Search results for " Metabolic diseases"
showing 10 items of 699 documents
Genetics and Beyond – The Transcriptome of Human Monocytes and Disease Susceptibility
2010
BACKGROUND: Variability of gene expression in human may link gene sequence variability and phenotypes; however, non-genetic variations, alone or in combination with genetics, may also influence expression traits and have a critical role in physiological and disease processes. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To get better insight into the overall variability of gene expression, we assessed the transcriptome of circulating monocytes, a key cell involved in immunity-related diseases and atherosclerosis, in 1,490 unrelated individuals and investigated its association with >675,000 SNPs and 10 common cardiovascular risk factors. Out of 12,808 expressed genes, 2,745 expression quantitative trait …
Rosuvastatin Prevents Conduit Artery Endothelial Dysfunction Induced by Ischemia and Reperfusion by a Cyclooxygenase-2–Dependent Mechanism
2010
ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine whether single-dose rosuvastatin (40 mg) protects against ischemia and reperfusion (IR)–induced endothelial dysfunction in humans and whether this effect is cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 dependent.BackgroundAnimal studies have demonstrated that rosuvastatin can limit damage and improve recovery after IR.MethodsIn a double-blind, parallel design, 20 volunteers were randomized to a single dose of oral rosuvastatin (40 mg) or placebo. Twenty-four hours later, endothelium-dependent, flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the radial artery was measured before and after IR (15 min of upper arm ischemia followed by 15 min of reperfusion). In a separate protoc…
A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to establish a safe gluten threshold for patients with celiac disease
2007
BACKGROUND: Treatment of celiac disease (CD) is based on the avoidance of gluten-containing food. However, it is not known whether trace amounts of gluten are harmful to treated patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to establish the safety threshold of prolonged exposure to trace amounts of gluten (ie, contaminating gluten). DESIGN: This was a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial in 49 adults with biopsy-proven CD who were being treated with a gluten-free diet (GFD) for > or =2 y. The background daily gluten intake was maintained at < 5 mg. After a baseline evaluation (t0), patients were assigned to ingest daily for 90 d a capsule containing 0, 10, or 50 mg glute…
Rich false memories of autobiographical events can be reversed
2021
False memories of autobiographical events can create enormous problems in forensic settings (e.g., false accusations). While multiple studies succeeded in inducing false memories in interview settings, we present research trying to reverse this effect (and thereby reduce the potential damage) by means of two ecologically valid strategies. We first successfully implanted false memories for two plausible autobiographical events (suggested by the students’ parents, alongside two true events). Over three repeated interviews, participants developed false memories (measured by state-of-the-art coding) of the suggested events under minimally suggestive conditions (27%) and even more so using massi…
TNFalpha, IFNgamma and IL-10 gene polymorphisms in a sample of Sicilian patients with coeliac disease.
2005
Coeliac disease is associated with DQ2 and DQ8 alleles, but other genes also confer an additional genetic risk.Defining whether the genetic profiles of interleukin-10, tumour necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma are associated with an increased coeliac disease risk.The functionally gene polymorphisms of tumour necrosis factor alpha (-308G/A), interferon gamma (+874T/A) and interleukin-10 (-1082G/A) were typed using sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction in 110 Sicilian coeliac disease patients and in 220 Sicilian healthy controls.No differences in genotype frequencies of interleukin-10 polymorphisms were found between coeliac disease patients and healthy controls. A signif…
Body Mass Index as a Risk Factor for Toxicities in Patients with Advanced Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Treated with Trabectedin
2017
<b><i>Objectives:</i></b> Low body mass index (BMI) and/or low lean body mass have been shown to be risk factors for chemotherapy-related toxicities in a number of different cancers. However, no data are available regarding the role of BMI as a risk factor for developing toxicities related to the novel anticancer agent, trabectedin, in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma (STS). We evaluated the role of BMI as a risk factor for trabectedin-related toxicity in patients with STS. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Data from 51 patients with metastatic/advanced STS treated with trabectedin after progression on ≥1 anthracycline ± ifosfamide regimen were retrospe…
Correlates of increased lean muscle mass in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
2009
ObjectiveMuscle mass plays an important role in determining cardiovascular and metabolic risks in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In addition, whether lean mass influences carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in PCOS has not been assessed.DesignProspective investigation.MethodsNinety-five women with PCOS were age- and weight-matched to 90 ovulatory controls. All women had dual X-ray absorptiometry for lean, fat and bone mass, and bone mass density (BMD). Serum testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, insulin, and glucose and carotid IMT were determined. Free androgen index (FAI) and insulin resistance (by QUICKI) were calculated.ResultsIn PCOS, waist circumference and insulin were high…
IgA anti-actin antibodies ELISA in coeliac disease: A multicentre study.
2007
Previous studies have demonstrated that serum anti-actin antibodies are a reliable marker of intestinal damage severity in coeliac disease.To validate in a multicentre study the clinical usefulness of serum IgA anti-actin antibody ELISA and its possible use in monitoring intestinal mucosa lesions during gluten-free diet.Four centres recruited 205 newly diagnosed coeliac disease patients with villous atrophy, 80 healthy controls and 81 "disease" controls. Twelve coeliac disease patients on gluten-free diet but with persistent symptoms underwent serum IgA anti-actin antibody assay and intestinal histology evaluation. IgA anti-actin antibody ELISA was performed with a commercial kit. All coeli…
Identification of a gene-pathway associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
2007
Background/Aims We have integrated gene expression profiling of liver biopsies of NASH patients with liver samples of a mouse model of steatohepatitis (MAT1A-KO) to identify a gene-pathway associated with NASH. Methods Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 microarrays were used to evaluate nine patients with NASH, six patients with steatosis, and six control subjects; Affymetrix MOE430A microarrays were used to evaluate wild-type and MAT1A-KO mice at 15 days, 1, 3, 5 and 8 months after birth. Transcriptional profiles of patients with NASH and MAT1A-KO mice were compared with those of their proficient controls. Results We identified a gene-pathway associated with NASH, that accurately distinguishes betwe…
Low incidence but poor prognosis of complicated coeliac disease: A retrospective multicentre study.
2013
Abstract Background Coeliac disease is a chronic enteropathy characterized by an increased mortality caused by its complications, mainly refractory coeliac disease, small bowel carcinoma and abdominal lymphoma. Aim of the study was to study the epidemiology of complications in patients with coeliac disease. Methods Retrospective multicenter case–control study based on collection of clinical and laboratory data. The incidence of complicated coeliac disease was studied among coeliac patients directly diagnosed in four Italian centres. Patients referred to these centres after a diagnosis of coeliac disease and/or complicated coeliac disease in other hospitals were therefore excluded. Results B…