Suchergebnisse

<i>Objective:</i> To identify and compare population-based genetic databases, or 'genebanks', that have been proposed in eight international locations between 1998 and 2002. A genebank can be defined as a stored collection of genetic samples in the form of blood or tissue, that can be linked with medical and genealogical or lifestyle information from a specific population, gathered using a process of generalized consent. <i>Methods:</i> Genebanks were identified by searching Medline and internet search engines with key words such as 'genetic database' and 'biobank' and by reviewing literature on previously identified databases such as the deCode project. Collection of genebank characteristics was by an electronic and literature search, augmented by correspondence with informed individuals. The proposed genebanks are located in Iceland, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden, Singapore, the Kingdom of Tonga, and Quebec, Canada. Comparisons of the genebanks were based on the following criteria: genebank location and description of purpose, role of government, commercial involvement, consent and confidentiality procedures, opposition to the genebank, and current progress. <i>Results:</i> All of the groups proposing the genebanks plan to search for susceptibility genes for complex diseases while attempting to improve public health and medical care in the region and, in some cases, stimulating the local economy through expansion of the biotechnology sector. While all of the identified plans share these purposes, they differ in many aspects, including funding, subject participation, and organization. The balance of government and commercial involvement in the development of each project varies. Genetic samples and health information will be collected from participants and coded in all of the genebanks, but consent procedures range from presumed consent of the entire eligible population to recruitment of volunteers with informed consent. Issues regarding confidentiality and consent have resulted in opposition to some of the more publicized projects. None of the proposed databases are currently operational and at least one project was terminated due to opposition. <i>Conclusions:</i> Ambitious genebank projects have been proposed in numerous countries and provinces. The characteristics of the projects vary, but all intend to map genes for common diseases and hope to improve the health of the populations involved. The impact of these projects on understanding genetic susceptibility to disease will be increasingly apparent if the projects become operational. The ethical, legal, and social implications of the projects should be carefully considered during their development.

<i>Objective:</i> To conduct the first employer/workplace survey identifying employment opportunities for graduates of programs with training in public health genetics in the USA, and to determine whether employment opportunities will increase in coming years. <i>Methods:</i> Six public health genetics training competencies were developed. A survey about workplace and employment opportunities was then conducted with mailings to (1) departments in schools of public health and departments of preventive medicine, (2) local and regional public health officials, (3) insurance companies and health management organizations (HMOs), and (4) biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. <i>Results:</i> A total of 196 surveys were returned among 1,464 that were mailed. Response rates varied from 5.8 to 46.5% among the target groups. The percent of responding organizations currently employing individuals with skills in genetics ranged from 20 to 62%. The percent currently employing individuals with skills in public health ranged from 39 to 96%. Training opportunities such as internships or practicum experiences are reported for one-third of respondents. For all of the competencies, approximately half of survey respondents who rated the competency important or very important already employ individuals with public health genetics skills. Similarly, at least a quarter of survey respondents who rated the competency important or very important plan to hire individuals with that skill in the next 5 years. Overall, approximately 40% of those surveyed are planning to hire individuals with competencies in public health genetics in the next 5 years. <i>Conclusion:</i> Employment opportunities already exist and new positions are becoming available in schools of public health and departments of preventive medicine, departments of public health, insurance companies and HMOs for professionals with public health genetics training. Based on our survey findings, skills and training in public health genetics are important in the workplace.

Evidence on the association between vitamin D status and pancreatic cancer risk is inconsistent. This inconsistency may be partially attributable to variation in vitamin D regulating genes. We selected 11 vitamin D-related genes (GC, DHCR7, CYP2R1, VDR, CYP27B1, CYP24A1, CYP27A1, RXRA, CRP2, CASR and CUBN) totaling 213 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and examined associations with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Our study included 3,583 pancreatic cancer cases and 7,053 controls from the genome-wide association studies of pancreatic cancer PanScans-I-III. We used the Adaptive Joint Test and the Adaptive Rank Truncated Product statistic for pathway and gene analyses, and unconditional logistic regression for SNP analyses, adjusting for age, sex, study and population stratification. We examined effect modification by circulating vitamin D concentration (≤50, >50 nmol/L) for the most significant SNPs using a subset of cohort cases (n = 713) and controls (n = 878). The vitamin D metabolic pathway was not associated with pancreatic cancer risk (p = 0.830). Of the individual genes, none were associated with pancreatic cancer risk at a significance level of p<0.05. SNPs near the VDR (rs2239186), LRP2 (rs4668123), CYP24A1 (rs2762932), GC (rs2282679), and CUBN (rs1810205) genes were the top SNPs associated with pancreatic cancer (p-values 0.008-0.037), but none were statistically significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Associations between these SNPs and pancreatic cancer were not modified by circulating concentrations of vitamin D. These findings do not support an association between vitamin D-related genes and pancreatic cancer risk. Future research should explore other pathways through which vitamin D status might be associated with pancreatic cancer risk. ; This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, under Contract No. HHSN261200800001E. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Please see the Supplemental Information section for a detailed listing of study-specific funding. Co-authors Xiaoqin Xiong (Information Management Systems, Inc.), Dennis Maeder (Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc.) and Michelle Brotzman (Westat) are employed by commercial enterprises, and received salary from these companies to support this study. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. ; Sí