Search results for "pathogen"
showing 10 items of 1657 documents
Association of SUMO4 M55V polymorphism with autoimmune diabetes in Latvian patients.
2006
Small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO4), located in IDDM5, has been identified as a potential susceptibility gene for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The novel polymorphism M55V, causing an amino acid change in the evolutionarily conserved met55 residue has been shown to activate the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), hence the suspected role of SUMO4 in the pathogenicity of T1DM. The M55V polymorphism has been shown to be associated with susceptibility to T1DM in Asians, but not in Caucasians. Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a slowly progressive form of T1DM and SUMO4 M55V has not been studied in LADA to date. The current study aims to test whether Latvians are similar to …
Red blood cell plasmalogens and docosahexaenoic acid are independently reduced in primary open-angle glaucoma
2009
International audience; Among several theories involved in the pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), the vascular theory considers the disease to be a consequence of reduced ocular blood flow associated with red blood cell abnormalities. Red blood cell membrane structure and function are influenced by their phospholipid composition. We investigated whether specific lipid entities that may affect the membrane physiology, namely, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and plasmalogens, are modified in POAG and whether these potential variations are related to the stage of glaucoma. Blood samples were collected from 31 POAG patients and 10 healthy individuals. The stage of glaucoma …
Serum vitamin E levels negatively correlate with severity of age-related macular degeneration.
1999
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) pathogenesis has been related to UV radiation and other factors that may promote increased oxidative damage to the retina. Patients with different AMD grading (n = 25) were compared with an age-matched group of AMD-free subjects (n = 15), both groups older than 60 years. A modification of the AMD grading system is proposed that allows patient grading and not single eye grading. AMD patients showed statistically significant lower serum levels of vitamin E and Zn than AMD-free subjects. Moreover, a negative correlation (Spearman's correlation coefficient r = -0.815, P < 0.001) could be established between AMD grading of both the patients' eyes and serum …
Nerve conduction velocity and circulating immunocomplexes in type 1 diabetic children.
1991
There is evidence from several laboratories of an increased prevalence of circulating immuno-complexes (CIC) in diabetic patients. It has also been suggested that CIC are pathogenetically related to chronic diabetic complications. The aim of this study was to assess peripheral nerve function in children with Type 1 diabetes and to evaluate the relationship between the neurophysiological abnormalities and the possible presence of CIC. The investigation was carried out in 25 Type 1 diabetic patients ranging in age from 7-19 years and in 20 normal controls. Neurophysiological assessment was performed to evaluate motor and sensory conduction velocity on median and tibial nerves. IgG-CIC were de…
Association between AT C573T polymorphism and cardiovascular risk factors in myocardial infarction.
2011
Abstract Background Polymorphisms in the AT1 gene have been associated with various parameters related to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and to myocardial infarction. This study analyzed the relationship between two polymorphisms of the angiotensin II AT-1 receptor gene (AT1_1166 and AT1_573) and the risk of ischemic heart disease by studying their association with several cardiovascular risk factors. Methods The sample population comprised 356 subjects: 174 patients who had survived myocardial infarction (61.01±8.15 years), and 182 age- and gender-matched controls (mean age of 60.25±9.43). The polymorphisms of the angiotensin II AT1-receptor gene (C573T and A1166C) were studie…
The parkin gene is not a major susceptibility locus for typical late-onset Parkinson's disease
2001
We investigated the parkin gene in 118 patients with typical Parkinson's disease (PD), i. e. in patients who had an onset of PD after the age of 45 years. The study group included 95 subjects with sporadic PD and 23 subjects from 18 families with autosomal recessive PD. No pathogenetic mutations in the parkin gene were detected either in familial or in sporadic patients. Our findings indicate that the parkin gene is not involved in the pathogenesis of classic late-onset PD.
Basal ganglia calcifications and ALS syndrome.
1994
We report the case of a patient with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism and unusually large symmetrical calcifications in the basal ganglia, thalami, cerebellar hemispheres and brainstem, who clinically presented an ALS-like syndrome. We discuss the possible role of abnormal calcium metabolism in the pathogenesis of motoneuron disease.
Sequential contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiencies
1999
The purpose of the present study was to assess the presence and the time-course of contrast-enhancement in the pituitary gland and pituitary stalk of 24 patients with isolated growth hormone (GH) deficiency and multiple pituitary hormone deficiency. The patients were evaluated clinically (auxological measurements), endocrinologically (spontaneous GH secretion and GH stimulation tests) and with conventional MRI scans. In addition, fast-framing dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with Gd-DTPA enhancement was used to quantitate the time course of contrast enhancement within the neurohypophysis, pituitary stalk, postero-superior adenohypophysis and antero-inferior adenohypophysis. In 3 pat…
Hsp60 and heme oxygenase-1 (Hsp32) in acute myocardial infarction
2011
Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are produced in response to various stressors, including ischemia-reperfusion, and they can exit cells and reach the blood. In this pilot study, we determined serum levels of Hsp60 and heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1; also named Hsp32) in subjects with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to assess their clinical significance and potential prognostic value. We also performed a bioinformatics analysis of the 2 molecules in search of structural clues on the mechanism of their release from cells. We studied 40 patients consecutively admitted for AMI (male:female patient ratio = 20:20, mean age: 64 ± 13 years) and 40 matched controls. A blood sample was drawn for biochemical anal…
Pancreatic insufficiency in celiac disease is not dependent on nutritional status
1994
To determine the relationship between pancreatic secretory capacity and nutritional status in celiac patients, we studied 52 patients with celiac disease (24 males, 28 females; age range 6-36 months) and 30 healthy control subjects (14 males, 16 females; age range 6-42 months). A secretin-cerulein test was performed on all patients, and levels of serum albumin and plasma fibronectin were assayed. In addition, weight/height ratios were calculated in the celiacs, who were then divided into three groups on this basis, as follows: celiacs with weight/height ratioor = 3rd percentile; those with weight/height ratio between the 4th and 10th percentiles; and those with weight/height ratio10th perce…