Genome-wide haplotypic testing in a Finnish cohort identifies a novel association with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

We performed genome-wide tests for association between haplotype clusters and each of 9 metabolic traits in a cohort of 5402 Northern Finnish individuals genotyped for 330 000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. The metabolic traits were body mass index, C-reactive protein, diastolic blood pressure, glucose, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), systolic blood pressure, and triglycerides. Haplotype clusters were determined using Beagle. There were LDL-associated clusters in the chromosome 4q13.3-q21.1 region containing the albumin (ALB) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) genes. This region has not been associated with LDL in previous genome-wide association studies. The most significant haplotype cluster in this region was associated with 0.488 mmol/l higher LDL (95% CI: 0.361–0.615 mmol/l, P-value: 6.4 × 10⁻¹⁴). We also observed three previously reported associations: Chromosome 16q13 with HDL, chromosome 1p32.3-p32.2 with LDL and chromosome 19q13.31-q13.32 with LDL. The chromosome 1 and chromosome 4 LDL associations do not reach genome-wide significance in single-marker analyses of these data, illustrating the power of haplotypic association testing.     

Regional Assessment of Atrazine Exposure and Incidence of Breast and Ovarian Cancers in Kentucky

The association between breast and ovarian cancers with endogenous estrogen or hormonally related events has led to the hypothesis that exposures to exogenous estrogenic compounds in the environment may increase the risk of these cancers. Atrazine, the most commonly used herbicide in the United States, belongs to this group of compounds and is widely used in corn production. This study is an expansion of a previous investigation conducted in Kentucky. Using secondary data, we derived several indices of environmental exposure to atrazine and examined the association between these measures and the incidence of breast and ovarian cancer in Kentucky over a 5-year period (1993–97). Exposure indices to atrazine were derived based on public water measurements, acres of corn planted, and pounds of atrazine sold. Data on breast and ovarian cancer incidence were obtained from the Kentucky Cancer Registry by county and by the 15 Area Development Districts (ADDs) in which the 120 counties are grouped. Poisson regression analyses adjusted for education and race were conducted separately for each index of exposure and for a combined total exposure score. All exposure measures were divided in quartiles for analysis. A null association was found for breast cancer across all exposure indices, both by county and by ADD. For ovarian cancer, the data suggest an inverse association, with increasing exposure linked to decreasing incidence rates, both at the county and ADD level. The following are the rate ratios (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals, for the summary exposure scores in the three upper quartiles, using the lowest quartile as baseline (RR = 1.0), and the county as the unit of analysis: 1.01 (0.83–1.21), 0.77 (0.66–0.90), and 0.76 (0.65–0.88). Due to the ecologic nature of this study and inherent limitations, it is possible that other factors may be contributing to these findings. Studies using individual-level data are recommended to elucidate the relationships between estrogenic environmental exposures and female reproductive cancers. Received: 3 April 2001/Accepted: 12 June 2001     

荧光原位杂交技术分析人结肠菌群方法研究

建立荧光原位杂交技术分析人体内结肠菌群的方法。取受试者新鲜粪便 ,选用 5种特异性的 16SrRNA寡核苷酸探针 ,检测粪便样本收集后的保存时间、温度 ,离心条件及样本固定液存放时间对杂交计数结果的影响。结果建立最佳实验条件为 :粪便样本收集后应尽快在 4℃下保存 ,放置时间不要超过 12小时即作处理 ;样本的适宜离心条件为 70 0g 2分钟 ;样本用多聚甲醛固定后在 - 80℃下存放时间不要超过 5个月。该方法具有较好的稳定性 ,可以有效地检出个体之间结肠菌群的差异。     

The impact of surgical treatment on the mental health of women with obstetric fistula

Obstetric fistula is estimated to affect 2 million women worldwide and has considerable social and psychological effects on affected individuals. In this prospective study, 51 consecutive women with obstetric fistula admitted to the Barhirdar Hamlin Fistula Centre in the north of Ethiopia were screened using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) for potential mental health disorder before and 2 weeks after fistula surgery. Prior to surgery, all women screened positive. By 2 weeks after, this had dropped to 36% ( P = 0.005). 27% of the 45 women who were cured of their incontinence screened positive, while all 6 of those with severe residual incontinence continued to screen positive. We conclude that surgical treatment of obstetric fistula results in marked improvements in mental heath.