Biomedical subjects

Yi Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Yi Wang.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Coding of visual patterns and textures in monkey inferior temporal cortex.

Neural coding for texture features of visual objects was investigated in monkey inferior temporal cortex by inactivating intrinsic GABAergic inhibition. The inactivation enabled a substantial number of cells to respond to originally ineffective texture pattern that had a particular feature distinct from the originally effective pattern, or to ineffective texture and non-texture stimuli that possessed a component feature of the originally effective texture. Cells that showed selectivity changes related to a texture feature were often met along a vertical recording track. We suggest that a texture feature is coded by a group of cells which signal different aspects of the texture. The coding occurs at different processing levels, from extracting a particular feature within patterns to detecting complex texture features combined with color and shape of natural objects.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

A spatially organized representation of colour in macaque cortical area V2.

Neurons responding selectively to different colours have been found in various cortical areas in macaque monkeys; however, little is known about whether and how the representation of colour is spatially organized in any cortical area. Cortical area V2 contains modules that respond preferentially to chromatic modulation, which are located in thin cytochrome oxidase stripes. Here we show that within and beyond these modules, gratings of different colours produce activations that peak at different locations. Optical recording of intrinsic signals revealed that the peak regions of the responses to different colours were spatially organized in the same order as colour stimuli are arranged in the DIN (German standard colour chart) colour system. Nearby regions represented colours of a similar hue. We found that the set of colour-specific regions formed 0.07-0.32-mm-wide and approximately 1.3-mm long bands that varied in shape from linear to nearly circular. Our finding suggests that thin stripes in V2 contain functional maps where the colour of a stimulus is represented by the location of its response activation peak.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Bcl-rambo beta, a special splicing variant with an insertion of an Alu-like cassette, promotes etoposide- and Taxol-induced cell death.

The exonization of an Alu-like element into a coding sequence is unique to primates and this phenomenon distinguishes our genome from other mammals. Here, we report the presence of a special splicing variant of a proapoptotic protein Bcl-rambo in human lymph node, designated as Bcl-rambo beta. This variant contains a 98 bp Alu-like sequence which acts as an exon. There exists an in-frame stop codon within this inserted Alu-like cassette, resulting in generation of a premature protein of 104 amino acid residues. Unlike the Bcl-rambo, Bcl-rambo beta is lacking of the BH1, BH2 and BH3 motifs and becomes a BH4-only protein. Bcl-rambo beta is detected in several adult human tissues such as heart, lymph node and cervix but is absent in human brain tissue. In addition, Bcl-rambo beta is found not to be associated with mitochondria due to the absence of its C-terminal membrane anchor region. Nevertheless, this cytosol-localized protein is capable of promoting etoposide- and Taxol-induced cell death. Although the exact function of the Alu sequence is not fully characterized, the Alu element within the Bcl-rambo beta appeared to contribute to the proapoptotic capability, since removing of the Alu sequence from Bcl-rambo beta abrogates its ability to induce cell death. Our data support the speculation that the Alu element insertion during the splicing process may play an important role in the generation of protein diversity in primate cells by a yet uncharacterized mechanism.

Alu Elements↗

PubMed2003

Quantitative evaluation of susceptibility and shielding effects of nitinol, platinum, cobalt-alloy, and stainless steel stents.

The purpose of this study is to quantitatively estimate the shielding and susceptibility effects of commonly used metallic stents on MR signal. Two experiments were performed using a 3D gradient echo sequence with short TE to image a stent phantom: 1) short TR and high flip angle (contrast enhanced MRA parameters), and 2) long TR (TR >> T(1)) and low flip angle. The factor characterizing susceptibility effects was estimated from the signal phase of the first experiment, and then the factor characterizing the shielding effects was derived from the second experiment. Susceptibility induced signal loss was negligible (<1%) for nonstainless-steel (nitinol, platinum, and cobalt-alloy) stents and totally destructive (100%) for the stainless steel stent. Signal loss due to RF shielding was 31-62% for nitinol stents, 14-50% for platinum stents, 50-77% for the cobalt-alloy stents (undetermined for the stainless steel stent), varied with stent orientation, diameter, and wall geometry. In summary, stents made of nitinol, platinum, and cobalt-alloy have negligible susceptibility effects but stents made of stainless steel may have complete dephasing. All stents have substantial shielding effects, which vary with composition, geometry, and orientation. Large platinum stents may have the smallest artifacts and are the best suited for postinterventional MR imaging.

Alloys↗

PubMed2003

Direct monitoring of coronary artery motion with cardiac fat navigator echoes.

Navigator echoes (NAVs) provide an effective means of monitoring physiological motion in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Motion artifacts can be suppressed by adjusting the data acquisition accordingly. The standard pencil-beam NAV has been used to detect diaphragm motion; however, it does not monitor cardiac motion effectively. Here we report a navigator approach that directly measures coronary artery motion by exciting the surrounding epicardial fat and sampling the signal with a k-space trajectory sensitized to various motion parameters. The present preliminary human study demonstrates that superior-inferior (SI) respiratory motion of the coronary arteries detected by the cardiac fat NAV highly correlates with SI diaphragmatic motion detected by the pencil-beam NAV. In addition, the cardiac fat navigator gating is slightly more effective than the diaphragmatic navigator gating in suppressing motion artifacts in free-breathing 3D coronary MR angiography (MRA).

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2003

Clinical application of radioimmunoguided surgery in colorectal cancer using 125I-labeled carcinoembryonic antigen-specific monoclonal antibody submucosally.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of 125I-labeled carcinoembryonic antigen-specific monoclonal antibody CL58 in clinical radioimmunoguided surgery for colorectal cancer. METHODS: First, we tested the purity and affinity constant of CL58 and measured the binding affinity of CL58 to colorectal cancer cells and normal cells. Second, we injected 125I-labeled CL58 into nude mice with colon cancers. Then, samples from the tumor, blood, and normal tissues of injected mice were weighed and counted in a gamma-ray counter for assessment of biodistribution. Finally, we administered 125I-labeled CL58 submucosally in 29 patients with colorectal cancer via endoscope. Radioimmunoguided surgery was performed 3 to 14 days later with a portable gamma-detecting probe to obtain the counts in the target sites. Tumor-to-normal tissue ratio of 3 was taken as the lowest positive threshold value for primary lesions, wall infiltration, and lymph node metastasis. In addition, all the samples were examined by routine histopathology. Lymph nodes negative by routine histopathology were subjected to immunohistochemical staining with anticytokeratin to detect the lymphatic micrometastasis. RESULTS: The affinity constant of CL58 was 7.5 x 109 M-. Moreover, CL58 reacted strongly to the colorectal cancer cell lines, but not to the normal control cells. Furthermore, the tumor tissues showed significant intake of 125I-labeled CL58, as compared with that of normal tissues. The sensitivity of radioimmunoguided surgery in detecting primary lesions was 93.1 percent, and the specificity of radioimmunoguided surgery to correctly identify negative incisional margins for tumor infiltration was 95.5 percent. For the detection of lymphatic metastasis, the sensitivity of radioimmunoguided surgery was 92.0 percent and the specificity was 87.8 percent. The sensitivity of radioimmunoguided surgery in detecting lymph node metastasis was significantly higher when compared with traditional clinical methods (P = 0.0087). The specificity of radioimmunoguided surgery to identify negative incisional margins was also significantly higher when compared with traditional clinical methods (P = 0.0117). The sensitivity and specificity of radioimmunoguided surgery in detecting lymph nodes metastasis showed statistical significance, as compared with traditional clinical methods. Immunohistochemistry verified the existence of lymphatic micrometastasis in radioimmunoguided surgery-positive but histology-negative lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that radioimmunoguided surgery for colorectal cancer using 125I-labeled anticarcinoembryonic antigen monoclonal antibody submucosally enables surgeons to define lymphatic metastasis, thus successfully guiding surgeons in performing personalized radical operation.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Adenovirus-mediated gene therapy with an antiangiogenic fragment of thrombospondin-1 inhibits human leukemia xenograft growth in nude mice.

Recent investigations support the idea that angiogenesis is involved in the pathophysiology of leukemia. Within a given microenvironment, the angiogenic response is regulated by a delicate balance of angiogenesis inducers and inhibitors. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a multifunctional extracellular glycoprotein showing angiostatic properties in multiple in vitro and in vivo assays. Interestingly, there is also proangiogenic domain in this complex molecule. Development of TSP-1 as an antiangiogenic drug has been hindered by multiplicity of its functional effects, difficulties in its production and its poor pharmacokinetics. The aim of the present study was to establish a recombinant adenovirus (ADV.TSP-1(f)) expressing antiangiogenic fragment of TSP-1 (TSP-1(f)), and to determine the feasibility for use of the adenovirally expressed TSP-1(f) in leukemia gene therapy. The results of this investigation showed that TSP-1(f) was expressed efficiently in adenovirus-transduced human myelogenous leukemia K562 cells. Compared to the controls, although there was almost no effect on proliferation of K562 cells in vitro, adenovirus-mediated TSP-1(f) transduction inhibited the growth of K562 xenografts dramatically. Furthermore, the microvessel density (MVD) was much lower in the ADV.TSP-1(f)-treated tumors compared to the controls. These data support the use of in vivo gene delivery approach to produce antiangiogenic fragment of TSP-1 for leukemia therapy.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2003

Ecotoxicological and chemical characterization of selected treatment process effluents of municipal sewage treatment plant.

The triolein-containing semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were deployed for 4 weeks in a sewage treatment plant in Beijing, China, to sample and concentrate priority hydrophobic organic pollutants in a sewage treatment process. The chemical analyses and ecotoxicities of the residuals of SPMDs dialysate were examined. The data from the chemical analyses by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring mode indicated the lower removal for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) congeners and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) coincided with the persistence of them in the environment. The acute toxicity examined by bioluminescence test with Vibrio fischeri revealed approximately only 20% decrease in the overall toxicity of the influent after the activate sludge treatment process. The ethoxy resorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) induction with a micro-EROD assay in vitro using H4-IIE rat hepatoma cell cultures demonstrated the presence of persistent organics in influent and sequency effluents. Results obtained suggested that integration of the SPMD technique and chemical analyses and bioassay might be a valuable approach for the risk assessment of hydrophobic organic pollutants in water ecosystem. It revealed the necessity for organic pollutants monitoring and ecotoxicities examining of sewage treatment plants.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Simultaneous multiple volume (SMV) acquisition algorithm for real-time navigator gating.

Navigator gating techniques can effectively reduce motion effects in MRI by accepting data only when the object is in a small range of positions at the cost of significantly prolonging scan time. A simultaneous multiple volume (SMV) algorithm is reported here that can substantially increase the scan efficiency while maintaining the effectiveness of motion suppression. This is achieved by acquiring different image volumes at different motion states. Initial experiments demonstrate that SMV can significantly increase the scan efficiency of navigator MRI.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2003

The influence of premature ventricular contractions on left ventricular function in asymptomatic children without structural heart disease: an echocardiographic evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Isolated monomorphic premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are not uncommon in the pediatric population. The degree of cardiac dysfunction caused by PVCs in children without structural heart disease is unknown. PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of PVCs on echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) systolic function in children without structural heart disease. METHODS: Forty asymptomatic children with isolated monomorphic PVCs without structural heart disease were selected. The median age was 6 years, range of 3-12 years. The following subgroups were compared: frequent vs. infrequent PVCs (> or < or = 10/min); short vs. long coupling interval (RR'/RR ratio < or = or > 0.6); and short vs. long QT interval (QT < or = or > 400 ms). Using echocardiography the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF in percentage) and cardiac index (CI in L/min/m2) were measured for both normal sinus beats (SB-LVEF and CI), PVCs (PVC-LVEF and CI) and the average LVEF and CI were calculated. All values were expressed as means +/- SD. RESULTS: In all children LV dimensions and the SB-LVEF and CI were within normal limits. The PVC-LVEF (48 +/- 5) and PVC-CI (1.57 +/- 0.19) were significantly decreased and the average CI was 2.41 +/- 0.29. In 27 pts with > 10 PVCs/min the average LVEF and CI decreased to 53 +/- 5 and 2.08 +/- 0.24 respectively. In 16 pts with PVCs and a short coupling interval (RR'/RR < or = 0.6) the PVC-LVEF and PVC-CI was 43 +/- 0.03 and 1.50 +/- 0.14, which was significantly lower than in 24 pts with a long coupling interval (58 +/- 4, 1.88 +/- 0.11). In 11 pts with a prolonged QT interval (> 400 ms) the PVC-LVEF and PVC-CI was significantly lower than in the 29 children with a shorter QT interval, 41 +/- 5 vs. 55 +/- 4 and 1.46 +/- 0.13 vs. 1.86 +/- 0.15 respectively (all p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In asymptomatic children with isolated monomorphic PVCs the average ejection fraction and cardiac output is markedly reduced if PVCs are frequent (> 10/min), have a short coupling interval or a prolonged QT interval.

Cardiac Output↗

PubMed2003

Regulation of EGF-induced phospholipase C-gamma1 translocation and activation by its SH2 and PH domains.

Translocation of phospholipase C-gamma1 is essential for its function in response to growth factors. However, in spite of recent progress, the phospholipase C-gamma1 translocation pattern and the molecular mechanism of the translocation are far from fully understood. Contradictory results were reported as to which domain, PH or SH2, controls the epidermal growth factor-induced translocation of phospholipase C-gamma1. In this communication, we studied epidermal growth factor-induced translocation of phospholipase C-gamma1 by using comprehensive approaches including biochemistry, indirect fluorescence and live fluorescence imaging. We provided original evidence demonstrating that: (i) endogenous phospholipase C-gamma1, similar to YFP-tagged phospholipase C-gamma1, translocated to endosomes following its initial translocation from cytosol to the plasma membrane in response to epidermal growth factor; (ii) phospholipase C-gamma1 remained phosphorylated in endosomes, but phospholipase C-gamma1 activity is not required for its translocation, which suggests a signaling role for phospholipase C-gamma1 in endosomes; (iii) the PH domain was not required for the initial translocation of phospholipase C-gamma1 from cytosol to the plasma membrane, but it stabilizes phospholipase C-gamma1 in the membrane at a later time; (iv) the function of the phospholipase C-gamma1 PH domain in stabilizing phospholipase C-gamma1 membrane association is very important in maintaining the activity of phospholipase C-gamma1; and (v) the role of the PH domain in phospholipase C-gamma1 membrane association and activation is dependent on PI3K activity. We conclude that the phospholipase C-gamma1 SH2 and PH domains coordinate to determine epidermal growth factor-induced translocation and activation of phospholipase C-gamma1.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Etoposide upregulates Bax-enhancing tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand-mediated apoptosis in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line QGY-7703.

Tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has attracted much attention because of its ability to kill tumour cells. In this study, we demonstrated that treatment of QGY-7703 cells with the combination of TRAIL and etoposide resulted in synergistic cytotoxic effects. In dissecting the mechanism underlying this synergistic effect, we found that treatment with etoposide alone resulted in the upregulation of Bax, while the level of truncated Bid (tBid) was unchanged. In contrast, while treatment with TRAIL alone significantly increased the level of tBid, the expression of Bax remained unaffected. The enhanced apoptosis was accompanied by an increased release of cytochrome c and second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase/direct IAP binding protein with low pI (DIABLO) from mitochondria, leading to the activation of cellular caspase-8, -9, -3 and -7, as well as poly ADP-ribose polymerase. This enhanced release of cytochrome c and second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase/DIABLO was inhibited by the general caspase inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone. The RT-PCR and Western blotting results demonstrated that the levels of both mRNA and protein for death receptor-4, death receptor-5 and decoy receptor-2 remained unchanged in response to etoposide, indicating that the synergistic effect of TRAIL and etoposide is not a result of increasing the expression for TRAIL receptors, but rather is associated with amplification of the mitochondrial signal pathway.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

PubMed2003

De novo RNA synthesis by a recombinant classical swine fever virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

Classical swine fever virus nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) encodes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, a key enzyme of the viral replication complex. To better understand the initiation of viral RNA synthesis and to establish an in vitro replication system, a recombinant NS5B protein, lacking the C-terminal 24-amino acid hydrophobic domain, was expressed in Escherichia coli. The truncated fusion protein (NS5Bdelta24) was purified on a Ni-chelating HisTrap affinity column and demonstrated to initiate either plus- or minus-strand viral RNA synthesis de novo in a primer-independent manner but not by terminal nucleotidyle transferase activity. De novo RNA synthesis represented the preferred mechanism for initiation of classical swine fever virus RNA synthesis by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in vitro. Both Mg2+ and Mn2+ supported de novo initiation, however, RNA synthesis was more efficient in the presence of Mn2+ than in the presence of Mg2+. De novo initiation of RNA synthesis was stimulated by preincubation with 0.5 mm GTP, and a 3'-terminal cytidylate on the viral RNA template was preferred for de novo initiation. Furthermore, the purified protein was also shown, by North-Western blot analysis, to specifically interact with the 3'-end of both plus- and minus-strand viral RNA templates.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

PubMed2003

Triphenyl tin benzimidazolethiol, a novel antitumor agent, induces mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in human cervical cancer cells via suppression of HPV-18 encoded E6.

Here we report the effect of TPT-benzimidazolethiol, a novel anti-tumor agent developed by our group, on the apoptotic pathway of human cervical carcinoma cells. Treatment of HeLa cells with TPT-benzimidazolethiol arrests the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase and transcriptionally downregulates HPV-encoded E6, restoring p53 expression from E6 suppression. Increased p53 accumulation up-regulates p21/waf and ultimately induces apoptosis. The effect of TPT-benzimidazolethiol is far more potent in inducing apoptosis than cisplatin. Treatment with TPT-benzimidazolethiol in HeLa cells is accompanied by the up-regulation of Bak at the transcriptional level, resulting in the release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO from mitochondria to cytosol and, subsequently, the activation of procaspase-9, -3 and PARP, suggesting that TPT-benzimidazolethiol induced-apoptosis signaling is by an intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. Taken together, we propose that TPT-benzimidazolethiol could has the potential to be developed into a new therapeutic agent for treating HPV-associated cervical neoplasia.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2003

Role for complement in development of Helicobacter-induced gastritis in interleukin-10-deficient mice.

The mechanisms by which the immune response can eradicate gastric Helicobacter infection are unknown. We hypothesized that Helicobacter-induced activation of the complement system could promote both inflammation and eradication of Helicobacter from the stomach. In vitro studies demonstrated that Helicobacter felis activates complement in normal mouse serum but not in serum from Rag2(-/-) mice, indicating that H. felis activates complement through the classical pathway. Next, we infected complement-depleted wild-type control and interleukin-10-deficient (IL-10(-/-)) mice with H. felis. Helicobacter infection of wild-type mice elicited a mild, focal gastritis and did not alter serum complement levels. Infection of IL-10(-/-) mice with H. felis elicited severe gastritis. After the initial colonization, the IL-10(-/-) mice completely cleared Helicobacter from the stomach by day 8. In contrast to wild-type mice, H. felis-infected IL-10(-/-) mice had a marked increase in serum complement levels. Complement depletion of wild-type mice did not affect the intensity of gastric inflammation or the extent of Helicobacter colonization compared to that for the wild-type control mice. In contrast, complement depletion of Helicobacter-infected IL-10(-/-) mice decreased the severity of gastritis, decreased the Helicobacter-induced infiltration of neutrophils into the stomach, and delayed the clearance of bacteria. In vitro studies of stimulated splenocytes and neutrophils from IL-10(-/-) mice produced a twofold increase in complement production compared to that for wild-type mice. Pretreatment with IL-10 inhibited this increase. These studies identify a role for complement in the local immune response to gastric Helicobacter in IL-10(-/-) mice and suggest a role for IL-10 in the regulation of complement production.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Gadodiamide administration causes spurious hypocalcemia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of spurious hypocalcemia after gadodiamide-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight hundred ninety-six inpatients with available serum calcium data obtained before and after gadodiamide-enhanced MR imaging were identified. Changes in serum calcium measurements following gadodiamide administration in 1,049 MR imaging examinations performed in these patients were correlated with gadodiamide dose, renal function, and time between gadodiamide administration and phlebotomy. RESULTS: Following 42 gadodiamide-enhanced examinations, serum calcium measurements spuriously decreased by more than 2 mg/dL (0.5 mmol/L), resulting in laboratory reports of "critical" hypocalcemia (ie, calcium level < 6 mg/dL [1.5 mmol/L]) in 25 examinations. These reduced calcium measurements were correlated with serum creatinine level (r = 0.39, P <.001), gadodiamide dose (r = 0.37, P <.001), and time between gadodiamide injection and phlebotomy (r = -0.28, P <.001). Spurious reductions in calcium measurements after administration of 0.1 mmol of gadodiamide per kilogram of body weight were greater in patients with renal insufficiency (0.6 mg/dL [0.15 mmol/L] +/- 0.5 [0.125, SD]) than in those with normal renal function (0.14 mg/dL [0.035 mmol/L] +/- 0.4 [0.1]) (P <.001). After administration of more than 0.2 mmol/kg of gadodiamide, spurious calcium measurement decreases were greater in patients with renal insufficiency (2.4 mg/dL [0.6 mmol/L] +/- 3.6 [0.9]) than in those with normal renal function (0.4 mg/dL [0.1 mmol/L] +/- 0.7 [0.175]) (P <.001). Patients with renal insufficiency had spuriously low calcium measurements up to 4(1/2) days after gadodiamide administration. Seven patients were inappropriately treated with intravenous calcium and eleven with oral calcium in response to false-positive laboratory reports of critical hypocalcemia. No patient had characteristic symptoms of hypocalcemia or injuries attributed to the inappropriate medical treatment. CONCLUSION: Gadodiamide administration causes spurious hypocalcemia, particularly at doses of 0.2 mmol/kg or higher and in patients with renal insufficiency.

Calcium↗

PubMed2003

[Study on the application of bio-heat transfer science to the quantitative analysis of tongue inspection].

OBJECTIVE: To research the mechanism of the tongue inspection in traditional Chinese medicine and to study the special relationship between temperature distribution of the tongue and the tongue color. METHODS: The temperature field of human and pig's tongue was measured by infrared thermal vision system and thermal-couple probe. The blood perfusion rates in the human tongue and the pig's tongue were obtained with laser Doppler rheometer and CBI-8000 physiology research system. The temperature field of the profile of tongue was computed by numerical method. RESULTS: The quantitative curve of the temperature distribution on the surface of tongue and the relationship between temperature and blood perfusion rate were obtained. And the temperature in the profile of tongue was obtained by finite element method. CONCLUSION: The research involves that the different tongue color can reflect different tongue temperature and blood perfusion rate. This proved that it is acceptable to apply the bio-heat transfer theory to the tongue inspection research. The results provided a new method to research the tongue inspection in traditional Chinese medicine.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Effect of body mass index on adenocarcinoma of gastric cardia.

AIM: Obesity has been proved as one of the main risk factors for gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) in the West. The objective of our research was to evaluate the relationship between obesity and the risk of GCA in people from North China. METHODS: A total of 300 patients who had been diagnosed as GCA and had accepted surgical operation at Beijing Cancer Hospital from 1995 to 2002 were enrolled. Data were collected from pathology materials and hospital records. Two hundred and fifty-eight healthy people who had accepted health examination at the same hospital during the same period were enrolled as controls. Height, weight and gender of them at the time of examination were also collected. Obesity was estimated by body mass index (BMI), computed as weight in kilograms per square surface area (Kg/m2). The degree of obesity was determined by using BMI< or =18.5, 24-27.9 and > or =28 (Kg/m2) as the cut-off points for underweight/normal, overweight and obesity, respectively. Associations with obesity were estimated by odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). All ORs were adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: The mean level of BMI was significantly lower in the patient group than that in the control group. The ORs for obesity in age groups 30-59 and 60-79 were 1.15 (95% CI=0.37-3.65) and 0.16 (95% CI=0.05-0.44) for males and 0.78 (95% CI=0.26-2.36) and 0.28 (95% CI=0.04-2.05) for females, respectively. The ORs for underweight were 2.42 (95% CI=0.56-10.53) and 4.68 (95% CI=1.13-19.40) for males in age subgroups 30-59 and 60-79 and 40.7 (95% CI=9.32-177.92) for females older than 60 yrs. BMI was significantly associated with GCA (P<0.01). Underweight people were at high risk for GCA. CONCLUSION: BMI is an independent risk factor for GCA. Underweight is positively associated with GCA.

Adenocarcinoma↗