[Dietary survey in Hungary, 2003-2004]. / Táplálkozási vizsgálat Magyarországon, 2003-2004.

The third Hungarian national dietary survey was conducted in 2003-2004. This publication describes the first part of the energy and nutrient intake findings in a sample consisting of a population of 1179 persons over 19 years of age (energy and macro nutrients). Energy and nutrient intake values were calculated based on 3 x 24- hour dietary records filled out by the subjects themselves. The authors evaluated the results in light of the two previous dietary surveys in Hungary and the Hungarian and international reference intake data. The total fat intake found in this survey lower than the previous data marks a favourable development, just as the higher unsaturated fatty acid and lower saturated fatty acid energy percent, and furthermore the lower cholesterol intake level. The favourable developments include further a polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio considerably higher than that obtained earlier (the values conforming to the international reference data), a higher carbohydrate energy percentage, as well as lower added sugar energy percentage, this latter being in the recommended range. The overweight ratio in men was 58.9%, while the female value was 49.5%, not much different from the previous survey data.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) suppresses transcription of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) in a dose-dependent manner.

Earlier we found that SiHa cervical squamous carcinoma cells that harbor HPV type 16 respond to ATRA treatment in a dose-dependent manner: high-dose (10(-5)-10(-4) M) but not low-dose (10(-7)-10(-6) M) ATRA induced growth arrest. Growth of HPV-infected cells is highly dependent on the expression of the viral E6/E7 proteins. Thus, targeting expression of the viral E6/E7 genes might influence growth properties of HPV-infected cells. Here, we demonstrated that high-dose ATRA inhibited expression of HPV16 E7 through suppression of the HPV16 promoter (p97) activity. Gelshift assay (EMSA) revealed that binding of the AP-1 transcription factor to an oligonucleotide originated from the HPV type 16 promoter was diminished after high-dose, but not low-dose ATRA treatment. This suggests that high-dose ATRA suppresses HPV 16 promoter activity, at least in part, via a decreased AP-1 binding. Our data might be useful in treatment of cervical dysplasias and/or carcinomas.

Polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferase and arylamine N-acetyltransferase enzymes and susceptibility to colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) and N-acetyltransferases (NATs) are involved in the metabolism of a wide range of carcinogenic chemicals. Allelic polymorphism of these enzymes is associated with variations in enzyme activity, hence it may affect the concentration of activated carcinogenic chemicals in the body. Previous studies suggest a possible cancer risk-modifying effect of these allelic polymorphisms, but the results are still controversial. We evaluated the effect of GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, NAT1 and NAT2 enzymes on individual susceptibility to colorectal cancer, with particular attention to possible interactions between the studied genotypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred colorectal cancer patients and 500 matched cancer-free controls were included in the study. The allelic polymorphisms of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1, NAT1 and NAT2 enzymes were determined by PCR-based methods, from peripheral blood leukocytes, and allelic distributions were compared between colorectal cancer patients and controls. RESULTS: The GSTM1 0 allele (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.15-1.92) and rapid acetylator genotypes of NAT2 (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.17-1.98) were associated with an elevated risk No statistically significant correlation between NAT1, GSTT1, GSTP1 genotypes and colorectal cancer was found. Remarkably increased risk was associated with the GSTM1 0 allele--NAT2 rapid acetylator genotype combination (OR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.75-3.26) and with the GSTM1 0 allele--NAT2 and NAT1 rapid acetylator triple combination (OR: 3.28, 95% CI: 2.06-5.23). Carrying 4 or 5 putative "high-risk" alleles substantially increased the risk of colorectal cancer (OR: 3.69, 95% CI: 2.33-5.86). CONCLUSION: The genotype of certain metabolizing enzymes affects the risk for colorectal cancer. This effect is particularly important when certain allelic combinations are studied. In the near future, individual level risk assessment may be reached by further increasing the number of studied polymorphisms, combining them with traditional epidemiological risk factors.

[Healthy nutrition and the prevention of cancer]. / Az egészséges táplálkozás és a daganatos betegségek megelózése.

A number of risk factors of cancer diseases can be identified in the diet of the Hungarian population, and also one may infer the presence of these risk factors from statistics on food purchasing, the results of household budget surveys and those of earlier nutrition surveys. These risk factors are: overweight and obesity involving two thirds of the male and half of the female population, insufficient vegetable and fruit consumption, insufficient wholemeal cereal consumption, inadequate dietary fibre intake, high sugar intake, regular heavy drinking, as well as high fat, animal fat, cholesterol and salt intakes. The messages for decreasing the risks of cancer diseases--as presented herein--have been included in the recommendations for healthy nutrition aimed at eliminating the risk factors of diet-related diseases.