Arch Med Sci
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Sarcoidosis is a rare multisystem granulomatous disease with unknown etiology. The interplay of vitamin D deficiency and genetic polymorphisms in genes coding for the proteins relevant for metabolism of vitamin D is an important, but unexplored area. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CYP2R1 (rs10741657), CYP27B1 (rs10877012), DBP (rs7041; rs4588), and VDR (rs2228570) genes and sarcoidosis, as well as the association between these SNPs and 25(OH)D levels in sarcoidosis patients. ⋯ These results suggest that patients with vitamin D deficiency should be regularly tested for genetic modifiers that are related to sarcoidosis in order to prevent development of serious forms of sarcoidosis.
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The modifying effect of FTO gene expression level on change in body mass index and body composition has not been studied before. This study aimed to investigate the association between change in the expression level of the FTO gene and changes in anthropometric measurements in obese and overweight adolescent boys. ⋯ FTO gene expression change was associated with change in %SM in male adolescents. Future studies are required to assess the interactions between FTO gene expression in different tissues and body composition.
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The aim of the study was to investigate the underlying functional network brain activity changes in patients with late monocular blindness (MB) and the relationship with their clinical features using the voxel-wise degree centrality (DC) method. ⋯ Late monocular blindness involves brain function network dysfunction in many regions, which might indicate impairment of the visual cortex and other vision-related brain regions in the MBs.
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cause of ischemic stroke (IS). Atrial fibrillation patients are recommended to use oral anticoagulants (OACs) as part of prevention against IS. However, despite having a therapeutic intensity of OAC therapy, IS can still occur in such patients. The aim of our study was to examine the configuration of IS risk factors in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and within the therapeutic INR range (TINR). ⋯ The group of patients with NVAF and TINR is significantly more burdened by other independent common risk factors for stroke.
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This study aims to evaluate the gastro-protective effects of virgin coconut oil (VCO) on different ulcer models as compared to the standard drug (omeprazole). ⋯ Virgin coconut oil shows a possible association with antioxidant properties to control the regulation of prostaglandin synthesis and protect against reactive oxygen species damage.