Archives of medical research
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The importance of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in tumor progression is well documented. MMP2/TIMP2 system has a significant impact on the development and progression of cancer and genetic polymorphisms in the promoters of MMP2 (-1306C/T, 735C/T) and TIMP2 (-418G/A, -303C/T) are correlated with decreased enzyme activity. We sought to determine whether genetic polymorphisms in MMP2 and TIMP2 polymorphisms may be associated with varying risk of prostate cancer (PCa) in men in North India. ⋯ Our data indicated that MMP2-1306C>T gene polymorphism contributes to PCa susceptibility. These findings suggested MMP2 variants as a predictor of PCa progression risk among North Indian men. We assume that analysis of these gene polymorphisms can help identify patient subgroups at high risk of poor disease outcome.
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The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene is a potential candidate in altering risk for preeclampsia due to the important enzymatic effects in the metabolism of steroid hormones. It contains a non-synonymous G-A base change at codon 158 in the membrane bound isoform, which leads to a valine-to-methionine amino acid substitution. In the soluble isoform the polymorphism rs4680 is located in codon 108. The variant allele is the Met (A) allele and the Val (G) allele is the wild type allele. Despite its previously reported association with preeclampsia in genotypes in three selected ethnic groups, further studies in other populations are required. ⋯ Our study provided evidence in favor of COMT being a candidate gene for conferring genetic susceptibility to preeclampsia in a South West Chinese population.
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Angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion (rs4340) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor A1166C (rs5186) gene polymorphisms may be involved in coronary heart disease (CHD). This study was designed to evaluate potential relationships between these polymorphisms and the risk of long-term all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients requiring revascularization for atherothrombotic disease (ATD) lesions. ⋯ rs4340 polymorphism is associated with long-term all-cause mortality in advanced ATD patients requiring revascularization, whereas rs5186 polymorphism does not.
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An expandable vertebral body prosthesis with dual cage-and-plate function in a single device (JR prosthesis) was designed to test the hypothesis that this modular system can provide the biomechanical requirements for immediate and durable spine stabilization after corpectomy. Cadaver assays were performed with a stainless steal device to test fixation and adequacy to the human spine anatomy. Then, 14 patients with vertebral tumors (eight metastatic) underwent corpectomy and vertebral body replacement with a titanium-made JR prosthesis. ⋯ A nonfatal case of inferior vena cava surgical injury was observed (repaired during surgery without further complications). In conclusion, the JR prosthesis stabilizes the spine immediately after surgery and for the rest of the patients' life. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the clinical experience of any expandable vertebral body prosthesis with dual cage-and-plate function in a single device.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Folic Acid and vitamin B12 supplementation improves coronary flow reserve in elderly subjects with vitamin B12 deficiency.
Major cardiovascular risk factors including hyperhomocysteinemia are frequently associated with decreased coronary flow reserve (CFR), an important physiological parameter of the coronary circulation. This study was designed to determine whether folate (5 mg) and vitamin B12 (500 μg) supplementation in elderly patients with vitamin B12 deficiency improved CFR, while reducing homocysteine levels. ⋯ In this study of elderly subjects with vitamin B12 deficiency, supplementation with folate and vitamin B12 was associated with a significant improvement in CFR values.