Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody in HIV/AIDS-infected individuals in Maputo, Mozambique.

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in patients infected with HIV/AIDS and the association of demographic and social variables.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study that included the analysis of sociodemographic data and laboratory findings of 200 patients infected with HIV/AIDS treated in a laboratory unit in Maputo, Mozambique, in 2010. Individual data for all participants were collected with a self-administered questionnaire.

Factors associated with serum CA19-9 levels among healthy children: a cross-sectional study.

Background: CA19-9 is a tumor marker mainly used for biliary tract, pancreas and colorectum. Since the marker applies usually for adults, the normal range of serum CA19-9 among children has been rarely reported. This is the first study reporting the distribution of serum CA19-9 levels among cancer-free children as well as their parents, taking into account the Lewis and secretor gene polymorphism and physical growth.

A comparison of the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components among native Japanese and Japanese Brazilians residing in Japan and Brazil.

Background: This study investigated the prevalence of risk factors associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) among individuals of Japanese descent exposed to different cultural environments.

Design: A cross-sectional study to assess component risk factors for the diagnosis of MetSyn was undertaken in urban areas in Japan and Brazil. A total of 773 men and women aged 35 years or over were included in three groups: 249 native Japanese, 269 Brazilian individuals of Japanese ancestry residing in Japan, and 255 Brazilian individuals of Japanese ancestry residing in Brazil.

Central obesity and health-related factors among middle-aged men: a comparison among native Japanese and Japanese-Brazilians residing in Brazil and Japan.

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of different cultural environments on the development of obesity by examining the association of central obesity, lifestyle, and selected coronary risk factors among people with identical Japanese genetic backgrounds living in Japan and Brazil. One hundred and four native Japanese and 286 Japanese-Brazilians residing in Brazil and Japan aged 35 years or over were studied. Obesity, metabolic risk factors for coronary disease, and history of regular sports activity, daily physical activity, and eating habits were assessed.

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.

Lower HDL-cholesterol among healthy middle-aged Japanese-Brazilians in São Paulo compared to Natives and Japanese-Brazilians in Japan.

Blood lipid levels are determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Higher than average values of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) have been observed in people of Japanese ethnicity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Japanese immigrants to Brazil and subsequent generations maintain the protective benefits associated with higher levels of HDL-cholesterol, and to examine the potential associations between HDL-cholesterol and a variety of other blood lipids, anthropometric and lifestyle factors.

Community-based familial study of Helicobacter pylori infection among healthy Japanese Brazilians.

Background: The present study of Helicobacter pylori infection was conducted in family units of Japanese Brazilians living in São Paulo city. The authors attempted to determine the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection within family units of Japanese Brazilians and to identify risk factors associated with intrafamilial transmission.

Associations of TNF-A-1031TT and -857TT genotypes with Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and gastric atrophy among Japanese Brazilians.

Background: Our previous study in a Japanese population showed elevated Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in those with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) A -1031TT and -857TT genotypes. This study examined the associations of this seropositivity and serum pepsinogen (PG) levels with these genotypes in Japanese Brazilians.

Methods: The subjects were 963 individuals (399 males and 564 females), aged 33 to 69 years, from four regions (Sao Paulo, Curitiba, Mogi das Cruzes, and Mirandopolis) in Brazil.

Association of Lewis and Secretor gene polymorphisms and Helicobacter pylori seropositivity among Japanese-Brazilians.

Background: Secretor ( Se) and Lewis ( Le) genes are involved in the synthesis of Lewis b (Le(b)) and type I antigens throughout the body, especially in the epithelial cells of gastric mucosa. Helicobacter pylori can attach to the gastric epithelial cells with the blood group antigen-binding adhesin, which binds to Le(b) or H type I carbohydrate structures. In a previous study, a marked association between H.

Possible association of interleukin 1B C-31T polymorphism among Helicobacter pylori seropositive Japanese Brazilians with susceptibility to atrophic gastritis.

Associations between anti-Helicobacter pylori seropositivity (HP+) and interleukin 1B (IL-1B) C-31T polymorphism have been reported and little is known about the host factors involved in the development of atrophic gastritis (AG) among infected individuals. This study aimed to examine the IL-1B C-31T polymorphism among anti-HP antibody seropositive Japanese descendants with AG in Brazil and to investigate the interactions with lifestyle factors. Subjects were 455 seropositive from four cities in Brazil, aged 33-69 years.

Lifestyle factors associated with atrophic gastritis among Helicobacter pylori-seropositive Japanese-Brazilians in São Paulo.

Background: Studies of lifestyle factors related to gastric atrophy development in Helicobacter pylori-infected individuals are limited. The present cross-sectional study aimed to examine the associations between lifestyle factors and serum pepsinogens (PGs) among anti- H. pylori antibody-seropositive Japanese in Brazil, where gastric cancer mortality was reported to be as high as in Japanese in Japan, and seropositive individuals were still frequently detected.

Why is the Impact of Genetic Polymorphisms on the Smoking Habit not Consistent? Possibly Diluted Association with the Interleukin-1B C-31T Polymorphism in Japanese Brazilians.

The smoking habit is influenced by culture, psychological traits and physical factors. Recent studies on genetic polymorphisms have demonstrated that functional polymorphisms pertaining to neurotransmitters may affect smoking behavior, as well as psychological parameters and diseases. Our recent study demonstrated the interleukin (IL)-1B gene encoding IL-1b, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, to be associated with smoking; Japanese with the IL-1B C-31T T/T genotype, an inflammation-prone trait, were less likely to be smokers than those with IL-1B C-31T C/C (J Epidemiol 2001;11:120-125).

Dietary factors and the risk of gastric cancer among Japanese women: a comparison between the differentiated and non-differentiated subtypes.

Purpose: Using data from the Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC), a case-referent study was performed to clarify whether dietary habits differentially impact on the risk of female gastric cancers of different histological subtypes.

Methods: The study subjects comprised 508 histologically confirmed female gastric cancer cases (156 differentiated, 352 non-differentiated), identified via hospital cancer registry and surgical records between 1988 to 1998. The referents were 36,490 cancer-free first-visit female outpatients over 30 years old presenting at the center within the same period of time.

Significant reduction in breast cancer risk for Japanese women with interleukin 1B -31 CT/TT relative to CC genotype.

Objective: The present case-control study aimed to examine the associations between breast cancer risk and three functional polymorphisms (Interleukin (IL) -1A C-889T, IL-1B C-31T and IL-1RN 86-bp variable number tandem repeat) related to expression of IL-1beta, which combines estrogen receptor.

Methods: Cases were 231 patients with breast cancer who had been diagnosed 1 month to 6 years before their enrollment in 1999-2000 at Aichi Cancer Center Hospital. Controls were 186 non-cancer outpatients recruited during the same period at the digestive tract, breast surgery and gynecology clinics.

Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and IL-1B C-31T polymorphism among Japanese Brazilians.

We reported previously that anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody seropositivity (HP+) had an association with interleukin 1B (IL-1B) C-31T genotype, especially among smokers. This study examined the association for Japanese Brazilians. In this cross-sectional study, voluntary participation was announced through Japanese Brazilian communities in Sao Paulo, Curitiba, Mogi das Cruzes, and Mirandopolis; 963 Japanese Brazilians (399 males and 564 females) aged 33-69 years participated.

Height, weight, menstrual and reproductive factors and risk of gastric cancer among Japanese postmenopausal women: analysis by subsite and histologic subtype.

To clarify whether reproductive factors have an impact on gastric cancer in Japanese females, a case-control study was conducted using data from the Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC), Japan. The study subjects included 365 postmenopausal women with gastric cancer and 1,825 age-class frequency-matched noncancer outpatients presenting at Aichi Cancer Center in 1988-1998. Cases were further divided with regard to the anatomic subsite (upper third, middle third, lower third) and histologic subtypes (differentiated, nondifferentiated) and the association was evaluated using odds ratios (ORs) estimated by the logistic regression model, adjusting for potential confounding factors.