Relevance of plasma levels of free homocysteine and methionine as risk predictors for ischemic stroke in the young.

Background & Aims: The debated vascular risk potential of total homocysteine (tHcy), due to failed clinical trials designed on B vitamin supplementation, raises many possible explanations like the higher risk potential of the deleterious, free form of homocysteine (fHcy) or, the unchecked confounding effects of B-vitamins in tHcy-based association studies. Additionally, the cardiovascular risk probability of altered status of the homocysteine precursor, methionine (tMet) could shed light on the causality of association between tHcy and cardiovascular diseases. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the risk associations of elevated plasma levels of tHcy, fHcy and low levels of tMet with premature, ischemic stroke.

A genetic study of Factor V Leiden (G1691A) mutation in young ischemic strokes with large vessel disease in a South Indian population.

Factor V Leiden (FVL) has been, by far, the most investigated gene mutation, with 26 studies to date, on its role in arterial strokes. Overall, a meta-analysis of all these studies taken together showed that carriers of the Factor V Leiden allele were 1.33times more likely to develop arterial strokes when compared to controls.

Plasma S-adenosylhomocysteine: A potential risk marker for cerebral venous thrombosis.

Background: Despite a plethora of studies suggesting that hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with an increased risk for arterial and venous thrombosis, there is paucity of data on the role of the S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), the metabolic precursor of homocysteine (Hcy) as a risk predictor for cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT).

Method: We estimated fasting plasma concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy), SAH and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), in 185 CVT patients and 248 healthy controls, by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography coupled with coulometric electrochemical detection.

Results: Fasting tHcy, SAH and SAM were significantly higher in patients compared with controls.

Proteomic Signature of Endothelial Dysfunction Identified in the Serum of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients by the iTRAQ-Based LC-MS Approach.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a devastating cerebrovascular disorder that leads to permanent physical and neurological disabilities in adults worldwide. Proteins associated with stroke pathogenesis may appear in the serum of AIS patients due to blood-brain barrier dysfunction, thus permitting the development of blood-based biomarkers for early diagnosis of stroke. These biomarkers could perhaps be an adjunct to the existing imaging modalities and aid in better management and therapeutic intervention during the course of the disease.

Modulation of Cardiac Autonomic Dysfunction in Ischemic Stroke following Ayurveda (Indian System of Medicine) Treatment.

Objectives. Cardiac autonomic dysfunction in stroke has implications on morbidity and mortality. Ayurveda (Indian system of medicine) describes stroke as pakshaghata.

Protein Z G79A polymorphism and puerperal cerebral venous thrombosis.

Protein Z (PZ), a cofactor for PZ-dependent protease inhibitor, is known to play an important role in inhibiting the coagulation cascade. The aim of the study was to investigate whether PZ G79A polymorphism is a risk factor for puerperal cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). A total of 71 patients with puerperal CVT and 98 healthy controls were genotyped for PZ 79GA polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

Plasma factor VIII in non-puerperal cerebral venous thrombosis: a prospective case-control study.

Elevated plasma factor VIII (FVIII) is increasingly recognized as an independent risk factor for thrombotic diseases. Our aim was to evaluate the association of increased plasma FVIII with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). Forty eight patients with non-puerperal, aseptic CVT were recruited for the study along with 50 age- and gender-matched, healthy controls.

Influence of CYP2C9 polymorphism and phenytoin co-administration on acenocoumarol dose in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis.

Background: The study aimed at evaluating the contribution of genetic variations in the drug metabolizing enzyme, CYP2C9, and the influence of co-medication with the antiepileptic drug, phenytoin, to variability in acenocoumarol response, in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT).

Methods: 476 acenocoumarol-treated CVT patients (153 males and 323 females) were genotyped for CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3 polymorphisms by PCR-RFLP method. Mean acenocoumarol dose required for achieving and maintaining a stable international normalized ratio (INR) was calculated for different genotypes.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and small vessel cerebral stroke in Indian population.

Background. Hypertension is an established risk factor for small-vessel cerebral stroke and the renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in the maintenance of blood pressure. We aimed at evaluating the contribution of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism to the risk of small-vessel stroke in south Indian population.

Plasma Proteome Database as a resource for proteomics research: 2014 update.

Plasma Proteome Database (PPD; http://www.plasmaproteomedatabase.org/) was initially described in the year 2005 as a part of Human Proteome Organization's (HUPO's) pilot initiative on Human Plasma Proteome Project.

Hyperhomocysteinemia and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism in cerebral veno-sinus thrombosis.

There is limited data on the role of hyperhomocysteinemia as a risk factor for cerebral veno-sinus thrombosis (CVT) in Indians. We examined the association between plasma homocysteine (Hcy), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism, and CVT in 185 patients with aseptic CVT (puerperal 80 and nonpuerperal 105) and 248 healthy controls (puerperal 67 and nonpuerperal 181). Fasting Hcy was higher in patients compared to controls (20.

Janus kinase (JAK) 2 V617F mutation in Asian Indians with cerebral venous thrombosis and without overt myeloproliferative disorders.

It is unclear whether the somatic JAK2V617F mutation, a marker for chronic myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs), is associated with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) in the absence of MPD. Our aim was to determine the prevalence and association of the JAK2V617F mutation among patients with CVT and without overt MPD. We investigated 372 CVT patients without features suggestive of MPD and 383 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, for the JAK2V617F mutation.

Coagulation factor VII R353Q polymorphism and the risk of puerperal cerebral venous thrombosis.

Puerperal cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a relatively common form of stroke in young women in India. The blood coagulation factor VII (FVII) R353Q polymorphism increases the risk for venous thrombosis. Our aim was to investigate the association of FVII R353Q polymorphism with the risk of puerperal CVT.

Postnatal variations in blood free and acylcarnitines.

Background: Alteration in concentrations of blood carnitine and its esters are diagnostic of a number of inherited metabolic disorders. Acylcarnitine (AC) profiles of newborns obtained from dried blood spots by tandem mass spectrometric analysis are being used for the diagnosis of these disorders. There are no data of the postnatal variations of free carnitine (FC) and AC in Indian neonates.

Association of the functional KL-VS variant of Klotho gene with early-onset ischemic stroke.

Genetic variants of Klotho have been reported to be associated with human longevity and atherosclerotic vascular events and risk factors. However, very few studies have explored their association with ischemic stroke. We hypothesized that the functional KL-VS and the exonic C1818T variants of Klotho gene may be associated with ischemic stroke in Indian population.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine as a risk marker for early-onset ischemic stroke in Indian population.

Background: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a circulating endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, has been associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The present study was initiated to investigate the role of ADMA as a biomarker of risk for early-onset ischemic stroke.

Methods: Plasma ADMA levels were measured in 201 ischemic stroke patients aged between 15 and 50 years and 217, age and gender-matched healthy controls, by high performance liquid chromatography using pre-column derivatization with O-phthaldialdehyde.

Association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms with early-onset ischemic stroke in South Indians.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of T-786C, G894T and 4a/b polymorphisms in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene with early-onset ischemic stroke in South Indians.

Methods: We enrolled 177 patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke aged between 15 to 45 years and 219 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Genotypes of eNOS T-786C, G894T and 4a/b were identified by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Screening for inborn errors of metabolism using automated electrospray tandem mass spectrometry: study in high-risk Indian population.

Objectives: Tandem mass spectrometry is a major technological advance in the screening for inborn errors of metabolism. It has the advantage of sensitive and simultaneous multiple disease screening with minimal sample requirement. The diseases detected include aminoacidemias, fatty acid oxidation disorders, and organic acidemias.

Homocysteine, folate and vitamin B(12) in puerperal cerebral venous thrombosis.

Background And Objective: Hyperhomocysteinemia (hyper-Hcy) is a known risk factor for venous thrombosis, but few studies document the risk in puerperal cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). Nutritional folate and vitamin B(12) deficiency can cause hyper-Hcy and pregnancy may contribute to this deficiency. We studied the association of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), folate and vitamin B(12) levels with puerperal CVT through a case-control study.

Investigating paranormal phenomena: Functional brain imaging of telepathy.

Aim: "Telepathy" is defined as "the communication of impressions of any kind from one mind to another, independently of the recognized channels of sense". Meta-analyses of "ganzfield" studies as well as "card-guessing task" studies provide compelling evidence for the existence of telepathic phenomena. The aim of this study was to elucidate the neural basis of telepathy by examining an individual with this special ability.

The prothrombin gene G20210A variant and puerperal cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis in South Indian women.

Pregnancy and puerperium raise the risk of thrombotic events, and these risks are likely to be increased in women who are carriers of thrombophilic gene polymorphisms. Prothrombin G20210A variant is reported to be the second most frequent prothrombotic polymorphism in Caucasians. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of this variant in south Indian women and examine its association with cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis occurring during puerperium.

Thrombophilic gene polymorphisms in puerperal cerebral veno-sinus thrombosis.

Puerperal cerebral veno-sinus thrombosis (PCVT) is a common form of stroke in young women in India, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The frequency of PCVT in India is 10 to 12 times more compared to western population. As yet, the etiology of this condition is unclear.

Factor V gene A4070G mutation and the risk of cerebral veno-sinus thrombosis occurring during puerperium.

Introduction: Cerebral veno-sinus thrombosis (CVT) occurring during puerperium is a common form of stroke in young women in India, associated with high mortality and morbidity. Genetic polymorphisms involving coagulation factors are considered to be risk factors for thrombosis. A recently identified polymorphism in factor V gene, A4070G (R2 allele), has been reported as a risk factor for venous thrombosis in some studies.