A polymorphism of the interleukin-1 beta gene is associated with sperm pathology in humans

In a prospective case-control study of 127 normozoospermic and 435 non-normozoospermic Caucasian men, the genotype frequencies of a polymorphism of the interleukin-1 beta gene (IL-1beta Taq C-->T) were statistically significantly different between groups (homozygous wild-type C/C [57%], heterozygous C/T [42%], and homozygous mutant T/T [1%] vs. C/C [57%], C/T [36%], T/T [7%] for normozoospermic and non-normozoospermic men, respectively; odds ratio, 4.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.13 to 20.28). This association was restricted to men with the oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) syndrome. We conclude that the investigated polymorphism is associated with sperm pathology in Caucasians.     

Association of elevated C-reactive protein levels with an impaired prognosis in patients with surgically treated endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels are associated with prognosis in surgically treated endometrial cancer. METHODS: In the present multicenter study, CRP serum levels were measured preoperatively in 403 surgically staged patients with endometrioid endometrial cancer. Results were correlated to clinical data. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) serum CRP level in patients with endometrial cancer was 1.0 (1.8) mg/dL. Serum CRP levels were associated with tumor stage (P=.01), but not with tumor grade (P=.8), lymph node involvement (P=.8), and age at diagnosis (P=.9). In a univariable survival analysis, serum CRP levels, tumor stage, tumor grade, and age at diagnosis were associated with disease-free and overall survival (all P <.001). In a multivariable Cox regression model, serum CRP levels (P=.001, P=.004), tumor stage (P <.001, P <.001), tumor grade (P=.02, P=.009), and age at diagnosis (P=.002, P=.001) were independent prognostic factors for disease-free and overall survival. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that elevated serum CRP levels are associated with a less favorable prognosis in patients with surgically treated endometrial cancer. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.