The Association of Fat-Mass-and Obesity-Associated Gene Polymorphism (rs9939609) With Colorectal Cancer: A Case-Control Study

Background and Aim

The association between the rs9939609 polymorphism of fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) and risk of colorectal cancer is controversial. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between FTO rs9939609 polymorphism and colorectal cancer (CRC) in Iranian people.

Methods

A case-control study was conducted on 125 patients with CRC and 250 healthy subjects in Tehran, Iran. Demographic data and blood samples were collected from all participants. Genotyping of rs9939609 polymorphism was performed by the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) method.

Results

The occurrence of AA genotype of FTO rs9939609 polymorphism in the colorectal cancer patients was significantly higher compared to that of healthy subjects (16.4 vs. 2.9%, respectively, P=0.02). The association between the frequency of risk allele of the FTO polymorphism and CRC (B=1.67, P=0.042) remained significant after adjustment for age. Further adjustment for gender (model 2) and marital status (model 3) did not change this result (B=1.67, P= 0.042 and B=1.67, P=0.043, respectively). The results remained significant after additional adjustment for ethnicity (B=1.57, P= 0.047).

Conclusion

We found a positive association between the A allele of the rs9939609 polymorphism and CRC. Future studies are required to identify the underlying mechanisms.

A possible pathogenic role of Syndecan-1 in the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

A cell-surface heparan proteoglycan called Syndecan-1 (SDC-1) has multiple roles in healthy and pathogenic conditions, including respiratory viral infection. In this study, we explore the dynamic alternation in the levels of SDC-1 in cases with COVID-19. A total of 120 cases definitely diagnosed with COVID-19 were admitted to the Firoozgar Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from December 1, 2020, to January 29, 2021, and included in our study. Also, 58 healthy subjects (HS) were chosen as the control group. Patients were classified into two groups: 1) ICU patients and (63 cases) 2) non-ICU patients (57 cases). The dynamic changes of serum SCD-1, CRP, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, and Vit D levels a well as the disease activity were investigated in three-time points (T1-T3). Our results indicated that the COVID-19 patients had significantly increased SCD-1, CRP, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-18 levels than in HS, while the Vit D levels in COVID-19 patients were significantly lower than HS. Further analysis demonstrated that the SCD-1, CRP, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-18 levels in ICU patients were significantly higher than in non-ICU patients. Tracking dynamic changes in the above markers indicated that on the day of admission, the SCD-1, CRP, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-18 levels were gradually increased on day 5 (T2) and then gradually decreased on day 10 (T3). ROC curve analysis suggests that markers mentioned above, SDC-1, IL-6, and IL-18 are valuable indicators in evaluating the activity of COVID-19. All in all, it seems that the serum SDC-1 levels alone or combined with other markers might be a good candidate for disease activity monitoring.

Switchable scattering meta-surfaces for broadband terahertz modulation

Active tuning and switching of electromagnetic properties of materials is of great importance for controlling their interaction with electromagnetic waves. In spite of their great promise, previously demonstrated reconfigurable metamaterials are limited in their operation bandwidth due to their resonant nature. Here, we demonstrate a new class of meta-surfaces that exhibit electrically-induced switching in their scattering parameters at room temperature and over a broad range of frequencies. Structural configuration of the subwavelength meta-molecules determines their electromagnetic response to an incident electromagnetic radiation. By reconfiguration of the meta-molecule structure, the strength of the induced electric field and magnetic field in the opposite direction to the incident fields are varied and the scattering parameters of the meta-surface are altered, consequently. We demonstrate a custom-designed meta-surface with switchable scattering parameters at a broad range of terahertz frequencies, enabling terahertz intensity modulation with record high modulation depths and modulation bandwidths through a fully integrated, voltage-controlled device platform at room temperature.

Accuracy of serum pepsinogens I and II, gastrin-17 and anti-helicobacter pylori antibodies in histological diagnoses of atrophic gastritis

AIM

Atrophic gastritis is defined as a chronic inflammatory process in gastric mucosa leading to loss of glandular cells. It is considered a precancerous condition, thus its early diagnosis is of importance. Although histo-pathologic studies remain as the gold standard of diagnosis, non-invasive methods suitable for screening purposes are being developed. This includes measurement of serum gastric profile.

METHODS

Two hundred and fifty 250 patients who were planned to undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were randomly selected to be included in this study. Serum levels of pepsinogen I and II, gastrin-17 and anti-Helicobacter pylori (Hp) antibody were measured and the results were compared with that of histopathologic assessment of biopsy specimens obtained during endoscopy.

RESULTS

IgG anti-Hp, PGII and PGI/PGII ratio showed correlation with age. PGI/PGII ratio showed best sensitivity (96.1%) and negative predictive value (97.7%). PGI has the highest specificity (94.6%), and PGII also had a high negative predictive value (90.7%). IgG anti-Hp showed poor sensitivity and specificity (58.8% and 26.5%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Pepsinogen I/II ratio appears to be the most suitable single measurement for screening purposes in atrophic gastritis.

Touch cytology in diagnosing Helicobacter pylori: comparison of four staining methods

OBJECTIVES

Helicobacter pylori (Hp), a major cause of peptic ulcer disease and an important risk factor for gastric malignancy, can be diagnosed by several methods. Touch cytology (TC) of the gastric mucosa has been noted to give good results and has been found to be very simple, inexpensive and rapid. However, evidence regarding the accuracy of different staining methods of TC is lacking. The present study aims at defining the diagnostic accuracy of four different staining methods of TC.

METHODS

Biopsy specimens were taken from the antral mucosa of one hundred consecutive patients referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) for various indications. TC slides were processed by four staining methods: Wright, Giemsa, Papanicolaou and Gram. Rapid urease test (RUT) and histological examination of specimens were also performed. The same experienced pathologist evaluated the coded samples. A patient's Hp status was established by minimum concordance of the three tests, including histology, RUT, and 'Touch mean'. The latter was defined positive when at least three of the four TC staining methods were positive.

RESULTS

Forty-six patients (46%) were positive for Hp according to Hp status. TC stained by Wright had excellent agreement with both histology (kappa = 0.80, P < 0.001) and RUT (kappa = 0.84, P < 0.001). Regarding Hp status, histology was 100% sensitive and RUT was 100% specific. Wright-stained TC (88.89%) was significantly more specific than both Giemsa- (74.07%; P < 0.05) and Papanicolaou-stained (70.37%; P < 0.05) TC.

CONCLUSIONS

RUT should still be acknowledged as the primary test in diagnosing Hp following UGIE. If RUT is negative and Hp detection is intended only, Wright-stained TC can safely substitute for histology. However, when assessment for severity of mucosal damage or cell atypias is meant, histology cannot be neglected.

Nonlinear analysis of anesthesia dynamics by Fractal Scaling Exponent

The depth of anesthesia estimation has been one of the most research interests in the field of EEG signal processing in recent decades. In this paper we present a new methodology to quantify the depth of anesthesia by quantifying the dynamic fluctuation of the EEG signal. Extraction of useful information about the nonlinear dynamic of the brain during anesthesia has been proposed with the optimum Fractal Scaling Exponent. This optimum solution is based on the best box sizes in the Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) algorithm which have meaningful changes at different depth of anesthesia. The Fractal Scaling Exponent (FSE) Index as a new criterion has been proposed. The experimental results confirm that our new Index can clearly discriminate between aware to moderate and deep anesthesia levels. Moreover, it significantly reduces the computational complexity and results in a faster reaction to the transients in patients' consciousness levels in relations with the other algorithms.

Phase space analysis of Event Related Potential during episodic memory retrieval

In this study we have used recurrence analysis (RA) to classify ERPs that appear from episodic memory retrieval in old/new recognition task. Since RA is based on embedding phase space, we have used correlation dimension and autocorrelation function in order to estimate embedding dimension and the lag time between successive components of each of embedding space vectors alternatively. According to RA the rates of classification have been improved in comparison to previous study. We have obtained 98.9% accuracy for train data and 97.7% for test data. Furthermore we could classify ERPs with line interference noise using RA.

Effect of oral omeprazole in reducing re-bleeding in bleeding peptic ulcers: a prospective, double-blind, randomized, clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic therapies and continuous intravenous omeprazole can decrease the morbidity and duration of hospital stay of patients with high-risk peptic ulcer.

AIM

To evaluate the role of oral omeprazole in high-risk bleeders.

METHODS

After injection therapy of 160 patients with high-risk peptic ulcer, 80 received oral omeprazole and 80 received placebo, and all were followed up.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty-nine patients (71 omeprazole and 78 placebo) completed the study. Eleven patients were excluded from the study. Thirty-seven (25%) patients had gastric ulcer and 112 (75%) had duodenal ulcer. Fifty-seven (38%) ulcers showed visible vessels, 80 (54%) showed oozing of blood and 12 (8%) showed a spurting artery. Only one patient died (placebo group). The mean hospital stays were 62.8 +/- 28.6 h and 75 +/- 39 h in the omeprazole and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.032). The mean amounts of blood transfused were 1.13 +/- 1.36 and 1.68 +/- 1.68 bags in the omeprazole and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.029). The re-bleeding rate was lower in the omeprazole group than in the placebo group (12 vs. 26, respectively; P = 0.022).

CONCLUSION

Oral omeprazole is effective in decreasing the hospital stay, re-bleeding rate and the need for blood transfusion in high-risk ulcer bleeders treated with endoscopic injection therapy.