OCA2 rs4778137 polymorphism predicts survival of breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: Genome-wide association study (GWAS) studies have showed that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in OCA2 gene were associated with the survival of breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. To further explain the association between OCA2 SNPs and breast cancer survival, we investigated the predictive value of rs4778137 located in OCA2 in local advanced breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: A case-cohort with 150 breast cancer patients was performed to evaluate the effects of the OCA2 rs4778137 on breast cancer survival.

[Effects of stable isotope labeled internal standard on determination of ivabradine and N-demethylivabradine in human plasma].

This study aims to develop a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of ivabradine and N-demethylivabradine in human plasma, and investigate effects of stable isotope labeled (SIL) internal standard (IS) on ivabradine. The analytes and IS were extracted from plasma by protein precipitation with acetonitrile, and chromatographied on a Capcell PAK C18 (100 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column using a mobile phase of methanol and 5 mmol x L(-1) ammonium acetate.

Association of plasma visfatin levels with inflammation, atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in humans.

Objectives: Visfatin is a new cytokine that act as an insulin analogue on the insulin receptor and may link obesity and insulin resistance. It was recently shown that visfatin plays a role in plaque destabilization. However, the role of visfatin in atherosclerosis remains to be elucidated.