BackgroundNumerous epidemiological studies have been conducted to explore the association between the Lys939Gln polymorphism of Xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XPC) gene and urinary bladder cancer susceptibility. However, the results remain inconclusive. In order to derive a more precise estimation of this relationship, a large and update meta-analysis was performed in this study.MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted through researching MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, China Biomedical Literature database (CBM) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases before June 2013. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the strength of the association.ResultsA total of 12 studies with 4828 cases and 4890 controls for evaluating the XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism and urinary bladder cancer were included. Overall, there was significant associations between the XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism and urinary bladder cancer risk were found for homozygous model (OR = 1.352, 95% CL = 1.088-1.681), heterozygous model (OR = 1.354, 95% CL = 1.085-1.688), and allele comparison (OR = 1.109, 95% CL = 1.013-1.214). In subgroup analysis by ethnicity and source of controls, there were still significant associations detected in some genetic models.ConclusionOur meta-analysis suggested that the XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism contributed to the risk of urinary bladder cancer.Virtual slidesThe virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: .

Species of Zygophiala are components of the sooty blotch and flyspeck complex that blemish the cuticle of fruits reducing their economic value. In our study, six strains were isolated from apple fruit collected in orchards in Montenegro. Zygophiala montenegroensis is a newly described species based on its unique morphological characteristics and the analysis of multiple sequences including the internal transcribed spacer of the rDNA, the partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha and the actin genes. Zygophiala cylindrica is described as a new record in Montenegro and Europe.

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