• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6327-6330
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• 2015

Background: Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive and malignant brain tumor. Risk factors are largely unknown however, although several biomarkers have been identified which may support development, angiogenesis and invasion of tumor cells. One of these biomarkers is PAI-1.4G/5G and A-844G are two common polymorphisms in the gene promotor of PAI 1 that may be related to high transcription and expression of this gene. Studies have shown that the prevalence of the 4G and 844G allele is significantly higher in patients with some cancers and genetic disorders. Materials and Methods: We here assessed the association of 4G/5G and A-844G polymorphisms with glioblastoma cancer risk in Iranians in a case-control study. All 71 patients with clinically confirmed and 140 volunteers with no history and symptoms of glioblastoma as control group were screened for 4G/5G and A-844G polymorphisms of PAI-1, using ARMS-PCR. Genotype and allele frequencies of case and control groups were analyzed using the DeFinetti program. Results: Our results showed significant associations between 4G/5G (p=0.01824) and A-844G (p = 0.02012) polymorphisms of the PAI-1 gene with glioblastoma cancer risk in our Iranian population. Conclusions: The results of this study supporting an association of the PAI-1 4G/5G (p=0.01824) and A-844G (p = 0.02012) polymorphisms with increasing glioblastoma cancer risk in Iranian patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1355-1360
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• 2012

Background: The cell cycle checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK2) gene I157T variant may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, but it is unclear whether the evidence is sufficient to recommend testing for the mutation in clinical practice. Materials and Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Elsevier and Springer for relevant articles published before Nov 2011. Summary odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) incidence rates were calculated using a random-effects model with STATA (version 10.0) software. Results: A total of fifteen case-control studies, including 19,621 cases and 27,001 controls based on the search criteria, were included for analysis. A significant association was found between carrying the CHEK2 I157T variant and increased risk of unselected breast cancer (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.31-1.66, P < 0.0001), familial breast cancer (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.16-1.89, P < 0.0001), and early-onset breast cancer (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.29-1.66, P < 0.0001). We found an even stronger significant association between the CHEK2 I157T C variant and increased risk of lobular type breast tumors (OR = 4.17, 95% CI = 2.89-6.03, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Our research indicates that the CHEK2 I157T variant may be another important genetic mutation which increases risk of breast cancer, especially the lobular type.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1795-1801
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• 2018

Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) have been used to identify susceptibility genes for complex human diseases and many recent studies succeed to report common genetic factors for various diseases. Unfortunately, it is hard to understand all biological functions and mechanisms around the complex disease with GWAS only although the number of known associated genes with diseases is increased drastically because GWAS is a single locus based approach while not a gene but numerous factors may affect a disease associated pathways. PRaDA generates a combined report with genes, pathways and Gene Ontology (GO) using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis output. The PRaDA reports not only directly associated pathways but also functionally related ones for identifying accumulated effects of low p-value SNPs. Through integrated information including indirect functional effects, user could have insights of overall disease mechanisms and markers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5195-5201
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• 2016

Background: Brain tumors, constituting one of the most deadly forms of cancer worldwide, result from the accumulation of multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations in genes and signaling pathways. Isocitrate dehydrogenase enzyme isoform 1 (IDH1) mutations are frequently identified in primary brain tumors and acute myeloid leukemia. Studies on IDH1 gene mutations have been extensively performed in various populations worldwide but not in Malaysia. This work was conducted to study the prevalence of IDH1 c.395G>A (R132H) hotspot mutations in a group of Malaysian patients with brain tumors in order to gain local data for the IDH1 mutation profile in our population. Methods: Mutation analysis of c.395G>A (R132H) of IDH1 was performed in 40 brain tumor specimens by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP) and then verified by direct sequencing. Associations between the IDH1 c.395G>A (R132H) mutation and clinicopathologic characteristics were also analyzed. Results: The IDH1 c.395G>A (R132H) mutation was detected in 14/40 patients (35%). A significant association was found with histological tumor types, but not with age, gender and race. Conclusions: IDH1 is frequently mutated and associated with histological subtypes in Malay brain tumors.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.534-540
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• 2006

Recent studies have shown that environmental, biochemical, nutritional or genetic factors affect bone mineral density (BMD). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gentotype and nutritional status on BMD of elderly women living in a rural area. Three hundred thirty five elderly women over 65 years in Asan participated the study. Data for demographic and nutrient intakes were obtained by survey with a two day 24 hr recall method. BMD was measured by broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) using quantitative ultrasound (QUS). VDR genotypes of the subjects analyzed with Bsm I restriction enzyme were bb (92%), Bb (7%) and BB (1%). No differences were found between genotypes bb and Bb/BB in age, menopausal age, body mass index and body fat. BUA of bb genotype was higher (62.5 $\pm$ 15.6 dB/MHz) than Bb/BB genotype (56.1 $\pm$ 17.6 dB/MHz) by Student's t-tests. Correlation analyses showed strong negative correlation of BMD and age, but positive correlation with BMI, energy and calcium intake. When subgroup analyses were conducted after stratification by the median calcium intake level (412.9 mg/d), the above median calcium intake group showed significant difference in BUA by VDR genotype while the lower median calcium intake group did not show significant difference. The current study confirmed interaction of calcium intake and VDR genotype in association with BMD. Further nutritional intervention will be needed to improve calcium status of the elderly women living in rural areas.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5037-5041
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• 2013

Accumulated evidence has indicated that Ephrin A1 (EFNA1) is associated with angiogenesis and tumorigenesis in various types of malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC). In the current study, we performed an online search using the public microarray database to investigate whether EFNA1 expression might be altered in CRC tissues. We then conducted a case-control study including 306 subjects (102 cases and 204 well-matched controls) in Xiaoshan County to assess any association between genetic polymorphisms in EFNA1 and CRC susceptibility. Searches in the Oncomine expression profiling database revealed EFNA1 to be overexpressed in CRC tissue compared with adjacent normal tissue. The rs12904 G-A variant located in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of EFNA1 was observed to be associated with CRC susceptibility. Compared with the AA homozygous genotype, those carrying GA genotype had a decreased risk of developing CRC (odds ratio (OR)=0.469, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.225-0.977, and P=0.043). The association was stronger among smokers and tea drinkers, however, no statistical evidence of interaction between rs12904 polymorphism and smoking or tea drinking on CRC risk was found. Our results suggest that EFNA1 is involved in colorectal tumorigenesis, and rs12904 A>G polymorphism in the 3' UTR of EFNA1 is associated with CRC susceptibility. Larger studies and further mechanistic investigations are warranted to confirm our findings.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.509-513
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• 2013

We identified molecular markers associated with meat-quality traits in the porcine RPL27A (ribosomal protein L27a) gene. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were discovered in the porcine RPL27A gene: g.920T>C, g.1013T>C, and g.1046T>C. The g.920 T>C SNP was significantly associated with pH24 (P < 0.05) and collagen (P < 0.05), while the g.1013T>C and g.1046T>C SNPs were significantly associated with moisture (P < 0.05). Either the TTT or CCC haplotype was significantly associated with moisture, pH24 and collagen (P < 0.05, respectively). The genotypes of RPL27A associated with meat-quality traits were all located in intron 2. The three SNPs of the RPL27A found in this study will provide useful information for genetic characterization or association studies of meat-quality traits in other populations. Additionally, these markers could potentially be applied in pig breeding programs to improve meat-quality traits after validation in other populations.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.467-472
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• 2014

Obesity is known to be strongly associated with cardiovascular disease and cancer, the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and develops owing to interactions between genes and the environment. DNA methylation can act as a downstream effector of environmental signals, and analysis of this process therefore holds substantial promise for identifying mechanisms through which genetic and environmental factors jointly contribute to disease risk. Global DNA methylation of peripheral blood cells has recently been proposed as a potential biomarker for disease risk. Repetitive element DNA methylation has been shown to be associated with prominent obesity-related chronic diseases, but little is known about its relationship with weight status. In this study, we quantified the methylation of Alu elements in the peripheral blood DNA of 244 healthy women with a range of body mass indexes (BMIs) using pyrosequencing technology. Among the study participants, certain clinical laboratory parameters, including hemoglobin, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic- pyruvic transaminase, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were found to be strongly associated with BMI. Moreover, a U-shaped association between BMI and Alu methylation was observed, with the lowest methylation levels occurring at BMIs of between 23 and $30kg/m^2$. However, there was no significant association between Alu methylation and age, smoking status, or alcohol consumption. Overall, we identified a differential influence of BMI on global DNA methylation in healthy Korean women, indicating that BMI-related changes in Alu methylation might play a complex role in the etiology and pathogenesis of obesity. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this relationship.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.181-186
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• 2014

Genome-wide association studies have proven the highly polygenic architecture of complex diseases or traits; therefore, single-locus-based methods are usually unable to detect all involved loci, especially when individual loci exert small effects. Moreover, the majority of associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms resides in non-coding regions, making it difficult to understand their phenotypic contribution. In this work, we studied epistatic interactions associated with three common diseases using Korea Association Resource (KARE) data: type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HT), and coronary artery disease (CAD). We showed that epistatic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were enriched in enhancers, as well as in DNase I footprints (the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements [ENCODE] Project Consortium 2012), which suggested that the disruption of the regulatory regions where transcription factors bind may be involved in the disease mechanism. Accordingly, to identify the genes affected by the SNPs, we employed whole-genome multiple-cell-type enhancer data which discovered using DNase I profiles and Cap Analysis Gene Expression (CAGE). Assigned genes were significantly enriched in known disease associated gene sets, which were explored based on the literature, suggesting that this approach is useful for detecting relevant affected genes. In our knowledge-based epistatic network, the three diseases share many associated genes and are also closely related with each other through many epistatic interactions. These findings elucidate the genetic basis of the close relationship between DM, HT, and CAD.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.447-459
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• 2016

Many studies have been conducted to understand plant stress responses to salinity because irrigation-dependent salt accumulation compromises crop productivity and also to understand the mechanism through which some plants thrive under saline conditions. As mechanistic understanding has increased during the last decades, discovery-oriented approaches have begun to identify genetic determinants of salt tolerance. In addition to osmolytes, osmoprotectants, radical detoxification, ion transport systems, and changes in hormone levels and hormone-guided communications, the Salt Overly Sensitive (SOS) pathway has emerged to be a major defense mechanism. However, the mechanism by which the components of the SOS pathway are integrated to ultimately orchestrate plant-wide tolerance to salinity stress remains unclear. A higher-level control mechanism has recently emerged as a result of recognizing the involvement of GIGANTEA (GI), a protein involved in maintaining the plant circadian clock and control switch in flowering. The loss of GI function confers high tolerance to salt stress via its interaction with the components of the SOS pathway. The mechanism underlying this observation indicates the association between GI and the SOS pathway and thus, given the key influence of the circadian clock and the pathway on photoperiodic flowering, the association between GI and SOS can regulate growth and stress tolerance. In this review, we will analyze the components of the SOS pathways, with emphasis on the integration of components recognized as hallmarks of a halophytic lifestyle.