Overall and cause-specific mortality rates among men and women with high exposure to indoor air pollution from the use of smoky and smokeless coal: a cohort study in Xuanwei, China.

Objectives: Never-smoking women in Xuanwei (XW), China, have some of the highest lung cancer rates in the country. This has been attributed to the combustion of smoky coal used for indoor cooking and heating. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spectrum of cause-specific mortality in this unique population, including among those who use smokeless coal, considered 'cleaner' coal in XW, as this has not been well-characterised.

Cigarette smoking and oral microbiota in low-income and African-American populations.

Background: Cigarette smoking is a common risk factor for diseases and cancers. Oral microbiota is also associated with diseases and cancers. However, little is known about the impact of cigarette smoking on the oral microbiota, especially among ethnic minority populations.

Impact of known risk factors on endometrial cancer burden in Chinese women.

This study aimed to provide data on the impact of known risk factors on endometrial cancer burden. Using data on 1199 endometrial cancer cases and 1212 frequency matched controls from a population-based case-control study carried out in urban Shanghai, China from 1997 to 2003, multivariable adjusted odds ratios were obtained from unconditional logistic regression analyses. Partial population-attributable risks were calculated and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated using a bootstrap method.

[A case-control study on genetic polymorphism of CYP17 MspA(1)I and its association with endometrial cancer risk].

Objective: To assess whether the polymorphisms of CYP17 MspA(1)I are associated with the susceptibility of endometrial cancer.

Methods: The allelic discrimination of the CYP17A1 gene polymorphisms were assessed with the ABI PRISM 7900 Sequence Detection Systems using TaqMan genotyping assay. Unconditional logistic regression was applied to assess odds ratio and 95% CI and evaluate the association between different genotypes and endometrial cancer development.

Modifying effects of sulfotransferase 1A1 gene polymorphism on the association of breast cancer risk with body mass index or endogenous steroid hormones.

Sulfotransferase (SULT) 1A1 is involved in the inactivation and elimination of estrogens and catechol estrogens. A common functional polymorphism (Arg213His) has been linked in our previous study of postmenopausal Caucasian women to an elevated risk of breast cancer and the association appeared to be modified by factors related to high endogenous estrogen exposures. We further evaluated this polymorphism and levels of BMI and steroid hormones in association with breast cancer risk in a population-based case-control study of Chinese women, involving 1102 incident cases aged 25-64 years and 1147 age-matched population controls.

Endostatin polymorphism 4349G/A(D104N) is not associated with aggressiveness of disease in prostate [corrected] cancer.

Endostatin is an important inhibitory molecule which mediates the sequential steps involved in angiogenesis. Lower level or impaired function of endostatin is associated with a higher risk of developing malignant solid tumors and with a worse prognosis of the disease. The endostatin N104 polymorphism might be associated with an impaired ability to inhibit angiogenesis.

Synergistic effects of STK15 gene polymorphisms and endogenous estrogen exposure in the risk of breast cancer.

STK15 is a member of a family of serine/threonine kinases that act as key regulators of chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. Over expression of the STK15 gene leads to centrosome amplification, chromosomal instability, aneuploidy, and transformation. It has been reported that the 91T --> A (Phe --> Ile at codon 31) polymorphism in the STK15 gene affects the function of this gene.

Genetic polymorphisms in glutathione-S-transferase genes (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1) and survival after chemotherapy for invasive breast carcinoma.

Background: It has been suggested that genetic polymorphisms in certain glutathione-S-transferase (GST) genes reduce the effectiveness of detoxifying cytotoxins generated by chemotherapeutic agents, potentially resulting in enhanced clinical responses to chemotherapy.

Methods: The authors evaluated common polymorphisms in the GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genes for associations with overall survival in 1034 patients with invasive breast carcinoma who were recruited into the Shanghai Breast Cancer Study between 1996 and 1998, treated with chemotherapy, and followed for a median of 5.3 years.