Serum Vitamin D Level and Risk of Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Case-Control Study

Introduction. Recent research has shown conflicting evidence on the connection between vitamin D deficiency and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children. Thus, we hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency could be a risk factor for CAP. Methods. Hospitalized children between 2 and 60 months with physician-diagnosed, radiologically confirmed severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) were enrolled as cases. Age-matched controls were enrolled from immunization and weighing clinics. A blood sample was collected to assess serum 25-(OH)D concentration. Unconditional logistic regression was done to examine the independent association of vitamin D level with community-acquired pneumonia. Results. Seventy-four children (females: 68%) were included. Overall, 27% had vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) and 37.8% had insufficiency (20–29 ng/mL). The vitamin D level ranged from 8.67 to 46.2 ng/mL. There was no statistically significant difference in 25(OH)D levels in controls and cases ( p = 0.694 ). In unconditional logistic regression, 25(OH)D concentration was not a determinant of CAP (OR: 0.99, CI: 0.937–1.044, p = 0.689 ). This lack of association remained after adjustment for age, gender, income, crowding, and exposure to passive smoke (OR: 0.99, CI: 0.937–1.065, p = 0.973 ). Household income was significantly associated with CAP (OR: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.021–0.567, p = 0.008 ). Conclusion. Two-thirds of the children with CAP had vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency. In comparison with healthy controls, vitamin D level was not a significant determinant of community-acquired pneumonia. It informs that further multisite research is required using more rigorous scientific methods for conclusive evidence on the relationship between vitamin D and CAP.

Association of a GATA Binding Protein 4 Polymorphism with the Risk of Hypospadias in the Chinese Children

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> GATA binding protein 4 (GATA4) has been implicated in the etiology of congenital malformation of the urogenital system. The present study investigated the influence of <i>GATA4</i> polymorphisms on susceptibility to hypospadias. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We genotyped 4 potentially functional polymorphisms (rs12458, rs12825, rs884662, and rs904018) in <i>GATA4</i> in the hospital-based case-control study including 410 child patients and 520 nonmalformed individuals by the TaqMan MGB method. Risk associations were assessed using unconditional logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounding factors. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A significant association was found between rs12458 (3′-UTR of <i>GATA4</i>) and susceptibility to hypospadias (<i>p</i> = 0.008). Compared with rs12458 AA genotype individuals, those harboring the variant allele (rs12458 AT/TT) were correlated with significantly higher risk of hypospadias (AT/TT vs. AA: OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.17–2.35, <i>p</i> = 0.036). Furthermore, the rs12458T allele showed significantly decreased activity in a luciferase reporter assay, indicating a possible role of rs12458 variant in regulating the combination of microRNAs with the <i>GATA4</i> mRNA. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The present results indicate that the functional <i>GATA4</i> rs12458 variant confers individuals’ susceptibility to hypospadias, possibly through regulating the <i>GATA4</i> expression level.

Association Analysis of LEP Signaling Pathway with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Chinese Han Population from South China

Objective. This study is aimed at analyzing the relationship between leptin (LEP) signaling pathway and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and at providing support for molecular genetic research on the pathogenesis of T2DM in Chinese Han population. Methods. A case-control study was designed, including 1092 cases with T2DM and 1092 healthy controls of Chinese Han origin recruited from ten hospitals in Guangdong Province, Southern China. Twenty-three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 15 genes in LEP signaling pathway were genotyped by SNPscan™ kit. The Pearson chi-square test, Cochran-Armitage trend test, MAX3, and logistic regression were applied to analyze the association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and T2DM; unconditional logistic regression was used to analyze haplotype in LD block; and SNP set analysis based on logistic kernel machine regression was used to analyze pathway. All statistical analysis was performed by SPSS25.0, R2.14, Haploview4.2, SNPStats, and other statistical software packages. Results. In association analysis based on SNP, rs2167270 had statistical significance both in the adjusted and unadjusted covariate dominant model and in the unadjusted covariate overdominant model while it had no significant difference in the adjusted covariate overdominant model. Compared to GG genotype, rs2167270 of AG genotype had statistical significance in both the adjusted and unadjusted covariate codominant models. And rs16147 had statistical significance in robust test, stealth model and overdominant model, and adjusting and unadjusting covariate. This study found linkage disequilibrium existed between rs2167270 and rs4731426 of LEP, rs10889502 and rs17127107 of JAK1, rs2970847 and rs6821591 of PPARGC1A, rs249429 and rs3805486 of PRKAA1, rs1342382 and rs6588640 of PRKAA2, rs3766522 and rs6937 of PRKAB2, rs2970847 and rs6821591 of PRKAG2, and rs6436094 and rs645163 of PRKAG3. There was no positive finding with statistical significance from the unconditional logistic regression of the mentioned genes’ haplotype of LD block. Conclusions. LEP signaling pathway association with T2DM remained to be confirmed in Chinese Han population, although rs2167270 and rs16147 were significantly associated with T2DM.

Risk factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its histological precursor lesions in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Background Despite research efforts, the causative factors that contribute to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in high-risk areas have not yet been understood. In this study, we, therefore, aimed to describe the risk factors associated with ESCC and its precursor lesions. Methods We performed an endoscopic examination of 44,857 individuals aged 40–69 years from five high incidence regions of China in 2017–2018. Participants were classified as 4 groups of normal control, esophagitis, low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN) and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia/esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (HGIN/ESCC) using an unconditional logistic regression determine risk factors. Results We identified 4890 esophagitis, 1874 LGIN and 437 HGIN/ESCC cases. Crude odds ratios (ORs) and adjusted odds ratios were calculated using unconditional logistic regression. Drinking well and surface water, salty diet, and positive family history of cancer were the common risk factors for esophagitis, LGIN and HGIN/ESCC. History of chronic hepatitis/cirrhosis was the greatest risk factor of esophagitis (adjusted OR 2.96, 95%CI 2.52–3.47) and HGIN/ESCC (adjusted OR 1.91, 95%CI 1.03–3.22). Pesticide exposure (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05–1.37) was essential risk factor of LGIN. Conclusions Among individuals aged 40–69 years in high incidence regions of upper gastrointestinal cancer, the results provided important epidemiological evidence for the prevention of different precancerous lesions of ESCC.

Trends in amyloidosis in spondyloarthritis: results from the Spanish National Inpatient Registry over a 17-year period (1999–2015)—TREND-EspA study

ObjectiveTo assess the incidence of amyloidosis and trends therein in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) over a long period (17 years).MethodsAn observational retrospective population-based matched cohort study was conducted. All the admissions of patients with SpA, including ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease (SpA-IBD) and reactive arthritis (ReA), reported between 1999 and 2015, were analysed and a control group matched by age, sex and year of admission was selected. Incidence rates for amyloidosis were calculated. Generalised linear models were used for trend analysis and unconditional logistic regression for calculating crude and adjusted ORs (AOR) to assess the association between amyloidosis and SpA.ResultsThe study database contained data on 107 140 admissions in each group. Between 1999 and 2015, 792 patients in the SpA cohort (0.7% of all admissions) had a diagnosis of amyloidosis versus 68 in the non-SpA cohort (0.1%) (p<0.001). From 1999 to 2015, incidence rates of amyloidosis tended to decrease in the SpA cohort (−4.63%/year overall), while they increased in the Non-SpA cohort (+10.25%/year overall). We found strong associations of amyloidosis with all SpAs (AOR 10.4; 95% CI 8.2 to 13.3) and with each type studied (AORs 10.05 (7.84 to 12. 88) for AS, 9.5 (7.3 to 12.4) for PsA, 22.9 (16.6 to 31.7) for SpA-IBD and 10.1 (6.1 to 16.7) for ReA).ConclusionsIncidence of amyloidosis among patients with SpA has strongly decreased in Spain. Amyloidosis is most strongly associated with SpA-IBD while the strength of association with PsA and ReA is similar to that with AS.

Influence of the interaction between parental myopia and poor eye habits when reading and writing and poor reading posture on prevalence of myopia in school students in Urumqi, China

Background To evaluate the prevalence of myopia in school students in Urumqi, China, and explore the influence of the interaction between parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits on myopia to identify the at-risk population and provide evidence to help school students avoid developing myopia. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 6,883 school students aged 7–20 years in Urumqi in December 2019. The Standard Eye Chart and mydriatic optometry were used to determine whether students had myopia. Falconer’s method was used to calculate the heritability of parental myopia. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk factors for myopia and the additive and multiplicative interaction of parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits. Results After standardizing the age of the 6,883 students, the overall prevalence rate of myopia was 47.50 %. The heritability of parental myopia was 66.57 % for boys, 67.82 % for girls, 65.02 % for the Han group, and 52.71 % for other ethnicities. There were additive interactions between parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits; among them, parental myopia and poor eye habits when reading and writing (the distance between the eyes and book is less than 30 cm when reading and writing, fingers block the sight of one eye while holding the pen, and leaning one’s body when reading and writing; habit 1) increased the risk of myopia by 10.99 times (odds ratio [OR] = 10.99, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 8.33–14.68), parental myopia and poor reading posture (reading while lying down, walking, or in the car; habit 2) increased the risk of myopia by 5.92 times (OR = 5.92, 95 % CI = 4.84–7.27). There was no multiplicative interaction between parental myopia and habit 1 or habit 2 (OR = 0.69, 95 % CI = 0.44–1.08; OR = 0.89, 95 % CI = 0.66–1.21, respectively). Conclusion The prevalence of myopia among students in Urumqi, Xinjiang is relatively high. The risk of developing myopia is affected by parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits. In addition, parental myopia amplifies the harm caused by poor reading and writing habits, thereby increasing the risk of myopia. Students with parents who have myopia should be targeted during myopia prevention efforts.

Age- and gender-dependent association of SLC11A1 polymorphisms with tuberculosis susceptibility

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an important health issue in our world. It is reported that various factors may effect on its pathogenesis. In this current study, we aimed to investigate the association between SLC11A1 polymorphism and the risk of TB among 510 TB patients and 508 healthy controls.Methods: Agena MassARRAY platform was conducted for genotyping. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analyzed through unconditional logistic regression adjustment confound factors, such as age and gender.Results: The results suggested that the allele and genotype frequencies of polymorphisms in SLC11A1 were not observed associated with TB risk. Subsequently, stratified analysis by age and gender confirmed that rs7608307 “A/A” and “C/T-T/T” genotypes were related with increased TB risk in age ≤ 41 group (p = 0.021) and males (p = 0.013), respectively. Besides, rs13062 “A/A” genotype was reduced TB risk in age > 41 group (p = 0.043). In addition, we observed that the “C/C” genotype of rs4674301 was noteworthy correlated with increased TB risk in females (p = 0.043). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the relationship between SLC11A1 polymorphism and TB risk and confirmed for the first time that the correlation was restricted to age and gender in northwest Chinese population.

Influence of the interaction between parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits on prevalence of myopia in school students in Urumqi, China

Background: To evaluate the prevalence of myopia in school students in Urumqi, China, and explore the influence of the interaction between parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits on myopia to identify the at-risk population and provide evidence to help school students avoid developing myopia.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 6,883 school students aged 7–20 years in Urumqi in December 2019. The Standard Eye Chart and mydriatic optometry were used to determine whether students had myopia. Falconer’s method was used to calculate the heritability of parental myopia. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk factors for myopia and the additive and multiplicative interaction of parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits.Results After standardizing the age of the 6,883 students, the overall prevalence rate of myopia was 47.50%. The heritability of parental myopia was 66.57% for boys, 67.82% for girls, 65.02% for the Han group, and 52.71% for other ethnicities. There were additive interactions between parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits; among them, parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits (1) (the distance between the eyes and book is less than 30 cm when reading and writing, fingers block the sight of one eye while holding the pen, and leaning one’s body when reading and writing) increased the risk of myopia by 10.99 times (odds ratio [OR]=10.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]=8.33–14.68), parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits (2) (reading while lying down, walking, or in the car) increased the risk of myopia by 5.92 times (OR=5.92, 95% CI=4.84–7.27). There was no multiplicative interaction between parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits (1) or (2) (OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.44–1.08; OR=0.89, 95% CI=0.66–1.21, respectively).Conclusion The prevalence of myopia among students in Urumqi, Xinjiang is relatively high. The risk of developing myopia is affected by parental myopia and poor reading and writing habits. In addition, parental myopia amplifies the harm caused by poor reading and writing habits, thereby increasing the risk of myopia. Students with parents who have myopia should be targeted during myopia prevention efforts.

Polymorphism of FGD4 and myelosuppression in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Chemotherapy-related adverse events may restrain taxane/cisplatin administration as a regimen for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Genetic polymorphisms may contribute to adverse event susceptibility. Method & results: The authors genotyped ten SNPs from five genes (rs1045642, rs2032582 and rs3213619 of ABCB1; rs2231137 and rs2231142 of ABCG2; rs246221 of ABCC1; rs3740066 of ABCC2; and rs10771973, rs12296975 and rs1239829 of FGD4) in 219 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with taxane/cisplatin. Patients with severe toxicities were compared with those with minor or no adverse events by unconditional logistic regression models and semi-Bayesian shrinkage. After adjustment for age and sex, with the null prior, FGD4 rs1239829 was statistically significantly related to grade 3–4 leukopenia (odds ratio [95% CI] in dominant model = 1.77 [1.04–3.03]). Conclusion: The minor allele of FGD4 rs1239829 was related to grade 3–4 leukopenia in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with taxane/cisplatin, with unclear biological mechanism.