Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by increased oxidative stress. Dietary factors, such as ample consumption of foods rich in antioxidants, such as fruit and vegetables, might have beneficial effects in COPD patients.The association between dietary shift to foods rich in antioxidants and lung function in COPD was investigated in a 3-yr prospective study. A total of 120 COPD patients were randomised to follow either a diet based on increased consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables (intervention group (IG)) or a free diet (control group (CG)).The mean consumption of foods containing antioxidants was higher in the IG than in the CG throughout the study period (p,0.05). The relationship between consumption of foods rich in antioxidants and percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s was assessed using a general linear model for repeated measures; the two groups overall were different in time (p50.03), with the IG showing a better outcome. In investigating the effect of several confounders (sex, age, smoking status, comorbid conditions and exacerbation) of group response over time, nonsignificant interactions were found between confounders, group and time.These findings suggest that a dietary shift to higher-antioxidant food intake may be associated with improvement in lung function, and, in this respect, dietary interventions might be considered in COPD management.

A meta-analysis regarding BsmI, TaqI, ApaI and FokI polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and their associations with osteoporosis in females is reported. The meta-analysis involved 14, seven, seven and three studies for BsmI, TaqI, ApaI and FokI polymorphisms, respectively. The studies were association studies with osteoporotic cases and controls free of osteoporosis that provided the genotype distribution of individual cases and controls. For the BsmI polymorphism, the allele contrast b vs. B showed heterogeneity among studies (p < 0.01, I2 > 50%) and the random effects (RE) pooled odds ratio (OR) was non-significant: 0.94 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63–1.38]. Caucasians, postmenopausal cases and studies with WHO diagnostic criteria showed no association under any genetic contrast. However, in East Asians, the OR for the dominant model [fixed effects OR = 0.14 (95% CI 0.04–0.50) and RE OR = 0.16 (95% CI 0.03–0.84)] was significant, indicating prevention. Overall, for the TaqI, ApaI and FokI polymorphisms, the allele contrast showed heterogeneity and the pooled RE ORs were non-significant [OR = 1.06 (95% CI 0.71–1.60), OR = 0.99 (95% CI 0.72–1.37) and OR = 1.17 (95% CI 0.76–1.80), respectively]. The allele contrast for Caucasians, East Asians, postmenopausal cases and studies with WHO diagnostic criteria showed no association for TaqI, ApaI, and FokI. The allele contrast of homozygotes, and the recessive and dominant models the results followed the same pattern as the allele contrast. Therefore, the relationship between the VDR polymorphisms and osteoporosis remains an unresolved issue and other probable genetic-environmental risk factors interacting with the above polymorphisms should be investigated.

A meta-analysis of case-control studies that investigated the association between the C677T and/or A1298C polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was carried out. Pooled odds ratios (OR) of various genetic contrasts of each polymorphism were estimated using random (RE) and fixed effects (FE) models. Pooled ORs for combined genotypes and haplotypes were estimated after adjustment for study effect using a log-linear model and the expectation-maximization algorithm in combination with log-linear modeling, respectively. The recessive model for allele 1298C produced a rather marginal association: RE OR: 0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.46-0.99 and FE OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.49-0.84. In Caucasians, the results of the recessive model for allele 1298C was consisted with a protective effect of ALL development: FE OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.46-0.87. In childhood ALL, according to the results of the allele contrast and the recessive model for 677T allele it was conceivable that a protective effect exist: RE OR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.57-0.96 and RE OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.51-0.94, respectively. The combined genotypes produced significant pooled OR for the 677CC/1298CC relative to 677CC/1298AA (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.36-0.80). The haplotype 677C/1298C might be more protective to ALL relative to haplotype 677C/1298A (OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.61-0.97). When studies not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) were corrected to account for departures from HWE, then, the pattern of results remained the same. Overall, there is high heterogeneity between the studies in both polymorphisms. A differential magnitude of effect in large versus small studies and alteration of early extremes effects existed.

BackgroundFocal adhesion (FA) family genes have been studied as candidate genes for osteoporosis, but the results of genetic association studies (GASs) are controversial. To clarify these data, a systematic assessment of GASs for FA genes in osteoporosis was conducted.MethodsWe developed Cumulative Meta-Analysis of GAS-OSTEOporosis (CUMAGAS-OSTEOporosis), a web-based information system that allows the retrieval, analysis and meta-analysis (for allele contrast, recessive, dominant, additive and codominant models) of data from GASs on osteoporosis with the capability of update. GASs were identified by searching the PubMed and HuGE PubLit databases.ResultsData from 72 studies involving 13 variants of 6 genes were analyzed and catalogued in CUMAGAS-OSTEOporosis. Twenty-two studies produced significant associations with osteoporosis risk under any genetic model. All studies were underpowered (<50%). In four studies, the controls deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Eight variants were chosen for meta-analysis, and significance was shown for the variants collagen, type I, α1 (COL1A1) G2046T (all genetic models), COL1A1 G-1997T (allele contrast and dominant model) and integrin β-chain β3 (ITGB3) T176C (recessive and additive models). In COL1A1 G2046T, subgroup analysis has shown significant associations for Caucasians, adults, females, males and postmenopausal women. A differential magnitude of effect in large versus small studies (that is, indication of publication bias) was detected for the variant COL1A1 G2046T.ConclusionThere is evidence of an implication of FA family genes in osteoporosis. CUMAGAS-OSTEOporosis could be a useful tool for current genomic epidemiology research in the field of osteoporosis.

Variants of the arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (ALOX5AP) gene have been implicated as a risk factor for stroke. However, genetic association studies that have examined the association between ALOX5AP gene variants (HapA haplotype, HapB haplotype, and SG polymorphisms) and stroke have produced conflicting results. Therefore, the authors performed a meta-analysis of all studies with ALOX5AP genotyping (5,194 stroke cases and 4,566 controls). The meta-analysis showed significant heterogeneity among studies (P(Q) = 0.03, I(2) = 63%) and a nonsignificant association between the HapA haplotype (SG13S25G-SG13S114T-SG13S89G-SG13S32A) and stroke risk (random-effects (RE) odds ratio (OR) = 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.88, 1.45). Regarding the HapB haplotype (SG13S377A-SG13S114A-SG13S41A-SG13S35G), there was no association with stroke risk (RE OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.77, 1.37). The SG13S114, SG13S89, SG13S25, SG13S32, SG13S35, and SG13S42 polymorphisms were not associated with stroke. The SG13S106 and SG13S377 polymorphisms revealed evidence of marginal association (RE OR = 1.23 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.46) and RE OR = 1.25 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.50), respectively). However, cumulative meta-analysis for the HapA haplotype showed a downward trend of odds ratios over time, and recursive cumulative meta-analysis indicated insufficient evidence for claiming or denying an association. Tests for bias revealed no evidence of biases. Rigorous genetic association studies investigating gene-gene-environment interactions may generate more conclusive claims about the genetics of stroke.