OBJECTIVEThis is an investigation on the polymorphism distribution of genes related with metabolism, such as cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), CYP2E1, glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), GSTT1 and GSTP1 among the Korean public.

METHODSThe techniques of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism were adopted. The authors analyzed the polymorphisms for 3-flanking region of CYP1A1 gene by the restriction endonuclease MspI, for 5-flanking region of the gene of CYP2E1 by PstI, for GSTP1 by BsmAI, and for the presence of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotype to evaluate the gene types and calculate their frequencies in 300 healthy university students.

RESULTSThe CYP1A1 genotype frequencies for types of m1/m1, m1/m2, and m2/m2 are 39.7%, 49.7%, and 10.7% respectively, with the allele frequencies 0.645 for m1 and 0.355 for m2. The CYP2E1 genotype frequencies are 66.7% for type of c1/c1, 30% for type of c1/c2, 3.3% for type of c2/c2 with the allele frequencies 0.818 for C1 and 0.182 for C2. The null type frequency is 53.3% for gene GSTM1 and 54.7% for gene GSTT1. The genotype frequencies of GSTP1 is 62% for the type of Ile/Ile, 34.3% for the type of Ile/Val, 3.7% for the type of Val/Val, and the allele frequencies are 0.792 for IIe and 0.208 for Val. All of the gene distribution matched the equilibrium law of Hardy-Weinberg.

CONCLUSIONThe genetic distribution of the genes in Korean is similar to the distribution of those in Chinese; more than half of the Korean in the study sample lack GSTM1 and GSTT1; the frequency for GSTM1 and GSTT1 null type of Korean is 3 times that of Indian.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; genetics ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Young Adult

Introduction: Awareness for paediatric palliative care has resulted in the impetus for paediatrician-led palliative care services across Malaysia. However, there is paucity of local data on patients receiving hospital-based paediatric palliative care. We aim to review the clinical spectrum of patients referred to these services. Methods: An observational study of children aged between 0-18 years receiving palliative care at 13 hospitals between 1st January and 31st December 2014 was carried out. Results: There were 315 patients analysed, 90 (28.6%) and 46 (14.6%) were neonates and adolescents respectively. The main ICD-10 diagnostic categories for all patients were identified to be ‘Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities’ 117 (37.1%), ‘Diseases of nervous system’ 76 (24.1%) and ‘Neoplasms’ 60 (19.0%). At referral 156 (50%) patients had holistic needs assessments. Patients with ‘Diseases of nervous system’ were assessed to have significantly more physical needs than the other two diagnostic categories. Majority of patients who knew of their diagnosis and prognosis were those with malignancy. Over a fifth of referrals were at their terminal admission. Of 144 who died, 111 (77.1%) had advanced care plans. There was bereavement follow-up in 98 (68.1%) patients. Conclusion: Patients referred for palliative care have varied diagnoses and needs. To ensure all paediatricians are competent to deliver quality care to all children, further education and training initiatives is imperative.
Palliative Care