Several Independent Studies (several + independent_studies)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Mutation screening of interferon regulatory factor 1 gene (IRF-1) as a candidate gene for atopy/asthma

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 11 2000
E. Noguchi
Background IL-4 gene cluster on chromosome 5 contains several candidate genes for atopy and asthma. Several independent studies have shown evidence for linkage between the markers flanking IL-4 gene cluster and asthma and/or asthma-related traits. Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) is located approximately 300 kb telomeric to IL-4 and recent study reveals that IRF-1 deficiency results in an elevated production of Th2-related cytokines and a compensatory decrease in the expression of native cell- and Th1-related cytokines. Objective To determine if there are any mutations associated with the development of atopy and asthma present in the coding exons and 5, flanking region of the IRF-1 gene. Methods and results We have screened the promoter and coding regions of the IRF-1 gene in atopic asthmatics and controls by SSCP method. We found three novel nuclear variants (the ,300G/T and 4396 A/G polymorphisms and the 6355G > A rare variant) in the IRF-1 gene. No variants causing amino acid alterations of IRF-1 were detected. The ,300G/T polymorphism was in nearly complete linkage disequilibrium with the 4396 A/G polymorphism. An association between the 4396 A > G polymorphism and atopy/asthma was examined by transmission disequilibrium test in 81 asthmatic families. Either of 4396 A or 4396G alleles was not significantly preferentially transmitted to atopy- or asthma-affected children. Conclusion The IRF-1 gene is less likely to play a substantial role in the development of atopy and asthma in the Japanese population. [source]


Interaction of host and viral risk factors for development of cervical carcinoma in situ

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 4 2005
Anna H. Beskow
Abstract Infection by oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) is a necessary but not sufficient cause of cervical carcinoma. Several host genetic and viral factors have been reported to increase the risk of carcinoma development given an HPV infection. In our study, we have analysed the contribution of HPV 16 E6 sequence subtype and allelic variation at human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II loci to the risk of developing cervical carcinoma in situ. Non-European-like HPV 16 E6 sequence subtypes were not found to be associated with an increased risk of cervical carcinoma, as compared to European-like variants. However, an association was found between the HPV 16 E6 L83V variant and the DR*04-DQ*03 haplotype. This association has been observed in several independent studies and shows that both the host HLA class II genotype and viral subtype will affect the risk of an infection progressing into cervical carcinoma. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Risk estimates for uniparental disomy following prenatal detection of a nonhomologous Robertsonian translocation

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 4 2006
Lisa G. Shaffer
Abstract Carriers of nonhomologous Robertsonian translocations (ROB) are at risk for having offspring with uniparental disomy (UPD). Although risk estimates have been calculated in several independent studies, the estimates have not been optimal because most studies are not of sufficient size and UPD events are rare. However, these collective data have provided the opportunity to derive an overall risk estimate for UPD in the fetus after the prenatal identification of a ROB. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Pure and mixed manic subtypes: a review of diagnostic classification and validation

BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 1p2 2008
Frederick Cassidy
Objective:, To review issues surrounding the diagnosis and validity of bipolar manic states. Methods:, Studies of the manic syndrome and its diagnostic subtypes were reviewed emphasizing historical development, conceptualizations, formal diagnostic proposals, and validation. Results:, Definitions delineating mixed and pure manic states derive some validity from external measures. DSM-IV and ICD-10 diagnosis of bipolar mixed states are too rigid and less restrictive definitions can be validated. Anxiety is a symptom often overlooked in diagnosis of manic subtypes and may be relevant to the mixed manic state. The boundary for separation of mixed mania and depression remains unclear. A ,pure' non-psychotic manic state similar to Kraepelin's ,hypomania' has been observed in several independent studies. Conclusions:, Issues surrounding diagnostic subtyping of manic states remain complex and the debates surrounding categorical versus dimensional approaches continue. To the extent that categorical approaches for mixed mania diagnosis are adopted, both DSM-IV and ICD-10 are too rigid. Inclusion of non-specific symptoms in definitions of mixed mania, such as psychomotor agitation, does not facilitate and may hinder the diagnostic separation of pure and mixed mania. The inclusion of a diagnostic seasonal specifier for DSM-IV, which is currently based on seasonal patterns for depression might be expanded to include seasonal patterns for mania. Boundaries between subtypes may be ,fuzzy' rather than crisp, and graded approaches could be considered. With the continued development of new tools, such as imaging and genetics, alternative approaches to diagnosis other than the purely symptom-centric paradigms might be considered. [source]