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Background: Our previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified three independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region showing association with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In this study, we increased GWAS sample size on MHC region and performed validation in an independent ESCC cases and normal controls with aim to find additional loci at MHC region showing association with an increased risk to ESCC. Methods: The 1,077 ESCC cases and 1,733 controls were genotyped using Illumina Human 610-Quad Bead Chip, and 451 cases and 374 controls were genotyped using Illumina Human 660W-Quad Bead Chip. After quality control, the selected SNPs were replicated by TaqMan genotyping assay on another 2,026 ESCC cases and 2,384 normal controls. Results: By excluding low quality SNPs in primary GWAS screening, we selected 2,533 SNPs in MHC region for association analysis, and identified 5 SNPs with p <10−4. Further validation analysis in an independent case-control cohort confirmed one of the 5 SNPs (rs911178) that showed significant association with ESCC. rs911178 (PGWAS = 6.125E-04, OR = 0.644 and Preplication = 1.406E-22, OR = 0.489) was located at upstream of SCAND3. Conclusion: The rs911178 (SCAND3 gene) in MHC region is significantly associated with high risk of ESCC. This study not only reveal the potential role of MHC region for the pathogenesis of ESCC, but also provides important clues for the establishment of tools and methods for screening high risk population of ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the cytokine concentrations in the aqueous humor of patients with refractory polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods: Three separate groups of patients were studied–refractory PCV (Group A, 41 eyes), stable PCV (Group B, 39 eyes) and senile cataract (Group C, 44 eyes). Aqueous humor samples were collected at two time points for Groups A and B–before the first intravitreal ranibizumab injection and before the last injection. Aqueous humor samples were collected prior to phacoemulsification in Group C. The cytokine concentrations of interleukin 2, 6, and 8 (IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured by cytometric bead array and flow cytometry. Results: Before the first treatment, the MCP-1, VEGF, and TNF-α levels in Group A were significantly higher than those in Group C (P < 0.05), and the MCP-1 and VEGF levels in Group A were significantly higher than those in Group B (P < 0.05). Significantly higher MCP-1 and VEGF levels were seen in Group B compared to Group C (P < 0.05). Before the final treatment, the MCP-1, VEGF, and TNF-α concentrations in Group A were significantly higher than those in Group B (P < 0.05) and Group C (P < 0.05). IL-2 levels were significantly lower in Group A compared to Group B (P < 0.05) and Group C (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Inflammatory cytokines such as MCP-1, VEGF, and TNF-α may be associated with the pathogenesis of both stable and refractory PCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]