Polymorphism and Parkinson's Disease-Psychosis: Is there an Association?

Objective: Homer1, a postsynaptic protein coded by the gene, presumably has a role in homeostatic plasticity that dampens neuronal responsiveness when the input activity is too high. polymorphism has been studied in major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. The objective of this study is to investigate if polymorphisms of the gene are associated with psychosis in Parkinson's disease (PD-P).

Serum thromboxane B2 but not soluble P-selectin levels identify ischemic stroke patients with persistent platelet reactivity while on aspirin therapy.

Background: Aspirin non-response due to persistent platelet reactivity has been associated with adverse vascular events. Light transmission aggregometry (LTA), the 'gold standard' for measuring the platelet response to aspirin therapy, is a cumbersome procedure and a simple and reliable alternative is required. Our aim was to explore whether serum thromboxane B2 (sTXB2) and soluble P-selectin can be used to identify patients who are at risk of increased platelet reactivity while on aspirin.

Ganglioside complex antibodies in an Indian cohort of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Background: Antibodies against ganglioside complexes (GSCs) are associated with various clinical features and subtypes of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

Methods: One-hundred patients were evaluated for antibodies to GSCs formed by combination of GM1, GM2, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b, and GQ1b using manual enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: Twenty-six patients were GSC antibody-positive, most frequent being against GM1-containing GSC (76.

Mitochondrial genome variations in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a structural heart disease with strong genetic background. The aim of this study was to assess the role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variations and haplogroups in Indian DCM patients. Whole mtDNA analysis of 221 DCM patients revealed 48 novel, 42 disease-associated and 97 private variations.

Variations in macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene are not associated with visceral leishmaniasis in India.

Background: The host genetic factors play important role in determining the outcome of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an important host cytokine, which is a key regulator of innate immune system. Genetic variants in MIF gene have been found to be associated with several inflammatory and infectious diseases.

Th17 pathway signatures in a large Indian cohort of Guillain Barré syndrome.

The etiopathogenesis of Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS) is inadequately understood. The role of immuno-inflammatory Th17 pathway was examined in GBS patients by genetic, gene expression and biochemical studies. Genotyping of G197A single nucleotide polymorphism within IL17 gene was carried out by PCR-RFLP method in 220 GBS patients.

Mannose-binding Lectin (MBL) as a susceptible host factor influencing Indian Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), caused by Leishmania donovani is endemic in the Indian sub-continent. Mannose-binding Lectin (MBL) is a complement lectin protein that binds to the surface of Leishmania promastigotes and results in activation of the complement lectin cascade. We utilized samples of 218 VL patients and 215 healthy controls from an Indian population.

Association of Ficolin-2 Serum Levels and FCN2 Genetic Variants with Indian Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), one of the neglected tropical diseases, is endemic in the Indian subcontinent. Ficolins are circulating serum proteins of the lectin complement system and involved in innate immunity.

Methods: We have estimated ficolin-2 serum levels and analyzed the functional variants of the encoding gene FCN2 in 218 cases of VL and in 225 controls from an endemic region of India.

MBL2 variations and malaria susceptibility in Indian populations.

Human mannose-binding lectin (MBL) encoded by the MBL2 gene is a pattern recognition protein and has been associated with many infectious diseases, including malaria. We sought to investigate the contribution of functional MBL2 gene variations to Plasmodium falciparum malaria in well-defined cases and in matched controls. We resequenced the 8.

Variations in ncRNA gene LOC284889 and MIF-794CATT repeats are associated with malaria susceptibility in Indian populations.

Background: There are increasing evidences on the role of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) as key regulator of cellular homeostasis. LOC284889 is an uncharacterized ncRNA gene on reverse strand to MIF mapped to 22q11.23.