Cysteinyl leukotriene receptors are expressed by tonsillar T cells of children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Increased expression of cysteinyl leukotriene receptors (cysteinyl leukotriene receptor-1 [LT1-R]; cysteinyl leukotriene receptor-2 [LT2-R]) has been detected in adenotonsillar tissue from children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) compared to control subjects. LT1-R has been localized in myeloperoxidase-positive cells. This phenomenon possibly contributes to lymphoid tissue enlargement and may be related to systemic inflammation.

Absence of blood pressure, metabolic, and inflammatory marker changes after adenotonsillectomy for sleep apnea in Greek children.

Aim: Pediatric studies revealed associations of obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) with inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and elevated blood pressure. Evidence about effects of adenotonsillectomy on these abnormalities is scarce. Aim of this investigation was to assess changes in C-reactive protein (CRP), circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (cICAM-1), insulin and blood pressure levels after adenotonsillectomy for SDB in Greek children.

Variance estimation of allele-based odds ratio in the absence of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

In gene-disease association studies, deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in controls may cause bias in estimating the allele-based estimates of genetic effects. An approach to adjust the variance of allele-based odds ratio for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium deviation is proposed. Such adjustments have been introduced for estimating relative risks of genotype contrasts and differences in allele frequency; however, an adjustment of odds ratios for allele frequencies still does not exist.

The role of MTHFR gene in multiple myeloma.

Case-control studies investigating associations between multiple myeloma (MM) and the C677T and A1298C polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) have provided controversial results. In an attempt to interpret these results, a meta-analysis of all available studies was performed. In the meta-analysis the pooled odds ratios (OR) were estimated using fixed effects (FE) and random effects (RE) models.

Analgesia during extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy: fentanyl citrate versus parecoxib sodium.

Background And Purpose: Shockwave-induced pain may become an important issue during extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL), although the new generation of lithotriptors generally produces less pain than previous models. The aim of the study was to compare the analgesic effect of a cyclooxygenase-2-specific inhibitor (parecoxib sodium) with that of our standard method of analgesia (fentanyl citrate) in patients who needed pain relief when undergoing SWL.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-eight patients who were undergoing SWL for renal calculi were randomized to receive intravenously either fentanyl citrate (group A, n = 30) or parecoxib sodium (group B, n = 28) when they felt that their pain during the session became intolerable.

Classification tree based protein structure distances for testing sequence-structure correlation.

A methodology for testing the correlation between the sequence and structure distances of proteins is proposed. Structure distances were derived by applying a forward growing classification tree algorithm on defined physico-chemical and geometrical properties of the structures. The structure distance for every pair of proteins was defined as the number of intermediate nodes in the tree.

Impact of stapling devices on radical cystectomy: comparative study between low- and high-volume surgeons.

Objectives: To compare effectiveness in terms of blood loss and operative time of stapling devices among surgeons with different levels of surgical volume.

Methods: We evaluated a group of 29 male patients with invasive bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy by two groups of surgeons. The first group included two high-volume surgeons, and the second group two low-volume surgeons.

Genetic risk factors for placental abruption: a HuGE review and meta-analysis.

Background: Although the precise pathophysiology that leads to placental abruption is unknown, there is evidence supporting a genetic etiology.

Methods: We searched PubMed and systematically reviewed all case-control studies that investigated the association between genetic variants and placental abruption. Pooled genetic risks were estimated using fixed and random effects odds ratios.

Trends in meta-analysis of genetic association studies.

The number of published genetic association studies (GASs) is increasing tremendously due to the availability of mapped single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and advances in genotyping technologies. A search in HuGENet illustrates the rapid accumulation of evidence for major diseases. Recently, there has been a lot of activity regarding genome-wide association studies (GWASs), and a growing number of forthcoming studies is expected.

Meta-analysis for ranked discovery datasets: theoretical framework and empirical demonstration for microarrays.

The combination of results from different large-scale datasets of multidimensional biological signals (such as gene expression profiling) presents a major challenge. Methodologies are needed that can efficiently combine diverse datasets, but can also test the extent of diversity (heterogeneity) across the combined studies. We developed METa-analysis of RAnked DISCovery datasets (METRADISC), a generalized meta-analysis method for combining information across discovery-oriented datasets and for testing between-study heterogeneity for each biological variable of interest.

Maternal gene polymorphisms involved in folate metabolism and risk of Down syndrome offspring: a meta-analysis.

Studies investigating the association between gene polymorphisms involved in homocysteine/folate metabolism and Down syndrome (DS) have reported contradictory or inconclusive results. A meta-analysis of 11 case-control studies relating MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298C and MTRR A66G gene polymorphisms to the maternal risk of DS was carried out. For MTHFR C677T polymorphism the heterogeneity between studies was significant (P=0.

Bladder stone formation after a tension-free vaginal tape procedure: report on two cases.

We present 2 cases of large bladder stones formed on a tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) which was inadvertently passed through the bladder during the continence procedure. The stones together with the intravesical portion of the slings were removed using a suprapubic approach. High clinical suspicion of bladder complications is necessary when evaluating patients with urinary symptoms after a TVT operation.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism as a risk factor for diabetic nephropathy: a meta-analysis.

Investigations into the association between diabetic nephropathy (DN) and MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism in several case-control studies has yielded contradictory results. To shed light on these inconclusive findings, a meta-analysis of all available studies relating the C677T polymorphism to the risk of developing DN was conducted. The PubMed database was searched, and case-control studies investigating the association between MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism and DN were included in the meta-analysis.

Is 472G/A catechol-O-methyl-transferase gene polymorphism related to panic disorder?

Objectives: Case-control studies relating 472G/A catechol-O-methyl-transferase polymorphism with the risk of developing panic disorder showed inconclusive or contradictory results. To shed some light on these results a meta-analysis of all available case-control studies was conducted.

Methods: We searched PubMed database for English-languages case-control studies using the key words: Catechol-O-methyl-transferase and panic.

Discrimination of exudative pleural effusions based on multiple biological parameters.

Pleural effusion is a common complication of various diseases. Conventional methods are not always capable of establishing the cause of pleural effusion, so alternative tests are needed. The aim of this study was to explore means of discriminating between different pleural effusion groups, malignant, parapneumonic and tuberculous, based on the combined function of seven biological markers.

Adiposity in relation to age as predictor of severity of sleep apnea in children with snoring.

Correlation between obesity and obstructive sleep apnea has been documented in both adults and children. This investigation evaluated importance of body mass index (BMI) in relation to age as predictor of severity of obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Children with habitual snoring referred for polysomnography were recruited.

Genetic variation associated with ischemic heart failure: a HuGE review and meta-analysis.

The ischemic etiology of heart failure is an independent prognostic factor associated with worse long-term outcome. Recent evidence indicates a role for genetic susceptibility to ischemic heart failure. The authors systematically reviewed all known case-control studies that investigated the association between genetic variants and ischemic heart failure.

Nocturnal change of circulating intercellular adhesion molecule 1 levels in children with snoring.

Hypoxia promotes adherence of leukocytes to endothelial cells by inducing expression of adhesion molecules like intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). Increased serum levels of circulating ICAM-1 (cICAM-1) have been reported in adults with sleep apnea and associated hypoxemia. This investigation assessed the hypothesis that the overnight change of cICAM-1 levels in children with snoring is correlated with the severity of obstructive sleep-disordered breathing.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene polymorphisms and schizophrenia: a meta-analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate whether the G196A and C270T polymorphisms of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene are associated with increased risk of schizophrenia.

Methods: A meta-analysis of nine genetic association studies was carried out. The meta-analysis included genotype data on 1404/1597 schizophrenics/controls for G196A and 877/989 schizophrenics/controls for C270T.

Anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy for wheezing in preschool children.

Accumulating evidence indicates that there are at least two phenotypes of wheezing in preschool years with distinct natural history. Frequent wheezing in the first 3 years of life with risk factors for asthma (e.g.

Sleep-disordered breathing and blood pressure in children: a meta-analysis.

Objectives: To estimate the risk of elevated blood pressure (BP) in children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and to explore heterogeneity among published studies.

Data Source: PubMed database.

Study Selection: Pediatric cohort studies that investigated the relationship between SDB and BP.

BsmI, TaqI, ApaI and FokI polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and the risk of osteoporosis: a meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis regarding BsmI, TaqI, ApaI and FokI polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and their associations with osteoporosis in females is reported. The meta-analysis involved 14, seven, seven and three studies for BsmI, TaqI, ApaI and FokI polymorphisms, respectively. The studies were association studies with osteoporotic cases and controls free of osteoporosis that provided the genotype distribution of individual cases and controls.

Meta-analysis of genome-wide scans provides evidence for sex- and site-specific regulation of bone mass.

Unlabelled: Several genome-wide scans have been performed to detect loci that regulate BMD, but these have yielded inconsistent results, with limited replication of linkage peaks in different studies. In an effort to improve statistical power for detection of these loci, we performed a meta-analysis of genome-wide scans in which spine or hip BMD were studied. Evidence was gained to suggest that several chromosomal loci regulate BMD in a site-specific and sex-specific manner.

DHLAS: A web-based information system for statistical genetic analysis of HLA population data.

DHLAS (database HLA system) is a user-friendly, web-based information system for the analysis of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) data from population studies. DHLAS has been developed using JAVA and the R system, it runs on a Java Virtual Machine and its user-interface is web-based powered by the servlet engine TOMCAT. It utilizes STRUTS, a Model-View-Controller framework and uses several GNU packages to perform several of its tasks.

Clinical implications for vascular endothelial growth factor in the lung: friend or foe?

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent mediator of angiogenesis which has multiple effects in lung development and physiology. VEGF is expressed in several parts of the lung and the pleura while it has been shown that changes in its expression play a significant role in the pathophysiology of some of the most common respiratory disorders, such as acute lung injury, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obstructive sleep apnea, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, pleural disease, and lung cancer. However, the exact role of VEGF in the lung is not clear yet, as there is contradictory evidence that suggests either a protective or a harmful role.