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Nobuyuki Hamajima

Publications and source records attributed to Nobuyuki Hamajima.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Dietary factors protective against breast cancer in Japanese premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Since components of the Japanese diet that might be responsible for the relatively low breast cancer incidence rates observed in Japan have not been clarified in detail, a case-referent study with reference to menopausal status was conducted using data from the hospital-based epidemiologic research program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC). In total, 2,385 breast cancer cases were included, and 19,013 women, confirmed as free of cancer, were recruited as the reference group. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were determined by multiple logistic regression analysis. There were reductions in risk associated with high intake of milk and green-yellow vegetables (green leafy vegetables, carrots and pumpkins) among both pre- and postmenopausal women. The protective effects of the Japanese diet were more prominent among postmenopausal than premenopausal women. The adjusted OR of fish consumption (5 or more times per week vs. fewer than 3 times per month) was 0.75 (95% CI 0.57-0.98, p(trend) = 0.01) for postmenopausal breast cancer. A significant decrease in postmenopausal breast cancer risk was also observed for increasing intake of fruit (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.41-0.91). Thus, traditional Japanese dietary factors may protect against breast cancer development, especially among postmenopausal women.

Adult↗

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from family members other than HLA-identical siblings over the last decade (1991-2000).

The reported outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from HLA-mismatched family members has been inconsistent. The object of this study was to evaluate the true impact of HLA-mismatch by using recent data from a homogenous population, excluding HSCT procedures that used graft manipulations, and by considering genotypic matching. Clinical data of 2947 patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT for leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome were extracted from the database of the Japan Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. The main outcome measures were survival and the incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The presence of serologic HLA-mismatch, higher age, and high-risk disease were identified as independent risk factors for both shorter survival and the development of grade III to IV acute GVHD. The impact of HLA-mismatch on survival was more relevant in standard-risk patients. These findings persisted when we used genotypic HLA matching. Survival after one-locus-mismatched HSCT was equivalent to that after HLA-matched unrelated HSCT. We concluded that when a one-locus-mismatched family donor is available for high-risk patients, immediate HSCT using this donor is warranted. In standard-risk patients, however, survival after one-locus-mismatched HSCT is significantly shorter than that after HLA-matched HSCT, and the indications for HSCT should be considered carefully.

Acute Disease↗

Association of a polymorphism of the phospholipase D2 gene with the prevalence of colorectal cancer.

Phospholipase D plays an important role in transmembrane signaling in a variety of cell types and its activity is increased in certain cancers, suggesting that it also contributes to tumorigenesis. A C-->T transition at nucleotide 1814 of the human phospholipase D(2) gene, which results in a Thr-->Ile substitution at amino acid 577, was noted in the GenBank database. The relationship of this polymorphism to the prevalence of cancer of the esophagus, stomach, colon-rectum, lung, and breast in Japanese was investigated in a case-control study. The genotype of the phospholipase D(2) gene was determined by the polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age, gender, and smoking status revealed that the frequency of the T allele of the 1814C-->T polymorphism was significantly higher in individuals with colorectal cancer than in controls. A significant association of the polymorphism with the prevalence of colorectal cancer was found in analyses assuming either dominant (TT+CT vs. CC) or additive (CT vs. CC) effects of the T allele, but the T allele was not associated with the prevalence of esophageal, gastric, lung, or breast cancer. The activities of phospholipase D in cell lysates or membrane fractions did not differ between cells transfected with cDNAs encoding the Thr-577 or Ile-577 variants of phospholipase D(2). These results suggest that the phospholipase D(2) gene is a susceptibility locus for colorectal cancer in Japanese individuals, although a functional effect of the 1814C-->T (Thr577Ile) polymorphism was not detected.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗

Impact of established risk factors for breast cancer in nulligravid Japanese women.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism by which pregnancy impacts breast cancer risk remains poorly understood. There is a need for detailed quantification of risk in nulliparous women. We therefore have undertaken a case-referent study of breast cancer employing data from the Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC), Japan, examining the impact of reproductive and anthropometric factors on breast cancer risk among nulligravid women compared with their parous counterparts. METHODS: In total, 2032 breast cancer cases were included, and 17848 women, confirmed as free of cancer, were recruited as a reference group. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were determined by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A protective effect of later age at menarche was observed among parous women, but it did not alter risk in nulligravid cases. The risk increment with a family history appeared to be most pronounced among premenopausal cases with no history of pregnancy (OR=2.68, 95% CI: 1.41-5.11). Among postmenopausal women, positive associations with height and current body mass index (BMI) in the nulligravid group were similar to those observed in the parous group. The present study indicated that age at menopause, family history in premenopausal women, and height and obesity in postmenopausal women seemed to exert more influence in nulligravid women. Formal tests for interaction between maternity status and these factors, however, did not prove statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that established risk factors for breast cancer have an additive impact with nulligravid status. Thus, it is implied that obesity control for all women, including nulliparous individuals, is important from a practical viewpoint for primary breast cancer prevention.

Adult↗

Transforming growth factor B1 T29C polymorphism and breast cancer risk in Japanese women.

BACKGROUND: A cohort study for Caucasians aged 65 years or older demonstrated a marked breast cancer risk reduction for those with the CC genotype of transforming growth factor B1 (TGF B1) T29C polymorphism. This is a prevalent case-control study to examine the reported risk reduction for Japanese women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 232 histologically diagnosed breast cancer patients who visited Aichi Cancer Center Hospital between June 1999 and March 2000 were enrolled. The controls were 172 female outpatients without cancer at the same hospital. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, and TGF B1 genotype was determined by PCR-CTPP. RESULTS: The genotype frequency was 23.7% for TT, 49.2% for TC, and 27.1% for CC among controls, and 28.9%, 46.1%, and 25.0%, respectively, among cases. Age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) relative to the TT genotype was 0.81 (95% confidence interval, 0.50-1.31) for the TC genotype and 0.77 (0.45-1.34) for the CC genotype. For premenopausal women, the CC genotype was significantly associated with reduced risk of breast cancer in comparison with the TT genotype (OR=0.45, 0.20-0.98). The association was not observed for postmenopausal women (OR=1.40, 0.64-3.08). CONCLUSION: The present study showed risk reduction for Japanese premenopausal women with the CC genotype, but not for postmenopausal Japanese women.

Adult↗

Association of p53 codon Arg72Pro and p73 G4C14-to-A4T14 at exon 2 genetic polymorphisms with the risk of Japanese breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The association between breast cancer risk and genetic polymorphisms of p53 at codon 72 (Arg72Pro) has been investigated by several studies, but the results are not consistent. The aim of this case-control study conducted in Nagoya, Japan, was to reconfirm the results of prior studies of polymorphisms of p53 Arg72Pro, and to test if polymorphisms of p73 G4C14-to-A4T14 at exon 2 (G4A) were also associated with breast cancer risk. METHODS: The cases were 200 breast cancer patients who visited Aichi Cancer Center Hospital. The controls were 282 local citizens who underwent a health check-up. All cases and controls were recruited from Chubu Japan. Genotyping was carried out by polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers. RESULTS: The p53 genotype distribution was 40.4% for Arg72 homozygous, 48.9% for heterozygous, and 10.7% for Pro72 homozygous in controls, and 32.0%, 50.0%, and 18.0% in cases, respectively. A comparison between cases and controls indicated a significantly increased risk for Pro72 homozygosity in cases (odds ratio=2.14; 95% confidence interval=1.21-3.79). The genotypic frequencies for p73 G4A were 54.3% for G/G, 39.7% for G/A, and 6.0% for A/A in controls; and 59.0%, 32.0%, and 9.0% in cases, respectively. There were no significant differences in p73 G4A frequency between cases and controls. CONCLUSIONS: This study implies an association of breast cancer risk with the p53 polymorphism Arg72Pro, but not with p73 G4A.

Adenine↗

Prognostic significance of CD7+CD56+ phenotype and chromosome 5 abnormalities for acute myeloid leukemia M0.

Myeloid/natural killer (NK) cell precursor acute leukemia is an entity of acute leukemia characterized by poor prognosis and a CD7+CD56+ myeloid antigen+ phenotype without light-microscopic myeloperoxidase reactivity. This disease shares several clinical characteristics with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) M0. To clarify the relationship between these 2 leukemias, we analyzed 105 cases of AML M0. Among them, 17 were CD7+ and CD56+, 77 were negative for either antigen, and 11 could not be determined. CD7+CD56+ AML M0 showed onset at significantly lower patient age (median 46 versus 63 years, P = .004). The disease localization and the hematological manifestations were significantly different: CD7+CD56+ AML showed more frequent extramedullary involvement, fewer circulating leukemic blasts, less anemia, and less thrombocytopenia than did AML M0. The cytogenetic aberrations were also unique, because no 5q abnormalities were found in CD7+CD56+ M0. The prognosis of CD7+CD56+ M0 was poor in patients younger than 46 years (P = .03). Multivariate analysis showed that the CD7+CD56+ phenotype was a significant prognostic factor for AML M0, as well as age, circulating blast percentage, and chromosome 5 abnormalities These findings suggest that AML M0 consists of heterogeneous subgroups to be managed separately, and CD7+CD56+ M0 constitutes a distinct subtype of AML M0.

Acute Disease↗

Subjects with TNF-A-857TT and -1031TT genotypes showed the highest Helicobacter pylori seropositive rate compared with those with other genotypes.

BACKGROUND: A possible association between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) a G-308A has been reported in Korea. The present study examined the associations of H. pylori with functional polymorphisms, TNF-A G-308A, C-857T, and T-1031C and TNF-B A252G in Japanese subjects. METHODS: The total of 1374 study subjects included 241 outpatients who participated in an H. pylori eradication program (HPE), 679 first-visit outpatients (FVO) at a regional cancer hospital, and 454 local residents who received a health checkup examination (HCE). RESULTS: The frequency of the TNF-A -308A allele was only 1.3% of 480 chromosomes in the HPE group, so the FVO and HCE groups were not genotyped for that polymorphism. The genotype frequency of TNF-A C-857T was 69.2% CC, 27.7% CT, and 3.1% TT; that of TNF-A T-1031C was 69.4% TT, 28.1% TC, and 2.5% CC; and that of TNF-B A252G was 36.8% AA, 48.2% AG, and 15.0% GG. TNF-A -857T was tightly linked to TNF-A -1031T and TNF-B 252A. No significant associations between H. pylori seropositivity and polymorphisms of TNF-A C-857T and TNF-B A252G were observed. However, a reduced odds ratio adjusted for sex, age, and recruitment source was observed for TNF-A -1031CC (0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.20-0.91) relative to TNF-A -1031TT. Subjects with TNF-A -857CC and -1031CC showed the lowest seropositivity (38.2% of 34 participants), while those with TNF-A -857TT and -1031TT showed the highest (66.7% of 42 participants). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the possibly high expression genotype of TNF-A may increase susceptibility to persistent H. pylori infection.A possible association between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and tumor necrosis factor ( TNF) A G-308A has been reported in Korea. The present study examined the associations of H. pylori with functional polymorphisms, TNF-A G-308A, C-857T, and T-1031C, and TNF-B A252G in Japanese subjects.

Adult↗

ABO blood type, Lewis and Secretor genotypes, and chronic atrophic gastritis: a cross-sectional study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: the H type I structure, synthesized by the secretor (Se) enzyme in gastric foveolar cells, and its metabolite, Lewis b (le(b)) antigen, mediate the adhesion of Helicobacter pylori ( H. Pylori) to the gastric epithelium, whereas H. Pylori does not bind to modified forms of Le(b) specific for blood types A and B. Such host factors as Le and Se genotypes and ABO blood type may affect the establishment of H. Pylori infection and, once infected, the risk of chronic atrophic gastritis. METHODS: we investigated the cross-sectional relation of abo blood type and Le and Le genotypes to gastric atrophy, assessed by serum pepsinogen levels, in japanese residents from two sources. RESULTS: among the 151 h. Pylori-positive participants of the h. Pylori eradication program, odds ratios (ors) for gastric atrophy, adjusted for age, sex, and smoking, were elevated for blood types a (or = 5.35; 95% confidence interval (ci), 2.11-13.58) and b (or = 4.79; 95% ci, 1.77-12.93) relative to type o. Ors for blood types a and b were also elevated in h. Pylori-negative subjects. These associations were not observed among 250 h. Pylori-positive health check-up examinees. The le genotype was not associated with gastric atrophy in either study population. The se/ se genotype was associated with statistically nonsignificant elevation of gastric atrophy risk in both populations. CONCLUSIONS: the present data showed a strong association of blood types a and b with gastric atrophy in one, but not the other, study population. Discrepant results between the two populations warrant further investigation. Background: the h type i structure, synthesized by the secretor (se) enzyme in gastric foveolar cells, and its metabolite, lewis b (le(b)) antigen, mediate the adhesion of helicobacter pylori ( h. Pylori) to the gastric epithelium, whereas h. Pylori does not bind to modified forms of le(b) specific for blood types a and b. Such host factors as le and se genotypes and abo blood type may affect the establishment of h. Pylori infection and, once infected, the risk of chronic atrophic gastritis. Methods: we investigated the cross-sectional relation of abo blood type and le and se genotypes to gastric atrophy, assessed by serum pepsinogen levels, in japanese residents from two sources. Results: among the 151 h. Pylori-positive participants of the h. Pylori eradication program, odds ratios (ors) for gastric atrophy, adjusted for age, sex, and smoking, were elevated for blood types a (or = 5.35; 95% confidence interval (ci), 2.11-13.58) and b (or = 4.79; 95% ci, 1.77-12.93) relative to type o. Ors for blood types a and b were also elevated in h. Pylori-negative subjects. These associations were not observed among 250 h. Pylori-positive health check-up examinees. The le genotype was not associated with gastric atrophy in either study population. The se/ se genotype was associated with statistically nonsignificant elevation of gastric atrophy risk in both populations. Conclusions: the present data showed a strong association of blood types a and b with gastric atrophy in one, but not the other, study population. Discrepant results between the two populations warrant further investigation.

Adult↗

Lifestyle factors associated with atrophic gastritis among Helicobacter pylori-seropositive Japanese-Brazilians in São Paulo.

BACKGROUND: Studies of lifestyle factors related to gastric atrophy development in Helicobacter pylori-infected individuals are limited. The present cross-sectional study aimed to examine the associations between lifestyle factors and serum pepsinogens (PGs) among anti- H. pylori antibody-seropositive Japanese in Brazil, where gastric cancer mortality was reported to be as high as in Japanese in Japan, and seropositive individuals were still frequently detected. METHODS: The subjects were 291 seropositive individuals (129 males and 162 females; age, 30 to 69 years) out of 656 Japanese-Brazilian volunteers in São Paulo city. Information on lifestyle factors was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Atrophic gastritis was defined as a PG1 serum level less than 70 ng/ml and PG1/PG2 ratio less than 3. RESULTS: The prevalence of atrophic gastritis was 31.9% (95% confidence intervals, 26.6%-37.6%). The proportion of subjects with atrophic gastritis increased with age, but there were no significantly marked differences in the proportions of subjects with atrophic gastritis among the three generations studied (first generation [Issei], second generation [Nisei], and third generation [Sansei]) for any 10-year age group. The associations with smoking and alcohol drinking were not significant. Length of education was inversely associated with gastric atrophy, while infrequent rice intake was preventive; the odds ratio relative to everyday rice intake was 0.13 (95% confidence intervals, 0.39-0.46) on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that frequent rice intake was a risk factor for atrophic gastritis among the H. pylori-infected Japanese-Brazilians, suggesting that diet including rice plays a role in the step from H. pylori infection to gastric atrophy.

Adult↗

Polymorphism in the hMSH2 gene (gIVS 12-6T-->C) and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a Japanese population.

We conducted a hospital-based prevalent case-control study in a Japanese population (cases=103, controls=487) to ascertain the previous report about the association between the polymorphism in exon 13 of the hMSH2 gene (gIVS 12-6T-->C) and the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in an Ecuadorian population. When the TT genotype was defined as the reference, none of the CT genotypes (OR=1.52; 95% CI, 0.97-2.37), CC genotypes (OR=1.06, 95% CI, 0.44-2.54), or CT and CC genotypes combined together (OR=1.44, 95% CI, 0.94-2.23) demonstrated significant OR. Further investigations with sufficiently larger populations and in other ethnicities are required to verify this association.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Dietary factors and the risk of gastric cancer among Japanese women: a comparison between the differentiated and non-differentiated subtypes.

PURPOSE: Using data from the Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC), a case-referent study was performed to clarify whether dietary habits differentially impact on the risk of female gastric cancers of different histological subtypes. METHODS: The study subjects comprised 508 histologically confirmed female gastric cancer cases (156 differentiated, 352 non-differentiated), identified via hospital cancer registry and surgical records between 1988 to 1998. The referents were 36,490 cancer-free first-visit female outpatients over 30 years old presenting at the center within the same period of time. The odds ratios were estimated by logistic regression analyses and adjusted for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Frequent vegetable and fruit conferred reduced risk of both differentiated and non-differentiated female gastric cancers in similar patterns. In addition, reduced risk was observed for intake of fish and soybean products, particularly for the non-differentiated type. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that both differentiated and non-differentiated female gastric cancers are preventable by frequent intake of vegetable and fruit, fish and soybean products, suggested to be common protective factors, although the possibility of some variation in the impact of the diet on different histopathological entities needs to be further addressed.

Adult↗

hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and breast cancer risk among Asian women.

To evaluate the potential association between breast cancer risk and Ser326Cys polymorphism of hOGG1 gene, encoding for an enzyme involved in the base excision repair of 8-hydroxyguanine, hospital based case-control studies were conducted in two Asian populations consisting of 475 breast cancer cases (271 Korean and 204 Japanese) and 500 controls (314 Korean and 186 Japanese). PCR-based methods were employed for the genotyping analyses and the statistical evaluations were performed by unconditional logistic regression model. The frequency of hOGG1 Ser/Ser, Ser/Cys, and Cys/Cys genotypes were 22.5, 48.7, and 28.8% in all cases, and 23.7, 52.1, and 24.1% in the controls. No statistically significant associations between the genotypes and breast cancer risk were observed, neither when the ethnic groups were examined separately nor when the total study population was included. Neither did stratification by menopausal status reveal any association between hOGG1 genotypes and breast cancer. Our novel findings therefore suggest that hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism is unlikely to play a modifying role in individual susceptibility to breast cancer among Asian women.

Adult↗

High anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody seropositivity associated with the combination of IL-8-251TT and IL-10-819TT genotypes.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori induces inflammation of gastric mucosa regulated by several interleukins. This study examined associations between anti-Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G antibody seropositivity and functional polymorphisms of interleukin-8 T-251 A and interleukin-10 T-819C. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 454 health check-up examinees (126 males and 328 females) without a history of cancer, aged 35-85 years, residing in Nagoya, Japan. After written informed consent was obtained individually, residual blood was anonymously applied for anti-Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G antibody testing and genotyping by the polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers. RESULTS: The genotype frequency of interleukin-8 T-251 A was 52.2% for TT, 39.5% for TA, and 8.3% for AA, and that of interleukin-10 T-819C was 49.5% for TT, 39.9% for TC and 10.6% for CC. Although the differences in the positive rates among the genotypes were not marked, 115 individuals with interleukin-8-251TT (low expression genotype) and interleukin-10-819TT (high expression genotype) had a higher rate (63.5%) than the others (52.0%). Relative to the combination of interleukin-8-251TT and interleukin-10-819TT, the sex-age-adjusted odds ratio for those with the other combinations was 0.62 (95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.98). The adjusted odds ratio among 65 current smokers was 0.13 (0.03-0.61). CONCLUSIONS: The observed association suggests that individuals with interleukin-8-251TT and interleukin-10-819TT, a combination presumably causing mild inflammation, have a higher probability of the continuing Helicobacter pylori infection, especially among current smokers.

Adult↗

Epidemiology of pancreatic cancer in Japan: a nested case-control study from the Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC).

BACKGROUND: To clarify lifestyle factors that affect the risk of pancreatic cancer among the Japanese population, a nested case-control study was conducted using data from the Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC), Japan. METHODS: The study subjects included 200 incident cases of pancreatic cancer and 2000 age-class frequency-matched cancer-free outpatients attending the baseline questionnaire of HERPACC in the period 1988-1999. Associations between lifestyles and the risk of pancreatic cancer were evaluated using odds ratios estimated by the unconditional logistic regression model, adjusting for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: A positive family history of pancreatic cancer and a past or present history of diabetes significantly increased the risk of pancreatic cancer. In contrast, regular physical exercise, a regular bowel habit, and frequent consumption of raw vegetables appeared to be protective. Current alcohol drinkers showed decreased risk, but the opposite was the case for former drinkers. Current smoking did not affect the risk of pancreatic cancer, while former smokers showed a tendency for decreased risk. Compared with light smokers, heavy smokers showed a modest tendency for increase in risk, especially those who starting smoking at a younger age, but there were no clear tendencies for duration and pack-years of smoking. CONCLUSIONS: From these results it appears that smoking habit, which has long been considered a sole important determinant, has only a modest role, if any, in pancreatic cancer in Japanese.

Adult↗

Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and the myeloperoxidase G-463A polymorphism in combination with interleukin-1B C-31T in Japanese health checkup examinees.

OBJECTIVE: Genetic susceptibility appears to play an important role in Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. The present study was conducted to re-examine the reported association between the myeloperoxidase (MPO) G-463A polymorphism and HP seropositivity in different subjects and to investigate interactions with smoking behavior and the interleukin-1B (IL-1B) C-31T polymorphism. METHODS: The subjects were 468 health checkup examinees in Nagoya, who consented to anonymous genotyping of residual blood samples. Genotyping was conducted by PCR-RFLP for MPO G-463A and PCR-CTPP for IL-1B C-31T. RESULTS: Among the successfully genotyped 437 participants without a cancer history, the HP seropositive rate was 56.2% for -463GG (n = 354), 49.4% for -463GA (n = 77) and 83.3% for -463AA (n = 6). The gender-age-adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for GA/AA relative to GG was 0.86 (95% confidence interval, 0.32-1.34) among males, 0.84 (0.47-1.49) among females, 0.83 (0.22-3.05) among current smokers and 0.87 (0.50-1.51) among never smokers. Analysis by IL-1B C-31T genotype revealed a significantly reduced OR of 0.41 (0.18-0.93) among the participants with IL-1B -31CT. The OR for IL-1B -31TT relative to -31CC/CT was 1.59 (1.00-2.55) among those with MPO -463GG and 3.36 (1.16-9.77) with MPO -463GA/AA. None of the gene-environment or gene-gene interactions proved to be statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The association between MPO G-463A and HP seropositivity was not reproduced in this study. The effect of IL-1B -31TT was more prominent among individuals with the low expression MPO -463A allele, but it remains to be confirmed for other datasets.

Adult↗

Role of alcohol and genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 in breast cancer development.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the potential association between alcohol consumption and genetic polymorphisms in the alcohol metabolizing enzymes, CYP2E1 and ALDH2, in individual susceptibility to breast cancer in a Korean study population. METHODS: Three hundred and forty-six histologically confirmed breast cancer patients and 377 controls with no present or previous history of cancer were recruited from several teaching hospitals in Seoul during 1995-2001. The CYP2E1 RsaI polymorphism was determined by a real time PCR method, and the ALDH2 Glu487 Lys polymorphism was determined by a PCR method with confronting two-pair primers (PCR-CTPP). RESULTS: The drinking women had a 1.4-fold risk for breast cancer (95% CI = 0.99-2.11) compared to never drinkers after adjustment for age and family history of breast cancer. No statistically significant overall differences were seen in the genotype frequencies between breast cancer cases and controls. However, the "ever"-drinking women with the CYP2E1 c2 allele containing genotypes had a 1.9-fold risk (95% CI = 0.99-3.83) for developing breast cancer compared to non-drinkers with the CYP2E1 c1/c1 genotype (P for interaction = 0.043). CONCLUSION: This study therefore suggests that the CYP2E1 c2 allele may influence the individual susceptibility to breast cancer in alcohol-consuming women.

Adult↗

Monoamine oxidase polymorphisms and smoking behaviour in Japanese.

Although nicotine dependence is one of the primary reasons why smokers cannot quit smoking, nicotine cannot explain all of the psychopharmacological effects of tobacco smoke. Accumulating evidence points to potent inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO) which metabolizes neurotransmitters relating to additive behaviour. We have therefore investigated the association between smoking behaviour and MAO ( variable number of tandem repeat in the promoter region and A644G) polymorphisms. The genotypes were examined in 504 Japanese outpatients (217 men and 287 women) who visited Aichi Cancer Centre Hospital. The age-adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were estimated by a logistic model. Among males, we did not find a significant association of the smoking habit with either of the polymorphisms. The median Fargastrom test for nicotine dependence (FTND) score among male current smokers was significantly higher with than without the 4-repeat allele (5.8 and 4.7, respectively). The aOR of FTND 6 versus FTND 6 was 2.72 (95% confidence interval 1.13-6.50) for males with the 4-repeat allele. Among females, the aOR of being current smokers compared to never smokers was 0.49 (0.26-0.93) for individuals with the 4-repeat allele. Our results indicate that the polymorphisms of influence the smoking habit for female, as well as the nicotine dependence and smoking initiation for male smokers. These findings among male smokers support the view that MAO affects a smokers' requirement for nicotine and may explain why some people are predisposed to tobacco addiction and why some individuals find it difficult to stop smoking.

Adolescent↗