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Biomedical subjects

Lian Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Lian Zhang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Renal albumin excretion: twin studies identify influences of heredity, environment, and adrenergic pathway polymorphism.

Albumin excretion marks early glomerular injury in hypertension. This study investigated heritability of albumin excretion in twin pairs and its genetic determination by adrenergic pathway polymorphism. Genetic associations used single nucleotide polymorphisms at adrenergic pathway loci spanning catecholamine biosynthesis, storage, catabolism, receptor action, and postreceptor signal transduction. We studied 134 single nucleotide polymorphisms at 46 loci for a total of >51,000 genotypes. Albumin excretion heritability was 45.2+/-7.4% (P=2x10(-7)), and the phenotype aggregated significantly with adrenergic, renal, metabolic, and hemodynamic traits. In the adrenergic system, excretions of both norepinephrine and epinephrine correlated with albumin. In the kidney, albumin excretion correlated with glomerular and tubular traits (Na(+) and K(+) excretion; fractional excretion of Na(+) and Li(+)). Albumin excretion shared genetic determination (genetic covariance) with epinephrine excretion, and environmental determination with glomerular filtration rate and electrolyte intake/excretion. Albumin excretion associated with polymorphisms at multiple points in the adrenergic pathway: catecholamine biosynthesis (tyrosine hydroxylase), catabolism (monoamine oxidase A), storage/release (chromogranin A), receptor target (dopamine D1 receptor), and postreceptor signal transduction (sorting nexin 13 and rho kinase). Epistasis (gene-by-gene interaction) occurred between alleles at rho kinase, tyrosine hydroxylase, chromogranin A, and sorting nexin 13. Dopamine D1 receptor polymorphism showed pleiotropic effects on both albumin and dopamine excretion. These studies establish new roles for heredity and environment in albumin excretion. Urinary excretions of albumin and catecholamines are highly heritable, and their parallel suggests adrenergic mediation of early glomerular permeability alterations. Albumin excretion is influenced by multiple adrenergic pathway genes and is, thus, polygenic. Such functional links between adrenergic activity and glomerular injury suggest novel approaches to its prediction, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2007

C-reactive protein, an 'intermediate phenotype' for inflammation: human twin studies reveal heritability, association with blood pressure and the metabolic syndrome, and the influence of common polymorphism at catecholaminergic/beta-adrenergic pathway loci.

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) both reflects and participates in inflammation, and its circulating concentration marks cardiovascular risk. Here we sought to understand the role of heredity in determining CRP secretion. METHODS: CRP, as well as multiple facets of the metabolic syndrome, were measured in a series of 229 twins, both monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ), to estimate trait heritability (h2). Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping was done at adrenergic pathway loci. Haplotypes were inferred from genotypes by likelihood methods. Association of CRP with hypertension and the metabolic syndrome was studied in a larger series of 732 individuals, including 79 with hypertension. RESULTS: MZ and DZ twin variance components indicated substantial h2 for CRP, at approximately 56 +/- 7% (P < 0.001). CRP was significantly associated (P < 0.05) with multiple features of the metabolic syndrome in twins, including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), leptin and lipids. In established hypertension, elevated CRP was associated with increased BP, BMI, insulin, HOMA (index of insulin resistance), leptin, triglycerides and norepinephrine. Twin correlations indicated pleiotropy (shared genetic determination) for CRP with BMI (P = 0.0002), leptin (P < 0.001), triglycerides (P = 0.002) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P = 0.042). Approximately 9800 genotypes (43 genetic variants at 17 loci) were scored within catecholaminergic pathways: biosynthetic, receptor and signal transduction. Plasma CRP concentration in twins was predicted by polymorphisms at three loci in physiological series within the catecholamine biosynthetic/beta-adrenergic pathway: TH (tyrosine hydroxylase), ADRB1 (beta1-adrenergic receptor) and ADRB2 (beta2-adrenergic receptor). In the TH promoter, common allelic variation accounted for up to approximately 6.6% of CRP inter-individual variance. At ADRB1, variation at Gly389Arg predicted approximately 2.8% of CRP, while ADRB2 promoter variants T-47C and T-20C also contributed. Particular haplotypes and diplotypes at TH and ADRB1 also predicted CRP, though typically no better than single SNPs alone. Epistasis (gene-by-gene interaction) was demonstrated for particular combinations of TH and ADRB2 alleles, consistent with their actions in a pathway in series. In an illustration of pleiotropy, not only CRP but also plasma triglycerides were predicted by polymorphisms at TH (P = 0.0053) and ADRB2 (P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: CRP secretion is substantially heritable in humans, demonstrating pleiotropy (shared genetic determination) with other features of the metabolic syndrome, such as BMI, triglycerides or BP. Multiple, common genetic variants in the catecholaminergic/beta-adrenergic pathway contribute to CRP, and these variants (especially at TH and ADRB2) seem to interact (epistasis) to influence the trait. The results uncover novel pathophysiological links between the adrenergic system and inflammation, and suggest new strategies to probe the role and actions of inflammation within this setting.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Randomized double-blind factorial trial of three treatments to reduce the prevalence of precancerous gastric lesions.

BACKGROUND: Randomized trials have yielded mixed results on the effects of treatment for Helicobacter pylori and little information on the effects of vitamins or garlic supplements on precancerous gastric lesions. We conducted a randomized trial to test the effects of one-time H. pylori treatment and long-term vitamin or garlic supplements in reducing the prevalence of advanced precancerous gastric lesions. METHODS: Most of the adults aged 35-64 years in 13 randomly selected villages in Linqu County, Shandong Province, China, were identified and given baseline endoscopies in 1994. In 1995, 3365 eligible subjects were randomly assigned in a factorial design to three interventions or placebos: amoxicillin and omeprazole for 2 weeks in 1995 (H. pylori treatment); vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium for 7.3 years (vitamin supplement); and aged garlic extract and steam-distilled garlic oil for 7.3 years (garlic supplement). Subjects underwent endoscopies with biopsies in 1999 and 2003, and the prevalence of precancerous gastric lesions was determined by histopathologic examination of seven standard biopsy sites. The 3365 eligible randomized subjects represented 93.5% of those with baseline endoscopy and included all baseline histologic categories except gastric cancer. Only 0.18% had normal gastric mucosa. Logistic regression was used to estimate the intervention effects on the odds of advanced precancerous gastric lesions, and t-tests were used to assess effects on histologic severity. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: H. pylori treatment resulted in statistically significant decreases in the combined prevalence of severe chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, or gastric cancer in 1999 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.62 to 0.95) and in 2003 (OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.47 to 0.75), and had favorable effects on the average histopathologic severity and on progression and regression of precancerous gastric lesions in 2003. H. pylori treatment did not reduce the combined prevalence of dysplasia or gastric cancer. However, fewer subjects receiving H. pylori treatment (19/1130; 1.7%) than receiving placebo (27/1128; 2.4%) developed gastric cancer (adjusted P = .14). No statistically significant favorable effects were seen for garlic or vitamin supplements. CONCLUSION: H. pylori treatment reduces the prevalence of precancerous gastric lesions and may reduce gastric cancer incidence, but further data are needed to prove the latter point. Long-term vitamin or garlic supplementation had no beneficial effects on the prevalence of precancerous gastric lesions or on gastric cancer incidence.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Eradication of H pylori infection in a rural population: one-day quadruple therapy versus 7-day triple therapy.

AIM: To compare the one-day quadruple therapy with a standard 7-d triple therapy for H pylori eradication in a rural population of China. METHODS: A total of 396 patients with (13)C-urea breath test positive for H pylori were assigned into two groups: 239 patients received one-day quadruple therapy (amoxicillin 2000 mg qid; metronidazole 500 mg qid; bismuth citrate 900 mg qid and lansoprazole 60 mg once daily) and 157 patients received 7-d standard triple therapy (amoxicillin 1000 mg bid; clarithromycin 500 mg bid and lansoprazole 30 mg bid). All the patients underwent a (13)C-UBT to assess the eradication of H pylori infection six weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-nine patients completed the one-day therapy (95.8%) and 148 patients completed the 7-d therapy (94.2%). The one-day therapy eradicated H pylori infection in 64 patients (27.95%). In contrast, 103 patients (69.59%) were H pylori negative after the 7-d therapy (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests there is no beneficial effect of the one-day therapy in treatment of H pylori infection compared with the 7-d standard therapy.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗
PubMed2006

Ciliary targeting of olfactory CNG channels requires the CNGB1b subunit and the kinesin-2 motor protein, KIF17.

Nonmotile cilia on olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) compartmentalize signaling molecules, including odorant receptors and cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels, allowing for efficient, spatially confined responses to sensory stimuli . Little is known about the mechanisms of the ciliary targeting of olfactory CNG channels, composed of three subunits: CNGA2, CNGA4, and CNGB1b . Recent reports suggest that subunit composition of the retinal CNG channel influences localization, leading to disease . However, the mechanistic role of subunits in properly targeting native olfactory CNG channels remains unclear. Here, we show that heteromeric assembly with CNGB1b, containing a critical carboxy-terminal motif (RVxP), is required for ciliary trafficking of olfactory CNG channels. Movement of proteins within the cilia is governed by intraflagellar transport (IFT), a process that facilitates bidirectional movement of cargo along microtubules. Work in C. elegans has established that heterotrimeric and homodimeric kinesin-2 family members play a critical role in anterograde transport . In mammalian systems, the heterotrimeric KIF3a/KIF3b/KAP-3 complex plays a clear role in IFT; however, no role has been established for KIF17, the mammalian homolog of OSM-3 . Here, we demonstrate that KIF17 is required for olfactory CNG channel targeting, providing novel insights into mechanisms of mammalian ciliary transport.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Genetic variants in cyclooxygenase-2: Expression and risk of gastric cancer and its precursors in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To screen the genetic variants in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and evaluate their effects on COX-2 expression and risk of gastric cancer (GC) and its precursors, a population-based study was conducted in Linqu County, Shangdong Province, an area of China, a high-risk area of GC. METHODS: Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography analysis in 248 GC cases and 1523 subjects with precancerous gastric lesions. COX-2 expression was detected by immunohistochemical analysis of biopsy specimens of 593 subjects selected at random from 1523 subjects. COX-2 transcriptional activity was examined by luciferase reporter gene assay. RESULTS: We found an increased risk of GC in subjects with -1195 AA genotype (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.45-3.75). Stratified analysis indicated that an elevated risk of GC was observed in subjects carrying the AA genotype and Helicobacter pylori infection (OR, 3.88; 95% CI: 1.46-10.34) or smoking (OR, 7.02; 95% CI: 2.19-22.48), and a high expression of COX-2 was found in subjects with AA genotype (OR, 1.84; 95% CI: 1.09-3.10) compared with GG genotype. The prevalence of COX-2 expression positivity varied markedly by histologic status, and the OR (OR, 5.35; 95% CI: 2.64-10.8) was significantly increased for dysplasia compared with superficial gastritis/chronic atrophic gastritis. Furthermore, tissue homogenate with H pylori infection could significantly stimulate COX-2 promoter activity driven by -1195A compared with the -1195G containing counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that COX-2 polymorphisms may play an important role, at least in part, in developing GC in this high-risk population.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

A randomized factorial study of the effects of long-term garlic and micronutrient supplementation and of 2-wk antibiotic treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection on serum cholesterol and lipoproteins.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the long-term effects of garlic or micronutrient supplementation on total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol in disease-free persons. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the effects of long-term supplementation with garlic and micronutrients and of short-term amoxicillin and omeprazole treatment on serum total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol in a rural Chinese population. DESIGN: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2 x 2 x 2 and 2 x 2 factorial study of precancerous gastric lesions in 3411 subjects in Linqu County, Shandong Province, China. Thirty-four subjects were randomly selected from each of 12 treatment strata. Sera were analyzed at 3.3 and 7.3 y to measure effects on total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol after 2-wk twice-daily treatment with 1 g amoxicillin and 20 mg omeprazole and supplementation throughout the study with 1) 2 capsules twice daily, each containing 200 mg aged garlic extract and 1 mg steam-distilled garlic oil, or 2) twice-daily micronutrient capsules containing 250 mg vitamin C, 100 IU vitamin E, and 37.5 mg selenium. RESULTS: Regressions adjusted for covariates indicated increases of 0.22 mmol total cholesterol/L (P = 0.01) and 0.19 mmol LDL/L (P = 0.02) after 7.3 y of micronutrient supplementation, but no effect of garlic supplementation or short-term amoxicillin and omeprazole treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In this rural Chinese population with low meat intake and moderate cholesterol concentrations, long-term garlic supplementation had no effect on lipid profiles, whereas micronutrient supplementation was associated with small but significant increases in total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations at 7.3 y.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed2006

Impaired synaptic plasticity in a rat model of tuberous sclerosis.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a common hereditary disorder caused by mutations in either the TSC1 or TSC2 genes, and characterized by severe epilepsy, cerebral hamartomas and mental retardation. We have used rats that are heterozygous for an autosomal-dominant germline mutation in the TSC2 gene (TSC2+/- rats) to examine the consequences of TSC2 mutations for hippocampal synaptic plasticity. While basal synaptic transmission in the Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapse was not altered, paired-pulse plasticity was significantly enhanced in TSC2+/- rats (interpulse intervals 20-200 ms). Moreover, TSC2+/- rats exhibited a marked reduction of different forms of synaptic plasticity. Long-term potentiation (LTP) elicited following high-frequency tetanization of Schaffer collaterals was significantly decreased from 1.45 +/- 0.05-fold potentiation to 1.15 +/- 0.04 (measured after 60 min). This difference in LTP levels between TSC2+/- and wild-type rats also persisted in the presence of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline. In addition to changed LTP, the level of long-term depression (LTD) elicited by different forms of low-frequency stimulation was significantly less in TSC2+/- rats. These results suggest that TSC2 mutations may cause hippocampal synapses to lose much of their potential for activity-dependent synaptic modification. An understanding of the underlying molecular pathways may suggest new therapeutic approaches aimed at inhibiting the development of the profound mental retardation in TSC.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Fluoxetine-induced alterations in human platelet serotonin transporter expression: serotonin transporter polymorphism effects.

OBJECTIVE: Long-term antidepressant drug exposure may regulate its target molecule - the serotonin transporter (SERT). This effect could be related to an individual's genotype for an SERT promoter polymorphism (human serotonin transporter coding [5-HTTLPR]). We aimed to determine the effects of fluoxetine exposure on human platelet SERT levels. METHOD: We harvested platelet samples from 21 healthy control subjects. The platelets were maintained alive ex vivo for 24 hours while being treated with 0.1 muM fluoxetine or vehicle. The effects on SERT immunoreactivity (IR) were then compared. Each individual's SERT promoter genotype was also determined to evaluate whether fluoxetine effects on SERT were related to genotype. RESULTS: Fluoxetine exposure replicably altered SERT IR within individuals. Both the magnitude and the direction of effect were related to a person's SERT genotype. People who were homozygous for the short gene (SS) displayed decreased SERT IR, whereas those who were homozygous for the long gene (LL) demonstrated increased SERT IR. A mechanistic experiment suggested that some individuals with the LL genotype might experience increased conversion of complexed SERT to primary SERT during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest that antidepressant effects after longer-term use may include changes in SERT expression levels and that the type and degree of effect may be related to the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Helicobacter pylori and the progression of gastric cancer: a 10-year cohort study].

OBJECTIVE: To search the role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the progression of gastric carcinogenesis. METHODS: A cohort study was conducted by cluster randomized sampling in Linqu County, a rural area in Shandong Province in northeast China, where the mortality of gastric cancer (GC) is among the highest in the world. In 1989-1990, a gastroscopic examination and serum test was launched among subjects aged 35-64 from 14 randomized villages. Histological diagnosis of gastric mucosa and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect gastric lesions and anti-H. pylori of all participants. A repeated gastroscopic screening was offered to all cohort members in 1994 and 1999 respectively, and all the GC cases, regardless of natural ones or ones by gastroscopy, were registered in the follow-up periods. RESULTS: Fifty-eight cases of GC were identified in 2469 subjects during the 10-year follow-up, 44 were observed in 1603 H. pylori-positive persons (2.74%) and 14 in 866 H. pylori-negative persons (1.62%). The incidence rate of GC in H. pylori-positive is significantly higher than in H. pylori-negative (OR = 1.871, 95% CI: 1.012 - 3.459). There was no significant difference in the progression of gastric carcinogenesis between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative (P > 0.05) among subjects with normal or superficial gastritis (SG) at baseline. In contrast, the significant difference was found in baseline chronic gastritis (CAG) group (P < 0.01), and the GC incidence rate in H. pylori-positive (7/615) is higher than in H. pylori-negative (0/470, P = 0.019). The difference of gastric lesions between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative in subjects with intestinal metaplasia (IM) and dysplasia (DYS) at baseline was statistically significant after a 10-year follow-up (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively), but the GC incidence rate in H. pylori-positive is similar to the rate in H. pylori-negative at the two groups (17/573 and 7/224 in IM group, P = 0.907; 19/368 and 7/122 in DYS group, P = 0.806). CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori is a key risk factor that prompts the transition from chronic atrophic gastritis to advanced precancerous lesions and influences the whole progression of precancerous gastric lesions. H. pylori, perhaps can not cause GC directly, increases the risk of GC in company with other carcinogens. H. pylori seemingly has no important effect on the development of GC when gastric mucosa is normal or superficial gastritis, but this conclusion is required to be further confirmed.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Characteristics of slag, fly ash and deposited particles during melting of dewatered sewage sludge in a pilot plant.

This study examines slag, fly ash, and deposited particles during melting of dewatered sewage sludge in a pilot plant. In addition, the chemical composition of particles in flue gas was simulated using a thermodynamics program, namely FACTSage 5.2. The results showed that the main components of slag were Al, Fe, Ca, P and Si; the minor components were Na, K, Mg, Cu, and Zn. The main chemical compound of slag was Ca4(Mg,Fe)5(PO4)6. For fly ash particles, heavy metals with the highest concentrations were in the order of Zn and As, Pb, Cu, and Cd, respectively. For non-heavy metals, Al, Fe and P were also found in significant amounts. The majority of deposited particles were composed of elements of Zn, P, S, Na, Fe, Al, Si, and Ca and such chemical compounds as Zn3(PO4)2, AlPO4, FePO4 and Fe(OH)3 while the minority consisted of elements of As, Cu, and Pb. Moreover, the compositions of deposited particles in each chamber differed due to different flue gas temperatures inside. In the secondary chamber at 760 degrees C, the amounts of Fe and Al were higher than Zn, whereas, in the other chambers (600-400 degrees C), the amount of Zn was higher. In other words, at the lower temperature the deposition of Zn was higher than the deposition of Fe and Al. In the water cooling section, volatile elements (i.e. Zn, As, Cu, Pb) were found in the highest concentrations due to a big difference in temperature between the wall surface and flue gas. From the simulation results, most of the elements in the gas phase were found to be chloride compounds, whereas those in the solid phase were in the form of oxide, sulfate, and phosphate compounds.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed2005

Hippocampal synaptic metaplasticity requires inhibitory autophosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II.

Virtually all CNS synapses display the potential for activity-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) and/or long-term depression (LTD). Intriguingly, the potential to exhibit LTP or LTD at many central synapses itself is powerfully modulated by previous synaptic activity. This higher-order form of plasticity has been termed metaplasticity. Here, we show that inhibitory autophosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) is required for hippocampal metaplasticity at the lateral perforant path-dentate granule cell synapse. Brief 10 Hz priming, which does not affect basal synaptic transmission, caused a dramatic, pathway-specific and long-lasting (up to 18 h) reduction in subsequently evoked LTP at lateral perforant path synapses. In contrast, LTD was unaffected by priming. The induction of lateral perforant path metaplasticity required the activation of NMDA receptors during priming. In addition, metaplasticity was absent in knock-in mice expressing alphaCaMKII that cannot undergo inhibitory phosphorylation, indicating that inhibitory autophosphorylation of alphaCaMKII at threonines 305/306 is required for metaplasticity. Metaplasticity was not observed in the medial perforant pathway, consistent with the observation that CaMKII activity was not required for the induction of LTP at this synapse. Thus, modulation of alphaCaMKII activity via autophosphorylation at Thr305/Thr306 is a key mechanism for metaplasticity that may be of importance in the integration of temporally separated episodes of activity.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Altered nucleosome occupancy and histone H3K4 methylation in response to 'transcriptional stress'.

We report that under 'transcriptional stress' in budding yeast, when most pol II activity is acutely inhibited, rapid deposition of nucleosomes occurs within genes, particularly at 3' positions. Whereas histone H3K4 trimethylation normally marks 5' ends of highly transcribed genes, under 'transcriptional stress' induced by 6-azauracil (6-AU) and inactivation of pol II, TFIIE or CTD kinases Kin28 and Ctk1, this mark shifted to the 3' end of the TEF1 gene. H3K4Me3 at 3' positions was dynamic and could be rapidly removed when transcription recovered. Set1 and Chd1 are required for H3K4 trimethylation at 3' positions when transcription is inhibited by 6-AU. Furthermore, Deltachd1 suppressed the growth defect of Deltaset1. We suggest that a 'transcriptional stress' signal sensed through Set1, Chd1, and possibly other factors, causes H3K4 hypermethylation of newly deposited nucleosomes at downstream positions within a gene. This response identifies a new role for H3K4 trimethylation at the 3' end of the gene, as a chromatin mark associated with impaired pol II transcription.

Chromatin↗
PubMed2005

Disinfection of endoscopes from Helicobacter pylori-positive subjects: evaluation of the effectiveness of the Chinese Calijing disinfection kit.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Calijing disinfection kit (an endoscope disinfection method used in Chinese hospitals) in eradicating Helicobacter pylori and assess whether use of the kit in 1994 during endoscopies in the Shandong Intervention Trial (SIT), Shandong, China, could have resulted in iatrogenic transmission of H pylori . METHODS: Bacterial culture studies at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, using endoscopes and forceps from 49 H pylori -positive patients were performed on contaminated endoscopes before and after disinfection with the Calijing kit. RESULTS: At least 1 endoscope culture site was H pylori positive in 39 of 49 (79.6%) specimens predisinfection, whereas H pylori was not isolated from any endoscopic culture site postdisinfection. Non- H pylori bacteria and fungi were recovered from 22.6% of the postdisinfection cultures. CONCLUSION: Although no viable H pylori were recovered following the disinfection procedures, levels of H pylori below the detection threshold of the bacteriologic assay may have contributed to an increase in H pylori seroprevalence noted in the SIT. In addition, the kit was unable to provide disinfection against non- H pylori organisms, suggesting the need to adhere to internationally accepted disinfection procedures for endoscope reprocessing.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed2005

Etiology and prevention of gastric cancer: a population study in a high risk area of China.

A series of studies has been carried out in Linqu County, Shandong Province, China, a high-risk area for gastric cancer, to investigate the risk factors associated with gastric cancer, precancerous lesions and the prevention of gastric cancer. Our studies showed that sour pancakes (a popular local food), salted foods, cigarette smoking, and family history of gastric cancer were risk factors, whereas fresh vegetables, and intake of vitamin C and calcium were inversely associated with the risk of gastric cancer. The prevalence of chronic atrophic gastritis was approximately 20% in an adult population in Linqu County, intestinal metaplasia was approximately 50%, and dysplasia was approximately 20%. A follow-up study showed that the relative risk of developing gastric cancer increased with the severity of gastric lesions, and was associated with dietary factors, cigarette smoking and H. pylori infection in this population. The findings strongly support the idea that gastric cancer is primarily determined by environmental factors and develops in a multistep progression of precancerous lesions.

Child↗
PubMed2005

Efficacy of cranberry juice on Helicobacter pylori infection: a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection is a major cause of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. This study postulated that cranberry juice would be effective in the suppression of H. pylori in an endemically infected population at high risk for gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in Linqu County of Shandong Province, China, where 189 adults aged 48.9 +/- 11.2 years (mean +/- SD) with H. pylori infection were randomly divided into two groups: cranberry juice (n = 97) and placebo (n = 92). Participants were assigned to orally receive two 250-ml juice boxes of cranberry juice or matching placebo beverage daily for 90 days. The degree of H. pylori infection was determined using the 13C-urea breath test before randomization at 35 and 90 days of intervention to assess the efficacy of cranberry juice in alleviating infection. RESULTS: A total of 189 subjects with positive 13C-urea breath test results prior to randomization completed the study. At day 35 of intervention, 14 of the 97 (14.43%) from the the cranberry juice treatment group and 5 of the 92 (5.44%) of the placebo recipients had negative 13C-urea breath test results. After 90 days, the study concluded that 14 of the 97 subjects in the cranberry juice treatment group versus 5 of the 92 in the placebo group yielded negative test results. Eleven individuals from the cranberry juice treatment group and only two from the placebo group were negative at 35 and 90 days of experiment. These results are significant (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Regular consumption of cranberry juice can suppress H. pylori infection in endemically afflicted populations.

Beverages↗
PubMed2005

Genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1, GSTT1, GSTP1, GSTM1, ALDH2, and ODC and the risk of advanced precancerous gastric lesions in a Chinese population.

There have been few studies of the associations of genetic polymorphisms with precancerous gastric lesions. We conducted a cross-sectional study to compare the prevalences of several genetic polymorphisms in 302 subjects with mild chronic atrophic gastritis with prevalences in 606 subjects with deep intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia. This stratified random sample of 908 subjects was selected and analyzed for genetic polymorphisms from 2,628 individuals who had gastric biopsies with histopathology in 1989 in Linqu County, Shandong Province, China. In subjects with mild chronic atrophic gastritis, the frequencies of the variant (less common) alleles of CYP2E1 RsaI, CYP2E1 DraI, GSTP1, ALDH2, and ODC were, respectively, 0.156, 0.201, 0.189, 0.190, and 0.428. The frequencies of the null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 in the mild chronic atrophic gastritis group were 0.509 and 0.565, respectively. Comparing mild chronic atrophic gastritis with deep intestinal metaplasia or any degree of dysplasia, we found no statistically significant associations with any genotype from these loci for dominant, additive, or recessive inheritance models. There was no statistically significant evidence of multiplicative interactions between any pair of genotypes based on CYP2E1 RsaI, CYP2E1 DraI, GSTP1, GSTM1, or GSTT1; nor between Helicobacter pylori status and any of these five loci; nor between smoking status and GSTP1, GSTM1, or GSTT1; nor between alcohol consumption and ALDH2. Statistically significant interactions were noted between salt consumption and GSTP1 and between sour pancake consumption and CYP2E1 RsaI. There was, moreover, a statistically significant interaction (odds ratio, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-3.08) between CYP2E1 DraI and smoking at least one cigarette per day. A positive but not statistically significant interaction was also seen between CYP2E1 RsaI and smoking status. These polymorphisms do not seem to govern progression from mild chronic atrophic gastritis to advanced precancerous gastric lesions, but the effects of smoking may be accentuated in individuals carrying variants of CYP2E1.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗