• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권19호
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• pp.8035-8040
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• 2014

Gastric cancer is the second after lung cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. Early detection and treatment can lead to a long survival time. Recently microarrays and next generation sequencing (NGS) have become very useful tools of comprehensive research into gastric cancer, facilitating the identification of treatment targets and personalized treatments. However, there are numerous challenges from cancer target discovery to practical clinical benefits. Although there are many biomarkers and target agents, only a minority of patients are tested and treated accordingly. Microarray technology with maturity was established more than 10 years ago, and has been widely used in the study of functional genomics, systems biology, and genomes in medicine. Second generation sequencing technology is more recent, but development is very fast, and it has been applied to the genome, including sequencing and epigenetics and many aspects of functional genomics. Here we review insights gained from these studies regarding the technology of microarray and NGS, how to elucidate the molecular basis of gastric cancer and identify potential therapeutic targets, and how to analyse candidate genes. We also discuss the challenges and future directions of such efforts.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC) is one of the four subtypes of gastric carcinoma (GC), as defined by the novel classification recently proposed by The Cancer Genome Atlas. EBVaGC has several clinicopathological features such as longer survival and higher frequency of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) and carcinoma with Crohn's disease-like lymphoid reaction that distinguish it from EBV-negative GC. The intensity and pattern of host cellular immune response in GC have been found to significantly correlate with the prognosis of patients with GC, suggesting that immune reaction and tumor microenvironment have critical roles in the progression of GC, and in particular, EBVaGC. Here, we reviewed the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying prominent immune reactions in patients with EBVaGC. In EBVaGC, deregulation of the expression of immune response-related genes promotes marked intra-or peritumoral immune cell infiltration. The expression of programmed death receptor-ligand 1 is known to be increased in EBVaGC, and therefore, it has been proposed as a favorable prognostic factor for patients with EBVaGC, albeit some data supporting this claim are controversial. Overall, the underlying mechanisms and clinical significance of the host cellular immune response in patients with EBVaGC have not been thoroughly elucidated. Therefore, further research is necessary to better understand the role of tumor microenvironment in EBVaGC.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.101-102
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• 2010

During the last decade, large community cohorts have been established by the Korea National Institutes of Health (KNIH), and enormous epidemiological and clinical data have been accumulated. Using these information and samples in the cohorts, KNIH set out to do a large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 2007, and the Korea Association REsource (KARE) consortium was launched to analyze the data to identify the underlying genetic risk factors of diseases and diverse health indexes, such as blood pressure, obesity, bone density, and blood biochemical traits. The consortium consisted of 6 research divisions, formed by 25 principal investigators in 19 organizations, including 18 universities, 2 institutes, and 1 company. Each division focused on one of the following subjects: the identification of genetic factors, the statistical analysis of gene-gene interactions, the genetic epidemiology of gene-environment interactions, copy number variation, the bioinformatics related to a GWAS, and a GWAS of nutrigenomics. In this special issue, the study results of the KARE consortium are provided as 9 articles. We hope that this special issue might encourage the genomics community to share data and scientists, including clinicians, to analyze the valuable Korean data of KARE.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권18호
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• pp.8455-8460
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• 2016

Background: Poor participation rates are often observed in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs utilising faecal occult blood tests. This may be from dislike of faecal sampling, or having benign bleeding conditions that can interfere with test results. These barriers may be circumvented by offering a blood-based DNA test for screening. The aim was to determine if program participation could be increased by offering a blood test following faecal immunochemical test (FIT) non-participation. Materials and Methods: People were invited into a CRC screening study through their General Practice and randomised into control or intervention (n=600/group). Both groups were mailed a FIT (matching conventional screening programs). Participation was defined as FIT completion within 12wk. Intervention group non-participants were offered a screening blood test (methylated BCAT1/IKZF1). Overall participation was compared between the groups. Results: After 12wk, FIT participation was 82% and 81% in the control and intervention groups. In the intervention 96 FIT nonparticipants were offered the blood test - 22 completed this test and 19 completed the FIT instead. Total screening in the intervention group was greater than the control (88% vs 82%, p<0.01). Of 12 invitees who indicated that FIT was inappropriate for them (mainly due to bleeding conditions), 10 completed the blood test (83%). Conclusions: Offering a blood test to FIT non-participants increased overall screening participation compared to a conventional FIT program. Blood test participation was particularly high in invitees who considered FIT to be inappropriate for them. A blood test may be a useful adjunct test within a FIT program.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.136-145
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• 2004

Objectives:Genetic variations of the tryptophan hydroxylase(TPH) gene and the serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region(5-HTTLPR) polymorphism have been associated with its functional capacity. The authors investigated whether the allelic constitution of the TPH gene and 5-HTTLPR are associated in Korean panic patients. Methods:244 Korean patients with panic disorder and 227 normal healthy controls were tested for a genetic polymorphism of TPH A218C and 5-HTTLPR polymorphism. To assess the severity of panic disorder during the last one month, anticipatory anxiety, panic difficulty, panic distress, agoraphobic difficulty and agoraphobic distress were measured with visual analogue scale(VAS) score, STAI-S & T, BDI, SCL-90-R, ASI-R, CGI, PDSS, and HAMD. Results:There was no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies of TPH A218C and 5-HTTLPR polymorphism between panic patients and controls. Although we observed some differences in genotype and allele frequencies of TPH A218C polymorphism among male subjects, these differences disappeared after Bonferroni correction. And there were no significant differences in clinical variables. Conclusion:Our results suggested that there are no association between the genetic polymorphism of TPH gene and 5-HTTLPR with panic disorder.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제57권1호
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• pp.55-64
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• 2024

Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of comorbid conditions in patients exposed to ionizing radiation and those who were involved in the Soviet-Afghan war. Methods: This study analyzed the frequency and spectrum of morbidity and comorbidity in patients over a long-term period (30-35 years) following exposure to ionizing radiation at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site or the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, and among participants of the Soviet-Afghan war. A cohort study, both prospective and retrospective, was conducted on 675 patients who underwent comprehensive examinations. Results: Numerical data were analyzed using the Statistica 6 program. The results are presented as the mean±standard deviation, median, and interquartile range (25-75th percentiles). The statistical significance of between-group differences was assessed using the Student t-test and Pearson chi-square test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. We found a high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension (55.0%) and cardiac ischemia (32.9%); these rates exceeded the average for this age group in the general population. Conclusions: The cumulative impact of causal occupational, environmental, and ultra-high stress factors in the combat zone in participants of the Soviet-Afghan war, along with common conventional factors, contributed to the formation of a specific comorbidity structure. This necessitates a rational approach to identifying early predictors of cardiovascular events and central nervous system disorders, as well as pathognomonic clinical symptoms in this patient cohort. It also underscores the importance of selecting suitable methods and strategies for implementing treatment and prevention measures.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.85-91
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• 2015

Purpose: Noninvasive prenatal test (NIPT) by massively parallel sequencing (MPS) of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma marks a significant advancement in prenatal screening, minimizing the need for invasive testing of fetal chromosomal aneuploidies. Here, we report the initial clinical performance of NIPT in Korean pregnant women. Materials and Methods: MPS-based NIPT was performed on 910 cases; 5 mL blood samples were collected and sequenced in the Shenzhen BGI Genomic Laboratory to identify aneuploidies. The risk of fetal aneuploidy was determined by L-score and t-score, and classified as high or low. The NIPT results were validated by karyotyping for the high-risk cases and neonatal follow-up for low-risk cases. Results: NIPT was mainly requested for two clinical indications: abnormal biochemical serum-screening result (54.3%) and advanced maternal age (31.4%). Among 494 cases with abnormal biochemical serum-screening results, NIPT detected only 9 (1.8%) high-risk cases. Sixteen cases (1.8%) of 910 had a high risk for aneuploidy: 8 for trisomy 21, 2 for trisomy 18, 1 for trisomy 13, and 5 for sex chromosome abnormalities. Amniocentesis was performed for 7 of these cases (43.8%). In the karyotyping and neonatal data, no false positive or negative results were observed in our study. Conclusion: MPS-based NIPT detects fetal chromosomal aneuploidies with high accuracy. Introduction of NIPT as into clinical settings could prevent about 98% of unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.61-61
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• 2006

목 적: 본 연구는 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T와 A1298C) 유전자 돌연변이형이 자연유산아 발생의 원인 유전자로 작용하는지에 대해 알아보고자 시도하였다. 연구방법: 95명의 자연유산아 조직과 대조군으로 100명의 정상 소아의 혈액 그리고 449명의 정상 성인의 혈액을 채취하여 DNA를 분리하여 사용하였다. 유전자형은 분리된 DNA를 이용하여 중합효소 연쇄반응과 제한효소 절편다형 분석방법으로 결정하였다. 결 과: 자연유산아 그룹은 소아대조군에서 보다 MTHFR 677CC 형 (p=0.014)은 높게, 677CT형 (p=0.063)은 낮게 나타났다. 성인대조군과의 비교에서도 MTHFR 677CT 형의 빈도는 현저히 낮게 나타났다 (p=0.032). 그리고 MTHFR 677CC/1298AC 조합형 유전자의 경우 소아대조군 (p=0.034)과의 비교에서는 현저히 높은 빈도를 나타냈으나, 성인대조군 (p=0.063)과의 비교에서는 높은 경향성은 있었으나 통계학적으로 유의한 차이는 없었다. 결 론: MTHFR 677CC와 MTHFR 677CC/1298AC 유전자형은 자연유산아 발생의 위험인자일 가능성이 높으며, 지속적인 연구가 요구된다.

• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.10-12
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• 2020

Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS) is a genetic disorder characterized by intellectual disability, typical facial features, and skeletal abnormalities. But this syndrome shows highly variable clinical manifestations, and can't be diagnosed with conventional chromosome analysis or comparative genomic hybridization, leading to delayed diagnosis. Here we report an 18-year-old boy with CLS diagnosed by whole exome sequencing. Our patient initially presented with developmental delay, facial dysmorphism at the age of 1. At the age of 18, he developed orthopnea due to mitral regurgitation. At the 22 years of age, he was diagnosed as CLS diagnosed by whole exome sequencing. Our case implies that clinical suspicion is important for early diagnosis, and advanced diagnostic tools such as WES should be considered in suspected cases.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.11-15
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• 2014

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system characterized by a decreased response to hypercarbia. CCHS is frequently associated with congenital megacolon; the combination is called Haddad syndrome. CCHS is associated with dysfunction in respiratory features of the autonomic nervous system and with other disorders, including facial deformities, cardiovascular symptoms, and tumors. Patients with CCHS frequently have a mutation in the homeobox protein 2b (PHOX2B) gene. Most mutations involve heterozygous expansion of alanine repeats (GCN). Interestingly, a higher polyalanine repeat number is associated with a more severe clinical phenotype. To clarify the role of PHOX2B in disease pathogenesis, we introduce and review the clinical and molecular features of CCHS and Haddad syndrome.