Chios mastic treatment of patients with active Crohn's disease.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of mastic administration on the clinical course and plasma inflammatory mediators of patients with active Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: This pilot study was conducted in patients with established mild to moderately active CD, attending the outpatient clinics of the hospital, and in healthy controls. Ten patients and 8 controls were recruited for a 4-wk treatment with mastic caps (6 caps/d, 0.

Management of a patient with a null low-density lipoprotein receptor mutation: a case report.

A 13-year-old Greek boy with severe dyslipidemia, large tuberous xanthomas over the knees and elbows, Achilles' tendon xanthomas, and a bilateral corneal arcus was referred to the Lipid Clinic. He had a supravalvular aortic stenosis, 50% to 60% stenosis of both carotid arteries, and normal coronary arteries. Familial hypercholesterolemia was clinically diagnosed.

The Pro12Ala polymorphism in PPARgamma2 gene affects lipid parameters in Greek primary school children: A case of gene-to-gender interaction.

Background: In the present study we sought to evaluate the impact of the PPAR-gamma2 Pro12Ala polymorphism on blood lipid levels of primary school children.

Methods: 81 male and 92 female schoolchildren were genotyped. Biochemical, anthropometric, and lifestyle variables were assessed.

Different genes and polymorphisms affecting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in Greek familial hypercholesterolemia patients.

Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder characterized by high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations that frequently gives rise to premature coronary artery disease. The clinical expression of FH is highly variable, even in patients carrying the same LDL receptor gene mutation. This variability may be due to environmental and other genetic factors.

Zinc status, psychological and nutritional assessment in old people recruited in five European countries: Zincage study.

The paper shows the results on the relationship between zinc status, psychological dimensions (cognitive functions, mood, perceived stress) and nutritional aspects in European healthy old subjects recruited for ZINCAGE Project (supported by the European Commission in the Sixth Framework Programme). The old healthy subjects were recruited in Italy, Greece, Germany, France, Poland taking into account the different dietary habits between Northern and Southern European Countries and the pivotal role played by zinc for psychological functions. Measures of the cognitive status, mood and perceived stress level were obtained at baseline, using the "Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)"; the "Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS - 15 items)" and the "Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)", respectively.

Health status, blood and anthropometrical indices from Greek old and nonagenarian subjects.

As the elderly population is increasing rapidly, there is a lot of scientific interest in clarifying the differential life-style, genetic, biochemical and molecular factors contributing to mortality or exceptional longevity. Within the framework of the ZINCAGE project, 249 old (60-85 years) and nonagenarian Greek subjects (>/=85 years old) were recruited and anthropometrical, blood and biochemical indices as well as blood pressure measurements were obtained. Based upon the inclusion criteria, 214 of them were characterized as healthy (136 female, 78 male), while those characterized as non-healthy were excluded from the statistical analysis.

Polymorphisms associated with apolipoprotein B levels in Greek patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder characterized by high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations, which frequently gives rise to premature coronary artery disease. The clinical expression of FH is highly variable, even in patients carrying the same LDL receptor (LDLR) gene mutation. This variability may be due to environmental and other genetic factors.

Natriuretic peptide Val7Met substitution and risk of coronary artery disease in Greek patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP or NPPA) is the precursor protein of the form of amyloidosis called isolated atrial amyloid (IAA), which is related to the increased incidence of cardiac pathological conditions with age. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients are characterized by high concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), which frequently gives rise to premature coronary artery disease (CAD). However, not all FH patients have the same clinical phenotype.

Interaction between Mediterranean diet and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T mutation on oxidized low density lipoprotein concentrations: the ATTICA study.

Background: The oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been suggested to be a key element in atherogenesis, while methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation has been associated with the development of coronary heart disease. We evaluated whether adoption of a Mediterranean type of diet is associated with oxidized LDL levels, as well as the role of MTHFR C677T mutation in this relationship.

Methods: We studied demographics, lifestyle, clinical, biochemical and genetic data from 322 men (46+/-13 years) and 252 women (45+/-14 years), without any clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease, from the Attica region, Greece (i.

Familial hypercholesterolemia and response to statin therapy according to LDLR genetic background.

Familial hypercholesterolemia is an autosomal dominant disease defined at the molecular level mainly by the presence of mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene and is characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, tendon xanthomas and increased risk of early cardiovascular disease. The type of mutation in the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene has been associated with different phenotype expression and response to statins. Several studies have been undertaken to assess the efficacy of statins and evaluate the influence of mutations on the response to treatment with statins.

Effect of phenols on natural killer (NK) cell-mediated death in the K562 human leukemic cell line.

Cancer disease is a major cause of death in Western societies. Epidemiologically, antioxidant phenols have been associated with diminished incidence of cancer, while experimentally, they have cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. The aim of this study was to clarify whether natural antioxidant phenols render K562 human leukemic cells more susceptible to natural killer (NK) cell apoptosis and/or necrosis.

Association between TNF-alpha -308G>A polymorphism and the development of acute coronary syndromes in Greek subjects: the CARDIO2000-GENE Study.

Purpose: We investigated the association of a polymorphism within the promoter of TauNuF-alpha locus at the position -308 on the likelihood of having acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in Greek adults.

Methods: We studied demographic, lifestyle, and clinical information in 237 hospitalized patients (185 males) with a first event of an ACS and 237 matched by age and sex (controls) without any clinical evidence of coronary heart disease. Genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP analysis.

An association between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation and inflammation markers related to cardiovascular disease.

Background: Prospective studies have identified many markers of systemic inflammation that are powerful predictors of future cardiovascular events. The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T genotype, a common polymorphism that induces hyperhomocysteinaemia, has been proposed as a genetic risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In this work, we evaluated the relationship between the levels of inflammation markers and MTHFR genotype among cardiovascular disease free subjects of the ATTICA study.

LDL-receptor mutations in Europe.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a clinical definition for a remarkable increase of cholesterol serum concentration, presence of xanthomas, and an autosomal dominant trait of either increased serum cholesterol or premature coronary artery disease (CAD). The identification of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-receptor (LDLR) as the underlying cause and its genetic characterization in FH patients revealed more insights in the trafficking of LDL, which primarily transports cholesterol to hepatic and peripheral cells. Mutations within LDLR result in hypercholesterolemia and, subsequently, cholesterol deposition in humans to a variable degree.

Effect of interaction between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C-->T mutation on homocysteine concentrations in healthy adults: the ATTICA Study.

Background: Dietary and genetic factors may influence the effect of raised homocysteine concentrations on coronary artery disease risk.

Objective: We evaluated the effect of the interaction between adoption of a Mediterranean diet and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) 677C-->T mutation on homocysteine concentrations in healthy adults participating in the ATTICA study.

Design: We studied demographic, lifestyle, clinical, biochemical, and genetic information from 322 men (x +/- SD age: 46 +/- 13 y) and 252 women (45 +/- 14 y) who had no clinical evidence of cardiovascular or any other chronic disease.

The IL-6 gene G-174C polymorphism related to health indices in Greek primary school children.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine expressed in many tissues. A polymorphism in the IL-6 gene, associated with differences in IL-6 transcription rate, has been recently described. Subjects with the -174GG genotype are prone to lipid abnormalities.

Antiatherogenic effect of Pistacia lentiscus via GSH restoration and downregulation of CD36 mRNA expression.

Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia (Anacardiaceae) grows almost exclusively on Chios Island, Greece, and gives a resinous exudate resin used for culinary purposes by Mediterranean people. We investigated the molecular mechanisms through which total polar extract of the resin inhibits oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) cytotoxic effect on peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC).

Molecular characterization of familial hypercholesterolemia in German and Greek patients.

We used the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method to define mutations in the promoter region, the 18 exons, and their flanking intronic sequences of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene LDLR, causing familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) phenotype in 100 German and in 100 Greek hypercholesterolemic individuals. In addition, we tested all patients for the presence of mutations in codons 3456-3553 of the gene encoding apolipoprotein B-100 (APOB). Twenty-six aberrant DGGE patterns were identified and subsequently directly sequenced.

Deterioration of natural antioxidant species of vegetable edible oils during the domestic deep-frying and pan-frying of potatoes.

In the present work, virgin olive oil, sunflower oil and a vegetable shortening were used as cooking oils for the deep-frying and pan-frying of potatoes, for eight successive sessions, under the usual domestic practice. Several chemical and physicochemical parameters (acidic value, peroxide value, total polar artefacts, total phenol content and triglyceride fatty acyl moiety composition) were assayed during frying operations in order to evaluate the status of the frying oils, which were found within expected ranges similar to those previously reported. The oil fatty acids were effectively protected from oxidation by the natural antioxidants.