Decreased Number of Mitochondria in Leukoaraiosis.

Background And Aims: Leukoaraiosis (LA), one of the most frequent causes of an age-associated cognitive decline, can be associated with a poor quality of life, leading overall to far-reaching public health problems. Chronic hypoxia of the white matter of the brain may be a factor triggering this entity. LA may develop as a consequence of chronically insufficient cellular energy production and the accumulation of free radicals.

Evaluation of the MTHFR A1298C variant in leukoaraiosis.

Vascular demyelinization of the white matter of the brain is referred to as leukoaraiosis (LA). This very frequent entity is associated with a cognitive decline, thereby resulting in a deteriorating quality of life. Besides poorly controlled hypertension and aging, its development is reported to be associated with an elevated serum homocysteine level.

A homozygous genetic variant of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 4 affects the occurrence of leukoaraiosis.

Objectives: We hypothesized that an appropriate balance of the mitochondrial energy production is essential in the maintenance of the glia cells in the brain. The aim of this study was to examine the roles of the rs10807344 and rs2270450 genetic variants of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 4 in the development of vascular demyelinization of the white matter of the brain, referred to as leukoaraiosis (LA). The mUCPs are presumed to be of great importance in the regulation of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the cellular energy metabolism.

Evaluation of the genetic variants of kinesin motor protein in ischemic stroke.

Background: The kinesin light-chain 1 genetic variants G56836C, A185C, and C406T were earlier found to amplify the development of leukoaraiosis in hypertensive smokers. These 3 variants were presumed to affect the function of the mitochondria, thereby giving rise to sensitivity to a chronic ischemic state. We have now extended our investigations to examine how the above genetic variants affect the occurrence of ischemic stroke.

A homozygous genetic variant of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 4 exerts protection against the occurrence of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS), which results in damage of the white matter at multiple foci, poses a far-reaching public health problem in view of the burden it imposes on the affected young and middle-aged. Some previous data suggested that roles could be played in the demyelinization of the white matter of the brain by the malfunctioning of the mitochondria and mitochondria-associated reactive oxygen species. In this context, we hypothesized that the finely tuned dynamic stability of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), which is the main mirror of the functional state of the mitochondria, is essential for the intact nature of the glia cells in the brain.

Gene-environmental effects behind leukoaraiosis: a silent genetic variant of the kinesin protein can be activated in a subject with poorly controlled long-lasting hypertension.

Objectives: The rs8702 variant of the kinesin light chain 1 was earlier found to be a risk factor for vascular white matter demyelinization, referred to as leukoaraiosis (LA), in hypertensive smokers. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which this genetic variant gives rise to the occurrence of LA and its severity, if the subject is exposed to long-lasting, severe and poorly controlled hypertension.

Design And Methods: The clinical and genetic data on 204 LA patients without infarction and 240 neuroimaging alteration-free subjects were analyzed.

Galectin-2 3279TT variant protects against the lymphotoxin-alpha 252GG genotype associated ischaemic stroke.

Objective: The galectin-2 protein is presumed to play a regulatory role in the intracellular trafficking of the lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA) cytokine. LTA is a pro-inflammatory factor, its 252GG homozygote variant is considered as a susceptibility factor for arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. By contrast, the galectin-2-encoding gene LGALS2 3279TT homozygote variant has been demonstrated to exert protection against myocardial infarction by reducing the transcriptional level of galectin-2, thereby leading to a reduced extracellular secretion of LTA.

Characteristic imprint of single nucleotide polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis.

Although the main pathomechanism of multiple sclerosis (MS) is not known, an autoimmune response against the myelin basic proteins (MBPs) is presumed to be involved in its evolution and propagation. In this study, we examined whether the nucleotide sequences of the 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of the DNAs encoding the MBP are characteristic of MS. These genetic regions are presumed to be responsible for the transport and localization of the mRNAs encoding the MBP in the glia cells, thereby influencing the building up of the myelin sheaths of the glia cells.

[Our experiences with anterior cervical cages and spacer].

Objectives: Between 2001 and 2005 86 patients were treated for cervical disc herniations and spondylosis at our department. Stabilization was performed with different cervical cages or spacer after discectomy and decompression. The aim of the study was to examine the changes of the patients' pain, quality of life and work ability, fusion rate, the intervertebral disc height, changes of under and upper segments and finally curvature of cervical spine.

A cytoskeleton motor protein genetic variant may exert a protective effect on the occurrence of multiple sclerosis: the janus face of the kinesin light-chain 1 56836CC genetic variant.

Although the main pathomechanism of multiple sclerosis (MS) is not known, an autoimmune response is presumed to involve its evolution and propagation. In this study, we examined how the kinesin light-chain 1 (KLC1) G56836C (rs8702) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in intron 13 affects the occurrence of MS. This genetic variant was found to be associated with cognitive disturbances and neurodegeneration, and it was presumed to affect the kinesin function.

Evaluation of the roles of the A185C and C406T kinesin light-chain 1 variants in the development of leukoaraiosis.

Vascular white matter demyelinization of the brain is referred to as leukoaraiosis (LA). This frequent age-associated entity leads to a cognitive decline or dementia. The background of LA has been hypothesized to be a chronic hypoxia-induced functional cytoskeleton malfunction.

A genetic variant in cytoskeleton motors amplifies susceptibility to leukoaraiosis in hypertensive smokers: gene-environmental interactions behind vascular white matter demyelinization.

One of the most frequent causes of an age-associated cognitive decline is the vascular white matter demyelinization of the brain referred to as leukoaraiosis (LA). The wide range of severity of the cognitive decline caused by LA can have numerous deleterious effects on the quality of life, leading overall to far-reaching public health problems. Besides clinical risk factors such as hypertension and advanced age, genetic susceptibility factors are presumed to be of great importance in the development of LA.

The combination of homozygous MTHFR 677T and angiotensin II type-1 receptor 1166C variants confers the risk of small-vessel-associated ischemic stroke.

Previous studies have suggested that both angiotensin II type-1 receptor (AT1R) 1166C and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677T variants can have disadvantageous effects on the small-vessel circulation under certain conditions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the possible consequences of the simultaneous distribution of these two genetic variants in different types of ischemic stroke. The genetic and clinical data on 357 ischemic stroke patients and 263 control subjects were analyzed by using univariate and logistic statistical approaches.

Apolipoprotein A5 gene promoter region T-1131C polymorphism associates with elevated circulating triglyceride levels and confers susceptibility for development of ischemic stroke.

The possible pathogenic role of triglycerides (TG) in the development of ischemic stroke is still under extensive investigation. Recently, apolipoprotein (apo)A5 gene promoter region T-1131C polymorphism has been shown to associate with elevated serum TG levels. In the current work, a total of 302 subjects were classified as being large vessel-associated, small vessel-associated, or belonging to a mixed group of ischemic stroke-affected patients.

Coexistence of angiotensin II type-1 receptor A1166C and angiotensin-converting enzyme D/D polymorphism suggests susceptibility for small-vessel-associated ischemic stroke.

The renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in the maintenance of blood pressure homeostasis. The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) converts angiotensin I into angiotensin II. Angiotensin II, which binds the angiotensin II type-1 receptor (AT1R), is a potent vasoconstrictor.

Angiotensin II type-1 receptor A1166C polymorphism is associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke in hypertensive smokers.

Recent observations revealed a novel role of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and the angiotensin II type-1 receptor (AT1R) in lung injury, thereby extending knowledge about the functions of the angiotensin system. Angiotensin II, whose target is the AT1R, is a potent vasoconstrictor. Accordingly, an imbalance leading to enhanced activity of the angiotensin II-AT1R axis is postulated to contribute to both circulatory disturbances and lung injury.

[Interactions between the MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C mutations in ischaemic stroke].

Introduction: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C mutations, being considered unfavourable genetic factors by causing elevated serum homocysteine levels, may be risk factors for cardiovascular disorders, including ischaemic stroke. In this study, the role of these two mutations in ischaemic stroke was examined:

Patients And Methods: Genetic and clinical data were analysed of 122 ischaemic stroke patients and 102 control subjects with no lesions by neuroimaging.

Results: Neither of the two MTHFR mutations alone was found to be a significant genetic risk factor for ischaemic stroke.

Lymphotoxin-alpha gene 252G allelic variant is a risk factor for large-vessel-associated ischemic stroke.

A direct role of lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA) in promoting atherosclerotic plaque growth has been demonstrated recently. The different protein transcripts of the naturally occurring genetic variants of the LTA gene have been demonstrated to exhibit affected functions, and an allelic difference in binding to transcription factor(s) has also been suggested. The homozygous variant of LTA characterized by the intron 1 252A-->G (252G) transition, which naturally coexists with an exon 3 804C-->A (804A) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), has been reported as a susceptibility gene for myocardial infarction.

[Significance of cytochrome P450 2C9 genotype for the bleeding complications in patients treated with acenocoumarol].

Introduction: For the primary and secondary prevention of thromboembolic events are used the oral anticoagulants, the drugs having a low therapeutic index and frequent bleeding complication rate. Establishing the proper therapeutic dose of these drugs for different patients is complicated by a variety of conditions, such as the comorbidity, age, other drugs used, diet, and pharmacogenetic factors. One of the latters is the polymorphism of the cytochrome P450 CYP2C9 enzyme.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene interactions and the risk of ischaemic stroke.

Objective: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), which produces NO, plays an important role in the endothelial function under a wide range of physiological conditions. eNOS exon 7 polymorphism (Glu298Asp, G894T) has been considered to influence the risk of coronary artery disease. Alone, however, it has not been shown to be a genetic risk factor for ischaemic stroke.

Specific APO E genotypes in combination with the ACE D/D or MTHFR 677TT mutation yield an independent genetic risk of leukoaraiosis.

Objective: Ischaemic demyelination of the white matter of the brain is a frequent clinical entity. In the neuroimaging terms, it is referred to as leukoaraiosis. We earlier found that the co-occurrence of the homozygous methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677TT and angiotensin-converting enzyme D/D (ACE D/D) genotypes yielded a highly significant moderate risk of leukoaraiosis.

Evaluation of the modifying effects of unfavourable genotypes on classical clinical risk factors for ischaemic stroke.

Objectives: Ischaemic stroke is a frequent heterogeneous multifactorial disease that is affected by a number of genetic mutations and environmental factors. We hypothesised the clinical importance of the interactions between common, unfavourable genetic mutations and clinical risk factors in the development of ischaemic stroke.

Methods: The Factor V Leiden G1691A (Leiden V), the prothrombin G20210A, the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T (MTHFR C677T) mutations, the angiotensin converting enzyme I/D (ACE I/D), and apolipoprotein allele e4 (APO e4) genotypes were examined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique in 867 ischaemic stroke patients and 743 healthy controls.

Increased prevalence of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa PLA2 allele in ischaemic stroke associated with large vessel pathology.

Introduction: Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa is a membrane receptor with a central function in the platelet adhesion and ultimately in the thrombus formation. Two major variants of the gene encoding the IIIa subunit, called PLA1 (A1) and PLA2 (A2), have been identified in the general population. There are indications that the A2 allele can also be associated with acute thrombosis or stroke.

[Pleiotropic effect of the micronized fenofibrate: the reduction of plasma chlamydia pneumoniae antibody levels in patients with coronary artery disease].

Introduction: A growing amount of data suggest that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease and in it's development Chlamydia pneumoniae infection may contribute. Recent studies have shown that administration of micronized fenofibrate reduces the plasma levels of several markers of the inflammatory response.

Aim: The aim of the authors was to evaluate the effect of micronized fenofibrate on the lipids and Chlamydia pneumoniae antibody levels of 20 patients with coronary artery disease.

Evaluation of the interactions of common genetic mutations in stroke subtypes.

Objective: Ischemic stroke is a frequent heterogeneous multifactorial disease that is affected by several genetic mutations and environmental factors. We hypothesised the clinical importance of the co-occurrence of common, unfavorable genetic mutations in the development of different stroke subtypes.

Method And Material: The Factor V Leiden G1691A (Leiden V), the prothrombin G20210A and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T (MTHFR C677T) mutations and the angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D (ACE I/D) and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes were examined by the PCR technique in 689 ischemic stroke patients and 652 stroke-free controls.