The polymorphism of CLOCK gene rs4864548 A>G is associated with susceptibility of Alzheimer’s disease in Chinese population

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between polymorphism of circadian locomotor output cycle kaput (CLOCK) gene rs4864548 A/G and susceptibility of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A total of 296 unrelated AD patients and 423 control subjects were enrolled in the case-control study. Genotypes of apolipoprotein E (APOE) and CLOCK gene rs4864548 A/G were determined by a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism detection method. Our results showed that in the whole sample or APOE ε 4 non-carriers, prevalence of A carriers in CLOCK gene rs4864548 A/G in AD patients was remarkably higher than that in control subjects (in the whole sample: χ² = 47.614, p < 0.0001; in APOE ε 4 non-carriers: χ² = 22.493, p < 0.0001). However, among APOE ε 4 carriers, the difference in the prevalence of A carriers in CLOCK gene rs4864548 A/G between AD patients and controls was no statistically significant (χ² = 0.669, p = 0.379). These findings demonstrate that A carriers in CLOCK gene rs 4864548 A/G were closely related to a high susceptibility of AD among APOE ε 4 non-carriers while the functional polymorphism of CLOCK gene rs4864548 A/G was not associated with the susceptibility of AD among APOE ε 4 carriers.     

Association Between Apolipoprotein E Gene Polymorphism and Myocardial Infarction

We investigated apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypic influence on myocardial infarction risk in South India, where the disease is emerging as a major threat to the public health care system. The study included 412 subjects: 202 myocardial infarction patients and 210 age- and sex-matched controls. DNA was isolated, the polymorphism of the APOE gene was subjected to PCR, and lipid levels were evaluated. The prevalence of E3/E4 genotypes in patients (18.3%) was 1.5-fold that of controls (11.0%, p < 0.05), and the prevalence of E2/E3 genotypes was higher in controls (6.7%) than in patients (4%). The ε4 allele was significantly associated with myocardial infarction: χ ² = 12.4; OR 2.2 (CI 95%: 1.4–3.4), p < 0.004, for ε4 versus ε3 and χ ² = 5.7; OR 2.7 (CI 95%: 1.1–6.5), p > 0.01, for ε4 versus ε2. A significant association of the ε4 allele, especially the E3/E4 genotype, with myocardial infarction was observed.     

A large-scale meta-analysis of the association between the ANKK1/DRD2 Taq1A polymorphism and alcohol dependence

Alcohol dependence (AD) is a common neuropsychiatric disorder with high heritability. A number of studies have analyzed the association between the Taq1A polymorphism (located in the gene cluster ANKK1/DRD2) and AD. In the present study, we conducted a large-scale meta-analysis to confirm the association between the Taq1A polymorphism and the risk for AD in over 18,000 subjects included in 61 case–control studies that were published up to August 2012. Our meta-analysis demonstrated both allelic and genotypic association between the Taq1A polymorphism and AD susceptibility [allelic: P(Z) = 1.1 × 10^?5, OR = 1.19; genotypic: P(Z) = 3.2 × 10^?5, OR = 1.24]. The association remained significant after adjustment for publication bias using the trim and fill method. Sensitivity analysis showed that the effect size of the Taq1A polymorphism on AD risk was moderate and not influenced by any individual study. The pooled odds ratio from published studies decreased with the year of publication, but stabilized after the year 2001. Subgroup analysis indicated that publication bias could be influenced by racial ancestry. In summary, this large-scale meta-analysis confirmed the association between the Taq1A polymorphism and AD. Future studies are required to investigate the functional significance of the ANKK1/DRD2 Taq1A polymorphism in AD.     

Influence of Alpha-2-Macroglobulin 5 bp I/D and Ile1000Val Polymorphisms on the Susceptibility of Alzheimer’s disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 52 Studies

Accumulating studies have evaluated the association of Alpha-2-Macroglobulin gene (A2M) 5 bp insertion/deletion (5 bp I/D, rs3832852) and Ile1000Val (rs669) polymorphisms with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk, but the results remain inconclusive. To investigate whether these two polymorphisms facilitate the susceptibility to AD, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Databases of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Medline, CNKI, and Google Scholar were searched to get the genetic association studies. All statistical analyses were conducted with Review Manager 5.2 and STATA11.0. Fifty-two articles were included in the final meta-analysis. We performed meta-analysis of 39 studies involving 8,267 cases and 7,932 controls for the 5 bp I/D polymorphism and 27 studies involving 6,585 cases and 6,637 controls for the Ile/Val polymorphism. Overall results did not show significant association between these two polymorphisms and AD risk in dominant, recessive, and multiplicative genetic models. On the stratification analyses by ethnicity and APOE ε4 status with genotypes of polymorphism sites, similar negative associations were found. The meta-analysis suggests that there is no enough evidence for associations of A2M gene polymorphisms (5 bp I/D, Ile1000Val) with AD risk at present, even after stratification by ethnicity and APOE ε4 with genotypes of polymorphism sites. However, due to the heterogeneity in the meta-analysis, the results should be interpreted with caution.     

Association of Lymphotoxin Alpha Polymorphism with Type 1 Diabetes in a Tunisian Population

We investigated the association of the lymphotoxin (LT)-α gene polymorphism +249A/G with type 1 diabetes. The distribution of genotypes of the LT-α +249A/G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was assessed in 115 diabetic patients and 123 normoglycemic control subjects, using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Among unselected patients, the SNP was significantly associated with increased risk of diabetes (χ² = 8.44, p = 0.014) and was found to be more pronounced among female (χ² = 8.37, p = 0.02) than male (χ² = 6.11, p = 0.047) patients. A significant association was detected between LT-α +249A/G and increased risk of diabetes, in particular for young-onset patients (χ² = 6.92, p = 0.031). Moreover, we reported significant differences in levels of HbA1c, triglycerides, alanine transaminase, and anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 among alleles. Additional studies with extended patient age groups and different ethnicities are needed to confirm our findings.     

Association between an Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Index and APOE ε4 Gene Dose

Background

We introduced a hypometabolic convergence index (HCI) to characterize in a single measurement the extent to which a person’s fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomogram (FDG PET) corresponds to that in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE ε4) gene dose is associated with three levels of risk for late-onset AD. We explored the association between gene dose and HCI in cognitively normal ε4 homozygotes, heterozygotes, and non-carriers.

Methods

An algorithm was used to characterize and compare AD-related HCIs in cognitively normal individuals, including 36 ε4 homozygotes, 46 heterozygotes, and 78 non-carriers.

Results

These three groups differed significantly in their HCIs (ANOVA, p = 0.004), and there was a significant association between HCIs and gene dose (linear trend, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

The HCI is associated with three levels of genetic risk for late-onset AD. This supports the possibility of using a single FDG PET measurement to help in the preclinical detection and tracking of AD.     

Interferon gamma and Interleukin 10 polymorphisms in Brazilian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

The pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is complex, with several susceptibility genes and environmental factors involved in its development and clinical manifestation. Currently, there is a great amount of interest in the identification of biomarkers, as cytokines, that can quantify the susceptibility of SLE, the risk of future organ involvement, and association of their changes with disease activity. To investigate the associations between polymorphisms in the gene of Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and in the promoter of the Interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene and SLE. The polymorphisms +874 T/A (rs2430561) in the IFN-γ gene and ?1082G/A (rs1800896) in the IL-10 promoter were determined in 99 SLE patients and 100 healthy controls among women Brazilian using the refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction method. Disease activity was assessed using the SLE activity index. There were significant differences in the distribution of the genotype T/A in IFN-γ gene polymorphism (+874) (χ ² = 7.168; P = 0.0074) and the genotype G/A in IL-10 promoter polymorphism (?1082) (χ ² = 4.654; P = 0.0310) between the SLE and control groups. However, no association was observed between clinical features and the polymorphisms studied. This study presents preliminary evidence for association between IL-10 and IFN-γ polymorphism and SLE susceptibility, but not with clinical features in a Northeast population from Brazil.     

Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and APOE4 allele are non-independent variables in sporadic Alzheimer's disease

Allele epsilon4 of the nuclear APOE gene is a leading genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Moreover, an allele-specific effect of APOE isoforms on neuronal cell oxidative death is known. Because of the role of the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) in oxidative phosphorylation and oxidative stress, an interaction between APOE polymorphism and mtDNA inherited variability in the genetic susceptibility to sporadic AD can be hypothesized. We have explored this hypothesis by analyzing mtDNA germline variants (mtDNA haplogroups) in a sample of AD patients (213 subjects) genotyped for APOE and classified as APOE epsilon4 carriers and non-carriers. We found that the frequency distribution of mtDNA haplogroups is different between epsilon4 carriers and non-carriers (P=0.018), thus showing non-random association between APOE and mtDNA polymorphisms. The same analysis, carried out in two samples of healthy subjects (179 age-matched and 210 individuals aged more than 100 years), showed independence between epsilon4 allele and mtDNA haplogroups. Therefore, the APOE/mtDNA interaction is restricted to AD and may affect susceptibility to the disease. In particular, some mtDNA haplogroups (K and U) seem to neutralize the harmful effect of the APOE epsilon4 allele, lowering the epsilon4 odds ratio from statistically significant to non-significant values.     

Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism in Hemodialyzed Patients and Healthy Controls

A possible association between end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphism was found in some but not all studies. We have analyzed the APOE genotypes in 995 hemodialyzed patients (cases) and a sample of 6242 healthy individuals (controls) in the Czech Republic. There was a statistically significant difference in the frequency of APOE alleles between cases and controls, with more carriers of the APOE2 allele in ESRD patients (15.9%) than in controls (12.2%) (P = 0.005). The odds ratio of ESRD for the APOE2 allele, compared with APOE3E3 homozygotes, was 1.37 (95% confidence interval 1.13–1.67). The strength of the association increased with the time spent on hemodialysis: the odds ratio of all-cause ESRD in patients dialyzed for eight or more years was 1.27 (0.94–1.71), for 1–8 years 1.41 (1.09–1.81), and less than 1 year (nonsurvivors) 1.94 (0.88–4.18). This study suggests that the APOE2 allele is a possible genetic risk factor for all-cause ESRD in Caucasians.     

Association, interaction, and replication analysis of genes encoding serotonin transporter and 5-HT3 receptor subunits A and B in alcohol dependence

On the basis of the converging evidence showing regulation of drinking behavior by 5-HT_3AB receptors and the serotonin transporter, we hypothesized that the interactive effects of genetic variations in the genes HTR3A, HTR3B, and SLC6A4 confer greater susceptibility to alcohol dependence (AD) than do their effects individually. We examined the associations of AD with 22 SNPs across HTR3A, HTR3B, and two functional variants in SLC6A4 in 500 AD and 280 healthy control individuals of European descent. We found that the alleles of the low-frequency SNPs rs33940208:T in HTR3A and rs2276305:A in HTR3B were inversely and nominally significantly associated with AD with odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval of 0.212 and 0.073, 0.616 (P = 0.004) and 0.261 and 0.088, 0.777 (P = 0.016), respectively. Further, our gene-by-gene interaction analysis revealed that two four-variant models that differed by only one SNP carried a risk for AD (empirical P < 1 × 10^?6 for prediction accuracy of the two models based on 10⁶ permutations). Subsequent analysis of these two interaction models revealed an OR of 2.71 and 2.80, respectively, for AD (P < 0.001) in carriers of genotype combinations 5′-HTTLPR:LL/LS(SLC6A4)–rs1042173:TT/TG(SLC6A4)–rs1176744:AC(HTR3B)–rs3782025:AG(HTR3B) and 5′-HTTLPR:LL/LS(SLC6A4)–rs10160548:GT/TT(HTR3A)–rs1176744:AC(HTR3B)–rs3782025:AG(HTR3B). Combining all five genotypes resulted in an OR of 3.095 (P = 2.0 × 10^?4) for AD. Inspired by these findings, we conducted the analysis in an independent sample, OZ-ALC-GWAS (N = 6699), obtained from the NIH dbGAP database, which confirmed the findings, not only for all three risk genotype combinations (Z = 4.384, P = 1.0 × 10^?5; Z = 3.155, P = 1.6 × 10^?3; and Z = 3.389, P = 7.0 × 10^?4, respectively), but also protective effects for rs33940208:T (χ ² = 3.316, P = 0.0686) and rs2276305:A (χ ² = 7.224, P = 0.007). These findings reveal significant interactive effects among variants in SLC6A4–HTR3A–HTR3B affecting AD. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects.     

Reduction in DHA transport to the brain of mice expressing human APOE4 compared to APOE2

Benefits on cognition from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22 : 6 n‐3) intake are absent in humans carrying apolipoprotein E ε4 allele (APOE4), the most important genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). To test the hypothesis that carrying APOE4 impairs DHA distribution, we evaluated plasma and brain fatty acid profiles and uptake of [¹⁴C]‐DHA using in situ cerebral perfusion through the blood–brain barrier in 4‐ and 13‐month‐old male and female APOE‐targeted replacement mice (APOE2, APOE3, and APOE4), fed with a DHA‐depleted diet. Cortical and plasma DHA were 9% lower and 34% higher in APOE4 compared to APOE2 mice, respectively. Brain uptake of [¹⁴C]‐DHA was 24% lower in APOE4 versus APOE2 mice. A significant relationship was established between DHA and apoE concentrations in the cortex of mice (r² = 0.21) and AD patients (r² = 0.32). Altogether, our results suggest that lower brain uptake of DHA in APOE4 than in APOE2 mice may limit the accumulation of DHA in cerebral tissues. These data provide a mechanistic explanation for the lack of benefit of DHA in APOE4 carriers on cognitive function and the risk of AD.

     

A miR-570 binding site polymorphism in the B7-H1 gene is associated with the risk of gastric adenocarcinoma

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in putative microRNA (miRNA) target sites (miRSNPs) could affect the binding of miRNA with the target and contribute to the susceptibility of human cancers. However, the role of miRSNPs in gastric cancer susceptibility remains largely unknown. Since the over-expression of B7-H1 protein has been reported to be closely related to disease progression of gastric cancer, we investigated the possible role of miRSNPs at the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of B7-H1 in the risk of developing gastric cancer. In this association study on 205 gastric adenocarcinoma patients and 393 non-cancer controls, we found that the genotype distribution of a common C>G polymorphism (rs4143815) was significantly different between the cases and controls (P = 1.32 × 10^?8). Compared with CC homozygotes, GG homozygotes and G allele carriers showed 3.73-fold (P = 2.98 × 10^?8) and 1.85-fold (P = 0.002) increased risk of gastric adenocarcinoma, respectively. Stratified analyses indicated that variant genotypes had a strong association with the clinic-pathological features of gastric cancer including differentiation grade, depth of tumor infiltration, and tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage (P < 0.001). Luciferase reporter assay indicated that this SNP might be responsible for aberrant B7-H1 protein expression in gastric cancer by disrupting the interaction between miR-570 and B7-H1 mRNA. These results are consistent with our hypothesis and indicate that genetic polymorphisms influencing B7-H1 expression modify cancer susceptibility.     

The synergistic risk effect of apolipoprotein ε4 and DNA (cytosine-5-)-methyltransferase 3 beta (<Emphasis Type="Italic">DNMT3B</Emphasis>) haplotype for Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex and multifactorial disease with the contribution of several genes and polymorphisms to its development. Among these genes, the APOEε4 is the best known risk factor for AD. Methylation is associated with APOE expression and AD development. Recently, we found an association of the TGG haplotype in the DNMT3B gene, one of the catalyst enzyme for methylation, with AD. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate whether APOEε4 and TGG haplotype have an synergistic effect on AD. The sample was composed of 212 Caucasian individuals (108 healthy controls and 104 with AD by NINCDS-ADRDA and DSM-IV-TR criteria) from southern Brazil. The genetic analyses were performed by real time PCR for TaqMan^® assay. Multivariate logistic regression was performed categorizing groups according to presence of APOEε4 and/or TGG haplotype as an independent variable for outcome AD. The presence of TGG haplotype plus the allele APOEε4 were strongly associated with AD [OR 11.13; 95 % CI (4.25–29.16); P < 0.001]. This association had a higher risk than each risk factor alone. We found a strong association of the interaction of DNMT3B gene with the APOEε4 in this sample of AD patients. The presence of TGG haplotype and APOEε4 significantly increased the risk of developing the disease, showing an synergistic effect.     

Genetic polymorphism of interleukin 1β −511C/T and susceptibility to sporadic Alzheimer’s disease: a meta-analysis

A large number of epidemiological studies have been performed to investigate the association between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk and interleukin-1β ?511C/T genetic polymorphism, however, inconsistent results have been reported. The effect of the IL-1β ?511C/T polymorphism on AD susceptibility was evaluated by a meta-analysis. Series of databases were researched. 14 studies involving 2640 AD case and 3493 control subjects were identified. The pooled results showed there were no statistical associations of interleukin-1β ?511C/T genetic polymorphism with susceptibility to AD for five analysis models in all subjects. However, obvious heterogeneity among studies was detected. When stratifying for age at onset, ethnicity and geographic distribution of population to explore the original source of heterogeneity, the meta-analysis results based on geographic distribution of population showed the significant difference (CC vs CT, OR 1.26, 95 % CI: 1.03, 1.54, z = 2.25, P = 0.025; CC vs CT+TT, OR 1.24, 95 % CI: 1.03, 1.50, z = 2.24, P = 0.025) only in non-Europe. These findings indicate that the IL-1β ?511C/T polymorphism might be associated with AD risk, and individuals with IL-1β ?511C/C genotype might be at higher risk of AD in non-Europe. Further larger sample research would be warranted to confirm these conclusions.     

The Q223R polymorphism in LEPR is associated with obesity in Pacific Islanders

Various Pacific Island populations have experienced a marked increase in the prevalence of obesity in past decades. This study examined the association of a promoter polymorphism of the leptin gene (LEP), G-2548A (rs7799039), and two non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms of the leptin receptor gene (LEPR), K109R (rs1137100) and Q223R (rs1137101), with body weight, body mass index (BMI) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30) in Pacific Islanders. A total of 745 Austronesian (AN)-speaking participants were analyzed after adjusting for age, gender, and population differences. The results revealed that carriers of the 223Q alleles of LEPR had significantly higher body weight (P = 0.0009) and BMI (P = 0.0022) than non-carriers (i.e., 223R homozygotes); furthermore, the 223Q carriers also had a significantly higher risk of obesity in comparison to non-carriers (P = 0.0222). The other two polymorphisms, G-2548A and K109R, were associated with neither body weight, BMI, nor obesity. The 223Q allele was widely found among the AN-speaking study subjects, thus suggesting that the LEPR Q223R polymorphism is one of the factors contributing to the high prevalence of obesity in the Pacific Island populations.     

Influence of APOE Genotype on Hippocampal Atrophy over Time - An N=1925 Surface-Based ADNI Study

The apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 genotype is a powerful risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort, we previously reported significant baseline structural differences in APOE e4 carriers relative to non-carriers, involving the left hippocampus more than the right—a difference more pronounced in e4 homozygotes than heterozygotes. We now examine the longitudinal effects of APOE genotype on hippocampal morphometry at 6-, 12- and 24-months, in the ADNI cohort. We employed a new automated surface registration system based on conformal geometry and tensor-based morphometry. Among different hippocampal surfaces, we computed high-order correspondences, using a novel inverse-consistent surface-based fluid registration method and multivariate statistics consisting of multivariate tensor-based morphometry (mTBM) and radial distance. At each time point, using Hotelling’s T² test, we found significant morphological deformation in APOE e4 carriers relative to non-carriers in the full cohort as well as in the non-demented (pooled MCI and control) subjects at each follow-up interval. In the complete ADNI cohort, we found greater atrophy of the left hippocampus than the right, and this asymmetry was more pronounced in e4 homozygotes than heterozygotes. These findings, combined with our earlier investigations, demonstrate an e4 dose effect on accelerated hippocampal atrophy, and support the enrichment of prevention trial cohorts with e4 carriers.     

The CTLA-4 +49 A/G, CT60 A/G and PTPN22 1858 C/T polymorphisms and susceptibility to vitiligo: a meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to explore whether cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) +49 A/G, CT60 A/G, and protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor 22 (PTPN22) 1858 C/T polymorphisms confer susceptibility to vitiligo. A meta-analysis was conducted of the associations between the CTLA-4 +49 A/G, CT60 and PTPN22 1858 C/T polymorphisms and vitiligo using; (1) allele contrast, (2) the recessive model, (3) the dominant model, and (4) the additive model. A total of 14 separate comparisons were considered in our meta-analysis consisting of 3,404 patients with vitiligo and 5,069 controls (nine studies with 1,252 cases and 2,152 controls for the CTLA-4 polymorphisms and five studies with 1,800 cases and 3,269 controls for the PTPN22 polymorphism). Meta-analysis showed no association between vitiligo and the CTLA-4 +49 A/G polymorphism in all study subjects (OR of the G allele = 1.186, 95 % CI = 0.893–1.575, p = 0.240) and in European (OR = 1.016, 95 % CI = 0.873–1.182, p = 0.838). However, meta-analysis of the CTLA-4 CT60 A/G polymorphism showed an association between vitiligo and the CTLA-4 CT60 G allele in all study subjects (OR = 1.267, 95 % CI = 1.110–1.447, p = 4.5 × 10^?5) and in the European group (OR = 1.345, 95 % CI = 1.163–1.556, p = 6.3 × 10^?6). Analysis using the recessive model and homozygote contrast showed the same pattern for the CTLA-4 CT60 G allele. Meta-analysis of the PTPN22 1858 C/T polymorphism showed an association between the PTPN22 T allele and vitiligo in all subjects (OR = 1.507, 95 % CI = 1.320–1.720, p < 1.0 × 10^?8) and in European group (OR = 1.530, 95 % CI = 1.339–1.748, p < 1.0 × 10^?8), but not in Asians (OR = 0.482, 95 % CI = 0.152–1.530, p = 0.216). Analysis using the recessive, dominant model, and homozygote contrast showed the same pattern for the PTPN22 T allele. This meta-analysis demonstrates that the CTLA-4 CT60 A/G polymorphism confers susceptibility to vitiligo in Europeans, but no association was found between the CTLA-4 +49 A/G polymorphism and vitiligo susceptibility. The PTPN22 C1858T polymorphism is associated with vitiligo susceptibility in European population.     

Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele and outcomes of traumatic spinal cord injury in a Chinese Han population

The association between apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 (ε4) allele and outcomes of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is still controversial and ambiguous. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that APOE polymorphisms are associated with outcomes after SCI in Chinese Han patients. APOE polymorphisms were determined in 100 patients with cervical SCI (C3–C8). The genotype frequency of this polymorphism was determined by using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Patients with an APOE ε4 allele had significantly less motor recovery during rehabilitation than did patients without an APOE ε4 allele (mean 3.7 vs. 6.1; P = 0.04) and a longer rehabilitation length of stay (LOS) (mean 117.4 vs. 94.5; P = 0.02), but better sensory-pinprick recovery (mean 6.1 vs. 4.0; P = 0.03). There were no significant differences by APOE ε4 allele status in sensory-light touch recovery or acute LOS. This study suggests that the APOE ε4 allele is associated with outcomes after SCI and longer rehabilitation LOS in Chinese Han patients.     

A meta-analysis of the association of glutathione S-transferase P1 gene polymorphism with the susceptibility of breast cancer

Glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) is one of the important mutant sites for the cancer risk at present. The conclusions of the published reports on the relationship between GSTP1 A/G gene polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer are still debated. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association between GSTP1 and the risk of breast cancer. The association reports were identified from PubMed and Cochrane Library, and eligible studies were included and synthesized using meta-analysis method. 35 investigations were included into this meta-analysis for the association of GSTP1 A/G gene polymorphism and breast cancer susceptibility, consisting of 40,347 subjects (18,665 patients with breast cancer and 21,682 controls). The association between GSTP1 A/G gene polymorphism and breast cancer risk was not found for overall population, Caucasians and Africans. Interestingly, the GSTP1 A/G gene polymorphism was associated with the susceptibility of breast cancer in Asians (G allele: OR = 1.10, 95 % CI: 1.04–1.17, P = 0.001; GG genotype: OR = 1.36, 95 % CI: 1.14–1.62, P = 0.0008; AA genotype: OR = 0.92, 95 % CI: 0.85–0.98, P = 0.02). Furthermore, the GSTP1 A/G gene polymorphism was associated with the susceptibility of breast cancer for the analysis of the controls from hospital. In conclusion, GSTP1 A/G gene polymorphism is associated with the breast cancer susceptibility in Asians. However, more studies on the relationship between GSTP1 A/G gene polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer should be performed in further.