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At least 721 records · Page 40Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Effect of cytokine gene polymorphism on histological activity index, viral load and response to treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 3.

AIM: To investigate the association between cytokine gene polymorphism and disease status in chronic hepatitis C genotype 3 by liver biopsy, ALT, HCV RNA levels and response to treatment. METHODS: Patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 3 were analyzed for single nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-1 beta, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific oligonucleotide primers. Liver biopsies were assessed by modified histological activity index (HAI) scoring system using a scale of 0-18 for grading the necro-inflammatory activity and 0-6 for staging the fibrosis. HCV RNA levels were determined by bDNA assay. The patients were treated with interferon alpha and ribavirin for 6 mo. Sustained virological response was assessed 6 mo after the completion of the treatment. RESULTS: Out of the 40 patients analyzed, 26 were males. Mean age was 40.5+/-12.5 years (range 18-65 years). The frequencies of different dimorphic polymorphisms based on single nucleotide substitution were as follows: IL-10-1082 G/A 85%, A/A 12.5%, G/G 2.5%; IL-10-819 A/C 87.5%, C/C 10%, A/A 2.5%; IL-10-592 C/A 72.5%, C/C 27.5%; IL-1 C 90%, U 10%; IFN-874 T/A 50%, T/T 27.5%, A/A 22.5%; TNF-308 A/G 95%, G/G 5%; TGF-10 T/C 52.5%, C/C 35%, T/T 12.5%. The mean grades of necro-inflammatory activity of different genotypes of IL-10 at promoter site -1082 were A/A = 3.6, A/G = 5.0, and G/G = 10.0 and the difference was significant (P = 0.029). The difference in the stage of disease at a scale of 0-6 was A/A 0.8, A/G 2.3, and G/G 4.0 (P = 0.079). The difference in the HAI seemed to be related to the presence of allele -1082G. For IL-10 -819 genotypes, mean scores of fibrosis were A/A = 6.0, A/C = 2.2, and C/C = 1.0 (P = 0.020) though the inflammatory activity was not much different. No significant differences in HAI were noted among polymorphisms of other cytokines. Moreover, ALT and HCV RNA levels were not significantly different among different cytokine polymorphisms. There was a significant correlation of HAI and HCV RNA levels with the duration of disease. TGFbeta -10 genotype CC patients had a better end of treatment response than those with other genotypes (P = 0.020). Sustained virological response to the treatment was not influenced by the cytokine polymorphism. No effect of other factors like viral load, degree of fibrosis, gender, steatosis, was observed on sustained virological response in this population infected with genotype 3. CONCLUSION: There is no significant correlation between cytokine polymorphisms and HAI except for the polymorphisms of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, which may influence hepatic inflammatory activity and fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 3. Sustained virological response in this genotype does not seem to be influenced by cytokine gene polymorphisms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Analysis on association of glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphism with steroid-resistance in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome of children].

OBJECTIVE: The nephrotic syndrome is defined by heavy proteinuria, edema, hypoalbuminemia, and hyperlipidemia. Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) mainly occurs in children, which is generally treated with glucocorticoids. The majority of patients are steroid-sensitive (SSINS) while steroid-resistance occurs in a subset of NS children (SRINS). Although intensive efforts have been undertaken to study the associations between SRINS and renal pathological changes, pharmacokinetics, and the GR density and binding affinity, the mechanisms underlying steroid-resistance are still not elucidated entirely. The authors hypothesized that it might be associated with polymorphisms in the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1). The study aimed to screen the NR3C1 gene for polymorphisms in genomic DNA samples from SRINS, SSINS children and control group, and to analyze the association of the polymorphisms in the NR3C1 gene and SRINS of children. METHODS: Totally 39 SRINS and 67 SSINS children (81 males and 25 females with the mean age of 7 years) were involved in the study. Umbilical cord blood of 62 normal neonates and peripheral blood of 2 healthy volunteers were selected as controls. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes of all subjects. All the NR3C1-coding exons and intron-flanking portions were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For polymorphism screen, PCR products were analyzed by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). DNA fragments with aberrant elution profiles were re-amplified and sequenced directly. RESULTS: Twelve aberrant elution profiles were identified with DHPLC in SRINS, SSINS and controls. Among them, 6 previously reported polymorphisms and 6 novel polymorphisms were confirmed by sequencing (198G > A, 200G > A, IVSD-16G > T, 1896C > T, 2166C > T, 2430T > C; novel, 1206C > T, 1374A > G, IVSG-68_IVSG-63delAAAAAA, 2193T > G, IVSH-9C > G, 2382C > T), and 3 groups of SNPs were in complete linkage disequilibrium, which resulted in 3 different haplotypes ([198G > A + 200G > A], [1374A > G + IVSG-68_IVSG-63delAAAAAA + IVSH-9C > G + 2382C > T], [1896C > T + 2166C > T + 2430T > C]). The last two genotypes were first reported. The genotype frequencies of the 2 novel haplotypes were 10.3% vs 1.5% in SRINS and SSINS, and 15.4% vs 7.5% in SRINS and SSINS, respectively. Other polymorphisms were relatively rare detectable both in patients and controls. CONCLUSION: Twelve polymorphisms in the NR3C1 gene were detected with the technique of DHPLC, of which six polymorphisms were identified at the first time. Two types of newly found haplotypes were associated with steroid-resistant idiopathic nephrotic syndrome of children, which might be responsible for steroid-resistance in partial idiopathic nephrotic syndrome of children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Association of the platelet glycoprotein Ia C807T/G873A gene polymorphism and thrombosis in Behçet patients.

Thrombosis is a common complication of Behçet disease and the pathogenic mechanism of thrombotic tendency in Behçet disease is not well known. Several platelet membrane glycoprotein gene polymorphisms have been identified as risk factors for thrombosis. This study aimed to evaluate the possible role of the GP Ia C807T/G873A polymorphism as a risk factor for thrombosis in Behçet disease. We determined the prevalence of platelet glycoprotein Ia C807T/G873A gene polymorphism in Behçet patients. Genomic DNA was obtained from 20 patients with Behçet disease and 61 controls. All individuals were of Turkish ancestry and were genotyped for the GP Ia C807T/G873A polymorphism with real-time PCR method by LightCycler system. The 807 CC, CT and TT genotypes corresponded with 873 GG, GA and AA genotypes, respectively. Complete linkage between the 807 and 873 sites was found in all samples. The 807CC(873 GG), 807CT(873GA), 807TT(873AA) genotypes found to be 45.9%, 45.9% and 8.1% in controls and 30.0%, 55.0% and 15.0% in patients with Behçet disease, respectively. The Odds Ratio for BD (OR = 1.97; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.42-9.13) is high for the 807 TT genotype compared with controls. Thrombosis was found in 7 cases of Behçet disease group: five cases have 807CT, one case has 807TT genotype and one case has 807CC genotype. Our data indicate hat patients with BD are affected by the glycoprotein Ia gene 807TT genotypes and carrying 807T allele. The risk of thrombosis is significantly higher in patients who have 807TT and 807CT genotypes than in patients who have 807CC genotype.

Behcet Syndrome↗
PubMed2005

Association of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism with pregnancy-induced hypertension.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the potential association of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism and serum ACE activity with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). METHODS: The ACE genotype was identified and serum ACE activity was measured in 50 primigravidae with PIH and 50 normotensive primigravidae. These subjects were followed up to delivery and perinatal outcome noted. RESULTS: ACE DD genotype was found in 60% of subjects with PIH but only in 30% of normotensive subjects (P = 0.004). The odds ratio for developing hypertension in subjects with DD genotype was 3.5. The incidence of D allele of ACE gene was significantly higher in hypertensive subjects (0.74) than in normotensive subjects (0.56, P = 0.011). The odds ratio for developing hypertension in subjects with D allele was 2.24. However, the ACE genotype was similar in different categories of PIH and did not affect the perinatal outcome. The mean ACE activity in the hypertensive subjects (32.4 IU/l) and the normotensive subjects (23.7 IU/l) was similar (P = 0.092). The ACE activity did not differ significantly according to ACE genotype. CONCLUSIONS: We noticed an excess of DD genotype and D allele in ACE gene in PIH. However, this polymorphism does not correlate with the severity of hypertension or perinatal outcome. Serum ACE levels do not correlate with the ACE gene polymorphism or the development of PIH.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

A methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism in ischaemic stroke and in carotid artery stenosis.

METHODS: A biallelic polymorphism of the methylenetretrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, reported to influence the plasma level of homocysteine (Hcy), was investigated for a possible role in influencing the risk of ischaemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) and occlusive atherosclerosis in 126 patients with ischaemic stroke and 70 patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. RESULTS: Only minor differences were observed between different groups of patients and control subjects. Although 47% of ICA stenosis patients had increased plasma Hcy, the MTHFR genotype did not correlate with levels of either Hcy, folic acid or vitamin B12. In addition, the MTHFR genotype did not affect Hcy levels, even in the presence of low blood folate. CONCLUSION: We conclude that this common MTHFR gene polymorphism does not exert a significant influence on the risk of developing ICVD or ICA stenosis, and does not cause the increased level of Hcy observed in ICA stenosis.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2002

[Study of ABO blood group secretor type alpha(1,2)-fucosyltransferase gene polymorphism in Chinese].

Secretor gene (FUT2)-encoded secretor type alpha(1,2)-fucosyltransferase (Se enzyme) that regulates expression and secretion of ABO(H) antigens in epithelial cell of glands and body fluids. It has the extensive polymorphism and race specificity. In the present study, we investigated the distribution of the fusion gene of the FUT2 locus in 191 Manchu individuals from Liaoning Province and 208 Mongolian individuals from Inner Mongolia, and analyzed the polymorphism of the FUT2 gene in 90 unrelated Han Chinese from Shandong Province and 90 Mongolian from Inner Mongolia, respectively. The fusion gene was not found in the two investigated ethnic groups. The frequencies of G849A nonsense mutation in Shandong Han Chinese and Mongolian of Inner Mongolia individuals were the same, 0.0055.

China↗
PubMed1999

Paraoxonase 192 Gln/Arg gene polymorphism, coronary artery disease, and myocardial infarction in type 2 diabetes.

Paraoxonase is an HDL-associated enzyme implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by protecting lipoproteins against peroxidation. Its biallelic gene polymorphism at codon 192 (glutamine/arginine) has been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). To further evaluate the role of this paraoxonase gene polymorphism for CAD in type 2 diabetes, we determined the paraoxonase genotype in 288 type 2 diabetic patients (170 with and 118 without angiographically documented CAD). The paraoxonase 192 Gln/Arg genotype was assessed using polymerase chain reaction followed by AlwI digestion. The frequency of the Gln allele was 0.656 in the CAD patients and 0.746 in the controls (chi2 = 5.36, P = 0.02). Compared with the Gln/Gln genotypes, the age-adjusted odds ratio for CAD was 1.78 (95% CI 1.08-2.96, P = 0.02) in subjects carrying at least one Arg allele. In the multivariate analysis, this association was even stronger after correction for the possible confounders age, sex, smoking history, and hypertension. Among current and former smokers, the odds ratio (OR) for having CAD among patients with at least one Arg allele was 3.58 (1.45-9.53, P < 0.01). The paraoxonase Arg allele was not associated with the history of myocardial infarction (OR 1.20 [0.73-1.99, NS]), but was with the extent of CAD (OR for three-vessel disease 1.92 [1.15-3.27, P = 0.01]). Our data indicate that the 192 Arg allele of the human paraoxonase gene is a risk factor for CAD but not myocardial infarction in type 2 diabetic patients, a risk factor further modified by cigarette smoking. This risk could possibly be explained by a reduced ability of the paraoxonase Arg isoform to protect lipoproteins against peroxidation.

Arginine↗
PubMed2003

ACE gene polymorphism and progression of diabetic nephropathy in Korean type 2 diabetic patients: effect of ACE gene DD on the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Pathophysiological causes of the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy are not well known, but the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism has been proposed to be involved in its development and progression. METHODS: The impact of insertion/deletion (I/D) genotypes on the progression of diabetic nephropathy in 239 Korean patients with type 2 diabetes (99 patients with stable renal function, group 1; 140 patients with declining renal function, group 2) was investigated by retrospective review of clinical data. RESULTS: The frequency of the DD genotype was significantly greater in group 2 compared with group 1 (30.7% versus 9.1%; P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in age, blood pressure, hemoglobin A(1c) levels, or lipid profiles among ACE genotype groups. However, the prevalence of retinopathy was significantly greater in patients with the DD genotype (DD, ID, and II, 90.4%, 71.2%, and 70.6%, respectively; P < 0.05). Patients with the DD genotype reached the end point (serum creatinine > 2.0 mg/dL [176.8 micromol/L]) faster than those with the other genotypes (DD, 11.38 +/- 4.08 years; ID, 13.85 +/- 4.04 years; II, 14.04 +/- 4.06 years, respectively; P < 0.05) and took significantly less time to reach dialysis therapy (DD, 13.10 +/- 4.45 years; ID, 16.21 +/- 4.74 years; II, 15.13 +/- 4.09 years, respectively; P < 0.05). In multiple logistic regression analysis, systolic blood pressure and DD genotype showed significant correlations with the progression of diabetic nephropathy. In patients with the DD genotype, the odds ratio was 3.881 (95% confidence interval, 1.564 approximately 9.628; P = 0.003) compared with those with the II genotype. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the ACE gene DD genotype might be a significant risk factor for the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Creatinine↗
PubMed2006

IL13RA2 gene polymorphisms are associated with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of genetic variability on the phenotypic expression of systemic sclerosis (SSc), by testing possible associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in IL13RA1 and IL13RA2 genes and SSc in a Caucasian population. METHODS: As IL13RA1 and IL13RA2 are located on the X chromosome and SSc occurs far more frequently in women than in men, only women were genotyped. The study group comprised 97 women with SSc, 36 with diffuse (dcSSc) and 61 with limited (lcSSc) cutaneous forms of disease, and 109 healthy controls. Patients and controls were Caucasian. We investigated 4 SNP in IL13RA1 and 3 in IL13RA2 by polymerase chain reaction amplifications and enzymatic digestion or primer extension reactions and denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: We detected an association between IL13RA2 rs638376 and patients with SSc [p = 0.004, odds ratio (OR) = 1.85, confidence interval (CI) 1.22-2.74, p corr = 0.02], as well as with dcSSc in that subgroup of patients (p = 0.01, OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.27-3.89, p corr = 0.05). The IL13RA2 rs638376G allele frequency was higher in patients with SSc (51.6%) than in controls (36.4%, p = 0.003, OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.24-2.79, p corr = 0.015) and in the subgroup with dcSSc (57.6%) than in controls (36.4%, p = 0.003, OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.35-4.15, p corr = 0.015). One other IL13RA2 SNP was only associated with the dcSSc subgroup: the IL13RA2 rs5946040G allele was more common in patients with dcSSc (33.8%) than in controls (17%, p = 0.004, OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.36-4.60, p corr = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that IL13RA2 gene polymorphisms may be involved in susceptibility to SSc. Further studies are under way to show that they contribute to disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Association of angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 gene polymorphism with essential hypertension in Chinese].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the genetic variants of angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene in a Chinese population and to determine whether the ACE2 gene polymorphisms are associated with essential hypertension (EH). METHODS: Seven hundred and forty-five patients with EH and 362 normal blood pressure controls were included in the study to assess the contribution of polymorphism of ACE2 gene. Direct DNA sequencing was performed to detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 20 subjects who were randomly selected from the EH patients. RESULTS: One SNP named G8790A located in the 4th base of the third intron was found in the 20 patients. The genotyping data indicate that the A allele frequency in male EH patients complicated with cardiac incompetence(55%) is significantly different from that in the control group(43.3%)(P<0.01). The A allele frequency in female patients with cardiac incompetence (56.1%) is higher than that in the controls (50.5%), but the difference does not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The G8790A polymorphism may be related to the essential hypertension with cardiac incompetence in Chinese population. Additional investigation will be need to confirm the association.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[Association among serous and cerebrospinal fluid TNF-alpha level, gene polymorphisms of TNF-alpha and multiple sclerosis in Han nationality of southern China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association among serous and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) TNF-alpha level, gene polymorphisms of TNF-alpha and multiple sclerosis (MS) in Han nationality of southern China. METHODS: MS diagnosis was base on Poser (1983) criteria. Fifty-five patients with nonimmulogical diseases and 68 patients with MS from southern China were enrolled in the study, and their TNF-alpha level of serum and CSF were measured by double antibody sandwich ABC-ELISA. TNF-alpha -308G/A in 106 normal healthy subjects and 68 MS patients was genotyped with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: There was significant difference in the serous TNF-alpha level between nonimmune patients and active MS patients (234+/- 76 pg/mL vs 276+/- 71 pg/mL, P< 0.05), but not in the CSF (245+/- 83 pg/mL vs 265+/- 78 pg/mL, P> 0.05). The gene frequency distribution of TNF-alpha -308G/A was corresponding with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The positive rate of genotype AA and the gene frequency of allele A of TNF-alpha were 4.4% and 14.0% in MS group, and 0 and 8.50% in healthy subjects, there was no statistical significance (P> 0.05). CONCLUSION: The TNF-alpha level in serum is associated with active MS, but not in the CSF. The gene polymorphisms of TNF-alpha -308G/A is not associated with MS in Han nationality of southern China.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Muscle-specific creatine kinase gene polymorphism and running economy responses to an 18-week 5000-m training programme.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between muscle-specific creatine kinase (CKMM) gene polymorphism and the effects of endurance training on running economy. METHODS: 102 biologically unrelated male volunteers from northern China performed a 5000-m running programme, with an intensity of 95-105% ventilatory threshold. The protocol was undertaken three times per week and lasted for 18 weeks. Running economy indexes were determined by making the participants run on a treadmill before and after the protocol, and the A/G polymorphism in the 3' untranslated region of CKMM was detected by polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism (NcoI restriction enzyme). RESULTS: Three expected genotypes for CKMM-NcoI (AA, AG and GG) were observed in the participants. After training, all running economy indexes declined markedly. Change in steady-state consumption of oxygen, change in steady-state consumption of oxygen by mean body weight, change in steady-state consumption of oxygen by mean lean body weight and change in ventilatory volume in AG groups were larger than those in AA and GG groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that the CKMM gene polymorphism may contribute to individual running economy responses to endurance training.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Renin-angiotensin system gene polymorphisms: potential mechanisms for their association with cardiovascular diseases.

Since the first description of the angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism more than a decade ago, many hundreds of investigations have reported associations between this polymorphism and cardiovascular diseases. Subsequently, similar studies were performed in relationship with several other renin-angiotensin system gene polymorphisms, most notably the angiotensinogen M235T polymorphism and the angiotensin AT(1) receptor A1166C polymorphism. Surprisingly however, especially in view of the many contradictory results that have been obtained, very little attention has been paid to the mechanism(s) that may link these genetic variants and respective diseases. Here, we review the limited evidence that is currently available on the functional consequences (including compensatory mechanisms) of the above three renin-angiotensin system gene polymorphisms, in order to provide an explanation for the reported associations (or lack thereof) between these polymorphisms and cardiovascular diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The aggregation of the 5' insulin gene polymorphism in insulin dependent (type I) diabetes mellitus families.

Population studies have suggested an increased frequency of small DNA insertions (class I alleles) 5' to the insulin gene in insulin dependent (type I) diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The present study examined this relationship within families. Forty-one families with at least one diabetic offspring were studied. Analysis of the insulin gene polymorphism was performed by digestion of DNA with Bg1I, SstI, RsaI, or PvuII and hybridisation with an insulin gene probe or polymorphic region specific probes. An increased frequency of class I alleles was found among the parents of diabetics (p = 0.02), as well as a trend towards increased frequency of parents homozygous for class I alleles and matings of two homozygous subjects. This increased homozygosity for class I alleles was present in non-diabetic sibs as well (p = 0.01). These results show that ascertainment through an offspring with IDDM selects for families with high frequencies of homozygosity for the class I allele and thus suggests that the insulin gene polymorphism is indeed providing part of the genetic predisposition to IDDM. When the major portion of genetic predisposition is provided by other genes (estimates are that HLA accounts for 30 to 70% in IDDM), identification of additional susceptibility genes becomes difficult. Even when formal linkage analysis is uninformative, our studies indicate that analysis for aggregation of specific alleles within families is a useful approach to this problem.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗
PubMed2005

Association study of Toll-like receptor 9 gene polymorphism in Korean patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Mammalian Toll-like receptors (TLR) play an important role in both adaptive immunity and innate immunity. Genetic variations within TLR genes are known to be associated with a variety of inflammatory and infectious diseases. TLR9 is potentially associated with autoimmune diseases, because it participates in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the maturation of dendritic cells. We investigated the association of four TLR9 gene polymorphisms (-1486 T>C, -1237 C>T, +1174 A>G and +2848 G>A) with the susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and related phenotypes in 680 Korean people (350 SLE patients and 330 controls). TLR9 gene polymorphisms were not significantly associated with the susceptibility to SLE and related phenotypes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Synapsin III gene polymorphisms and schizophrenia.

Synapsins are synaptic vesicle-associated phosphoproteins and are thought to play crucial roles in synaptogenesis and neurotransmitter release. Synaptic abnormalities have been reported in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In addition, the synapsin III gene, a member of the synapsin gene family, has been located at 22q12-13, which has been suggested as a potential susceptibility locus for schizophrenia. We investigated a genetic association between schizophrenia and the synapsin III gene polymorphisms (-631C/G and -196G/A) in 160 schizophrenic patients and 153 controls. No significant positive association between either polymorphism and schizophrenia was observed. Furthermore, no significant association was observed between either polymorphism and the diagnostic subtypes. Our results suggested that the synapsin III gene polymorphisms do not confer increased susceptibility to schizophrenia.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and coronary artery disease.

An insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the gene for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is associated with myocardial infarction and other cardiac pathology. There is evidence for a role of the renin-angiotensin system in cell growth and in the repair of damaged arterial walls, so the ACE gene is postulated to be a candidate gene affecting the important clinical problem of coronary artery disease (CAD). In view of the clinical importance of the ACE as a major marker of cardiovascular diseases, we investigated the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene in Turkish CAD patients in comparison with control subjects to evaluate a possible association between CAD and the gene encoding ACE. Polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism, and agarose gel electrophoresis techniques were used to determine the ACE genotype in 58 subjects. The frequencies of ACE D and ACE I allele among the patients with CAD were 62.26% and 37.73 % and in the control subjects were 49.3% and 50.76%, respectively. The greater frequency of deletion allele (D) was in the CAD group than in the control subjects was significant (P < 0.01).

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Association of vitamin D and estrogen receptor gene polymorphism with the effects of longterm hormone replacement therapy on bone mineral density.

We longitudinally studied whether vitamin D receptor (VDR) and estrogen receptor (ER) gene polymorphisms in Japanese women influenced the effect of longterm hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine. The 81 subjects were aged 40 to 64 years (mean +/- SEM, 49.5 +/- 0.6 years), and had received sequential or continuous HRT regimens, including 0.625 mg of conjugated equine estrogen and 2.5 to 5 mg of medroxy-progesterone acetate, for at least 3 years. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood cells, and analyzed for restriction fragment length polymorphism, using the restriction endonucleases Taq I, Apa I, and Fok I for VDR, and Pvu II and Xba I for ER. At 1 year, subjects with a Taq I genotype of TT (i.e., site absent) showed a significantly greater increase in BMD with treatment (DeltaBMD) than subjects with the Tt genotype (2.6 +/- 0.5% vs -0.8 +/- 1.4%; P = 0.016). A small difference between genotypes remained at 2 years (3.8 +/- 0.6% vs 0.8 +/- 1.6%; P = 0.069), but no significant difference between genotypes was seen at 3 years. In multiple regression analyses, DeltaBMD at 1 year was significantly affected by VDR- Taq I, Apa I, and ER- Pvu II genotypes and by age at treatment initiation, although at 3 years or more, DeltaBMD was significantly affected only by age. These results indicate that Taq I VDR gene polymorphism predicted the effect on lumbar BMD for the first year of HRT in Japanese women, and that the differences in BMD versus the polymorphism disappeared if the treatment was continued for over 2 years.

Bone Density↗