Annals of Saudi medicine
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Annals of Saudi medicine · Mar 2013
No association between MGP rs1800802 polymorphism and stenosis of the coronary artery.
Matrix Gla protein (MGP) was originally isolated from bone but it is known to be expressed in several tissues including kidney, lung, heart, cartilage and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) of the blood vessel wall. Since it inhibits calcification in subendothelial space of vessels thus, we evaluated the association of rs1800802(T > C) polymorphism and stenosis of the coronary artery. ⋯ We concluded that rs1800802 (T > C) polymorphism within the MGP promoter is not related to stenosis of the coronary artery.
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Annals of Saudi medicine · Mar 2013
RET codon 618 mutations in Saudi families with multiple endocrine neoplasia Type 2A and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma.
Certain diseases such as multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) 2A, MEN 2B, familial and sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and renal dysgenesis are related to abnormalities of the RET protein. Our aim was to evaluate the frequency of RET mutation in 10 Saudi families with MEN type 2A and familial MTC. ⋯ The most frequent RET proto-oncogene mutation in our series was in codon 618 (exon 10).
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Annals of Saudi medicine · Mar 2013
Impact of the revised penicillin susceptibility breakpoints for Streptococcus pneumoniae on antimicrobial resistance rates of meningeal and non-meningeal pneumococcal strains.
In January 2008, the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) revised the Streptococcus pneumoniae breakpoints for penicillin to define the susceptibility of meningeal and non-meningeal isolates. We studied the impact of these changes. In addition, the pneumococcal resistance rate to other antimicrobial agents was reviewed. ⋯ The current study supports the use of the revised CLSI susceptibility breakpoints that promote using penicillin to treat nonmeningeal pneumococcal disease, and might slow the development of resistance to broader-spectrum antibiotics.
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Annals of Saudi medicine · Mar 2013
Influence of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus on cerebrovascular reactivity in diabetics with retinopathy.
Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) provides information on the intracerebral arterioles capacity to react to vasodilatory stimuli. The current study aimed to investigate the influence of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus on CVR in diabetics with retinopathy. ⋯ Diabetes mellitus influences CVR more than hypertension.