Xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C protein (XPC) expression in basal cell carcinoma.

Background: The Xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C protein (XPC) is a general sensor of damaged DNA. Individuals carrying a mutation in XPC genes exhibit marked photosensitivity and increased occurrence of skin cancers. Little is known about the distribution of XPC protein in basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Multidrug resistance 1 gene variants, pesticide exposure, and increased risk of DNA damage.

The P-glycoprotein, encoded by the multidrug resistance (MDR)1 gene, extrudes fat-soluble compounds to the extracellular environment. However, the DNA damage of pesticides in subjects with genetic variation in MDR1 has not been investigated. In this study, the comet assay was applied to examine the extent of DNA damage in the peripheral blood of 195 fruit growers who had been exposed to pesticides and 141 unexposed controls.

Higher expression of whole blood microRNA-21 in patients with ankylosing spondylitis associated with programmed cell death 4 mRNA expression and collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide concentration.

Objective: Bone loss is a recognized feature of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The binding of microRNA-21 (miR-21) to programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) could inhibit the expression of PDCD4 and further induce the activation of osteoclasts. In the present study, we compared the difference in miR-21 expression between patients with AS and healthy controls, and evaluated the relationships of miR-21, PDCD4 mRNA, and bone erosion in patients with AS.

Associations of the PTPN22 and CTLA-4 genetic polymorphisms with Taiwanese ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an autoimmune disease, and the imbalance of peripheral tolerance is involved in its pathogenesis. Importantly, the negative signal of activated T cells plays a crucial role in the balance of peripheral tolerance. It has been postulated that human protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor 22 (PTPN22) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) genes encode proteins that are actively involved in regulating T-cell activation.

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, human E-cadherin C-160A polymorphism, and childhood asthma.

Background: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a risk factor for asthma. Importantly, cigarette smoke can decrease the adherence of epithelial cells and increase detachment. The adhesion molecule E-cadherin (CDH1) has an essential role in the formation of epithelial junction.

Image quality improvement in three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography using the subtraction method for brain and temporal bone diseases.

Background: Time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography is based on flow-related enhancement using the T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo, or the fast low-angle shot gradient echo sequence. However, materials with short T1 relaxation times may show hyperintensity signals and contaminate the TOF images. The objective of our study was to determine whether subtraction three-dimensional (3D) TOF MR angiography improves image quality in brain and temporal bone diseases with unwanted contaminations with short T1 relaxation times.

Association study of polymorphisms rs4552569 and rs17095830 and the risk of ankylosing spondylitis in a Taiwanese population.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammation of the sacroiliac joints, spine and peripheral joints. However, the development of anklosing spondylitis is unclear. Human leukocyte antigens HLA-B27 and ERAP1 have been widely reported to be associated with AS susceptibility.

Genetic polymorphisms of stromal interaction molecule 1 associated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein in HLA-B27 positive ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammation of the sacroiliac joints, spine and peripheral joints. The development of ankylosing spondylitis is still unclear. Genetics factors such as human leukocyte antigen HLA-B27 and ERAP1 have been widely reported to associate to AS susceptibility.

Effects of metallothionein-1 genetic polymorphism and cigarette smoking on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: A low expression of metallothionein (MT) has been observed in liver cancer. Such a phenomenon might be influenced by oxidative stress, thus resulting in the cells being more susceptible to DNA damage and apoptotic death. In particular, oxidative stress induced by cigarette smoking might affect MT-1 expression.

Elevated risk of hypertension induced by arsenic exposure in Taiwanese rural residents: possible effects of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) genes.

Heavy metals, including arsenic and lead, may lead to cellular oxidative damage that is linked to hypertension. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a scavenger of reactive oxygen species, and 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) is the major glycosylase that repairs DNA lesions. Interestingly, whether there is an elevated risk of hypertension with arsenic or lead exposure in individuals with genetic variations in MnSOD or OGG1 has not yet been investigated.

Association of IL-12B genetic polymorphism with the susceptibility and disease severity of ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: Interleukin 23 (IL-23) stimulates the differentiation of T helper 17 (Th17) cells, which are involved in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Binding of IL-23 to the IL-23 receptor complex activates Janus kinases 2 and tyrosine kinase 2, which phosphorylate IL-23R and subsequently promote the transcription of the IL-17 gene. IL-12B encodes a p40 subunit common to IL-12 and IL-23.

Effects of genetic polymorphisms of programmed cell death 1 and its ligands on the development of ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: There is a known association of imbalanced peripheral tolerance and autoimmune diseases. The binding of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) with its ligands 1 and 2 (PD-L1 and PD-L2) inhibits T-cell proliferation through a negative signal via recruitment of src homology 2-domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase 2. Therefore we evaluated the effect of the PD-1, PD-L1 and PD-L2 genotypes on the occurrence of AS in a population of Taiwanese patients.

Association of ORAI1 haplotypes with the risk of HLA-B27 positive ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammation of the sacroiliac joints, spine and peripheral joints. The aetiology of ankylosing spondylitis is still unclear. Previous studies have indicated that genetics factors such as human leukocyte antigen HLA-B27 associates to AS susceptibility.

Osteoprotegerin genetic polymorphisms and age of symptom onset in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: Osteoporosis is one of the recognized features of AS. It is known that RANK ligand (RANKL), which binds to RANK, can cause the activation of bone resorption. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) also competes with RANK by binding to RANKL and inhibiting bone absorption.