Association of Genotypes With Lung Cancer Risk in Taiwan.

Background/aim: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression is upregulated in various diseases, including lung cancer. However, the role of MMP-9 genotype in lung cancer susceptibility remains uncertain. This study aimed to clarify the contribution of MMP-9 promoter rs3918242 genotypes to the risk of lung cancer in Taiwan.

The Contribution of Double-strand Break Repair Radiation Sensitive Protein 51 Genotypes to Lung Cancer in Taiwan.

Background/aim: Numerous studies have reported the over-expression of the radiation-sensitive protein 51 (RAD51) in various types of cancer. However, the role of RAD51 genotypes in lung cancer remains largely unknown. This study aimed to assess the impact of the common variant RAD51 rs1801320 (G-135C) genotypes on the risk of lung cancer in Taiwan.

The Contribution of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 Genotypes to Breast Cancer Risk in Taiwan.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) is an endogenous inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and is highly expressed in breast cancer (BC) cases at diagnosis. However, the genetic investigations for the association of genotypes with BC risk are rather limited. In this study, contribution of rs8179090, rs4789936, rs2009196 and rs7342880 genotypes to BC risk was examined among Taiwan's BC population.

Association of Promoter Polymorphisms With Asthma Risk.

Background/aim: Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression has been documented as an influential contributor to the intricate milieu of allergic airway inflammation, tissue remodeling, and the exacerbation of asthma's severity. However, the genetic role underlying MMP-1 in the context of asthma has remained enigmatic, with its full implications yet to be unveiled. Considering this, our research was designed to investigate the association of MMP-1 -1607 rs1799750 and the propensity for asthma severity.

The Contribution of DNA Ligase 4 Genetic Variations to Taiwanese Lung Cancer.

Background/aim: Impaired non-homologous end-joining DNA repair capacity may have a significant role in maintaining genome integrity and triggering carcinogenesis. However, the specific impact of DNA ligase 4 (Lig4) genotypes remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the contribution of Lig4 genotypes to the risk of developing lung cancer.

Significant Contribution of Interleukin-18 Genotypes to Lung Cancer Risk in Taiwanese.

Background/aim: The elevated expression of interleukin-18 (IL-18) among lung cancer patients raised our curiosity to examine the role of IL-18 genotypes in lung cancer.

Materials And Methods: IL-18 -656 (rs1946519), -607 (rs1946518), and -137 (rs187238) genotypes of 358 lung cancer cases and 716 controls were determined via the PCR-RFLP methodology.

Results: The distributions of genotypic and allelic frequencies of IL-18 -607, but not those of -656 or -137, were differentially distributed between cases and controls.

Significant Association of Cyclin D1 Promoter Genotypes With Asthma Susceptibility in Taiwan.

Background/aim: The molecular mechanisms underlying the association between cell cycle and asthma are poorly understood, and cyclin D1 (CCND1) is found to be upregulated in asthma airway smooth muscle. We investigated whether the most frequently examined functional variants in CCND1 determine asthma susceptibility.

Materials And Methods: We genotyped 651 participants for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at rs9344 and rs678653 on CCND1 and assessed the association of these SNPs with asthma risk.

Significant Association of MMP2 Promoter Genotypes to Asthma Susceptibility in Taiwan.

Background/aim: Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) is reported to be overexpressed in asthma; however, its genotypic contribution to asthma is not well studied. Therefore, we examined the association of MMP2 genotypes with asthma risk among Taiwanese.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and ninety-eight asthma patients and 453 non-asthmatic subjects were determined with respect to their MMP2 -1306 (rs243845) and -735 (rs2285053) genotypes.

Photocatalytic Properties of Graphene/Gold and Graphene Oxide/Gold Nanocomposites Synthesized by Pulsed Laser Induced Photolysis.

Graphene (Gr)/gold (Au) and graphene-oxide (GO)/Au nanocomposites (NCPs) were synthesized by performing pulsed-laser-induced photolysis (PLIP) on hydrogen peroxide and chloroauric acid (HAuCl) that coexisted with Gr or GO in an aqueous solution. A 3-month-long aqueous solution stability was observed in the NCPs synthesized without using surfactants and additional processing. The synthesized NCPs were characterized using absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction to prove the existence of hybrid Gr/Au or GO/Au NCPs.

The Significant Interaction of Excision Repair Cross-complementing Group 1 Genotypes and Smoking to Lung Cancer Risk.

Background: The study aims to evaluate the contribution of excision repair cross-complementing group 1 (ERCC1), which plays an important role in genome integrity maintenance, to lung cancer risk.

Materials And Methods: ERCC1 rs11615 and rs3212986 genotypes were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and their association with lung cancer risk was examined among 358 lung cancer patients and 716 controls.

Results: The proportions of CC, CT and TT for the rs11615 genotype were 43.

CHA2DS2-VASc scores predict major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Introduction: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently experience concurrent comorbidities; therefore, risk assessment for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) is very important.

Objectives: We explored the association between COPD and risk of MACEs with three common clinical events: acute myocardial infarction (AMI), ischemic stroke (IS), and cardiovascular death (CVD).

Methods: We evaluated the predictive value of the CHA2DS2-VASc score (congestive heart failure [C], hypertension [H], age [A], diabetes [D], stroke [S], and vascular disease [VASc]) for MACEs in COPD patients.

Diagnostic pitfalls of discriminating lymphoma-associated effusions.

High serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, immunologic defects, enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes, and frequent hydration and diuresis in lymphoma patients may affect the development of pleural effusion (PE). The study was to assess the clinical utility of "Light criteria" and the "recommended algorithm for investigating PEs" in patients with lymphoma.The characteristics of 126 PEs of lymphoma patients who underwent diagnostic thoracentesis between January 1, 2003, and April 30, 2012, were reviewed.