Association of polymorphisms in the erythropoietin gene with diabetic retinopathy: a case-control study and systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is characterized by ischemia, hypoxia, and angiogenesis. Erythropoietin (EPO), an angiogenic hormone, is upregulated in DR, and the association of EPO genetic variants with DR is still uncertain, as conflicting results have been reported. Therefore, we performed a case-control study followed by a meta-analysis to investigate whether the rs1617640, rs507392, and rs551238 polymorphisms in EPO gene are associated with DR.

Factoring ethics in management algorithms for municipal information-analytical systems.

The discourse on the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI) has generated a plethora of different conventions, principles and guidelines outlining an ethical perspective on the use and research of AI. However, when it comes to breaking down general implications to specific use cases, existent frameworks have been remaining vague. The following paper aims to fill this gap by examining the ethical implications of the use of information analytical systems through a management approach for filtering the content in social media and preventing information thrusts with negative consequences for human beings and public administration.

Gene polymorphism and plasma levels of miR-155 in diabetic retinopathy.

Circulating microRNA-155 (miR-155) is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the rs767649 polymorphism in the pre-MIR155 gene is associated with miR-155 expression. However, their relationship with diabetic retinopathy (DR) is still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this case-control study was to test the hypothesis that the rs767649 polymorphism in the pre-MIR155 gene is associated with DR in South Brazilians with T2DM.

Plasma levels of miR-29b and miR-200b in type 2 diabetic retinopathy.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and its chronic complications, and their circulating levels have emerged as potential biomarkers for the development and progression of diabetes. However, few studies have examined the expression of miRNAs in diabetic retinopathy (DR) in humans. This case-control study aimed to investigate whether the plasma levels of miR-29b and miR-200b are associated with DR in 186 South Brazilians with type 2 diabetes (91 without DR, 46 with non-proliferative DR and 49 with proliferative DR).

Relationship of polymorphisms in the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and -2 genes with chronic heart failure.

Dysregulated expression of tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) is associated with systolic dysfunction and worsening heart failure (HF). However, no study has assessed the relationship between TIMP polymorphisms and chronic HF. In this study, 300 HF outpatients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and 304 healthy blood donors were genotyped for the 372 T > C polymorphism (Phe124Phe; rs4898) in the TIMP-1 gene and the -418 G > C polymorphism (rs8179090) in the TIMP-2 gene to investigate whether these polymorphisms are associated with HF susceptibility and prognosis.