The use of a hypoxic cell radiosensitizer AK-2123 gave no improvement in thermoradiotherapy combined with hydralazine

Association between the CTLA-4, CD226, FAS polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

We explored whether cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) rs5742909, CD226 rs763361, FAS rs1800682, and FASL rs763110 polymorphisms are associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

We performed a meta-analysis on the association between the four gene polymorphisms and RA.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of all study subjects showed no association between RA and the CTLA-4 rs5742909 T allele (OR=1.057, 95% CI=0.782-1.429, p=0.719). However, the meta-analysis revealed an association between RA and the CD226 rs763361 T allele in all study subjects (OR=1.294, 95% CI=1.063-1.576, p=0.010), and an association was found between the CD226 rs763361 TT genotype and RA in Asians (OR=1.363, 95% CI=1.126-1.651, p=0.001). Meta-analysis showed no association between RA and the FAS rs1800682 G/A polymorphism. However, meta-analysis revealed an association between RA and the FASL rs763110 T allele in all study subjects (OR=1.366, 95% CI=1.093-1.707, p=0.006) and in Asians (OR=1.402, 95% CI=1.059-1.855, p=0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis demonstrates that the CD226 rs763361 and FASL rs763110 polymorphisms are associated with RA, especially in Asians.

Carbon dioxide reactivity of computed tomography functional parameters in rabbit VX2 soft tissue tumour

Tumour blood flow is one of the important factors limiting the efficacy of radiation therapy (hypoxic radioresistance), chemotherapy (drug delivery) and thermal therapy (heat dissipation) in treating cancer. The modification of tumour blood flow has been an area of intense investigation. In the current study, the arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) was changed in order to investigate the tumour vascular response to carbon dioxide. Functional maps of blood flow, blood volume and mean transit time were generated at four PaCO2 levels in VX2 tumour in the rabbit thigh and normal soft tissue. The PaCO2 levels investigated were normocapnia (PaCO2 = 40.9 +/- 1.2 mmHg), hypocapnia (27.2 +/- 2.3 and 33.5 +/- 2.3 mmHg) and hypercapnia (54.9 +/- 4.4 mmHg). The carbon dioxide reactivity of the global tumour blood flow and mean transit time showed significant differences between normocapnia and the two levels of hypocapnia, but not between normocapnia and hypercapnia. The average fractional change of blood flow from normocapnia for the two levels of hypocapnia was -0.41 +/- 0.06 and -0.29 +/- 0.08, respectively (P < 0.05). In the case of mean transit time the fractional change was +0.39 +/- 0.30 and +0.23 +/- 0.24, respectively (P < 0.05). The fractional change of blood volume from normocapnia, however, was not significantly different at any capnic level, as was the case with respect to each of the functional parameters in normal tissue. The ability to reduce blood flow and increase mean transit time through hypocapnia has significant implications in thermal therapy, since heat dissipation is a major factor in limiting the effectiveness of treatment.