European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2010
ReviewA critical update on the immunopathogenesis of Stiff Person Syndrome.
Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is a relatively rare but often overlooked autoimmune neurological disorder that targets antigens within the brain's inhibitory pathways resulting in incapacitating stiffness and spasms that impact on the patients' quality of life. Although a number of immunomodulating therapies significantly improve the patients' symptoms, the exact pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. ⋯ This review provides a critical assessment on the immunobiology of SPS, describes the identification of anti-GABARAP antibodies as a new antigenic target in the GABAergic synapse and identifies the areas for future research.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2010
C-reactive protein evolution in obstructive sleep apnoea patients under CPAP therapy.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is recognized as a potential factor implicated in atherogenesis and associated cardiovascular morbidity. The aim of our study was to assess the CRP evolution during 1-year follow-up period in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients under CPAP treatment. ⋯ Good CPAP compliance results in a significant CRP reduction. To achieve the best positive impact on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, a time period of at least 6months of CPAP use is required.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2010
IL-18 gene polymorphism, cardiovascular mortality and coronary artery disease.
Interleukin 18(IL-18) is a pro-atherosclerotic cytokine. Elevated IL-18 levels and the genetic variation of the IL-18 have been previously linked with acute coronary events and cardiovascular mortality among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We studied the possible association between the IL-18 gene polymorphism and cardiovascular mortality during follow-up among Finnish patients who had undergone a clinical exercise stress test, in addition to the possible effect on the expression of angiography-verified CAD. ⋯ The IL-18 gene was not found to associate significantly with mortality. Among patients who had coronary angiography, one major haplotype of the IL-18 gene has a gender-dependent different impact on the expression of CAD.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2010
Atorvastatin and cardiac hypertrophy and function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a pilot study.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic paradigm of cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac hypertrophy is a major determinant of risk of sudden death and morbidity in HCM. Treatment with statins reverses hypertrophy in animal models of HCM. Thus, statins may afford therapeutic benefits in HCM. ⋯ The findings illustrated the challenges that will be encountered in designing efficacy studies to test the potential beneficial effects of atorvastatin in human HCM.