Association of obesity and diabetes with serum prostate-specific antigen levels in Japanese males.

Patients with diabetes have been reported to be at an increased risk for cancers of the pancreas, liver, and colon; however, recent studies have suggested that men with diabetes are at a decreased risk for prostate cancer. Previous studies have found that obese men have lower serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentrations than do non-obese men. Further understanding of how obesity and diabetes affect the PSA concentration may improve our ability to detect clinically relevant prostate tumors.

Profile of participants and genotype distributions of 108 polymorphisms in a cross-sectional study of associations of genotypes with lifestyle and clinical factors: a project in the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Study.

Background: Most diseases are thought to arise from interactions between environmental factors and the host genotype. To detect gene-environment interactions in the development of lifestyle-related diseases, and especially cancer, the Japan Multi-institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Study was launched in 2005.

Methods: We initiated a cross-sectional study to examine associations of genotypes with lifestyle and clinical factors, as assessed by questionnaires and medical examinations.

Common defects of ABCG2, a high-capacity urate exporter, cause gout: a function-based genetic analysis in a Japanese population.

Gout based on hyperuricemia is a common disease with a genetic predisposition, which causes acute arthritis. The ABCG2/BCRP gene, located in a gout-susceptibility locus on chromosome 4q, has been identified by recent genome-wide association studies of serum uric acid concentrations and gout. Urate transport assays demonstrated that ABCG2 is a high-capacity urate secretion transporter.

Baseline data of Shizuoka area in the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study (J-MICC Study).

The Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Study launched in 2005 by ten research groups throughout Japan aimed to examine gene-environment interactions in lifestyle-related diseases, especially cancers. This paper describes one component of the J-MICC Study, named Shizuoka Study, in which visitors aged 35 to 69 years to the Seirei Preventive Health Care Center in Hamamatsu were enrolled. Among 13,740 visitors matching eligibility criteria, 5,040 persons (36.

KLOTHO gene polymorphisms G-395A and C1818T are associated with lipid and glucose metabolism, bone mineral density and systolic blood pressure in Japanese healthy subjects.

Background: We investigated the association of KLOTHO gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with various laboratory data in 476 Japanese healthy subjects.

Methods: The genotyping of G-395A in the promoter region and C1818T in exon 4 was performed using PCR with confronting 2-pair primers assay.

Results: Multivariate analysis adjusted for age demonstrated that in men, body-fat ratio was high, and HDL cholesterol level was low in A allele carriers of G-395A compared with GG.

Controls for monitoring the deterioration of stored blood samples in the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study (J-MICC Study).

Cohort studies commonly store blood samples to measure the associations of biomarkers with disease risks for a long time after the study subjects are enrolled. To obtain valid measurements of the stored samples, monitoring their degree of deterioration is essential. The first stage of the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Study launched in 2005 included a project to validate the quality of stored blood samples.

Metabolic syndrome defined by new criteria in Japanese is associated with increased liver enzymes and C-reactive protein.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by the presence of atherogenic risk factors, and is associated with a marked increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease. Recently, the criteria of MetS were newly defined in Japan. We examined the relationship between MetS and the various metabolic parameters in Japanese subjects.

Smoking and serum CA19-9 levels according to Lewis and secretor genotypes.

CA19-9, a marker for cancers of biliary tract, pancreas and colorectum, is not synthesized in those with no enzyme activity genotype (le/le) of Lewis (Le) gene. No enzyme activity genotype (se/se) of secretor (Se) gene is known to have an association with high serum CA19-9 levels. There are also variations in serum CA19-9 levels independent of the genotypes.

Associations between a PTPN11 polymorphism and gastric atrophy--opposite in Uzbekistan to that in Japan.

Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP-2) of gastric epithelial cells interacts with cagA from Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Our previous studies found the AA genotype of a G/A single nucleotide polymorphism at intron 3 (rs2301756) of PTPN11 gene, which encodes SHP-2, to be associated with a lower risk of gastric atrophy.

Significant association between Helicobacter pylori infection and serum C-reactive protein.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in gastric mucosa may cause systemic inflammatory reaction. This study aimed to examine the association between the infection and serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).

Modification of the effect of smoking on cholesterol in Japanese carriers of a PTPN11 polymorphism.

A widely-expressed protein tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2, regulates apoB secretion by insulin. We hypothesised that a variation in the SHP-2 gene, PTPN11, may interact with smoking to influence serum lipid concentrations. The study comprised 794 subjects (278 males and 516 females), aged 39-88 years, who attended a health examination in Hokkaido, Japan in 2003.

Serum folate and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism adjusted for folate intake.

Background: Serum folate concentration is lower in individuals with the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677TT genotype than in those with the MTHFR 677CC or 677CT genotypes. Since studies considering folate intake are limited, we examined the association between folate intake and serum folate levels, according to the genotype.

Methods: The subjects comprised 170 Japanese persons (74 males and 96 females) aged 20-75 years who visited a clinic to test for Helicobacter pylori infection.

Active smoking, passive smoking, and breast cancer risk: findings from the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk.

Background: Evidence is lacking regarding the relationship between cigarette smoking and breast cancer in Japanese women. We examined the association between breast cancer incidence and active and passive smoking in the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk.

Methods: Our study comprised 34,401 women aged 40-79 years who had not been diagnosed previously with breast cancer and who provided information on smoking status at baseline (1988-1990).

Association between decreased kidney function and endotoxin receptor CD14 C-159T polymorphism among Japanese health check-up examinees.

Background: A recently identified promoter polymorphism of the endotoxin receptor (CD14 C-159T) was shown to be associated with atherosclerotic diseases such as myocardial infarction. This study was conducted to determine whether this polymorphism is associated with decreased kidney function.

Methods: A total of 281 male and 522 female health check-up examinees, aged 39-88 years, were genotyped for CD14 C-159T.

Consumption of soy foods and the risk of breast cancer: findings from the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study.

Objective: The association between a lower incidence of breast cancer within the Asian population and the consumption of a diet high in soy has recently been the subject of much attention. To examine whether soy foods really have protective effects against breast cancer and how their influence on breast cancer is modified according to menopausal status, we conducted a population-based, prospective cohort study in Japan.

Methods: We analyzed the data from the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study.

Elevated C-reactive protein levels in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between systemic C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and advanced neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Japanese patients.

Design: Case-control study.

Participants: Ninety-seven patients with PCV, 176 with advanced neovascular AMD, and 262 control subjects without any macular abnormality were studied.

No associations of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric atrophy with plasma total homocysteine in Japanese.

Recent studies have suggested that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection might be a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Since the bacterium has not been isolated from atherosclerotic lesions, a direct role in atherogenesis is not plausible.

No association between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) A317G polymorphism, and no modification by NAD(P)H:qinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) C609T.

Our previous epidemiologic study reported that NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) 609C/C with full enzyme activity was a high risk genotype for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) seropositivity. Since NQO1 stabilizes ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which attenuates the innate immune response through elevated polyamines, ODC functional polymorphisms may also influence H.

Psychological attitudes and risk of breast cancer in Japan: a prospective study.

Objective: To examine the association between psychological factors and the risk of breast cancer prospectively in a non-Western population.

Methods: Data from the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) study were analyzed. From 1988 to 1990, 34,497 women aged 40-79 years completed a questionnaire on medical, lifestyle and psychosocial factors.

Significant association between PTPN11 polymorphism and gastric atrophy among Japanese Brazilians.

Background: Helicobacter pylori, especially the cytotoxin-associated antigen A (cagA)-positive strains, plays a crucial role in the development of gastric atrophy and gastric cancer. CagA delivered into gastric epithelial cells combines with src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP-2), possibly leading to atrophy/cancer. Our previous study found that a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; IMS-JST057927) of the PTPN11 gene encoding SHP-2, was associated with gastric atrophy among H.

Grb2-associated binder 1 polymorphism was associated with the risk of Helicobactor pylori infection and gastric atrophy.

Background: Various single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have explained the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and gastric atrophy and cancer. This study investigated the associations of Grb2 associated binder 1 (Gab1) polymorphism and the combination of PTPN11 gene encoding src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP2) and Gab1 gene with gastric cancer and gastric atrophy among H.

Alternative genotyping method of GSTT1 null/present polymorphism.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) theta is an enzyme to detoxify xenobiotic compounds. The gene GSTT1 has a null/present polymorphism in one of the targets for cancer susceptibility research. The polymorphism is classified into two types: present type with at least one present allele (heterozygote and homozygote) and null type without a present allele.

Eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori according to genotypes of CYP2C19, IL-1B, and TNF-A.

Background: Lansoprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin are commonly used drugs for eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). A few studies reported that the eradication rate was influenced by the functional polymorphism of CYP2C19, whose product metabolizes proton pomp inhibitors including lansoprazole.

The ACE gene polymorphism is associated with the incidence of gastric cancer among H. pylori seropositive subjects with atrophic gastritis.

Studies of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphism have provided evidence that the D/D genotype is associated with gastric tumor progression and numbers of lymph node metastases, but not with the overall risk of gastric cancer. The highest levels of circulating and tissue ACE activity were found in carriers of the D/D genotype. Here, we further investigated the association using 454 Japanese subjects undergoing a health checkup and 202 gastric cancer patients.

Multiplex PCR with confronting two-pair primers for CYP1A1 Ile462Val, GSTM1, GSTT1, and NQO1 C609T.

Polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers (PCR-CTPP) is an effective genotyping method for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in aspects of reducing time and costs for analysis. So far we have established PCR-CTPP conditions for tens of SNPs, including a triplex genotyping (Kawase et al., 2003).