• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7149-7154
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• 2013

Objective: Increasing scientific evidence suggests that common variants in the PALB2 gene may confer susceptibility to breast cancer, but many studies have yielded inconclusive results. This meta-analysis aimed to derive a more precise estimation of the relationship between PALB2 genetic variants and breast cancer risk. Methods: An extensive literary search for relevant studies was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CISCOM, CINAHL, Google Scholar, CNKI and CBM databases from their inception through September 1st, 2013. A meta-analysis was performed using the STATA 12.0 software and crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Six case-control studies were included with a total of 4,499 breast cancer cases and 6,369 healthy controls. Our meta-analysis reveals that PALB2 genetic variants may increase the risk of breast cancer (allele model: OR>1.36, 95%CI: 1.20~1.52, P < 0.001; dominant model: OR>1.64, 95%CI: 1.42~1.91, P < 0.001; respectively). Subgroup analyses by ethnicity indicated PALB2 genetic variants were associated with an increased risk of breast cancer among both Caucasian and Asian populations (all P < 0.05). No publication bias was detected in this meta-analysis (all P > 0.05). Conclusion: The current meta-analysis indicates that PALB2 genetic variants may increase the risk of breast cancer. Thus, detection of PALB2 genetic variants may be a promising biomarker approach.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 2016

Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) have been used to represent the effects of topography on soil erosion. A DEM of 30 m resolution is frequently used in hydrology and soil erosion studies because the National Water Management Information System (WAMIS) provides a 30 m resolution DEM at national scale on its web site. However, the Ministry of Environment recommends the use of a DEM with 10 m resolution for evaluation of soil erosion due to the fact that soil erosion estimation is to some degree affected by the spatial resolution of DEM. In this regard, a DEM with 5 m resolution was resampled for 10 × 10 m, 20 × 20 m, 30 × 30 m, 50 × 50 m, 70 × 70 m, and 100 × 100 m resolutions, respectively. USLE LS factors and soil erosion values were evaluated using these datasets. Use of a DEM with at least 30 m resolution provided reasonable LS factors and soil erosion values at a watershed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.3009-3014
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• 2015

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) may play a pathological role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the conclusions of published reports on the relationship between the EGF $61^*A/G$ polymorphism and HCC risk remain controversial. To derive a more precise estimation we performed a meta-analysis based on 14 studies that together included 2,506 cases and 4,386 controls. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were used to retrieve articles up to August 1, 2014. The crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated to evaluate the association. Meta-analysis results showed a significant association between the EGF $61^*A/G$ polymorphism and HCC risk in all four genetic models (allele model: OR=1.25, 95%CI=1.12-1.40; dominant model: OR=1.32, 95%CI=1.14-1.54; recessive model: OR=1.33, 95%CI=1.12-1.58; ho-mozygous model: OR=1.59, 95%CI=1.33-1.90). Moreover, significant associations were observed when stratified by ethnicity, source of controls, etiology and genotype methods. Thus, this meta-analysis suggests that the G-allele of the EGF $61^*A/G$ polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of HCC, especially in Asians and Caucasians, without influence from the source of controls or etiological diversity. Further studies with larger population sizes are needed to confirm these results.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.175-182
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• 2010

The paper presents a novel algorithm for face and iris detection with the application for driver iris monitoring. The proposed algorithm consists of the following major steps: Skin-color segmentation, facial features segmentation, and iris positioning. For the skin-segmentation we applied a multi-layer perceptron to approximate the statistical probability of certain skin-colors, and filter out those with low probabilities. The next step segments the face region into the following categories: eye, mouth, eye brow, and remaining facial regions. For this purpose we propose a novel segmentation technique based on estimation of facial class probability density functions (PDF). Each facial class PDF is estimated on the basis of salient features extracted from a corresponding facial image region. Then pixels are classified according to the highest probability selected from four estimated PDFs. The final step applies the circular Hough transform to the detected eye regions to extract the position and radius of the iris. We tested our system on two data sets. The first one is obtained from the Web and contains faces under different illuminations. The second dataset was collected by us. It contains images obtained from video sequences recorded by a CCD camera while a driver was driving a car. The experimental results are presented, showing high detection rates.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2015

It has been well known that it is not easy to quantify pollutant loads driven by non-point source pollution due to various factors affecting generation and transport mechanism of it. Especially pollutant loads through baseflow have been investigated by limited number of researchers. Thus in this study, the Web-based WAPLE (WHAT-Pollutant Load Estimation) system was developed and applied at study watersheds to quantify baseflow contribution of pollutant. In YbB watershed, baseflow contribution with WWTP discharge is responsible for 49.5% of total pollutant loads at the watershed. Among these, pollutant loads through baseflow (excluding any WWTP discharge) is responsible for 61.7% of it. In GbA watershed, it was found that 58.4% is contributed by baseflow with WWTP discharge 2.9% and 97.1% is by baseflow. For NbB watershed (without WWTP discharge), 52.3% of pollutant load is transported through baseflow. As shown in this study, it was found that over 50.0% of TN (Total Nitrogen) pollutant loads are contributed by non-direct runoff. Thus pollutant loads contributed by baseflow and WWTP discharge as well as direct runoff contribution should be quantified to develop and implement watershed-specific Best Management Practices during dry period.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4915-4921
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• 2012

Published data on any association between the CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI (c1/c2) polymorphism and liver cancer risk among east Asians are inconclusive. The aim of this Human Genome Epidemiology (HuGE) review and meta-analysis was to derive a more precise estimation of the relationship. A literature search of Pubmed, Embase, Web of science and CBM databases from inception through July 2012 was conducted. Twelve case-control studies were included with a total of 1,552 liver cancer cases and 1,763 healthy controls. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of association under five genetic models. When all the eligible studies were pooled into the meta-analysis, the results showed that the c2 allele and the c2 carrier (c2/c2 + c2/c1) of RsaI/PstI polymorphism were associated with decreased risk of liver cancer among east Asians (c2 vs. c1: OR = 0.75, 95%CI: 0.59-0.95, P = 0.016; c2/c2 + c2/c1 vs. c1/c1: OR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.58-1.00, P = 0.050). In the stratified analysis by country, significant associations were observed between RsaI/PstI polymorphism and decreased risk of liver cancer among the Chinese population (c2 vs. c1: OR = 0.70, 95%CI: 0.54-0.91, P = 0.007; c2/c2 + c2/c1 vs. c1/c1: OR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.54-0.95, P = 0.020), but not among Japanese and Korean populations. Results from the current meta-analysis indicates that the c2 allele of CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI (c1/c2) polymorphism may be a protective factor for HCC among east Asians, especially among China populations.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5105-5111
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• 2012

Background: Published data on the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ESR1 gene and breast cancer susceptibility are inconclusive or controversial. The aim of this Human Genome Epidemiology (HuGE) review and meta-analysis was to derive a more precise estimation of this relationship. Methods: A literature search of Pubmed, Embase, Web of science and CBM databases was conducted from inception through September 1th, 2012. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of association. Results: A total of five studies including 1,678 breast cancer cases and 1,678 general population controls in Asian populations were involved in this meta-analysis. When all the eligible studies were pooled into the meta-analysis, the higher transcriptional activity variant allele T of ESR1 PvuII (C>T) (rs2234693) in pre-menopausal breast cancer women showed a significant relation to increased risk (OR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.01-1.28, P = 0.040) in contrast to their post-menopausal counterparts which showed non-significant increased risk (OR = 1.01, 95%CI: 0.87-1.18, P = 0.858). Nevertheless, no significant association between ESR1 XbaI (A>G) (rs9340799) polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer was observed in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal individuals. Conclusion: Based on a homogeneous Asian population, results from the current meta-analysis indicates that the ESR1 PvuII (C>T) polymorphism places pre-menopausal breast cancer women at risk for breast cancer, while ESR1 XbaI (A>G) polymorphism is not likely to predict the risk of breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4909-4914
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• 2012

Objective: The aim of this Human Genome Epidemiology (HuGE) review and meta-analysis was to derive a more precise estimation of the association between p53 codon 72 polymorphism (Arg72Pro, rs1042522 G>C) and cervical cancer risk among Asians. Methods: A literature search of Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and CBM databases from inception through June 2012 was conducted. The meta-analysis was performed using STATA 12.0 software. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of any association. Twenty-eight case-control studies were included with a total of 3,580 cervical cancer cases and 3,827 healthy controls. When all the eligible studies were pooled into the meta-analysis, the results showed that the Pro/Pro genotype was associated with increased risk of cervical cancer under the heterozygous model (Pro/Pro vs. Arg/Pro: OR = 1.25, 95%CI: 1.02-1.53, P= 0.005). However, no statistically significant associations were found under four other genetic models (Pro vs. Arg: OR = 0.97, 95%CI: 0.85-1.10, P= 0.624; Pro/Pro + Arg/Pro vs. Arg/Arg: OR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.70-1.01, P= 0.058; Pro/Pro vs. Arg/Arg + Arg/Pro: OR = 1.13, 95%CI: 0.92-1.39, P= 0.242; Pro/Pro vs. Arg/Arg: OR = 0.97, 95%CI: 0.76-1.22, P= 0.765; respectively). In the subgroup analysis based on country, the Pro/Pro genotype and Pro carrier showed significant associations with increased risk of cervical cancer among Indian populations, but not among Chinese, Japanese and Korean populations. Conclusion: Results from the current meta-analysis suggests that p53 codon 72 polymorphism might be associated with increased risk of cervical cancer, especially among Indians.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.803-805
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• 2014

The IL-16 rs4778889 T/C polymorphism is associated with cancer risk. However, the results are conflicting. We performed this meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation of the relationship. A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to assess the strength of association. A total of 6 studies including 1,603 cases and 2,342 controls were identified. With all studies involved, results showed no statistically significant association between IL-16 rs4778889 T/C polymorphism and cancer risk (CC vs. CT+TT: OR=0.74, 95%CI:0.55-1.02, $P_h=0.15$; CC+CT vs. TT: OR=0.89, 95%CI: 0.72-1.10, $P_h=0.03$; CC vs. TT: OR=0.73, 95%CI: 0.53-1.00, $P_h=0.08$; CT vs. TT: OR=0.91, 95%CI: 0.79-1.05, $P_h=0.08$; C vs. T: OR=0.89, 95%CI: 0.74-1.07, $P_h=0.02$). In addition, the results were not changed when studies were stratified by cancer type. However, to verify our findings, it is essential to perform more well-designed studies with larger sample sizes in the future.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.34-43
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• 2020

Phenylketonuria is a disease caused by congenital defects in phenylalanine metabolism that leads to irreversible nerve cell damage. However, its detection in the early days of life can reduce its severity. Thus, many countries have started disease screening programs for neonates. The present study aimed to determine the worldwide prevalence of classic phenylketonuria using the data of neonatal screening studies.The PubMed, Web of Sciences, Sciences Direct, ProQuest, and Scopus databases were searched for related articles. Article quality was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Evaluation Checklist. A random effect was used to calculate the pooled prevalence, and a phenylketonuria prevalence per 100,000 neonates was reported. A total of 53 studies with 119,152,905 participants conducted in 1964-2017 were included in this systematic review. The highest prevalence (38.13) was reported in Turkey, while the lowest (0.3) in Thailand. A total of 46 studies were entered into the meta-analysis for pooled prevalence estimation. The overall worldwide prevalence of the disease is 6.002 per 100,000 neonates (95% confidence interval, 5.07-6.93). The meta-regression test showed high heterogeneity in the worldwide disease prevalence (I²=99%). Heterogeneity in the worldwide prevalence of phenylketonuria is high, possibly due to differences in factors affecting the disease, such as consanguineous marriages and genetic reserves in different countries, study performance, diagnostic tests, cutoff points, and sample size.