PURPOSE: The genetic polymorphism and intracellular activity of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and thymidylate synthase (TS) is clinically associated with carcinogenesis and biological therapeutic effect in gastrointestinal malignancies. We aimed to elucidate the susceptibility of gastric cancer according to MTHFR and TS gene polymorphism. METHODS: This study was designed as a hospital-based case-control study in a single institute. The gastric cancer group (n=300) for the study was diagnosed at first time as tubular adenocarcinoma, and the control group (n=100) was diagnosed as no malignancy in the endoscopic biopsy. The genetic polymorphism of TS and MTHFR were confirmed by PCR. RESULTS: The MTHFR mutant type had a more than 2-fold increased risk of developing gastric cancer (RR: 2.341). But, only heterozygote type (677CT) revealed significantly higher susceptibility compared to wild type (RR: 2.581). In TS gene genotype, the mutant genotype rate (2R/3R and 3R/3R) was significantly higher in gastric cancer group compared to control group (P=0.008), and the mutant type had a more than 3-fold increased risk of developing gastric cancer (RR: 3.222). In combined MTHFR and TS, 677CT+2R/3R and 677CT+3R/3R there was more than a 3-fold increased risk rate of developing gastric cancer compared with other combinations (RR, 3.474 in 677CT with 2R/3R; RR, 3.895 in 677CT with 3R/3R). CONCLUSION: This study shows a significant association between the MTHFR and TS polymorphisms and susceptibility to gastric cancer, providing a genetic basis. The polymorphisms study of two genes could be applied as susceptibility markers, clinically, for gastric cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Case-Control Studies ; Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Thymidylate Synthase

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cryoablation has been recognized as a potential tool in the treatment of cancer. Beside its ability to cause local destruction of the primary tumor, cryoablation has been claimed to induce a systemic anti-tumor immune response. We compared cryoimmunologic responses between cryoablation and surgical excision in a murine model of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). MATERIALS AND METHOD: Six-to 8-weeks-old female mice (total n=30) were used for this study. Tumors were established at the flank of C3H mice with the SCCVII cell line, which is an immunogenic murine SCC of spontaneous origin in the C3H/HeJ mice. The mice underwent surgical excision or cryoablation, when the tumors were between 0.3 and 0.6 cm in the largest dimension. Successfully treated mice were re-challenged with the murine bladder cancer cells, namely, SCCVII cell line or MBT-2 cells at the contralateral flank. One week later, secondary tumor growth was estimated. Spleens were harvested from the mice that had no tumor after re-challenge. Effector splenocytes were added to the target SCCVII cells prelabeled with 3H thymidine. Cytotoxicity was investigated by measuring 3H thymidine releases from target cells. RESULTS: After re-challenging the SCCVII cell line, tumors were developed in 33% (1/3) of the mice treated by surgical excision, compared to 0% (0/4) of mice treated by cryoablation. In the cytotoxicity assay, there were no significant differences between the excision and cryoablation group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the anti-tumor immunologic effect of cryoablation in the murine SCC model is not better than that of surgical excision.
Animals ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cryosurgery ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Spleen ; Thymidine ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

Parachute mitral valve is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly in which the chordae tendineae of both leaflets of the mitral valve insert into a single papillary muscle. We diagnosed a 54-year-old adult with dyspnea after upper respiratory infection, who was proven to have the parachute mitral valve. To the best of our knowledge, this is the oldest patient reported with this congenital anomaly. The clinical, echocardiographic and MRI findings are described. We recommended surgery for anomalous lesion, but the patient refused. After medical treatment, the patient recovered uneventfully and remained asymptomatic during a follow-up of 13 months.
Adult* ; Chordae Tendineae ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve* ; Papillary Muscles