Exploratory study evaluating the association of polymorphisms of angiogenesis genes with hot flashes

Caffeine Inhibits Growth of Temozolomide-Treated Glioma via Increasing Autophagy and Apoptosis but Not via Modulating Hypoxia, Angiogenesis, or Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Rats

Thirty rats with glioma were divided into control group, temozolomide (TMZ) group (TMZ 30 mg/kg once daily for 5 day), and TMZ plus Caffeine group (TMZ 30 mg/kg once daily for 5 day and caffeine 100 mg/kg once daily for 2 weeks). The relative tumor fold and expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), LC-3A/B, apoptosis-inducing factor-1 (AIF-1), and cleaved caspase three were compared. The relative tumor fold of TMZ plus Caffeine group was lower significantly than that of TMZ group at day 14. HIF-1α, VEGF, NRP-1, and CHOP expressions were not significantly different in the three groups. The LC-3A/B expression of TMZ plus Caffeine group was higher significantly than that of the control group and TMZ group. The AIF expressions of TMZ group and TMZ plus Caffeine group were higher significantly than that of the control group. The caspase-3 expression of TMZ plus Caffeine group was higher significantly than that of the control group and TMZ group. In conclusions, the inhibitory effect of caffeine on TMZ-treated glioma might be associated with increasing expressions of autophagy- and apoptosis-related genes.

Genetic Variation and Hot Flashes: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

Approximately 70% of women report experiencing vasomotor symptoms (VMS, hot flashes and/or night sweats). The etiology of VMS is not clearly understood but may include genetic factors.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We searched PubMed and Embase in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidance. We included studies on associations between genetic variation and VMS. We excluded studies focused on medication interventions or prevention or treatment of breast cancer.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Of 202 unique citations, 18 citations met the inclusion criteria. Study sample sizes ranged from 51 to 17 695. Eleven of the 18 studies had fewer than 500 participants; 2 studies had 1000 or more. Overall, statistically significant associations with VMS were found for variants in 14 of the 26 genes assessed in candidate gene studies. The cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily A member 1 (CYP1B1) gene was the focus of the largest number (n = 7) of studies, but strength and statistical significance of associations of CYP1B1 variants with VMS were inconsistent. A genome-wide association study reported statistically significant associations between 14 single-nucleotide variants in the tachykinin receptor 3 gene and VMS. Heterogeneity across trials regarding VMS measurement methods and effect measures precluded quantitative meta-analysis; there were few studies of each specific genetic variant.

CONCLUSIONS

Genetic variants are associated with VMS. The associations are not limited to variations in sex-steroid metabolism genes. However, studies were few and future studies are needed to confirm and extend these findings.

Association of genetic variation in the tachykinin receptor 3 locus with hot flashes and night sweats in the Women's Health Initiative Study

OBJECTIVE

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS, ie, hot flashes or night sweats) are reported by many, but not all, women. The extent to which VMS are genetically determined is unknown. We evaluated the relationship of genetic variation and VMS.

METHODS

In this observational study, we accessed data from three genome-wide association studies (GWAS) (SNP Health Association Resource cohort [SHARe], WHI Memory Study cohort [WHIMS+], and Genome-Wide Association Studies of Treatment Response in Randomized Clinical Trials [GARNET] studies, total n = 17,695) of European American, African American, and Hispanic American postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years at baseline in the Women's Health Initiative Study. We examined genetic variation in relation to VMS (yes/no) in each study and using trans-ethnic inverse variance fixed-effects meta-analysis. A total of 11,078,977 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) met the quality criteria.

RESULTS

After adjustment for covariates and population structure, three SNPs (on chromosomes 3 and 11) were associated with VMS at the genome-wide threshold of 5 × 10 in the African American SHARe GWAS, but were not associated in the other cohorts. In the meta-analysis, 14 SNPs, all located on chromosome 4 in the tachykinin receptor 3 (TACR3) locus, however, had P < 5 × 10. These SNPs' effect sizes were similar across studies/participants' ancestry (odds ratio ∼1.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Genetic variation in TACR3 may contribute to the risk of VMS. To our knowledge, this is the first GWAS to examine SNPs associated with VMS. These results support the biological hypothesis of a role for TACR3 in VMS, which was previously hypothesized from animal and human studies. Further study of these variants may lead to new insights into the biological pathways involved in VMS, which are poorly understood.

(1)H NMR metabolic profiling analysis offers evaluation of Nilestriol treatment in ovariectomised rats

Nilestriol (NIL) has been applied to treat menopausal dysfunctions, yet its mechanism has remained unknown. To understand the relationship between the changes in homeostatic metabolites and ovarian oestrogen deficiency syndromes after NIL treatment, proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ((1)H NMR)-based metabonomic technologies were used to analyse a rat model of oestrogen deficiency. An orthogonal partial least-squares regression (OPLS) differentiation model was used on 12-week metabolic analyses of ovariectomised (OVX) rats treated or mock treated with NIL. Furthermore, data analysis using Chenomx software quantified results to identify the most significantly altered metabolite concentrations, allowing for metabolic explanations of the effects of NIL therapies. In this study, PLS results revealed that there are considerably distinct differences between treatment groups. Additionally, a total of 45 metabolites shown to have a high variation between groups were selected for target quantification. Using a one-way LSD ANOVA analysis, 32 metabolite concentrations were significantly altered in the OVX group. A total of 21 metabolites were altered significantly in the NIL-treatment group but later returned to normal. According to the OPLS VIP calculation, the metabolites most affected by NIL treatment were mostly involved in insulin resistance. In addition, abnormal concentration changes in lactate in the NIL-treatment group and 3-indoxylsulfate in the OVX group were observed. To our knowledge, this study is the first to address the molecular mechanism of NIL from a metabonomic perspective, and, more specifically, to establish a catalogue of endo-molecular changes effected by NIL in the regulation of oestrogen deficiency disorder.

Risk factors, pathophysiology, and treatment of hot flashes in cancer

Hot flashes are prevalent and severe symptoms that can interfere with mood, sleep, and quality of life for women and men with cancer. The purpose of this article is to review existing literature on the risk factors, pathophysiology, and treatment of hot flashes in individuals with cancer. Electronic searches were conducted to identify relevant English-language literature published through June 15, 2012. Results indicated that risk factors for hot flashes in cancer include patient-related factors (eg, age, race/ethnicity, educational level, smoking history, cardiovascular risk including body mass index, and genetics) and disease-related factors (eg, cancer diagnosis and dose/type of treatment). In addition, although the pathophysiology of hot flashes has remained elusive, these symptoms are likely attributable to disruptions in thermoregulation and neurochemicals. Therapies that have been offered or tested fall into 4 broad categories: pharmacological, nutraceutical, surgical, and complementary/behavioral strategies. The evidence base for this broad range of therapies varies, with some treatments not yet having been fully tested or showing equivocal results. The evidence base surrounding all therapies is evaluated to enhance hot flash treatment decision-making by clinicians and patients.

1790 G/A polymorphism, but not 1772 C/T polymorphism, is significantly associated with cancers: an update study

This study aimed to investigate the association between PASD8 gene and cancers. For 1772 C/T polymorphism (rs11549465), it included 5552 cases and 8044 controls, and for 1790 G/A (rs11549467), 3381 cases and 5830 controls. The allele-analysis results showed that 1772 C/T (rs11549465) was significantly associated with cancers (OR: 1.177, 95% CI: 1.011-1.369, p=0.035). And results of genotype-analysis indicated that 1790 G/A (rs11549467) had a significant relationship with cancers. (OR: 0.736, 95% CI: 0.595-0.910, p=0.005). For 1790 G/A (rs11549467), the association was significant when subdivided by different kinds of cancers. And no association existed when subdivided into population-type subgroups. In conclusion, PASD8 gene played an important role in the development of cancers.

The statins fluvastatin and pravastatin exert anti-flushing effects by improving vasomotor dysfunction through nitric oxide-mediated mechanisms in ovariectomized animals

Statins have pleiotropic vascular protective effects that are independent of their cholesterol-lowering effects. The aim of the present study was to determine if statins have anti-flushing actions in an animal model of forced exercise-induced temperature dysregulation in menopausal hot flushes, and to clarify the critical role of statins in regulating vascular reactivity in the tail arteries of ovariectomized rats. Administration of fluvastatin or pravastatin (3mg/kg/day for 7days, p.o.) significantly ameliorated the flushing of tail skin in ovariectomized mice, and the effect of each statin was comparable with that of estrogen replacement (1mg/kg/week for 3weeks, i.m.). In phenylephrine-pre-contracted rat-tail arteries, ovariectomy inhibited acetylcholine-induced relaxation, but augmented sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxation. These ovariectomy-altered vasodilator responses were restored by fluvastatin treatment as well as by estrogen replacement. Nitrite/nitrate levels in the plasma of ovariectomized animals showed significantly lower values than those in sham-operated animals; this ovariectomy-reduced production of nitric oxide was improved by fluvastatin treatment. These data provide the first experimental evidence that statins such as fluvastatin and pravastatin exert anti-flushing effects by improving vasomotor dysfunction through nitric oxide-mediated mechanisms in ovariectomized animals. Thus, therapeutic methods that target improvement of vasomotor dysfunction could be novel strategies for reducing menopausal hot flushes.

NO to breast: when, why and why not?

Nitric oxide is a pleiotropic ancestral molecule, which elicits beneficial effect in many physiological settings but is also tenaciously expressed in numerous pathological conditions, particularly breast tumors. Nitric oxide is particularly harmful in adipogenic milieu of the breast, where it initiates and promotes tumorigenesis. Epidemiological studies have associated populations at a greater risk for developing breast cancer, predominantly estrogen receptor positive tumors, to express specific polymorphic forms of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, that produce sustained low levels of nitric oxide. Low sustained nitric oxide generates oxidative stress and inflammatory conditions at susceptible sites in the heterogeneous microenvironment of the breast, where it promotes cancer related events in specific cell types. Inflammatory conditions also stimulate inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, which dependent on the microenvironment, could promote or inhibit mammary tumors. In this review we re-examine the mechanisms by which nitric oxide promotes initiation and progression of breast cancer and address some of the controversies in the field.

The association between two polymorphisms of eNOS and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays a key role in breast cancer development. The associations between the two eNOS polymorphisms (E298D rs1799983, -786T>C rs2070744) and breast cancer risk are inconclusive. A meta-analysis was performed in this study. By searching Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, CNKI, and SinoMed database, six case-control studies were collected for the eNOS E298D polymorphism (3,038 cases and 2,508 controls) and three case-control studies were eligible for the eNOS -786T>C polymorphism. Crude ORs with 95% CIs were used to assess the strength of association between the two eNOS polymorphisms and breast cancer risk. The pooled ORs were performed for codominant model, dominant model, and recessive model, respectively. Overall, significantly decreased risk was observed for E298D (for EE vs. DD: OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.59-0.94; for ED vs. DD: OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.61-0.98; for dominant model: OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.61-0.96) and -786T > C (for TT vs. CC: OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.42-0.86; for dominant model: OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.47-0.94). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significant decreased risks were found for E298D (for EE vs. DD: OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.56-0.99) and -786T>C (for TT vs. CC: OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.35-0.81; for dominant model: OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.41-0.91; for recessive model: OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.55-0.91) among Caucasians; significant decreased risks were observed for E298D (for ED vs. DD: OR = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.02-0.96; for dominant model: OR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.02-1.00) among Asians. In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that both eNOS E298D and -786T>C polymorphisms are associated with reduced breast cancer risk.