New type of BACE1 siRNA delivery to cells.

Background: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) gene therapy is a new molecular approach in the search for an efficient therapy for Alzheimer disease (AD), based on the principle of RNA interference. Reducing BACE activity can have great therapeutic potential for the treatment of AD. In this study, receptor-mediated delivery was used to deliver opioid peptide-conjugated BACE 1 to INR-32 human neuroblastoma cells.

The study of t-PA, u-PA and PAI-1 genes polymorphisms in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The most important feature of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) pathogenesis is an enzymatic degradation of elastic lamellae and extracellular matrix proteins particularly with participation of matrix metalloproteinases. Plasmin, which is responsible for the dissolution of fibrin in blood vessels, plays also a key role in the cascade for activation of the metalloproteinases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of selected polymorphisms in genes coding for tissue plasminogen activator (-7351 C/T polymorphism), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (1788 C/T polymorphism) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (-675 4G/5G and -844 G/A polymorphism) on the susceptibility to AAA.

Association analysis of genetic polymorphisms of factor V, factor VII and fibrinogen β chain genes with human abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Increased activity of the coagulation system is associated with the increased risk of many arterial thrombotic diseases and atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of selected polymorphisms in genes coding for coagulation factor V (1691 G/A, the so-called Leiden mutation), factor VII (-323 0/10 bp insertion/deletion) and fibrinogen β chain (-455 G/A) on the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm, a particular form of atherothrombosis. We conducted a case-control study of 153 Polish patients hospitalized due to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and compared the results to those obtained from matched healthy control subjects.

Persistent atrial fibrillation is not associated with thrombomodulin level increase in efficiently anticoagulated patients.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and leads to a five-fold increased risk of stroke compared to persons with sinus rhythm. A soluble form of thrombomodulin (sTM) is a recognized marker of endothelial dysfunction and may contribute to the hypercoagulable state in AF. The aim of the study was to evaluate plasma concentration of sTM in persistent AF patients before and after sinus rhythm recovery following direct current cardioversion (CV).

Does atrial fibrillation affect plasma endothelin level?

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) may result in endocardial endothelium dysfunction. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the plasma concentration of endothelin-1 (ET-1) during persistent AF and after sinus rhythm recovery following direct-current cardioversion and to assess the predictive value of ET-1 in AF patients.

Methods: The study group consisted of 43 patients with persistent AF and normal left ventricle systolic function who had undergone successful cardioversion.