Replication of results of genome-wide association studies on lung cancer susceptibility loci in a Korean population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified the three chromosomal regions, 5p15, 6p21 and 15q25, as being associated with lung cancer risk in European populations. This study was performed to confirm these associations in Korean patients with lung cancer. METHODS: The genotypes at rs2736100, rs402710, rs401681 and rs31489 at 5p15, rs9295740 at 6p22, which is in extensive linkage disequilibrium with the 6p21 region, as well as rs2036534 and rs6495309 at 15q25, were determined in 1094 patients with lung cancer and 1100 healthy control subjects, who were frequency matched for age and gender. RESULTS: The single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at 5p15 (rs2736100, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.67, P = 0.025; rs402710, aOR 0.82, 95% CI 0.69-0.98, P = 0.025; rs401681, aOR 0.82, 95% CI 0.69-0.98, P = 0.026) and at 15q25 (rs2036534, aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61-0.93, P = 0.01; rs6495309, aOR 0.81, 95% CI 0.65-1.00, P = 0.052) were significantly associated with lung cancer risk. The magnitude of the effect was similar to that reported in previous studies, and the association was in the same direction. The effect of SNP in the 5p15 region on the risk of lung cancer was significant only for adenocarcinoma. The two SNP in the 15q25 region were significantly associated with lung cancer risk in ever-smokers and in patients with squamous-cell carcinoma. However, there was no association between the SNP at 6p22 and lung cancer risk. CONCLUSIONS: The association between SNP in the 5p15 and 15q25 regions and the risk of lung cancer was confirmed in a Korean population.

Is serum gamma-glutamyltransferase inversely associated with serum antioxidants as a marker of oxidative stress?

A series of studies in black and white women and men have suggested that serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) within its normal range might be an early marker of oxidative stress. If serum GGT is a marker of oxidative stress, it might have important implications both clinically and epidemiologically because measurement of serum GGT is easy, reliable, and not expensive. We examined the cross-sectional association between deciles of serum GGT and concentrations of serum antioxidants among 9083 adult participants in the third U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. After adjustment for race, sex, age, and total cholesterol, serum concentration of GGT across all deciles was inversely associated with serum concentrations of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin/lutein, lycopene, and vitamin C (p for trend <.01, respectively). Vitamin E was not associated with serum GGT. All these associations were not materially different after additional adjustment for total energy intake, body mass index, smoking status, smoking amount, alcohol intake, and exercise. These associations were similarly observed among most subgroups. In conclusion, the current and previous studies strongly suggest that serum GGT level within its normal range may be an early marker of oxidative stress.

Detection of human papillomavirus 60 in epidermal cysts of nonpalmoplantar location.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 57 and 60 are associated with epidermal cysts of palmoplantar location (PPECs). Recently, there was a report of HPV 60 in a wart located in a nonpalmoplantar area as a possible precursor of a nonpalmoplantar epidermal cyst (NPPEC). There has been no study that has examined the presence and frequency of HPV in ordinary NPPECs. We reviewed 63 cases of epidermal cysts, including 59 NPPECs and 4 PPECs. After routine histopathologic review, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of extracted DNA, sequencing of PCR products, and, finally, a homology search were undertaken. As a result, 9 of 63 (14.3%) cysts, including 6 of 59 NPPECs (10.2%), showed a positive reaction on PCR. By homology search after PCR, all were demonstrated as HPV 60. For NPPECs, no variables, including some histopathologic features, are significantly related to the presence of HPV 60 in univariate or multivariate analysis (P > 0.05).