Background: There are some unique epidemiological characteristics of esophageal cancer in Iran. The objective of this study was finding the association between tobacco, substance and alcohol using with the risk of esophageal cancer in North Khorasan, Iran.
Methods: This Case-Control study was carried out on 96 patients with esophageal cancer and 187 controls. Controls were matched to cases by age and sex. Data were collected through structured interview. Data were analyzed by using chi-square test, T-test and logistic regression, in Stata software version 12.
Results: Our findings show Hookah smoking [OR = 6.1(CI95%:1.2–13.1)] and opium consumption [OR = 2.1(CI95%:1.2–3.5)] were associated with esophageal cancer. Cigarette and pipe smoking, age of onset of smoking, duration of smoking, number of smoking per day, leaving history of smoking, years of leaving smoking, drug withdrawal, number of times of drug withdrawal, a history of drug relapse, alcohol consumption and alcohol dose–response were not related to esophageal cancer.
Conclusion: According to our results, hookah smoking and opium consumption enhance the risk of esophageal cancer in North Khorasan of Iran. We suggest appropriate planning to prevent the esophageal cancer in this district. 相似文献
To assay peripheral inter-ictal cytokine serum levels and possible relations with non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) responsiveness in migraineurs.
Methods
This double-blinded, sham-controlled study enrolled 48 subjects and measured headache severity, frequency [headache days/month, number of total and mild/moderate/severe classified attacks/month], functional state [sleep, mood, body weight, migraine-associated disability] and serum levels of inflammatory markers [inter-ictal] using enzyme-linked immunoassays at baseline and after 2 months of adjunctive nVNS compared to sham stimulation and suitably matched controls.
Results
No significant differences were observed at baseline and after 2 months for headache severity, total attacks/month, headache days/month and functional outcome [sleep, mood, disability] between verum and sham nVNS. However, the number of severe attacks/month significantly decreased in the verum nVNS group and circulating pro-inflammatory IL-1β was elevated significantly in the sham group compared to nVNS. Levels of anti-inflammatory IL-10 were significantly higher at baseline in both groups compared to healthy controls, but not at 2 months follow-up [p?<?0.05]. Concentrations of high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1), IL-6, tumor-necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin remained unchanged [p?>?0.05]. No severe device-/stimulation-related adverse events occurred.
Conclusion
2 months of adjunctive cervical nVNS significantly declined the number of severe attacks/month. Pro-inflammatory IL-1β plasma levels [inter-ictal] were higher in sham-treated migraine patients compared to verum nVNS. However, pro- [IL-6, HMGB-1, TNF-α, leptin] and anti-inflammatory [IL-10, adiponectin, ghrelin] mediators did not differ statistically. Profiling of neuroinflammatory circuits in migraine to predict nVNS responsiveness remains an experimental approach, which may be biased by pre-analytic variables warranting large-scale biobank-based systematic investigations [omics]. 相似文献
Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP; also called tomaculous neuropathy) is an autosomal-dominant
disorder that produces a painless episodic, recurrent, focal demyelinating neuropathy. HNPP generally develops during adolescence,
and may cause attacks of numbness, muscular weakness, and atrophy. Peroneal palsies, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other entrapment
neuropathies may be frequent manifestations of HNPP. Motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities may be reduced in clinically
affected patients, as well as in asymptomatic gene carriers. The histopathological changes observed in peripheral nerves of
HNPP patients include segmental demyelination and tomaculous or “sausage-like” formations. Mild overlap of clinical features
with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease type 1 (CMT1) may lead patients with HNPP to be misdiagnosed as having CMT1. HNPP and
CMT1 are both demyelinating neuropathies, however, their clinical, pathological, and electrophysiological features are quite
distinct. HNPP is most frequently associated with a 1.4-Mb pair deletion on chromosome 17p12. A duplication of the identical
region leads to CMT1A. Both HNPP and CMT1A result from a dosage effect of the PMP22 gene, which is contained within the deleted/duplicated region. This is reflected in reduced mRNA and protein levels in sural
nerve biopsy samples from HNPP patients. Treatment for HNPP consists of preventative and symptom-easing measures. Hereditary
neuralgic amyotrophy (HNA; also called familial brachial plexus neuropathy) is an autosomal-dominant disorder causing episodes
of paralysis and muscle weakness initiated by severe pain. Individuals with HNA may suffer repeated episodes of intense pain,
paralysis, and sensory disturbances in an affected limb. The onset of HNA is at birth or later in childhood with prognosis
for recovery usually favorable; however, persons with HNA may have permanent residual neurological dysfunction following attack(s).
Episodes are often triggered by infections, immunizations, the puerperium, and stress. Electrophysiological studies show normal
or mildly prolonged motor nerve conduction velocities distal to the affected brachial plexus. Pathological studies have found
axonal degeneration in nerves examined distal to the plexus abnormality. In some HNA pedigrees there are characteristic facial
features, including hypotelorism. The prognosis for recovery of normal function of affected limbs in HNA is good, although
recurrent episodes may cause residual deficits. HNA is genetically linked to chromosome 17q25, where mutations in the septin-9 (SEPT9) gene have been found. 相似文献
Immune modulation by heavy metals may cause serious adverse health effects in humans, although the mechanisms involved are not well understood. Both cadmium and lead are important environmental and occupational toxins. Therefore, in the current study, the costimulatory/adjuvant effects and the T-cell-activating potential of these metals (i.e., CdCl2 and PbCl2), are examined. These immune-modulating properties are critical in the development of conditions such as allergy, hypersensitivity, and autoimmunity. Using the direct popliteal lymph node assay (PLNA) and reporter antigen-popliteal lymph node assay (RA-PLNA) both metals were examined individually for immunotoxicity. Mercury (i.e., HgCl2) was included for comparative purposes as its effects in the RA-PLNA are well documented. Seven days following a single footpad injection containing metal and/or RA (trinitrophenyl-ovalbumin [TNP-OVA] or TNP-Ficoll), BALB/c mice were sacrificed and the popliteal lymph nodes (PLNs) removed. PLN cellularity, TNP-specific antibody-secreting cells (ASCs), and lymphocyte subsets were assessed. All three metals strongly stimulated T- and B-cell proliferation and ASC production following coinjection with the RA TNP-OVA. In each case, ASC production was skewed towards the IgG1 isotype. In addition, all three metals induced IgG production to TNP-Ficoll (although relatively weakly in the case of Cd). These results show that each of these metals can provide adjuvant signals to promote lymphocyte proliferation and enhance adaptive immune responses to unrelated antigens. Skewing of immune responses towards T helper type 2 responses suggests that each of these metals can enhance allergic and hypersensitivity reactions to environmental antigens. Furthermore, the induction of IgG responses to TNP-Ficoll, a T-cell-independent antigen, indicates that each of these metals can activate neoantigen-specific T cells. T-cell activation by metals can lead to metal hypersensitivity and has been implicated in the development of autoimmunity. This is the first report of immune modulation by CdCl2 and PbCl2 in the RA-PLNA. 相似文献
The expression of MHC isoforms in the skeletal muscles of nine patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) (from 2.5 to 15 yr of age) and three DMD carriers was studied using different specific anti-MHC MAbs. We also analyzed muscle fiber size and fiber reactivity with acridine orange and/or with a surface antigen marker. One-quarter of all fibers of DMD patients, or less with age, were of normal size and contained only adult slow MHC. Half of the muscle fibers contained adult and developmental MHCs. Only half of these fibers were representative of an active regenerative process. MHC co-expression also altered the proportion of normal fast or slow fibers. Adult fast MHCs were expressed as unique MHC only in small and very small fibers in the oldest DMD patients. In DMD carrier muscles, the greatest alterations in MHC expression were observed in patients with the most reduced dystrophin expression. However, MHC changes in dystrophin-positive fibers were similar to those observed in dystrophin-free fibers. In conclusion, disruptions or delays in the switching of all genes coding for adult fast and slow MHC and developmental MHC coincided with dystrophin deletion and with perturbations in its expression. 相似文献
BACKGROUND: First-degree relatives of individuals with schizophrenia show cognitive impairments that are similar to but less severe than their ill relatives. We have shown that memory impairments can be improved and prefrontal cortical (PFC) activity increased in individuals with schizophrenia by providing beneficial encoding strategies. The current study used a similar paradigm to determine whether siblings of individuals with schizophrenia (SIBs) also show increases in brain activity when presented with beneficial encoding strategies. METHODS: Twenty-one SIBs and 38 siblings of healthy comparison subjects underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scans while engaged in deep (abstract/concrete judgments) and shallow (orthographic judgments) encoding. Subjects were then given a recognition memory test. RESULTS: The groups did not differ on encoding or recognition accuracy, and the SIBs benefited from deep encoding to a similar degree as control subjects. The SIBs showed deep encoding-related activity in a number of PFC regions typically activated during semantic processing. However, SIBs showed more activity than control subjects in three subregions of PFC (left BA 44 & BA 47 bilaterally). CONCLUSIONS: Siblings of individuals with schizophrenia benefit from supportive verbal encoding conditions. Like individuals with schizophrenia, SIBs also show increased task-related activity in a larger number of PFC subregions than control subjects during deep verbal encoding. 相似文献