and drinking status in comparison with HBsAg positive controls: hsa-mir-146a rs2910164 (CG + GG vs CC): adjusting OR = 1.10, 95%CI: 0.90 - 1.36; hsa-mir-196-a2 rs11614913 (CC + CT vs TT): adjusting OR = 1.01, 95%CI: 0.81 - 1.25; as well as in comparison with HBsAg negative controls: hsa-mir-146a rs2910164 (CG + GG vs CC): adjusting OR = 1.06, 95%CI: 0.87 - 1.29; hsa-mir-196-a2 rs11614913 (CC + CT vs TT): adjusting OR = 0.94, 95%CI: 0.76 - 1.16. As well, no significant relationships were observed between these two SNPs and onset risk of HCC in the subgroups stratified by age, gender, smoking and drinking status.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>hsa-mir-146a rs2910164 C→G and hsa-mir-196-a2 rs11614913 T→C may not play an important role in the HCC predisposition among Chinese populations.</p>

The application of time series analysis in predicting the influenza incidence and early warning / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This research aimed to explore the application of ARIMA model of time series analysis in predicting influenza incidence and early warning in Jiangsu province and to provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of influenza epidemic.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The database was created based on the data collected from monitoring sites in Jiangsu province from October 2005 to February 2010. The ARIMA model was constructed based on the number of weekly influenza-like illness (ILI) cases. Then the achieved ARIMA model was used to predict the number of influenza-like illness cases of March and April in 2010.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ARIMA model of the influenza-like illness cases was (1 + 0.785B(2))(1-B) ln X(t) = (1 + 0.622B(2))ε(t). Here B stands for back shift operator, t stands for time, X(t) stands for the number of weekly ILI cases and ε(t) stands for random error. The residual error with 16 lags was white noise and the Ljung-Box test statistic for the model was 5.087, giving a P-value of 0.995. The model fitted the data well. True values of influenza-like illness cases from March 2010 to April 2010 were within 95%CI of predicted values obtained from present model.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ARIMA model fits the trend of influenza-like illness in Jiangsu province.</p>

Study on the spatial distribution of AIDS based on geographic information system in Jiangsu province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To analyze the spatial distribution of AIDS in every city of Jiangsu province, trying to describe the geographic characteristics of AIDS and to develop a prediction model.Methods Numbers of patients in Jiangsu province were collected, to establish the database for the geographic information system, then setting up a 'risk map' of the disease. Spatial, autocorrelation.Linear spatial analyses were used to study the patients' numbers. Results (1)Results from the autocorrelation analysis showed that the distribution of AIDS was clustered at some places and was at random on the whole. The results also indicated that the distribution of AIDS in Nanjing was of negative correlation, while that in Suzhou and Wuxi were of positive correlation but in Tongshan, Wujiang, Pukou, Nanjing, Lishui, Wuxi and Suzhou showed seven locations of clusters with disease was more severe in the southern than in the northern parts of Jiangsu province. (3)Ordinary Least Squares method was finally used in the linear spatial regression and the results were: t=-1.045 103 (P=0.299 904); t=-1.443 668 (P=0.153 714) respectively. Conclusion According to the feature spatial distribution of the disease, effective measures should be taken to prevent and to keep the prevalence of AIDS under control.

The relationship between gene polymorphism of telomerase reverse transcriptase and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) rs2736098 and rs2736100 and the susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This case-control study design included 1300 diagnosed HCC patients with HBsAg positive and 1344 HBsAg positive people as control-group.rs2736098 and rs2736100 on TERT were selected as research sites, whose polymorphisms were detected by TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. The OR values (95%CI) were calculated by logistic regression to compare the correlation between different genotype and susceptibility to HCC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The distribution frequencies of three genotypes as GG, AG and AA on rs2736098 were separately 39.3% (500/1273), 44.2% (563/1273) and 16.5% (210/1273) in case group; while respectively 39.6% (526/1328), 45.5% (604/1328) and 14.9% (198/1328) in control group. The distribution frequencies of three genotypes as AA, AC and CC on rs2736100 were separately 33.7% (428/1269), 49.9% (633/1269) and 16.4% (208/1269) in case group; while respectively 34.0% (449/1322), 49.2% (651/1322) and 16.8% (222/1322) in control group. The multi-variates logistic regression analysis showed that there was no significant difference between rs2736098 mutated A carriers and genotype GG carriers in the susceptibility to HCC after adjusting by age, sex, smoking and drinking factors (rs2736098, AA + AG vs GG: adjusted OR = 1.00 (95%CI: 0.86 - 1.18)); and there was no significant different between rs2736100 mutated C carriers and genotype AA carriers in the susceptibility to HCC either (AC + CC vs AA: adjusted OR = 1.03 (95%CI: 0.87 - 1.22)).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The polymorphisms of rs2736098 and rs2736100 on TERT may not play a landmark role in susceptibility to HCC among Chinese population.</p>

Relationship between polymorphisms of X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 gene Arg194Trp, Arg399Gln and susceptibility of breast cancer / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between two polymorphisms, Arg194Trp and Arg399Glu, of DNA repair gene X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) and the susceptibility of breast cancer in Chinese women.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A case-control study with 698 histologically-confirmed female breast cancer cases and 813 cancer-free controls frequency-matched by age and residential area was conducted, and the genotypes were determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assays. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg399Glu with susceptibility of breast cancer. A Meta-analysis was used to evaluate the association of Arg399Glu with breast cancer in Chinese women.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The genotype frequencies of Arg/Arg, Arg/Trp, Trp/Trp, Arg/Trp + Trp/Trp of XRCC1 gene 194 locus were 48.81% (327/670), 39.85% (267/670), 11.34% (76/670), 51.19% (343/670) in cases and 48.80% (387/793), 41.99% (333/793), 9.21% (73/793), 51.20% (406/793) in controls. Compared to Arg/Arg, the adjusted ORs (95%CIs) were 0.98 (0.75 - 1.28), 1.17 (0.76 - 1.80), 1.09 (0.86 - 1.40). The frequencies of Arg/Arg, Arg/Trp, Trp/Trp, Arg/Gln + Gln/Gln of XRCC1 399 locus were 52.40% (349/666), 38.29% (255/666), 9.31%(62/666), 47.60% (317/666) in cases and 52.22% (412/789), 38.53% (304/789), 9.25% (73/789), 47.78%(377/789) in controls. Compared to Arg/Arg, the adjusted ORs (95%CIs) were 0.93(0.63 - 1.08), 0.96 (0.42 - 1.09), 0.91 (0.62 - 1.05). No significant associations were found between these two polymorphisms and breast cancer risk, also in subgroups stratified by menopause status, history of breast-feed, reproduction and taking oral contraceptives. The overall ORs (95%CIs) of 399 Arg/Trp + Trp/Trp vs Arg/Arg from Meta analysis was 0.97 (0.85 - 1.10).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln may not play an important role in the susceptibility of breast cancer in Chinese women.</p>

Study on the prevalence rate and immunity of hepatitis B virus infection among urban adults aged over 20 years in Wuxi, Jiangsu province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship on the prevalence rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and hepatitis B vaccination in urban citizens aged over 20 years old which would led to the development of strategies on HBV control.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 3744 subjects from general population were randomly selected in this study. Both ELISA and radio immunoassay were used to test five items of HBV infection, including HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall standardized infection rate of HBV was 51.7%, and HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc were 4.5%, 48.5%, 0.3%, 3.5% and 51.4%, respectively. The two lowest HBsAg positive rates were found in the groups under 30 years old (2.9%) and students (2.6%). Anti-HBc rate among men was significantly higher than seen in women (P < 0.05), and showing a trend of increase with age (chi2 for trend = 256.2, P < 0.001). The standardized rates of HB vaccination in this population was 17.6% and decreasing rapidly with age (P < 0.05). People who had been vaccinated had both lower rates of HBsAg and HBV infection but higher rate of anti-HBs than those who had not (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HB vaccination in adults showed a reducing rate of HBV infection in the general population. Together with the enhancement of expanded program on immunization towards HB vaccination in neonates, much attention should be paid to HB vaccination in adults.</p>

Study on the association between total plasma homocysteine levels, dietary habits and the risk of gastric cancer / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) levels, dietary habits and susceptibility of gastric cancer (CGC) in Yangzhong and Yixing cities, the two high GC risk areas in Jiangsu province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A population-based case-control study was conducted including 391 histologically-confirmed adenocarcinoma GC cases and 608 age and sex frequency-matched cancer-free controls. The plasma tHcy concentration was measured by enzymatic biochemical assay of homocysteine on microtiter plates, using crude lysate containing recombinant methionine 7-lyase. The relationship between different tHcy levels and risk of GC was analyzed and factors as vegetables and fruits intake, smoking and drinking status were also evaluated together with tHey levels on the risk of GC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average tHcy levels in GC cases were significantly higher than that in controls (P = 0.002). In addition, according to the quartile levels (7.9, 10.1, 13.7 micromol/L) in the controls, the risks of GC had an increase of 67% (adjusted OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.12-2.48), 98% (adjusted OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.33-2.94) and 112% (adjusted OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.44-3.15) compared to the lowest quartile of tHcy (< or = 7.9 micromol/L), respectively while the increasing trend was significantly noticed (chi2 = 15.78, P < 0.001). The increase of vegetables and fruits intake could decrease the risk of GC. Results from crossover analyses indicated that subjects with less vegetables and fruits intake or both smoking drinking together with plasma tHcy >15.0 micromol/L could increase the GC risk, when compared to the effect on GC risk of each factor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These findings supported the hypothesis that the high level of plasma tHcy and the badness dietary habits were associated to the increased risk of GC. Further larger scale and genetics involved studies on the environment and genetic factors were needed to confirm our findings.</p>

Estimation of gene-environment interaction regarding partial case-control study with missing data on gene information of the controls / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the estimation on gene-environment interaction in partial case-control studies when gene information of the controls was partly missing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The results of hot deck multiple imputation and listwise deletion analysis were compared when missing data was generated using Monte Carlo method in Stata 9.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Coefficients of environment effect, gene effect and gene-environment interaction were respectively estimated by means of hot deck multiple imputation and listwise deletion when approaching to those complete data with missing part less than 50 percent. Both estimated variances of the two methods were increasing with the increased proportion of missing data, but the estimated variance of hot deck multiple imputation was smaller than the one with listwise deletion in each proportion.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hot deck imputation could be adopted to make full use of existing information to estimate gene-environment interaction in the partial case-control study when missing proportion of gene data of controls was less than 50 percent so as to increase the precision of the estimation.</p>

Study on the relationship between compositions of hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between compositions of hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome among residents aged > or =20 years.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A stratified cluster sampling was conducted with 7887 dwellers recruited and examinaed. Blood samples were then collected for serum detection. Available data was analyzed using SPSS 13.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence rates of obesity, hypertension and hyperglycemia for hyperuricemia were 53.4% with OR = 2.568 (95% CI: 2.103-3.137), 38.8% with OR= 2.157 (95% CI: 1.856-2.508) and 21.9% with OR = 1.850 (95% CI: 1.552-2.205) respectively. Along with the increase of uric acid, body mass index changed the most followed by triglyceridemia. The change of hyperglycemia for men and cholesterol for women were not prominent. Conclusion The relationship between compositions of hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome was close, suggesting that hyperuricemia might serve as one of the compositions of metabolic syndrome and could contribute to the prevention and control of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.</p>

The association of polymorphisms of CDT1 and GMNN gene with the risk of breast cancer in Chinese women: a case-control analysis / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of polymorphisms of CDT1 and GMNN gene, two important genes participating in DNA replication, with the risk of sporadic breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR - RFLP) and the primer-introduced restriction analysis (PIRA)-PCR assay to genotype the CDT1 838G/A and GMNN 387C/A polymorphisms in a case-control study of 427 breast cancer cases and 477 cancer-free controls in a Chinese population.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant association of the CDT1 838G/A and GMNN 387C/A polymorphisms with the risk of breast cancer was found (adjusted OR:1.16, 95% CI:0.88-1.54 for CDT1 GA+AA genotypes and adjusted OR:0.90, 95% CI:0.67-1.21 for GMNN CA+AA genotypes). However, in the stratified analyses, a significant association of CDT1 GA+AA genotypes with breast cancer risk among subjects with family history of cancer was found (adjusted OR:2.21, 95% CI:1.20-4.09).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These findings suggest that the CDT1 838G/A and GMNN 387C/A polymorphisms may not play a major role in the etiology of breast cancer, but CDT1 variant may have a potential role only in genetically susceptible women.</p>