Associations of the serotonin transporter gene polymorphism, 5-HTTLPR, and adverse life events with late life depression in the elderly Lithuanian population.

Late-life depression (LLD) is a multifactorial disorder, with susceptibility and vulnerability potentially influenced by gene-environment interaction. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism is associated with LLD. The sample of 353 participants aged 65 years and over was randomly selected from the list of Kaunas city inhabitants by Residents' Register Service of Lithuania.

Impact of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Gene on the Prediction of Functional Classification of Left Ventricular Remodeling and Arrhythmia after Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: The NR3C2 gene encodes the mineralocorticoid receptor, which is present on cardiomyocytes. Prior studies reported an association between the presence of NR3C2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and an increased cortisol production during a stress response such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which may lead to adverse cardiac remodeling. Objective: To study the impact of the NR3C2 rs2070950, rs4635799 and rs5522 gene polymorphisms on left ventricular (LV) remodeling, rhythm and conduction disorders in AMI patients.

Antibacterial Activity of Silver and Gold Particles Formed on Titania Thin Films.

Metal-based nanoparticles with antimicrobial activity are gaining a lot of attention in recent years due to the increased antibiotics resistance. The development and the pathogenesis of oral diseases are usually associated with the formation of bacteria biofilms on the surfaces; therefore, it is crucial to investigate the materials and their properties that would reduce bacterial attachment and biofilm formation. This work provides a systematic investigation of the physical-chemical properties and the antibacterial activity of TiO thin films decorated by Ag and Au nanoparticles (NP) against and species associated with oral diseases.

Circulating hsa-let-7e-5p and hsa-miR-125a-5p as Possible Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Major Depression and Bipolar Disorders.

Background: Evidence shows that microRNAs (miRNAs) could play a key role in the homeostasis and development of major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. The present study is aimed at investigating the changes in circulating miRNA expression profiles in a plasma of patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) to distinguish and evaluate these molecules as biomarkers for mood disorders.

Methods: A study enrolled a total of 184 subjects: 74 controls, 84 MDD patients, and 26 BD patients.

Prognostic Value of Cortisol Index of Endobiogeny in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients.

: Serum cortisol has been extensively studied for its role during acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Reports have been inconsistent, with high and low serum cortisol associated with various clinical outcomes. Several publications claim to have developed methods to evaluate cortisol activity by using elements of complete blood count with its differential.

Associations of the adrenomedullin gene polymorphism with prehypertension and hypertension in Lithuanian children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of ADM genetic variant and HBP among Lithuanian adolescents aged 12-15 years. This is a cross-sectional study of a randomly selected sample of 675 12-15-years-old schoolchildren who were surveyed during November 2010 to April 2012 in the baseline survey. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of ADM gene (rs7129220) was evaluated using real-time PCR.

Association between and polymorphisms and high blood pressure in a population of Lithuanian children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Recently, genome-wide associated studies have identified several genetic loci that are associated with elevated blood pressure and could play a critical role in intracellular calcium homeostasis. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of rs2681472 and rs12258967 gene polymorphisms with high blood pressure (HBP) among Lithuanian children and adolescents aged 12-15 years.

Study Design And Participants: This was a cross-sectional study of a randomly selected sample of 646 12-15-year-old adolescents who participated in the survey 'The Prevalence and Risk Factors of HBP in 12-15 Year-Old Lithuanian Children and Adolescents (from November 2010 to April 2012)'.

Association of the genetic and traditional risk factors of ischaemic heart disease with STEMI and NSTEMI development.

Introduction: To evaluate the influence of traditional risk factors of ischaemic heart disease and genetic factors to predict different types of acute coronary syndromes.

Materials And Methods: Five hundred and twenty-three patients with acute coronary syndromes (393 with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 130 with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)) comprised the study group. The control group consisted of 645 subjects free from symptoms of ischaemic heart disease and stroke.

gene polymorphism and the phenotype of age-related macular degeneration.

Aim: To examine the gene polymorphism and the phenotype characterized by soft and hard drusen of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and geographic atrophy of late AMD form.

Methods: The study enrolled 850 investigations (290 AMD patients with soft and hard drusen, 34 with geographic atrophy and a random sample of the population =526). Early AMD was classified according to the International Classification and Grading System.

Renin-angiotensin system gene polymorphisms and high blood pressure in Lithuanian children and adolescents.

Background: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated the influence of environmental factors on HBP in the population of Lithuanian children, although the role of genetic factors in hypertension has not yet been studied. The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of AGTR1, AGT, and ACE genotypes in the Lithuanian child population and to determine whether these genotypes have an impact on HBP in childhood.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 709 participants aged 12-15 years.

Physical, behavioural and genetic predictors of adult hypertension: the findings of the Kaunas Cardiovascular Risk Cohort study.

Background: The roots of adult hypertension go back to childhood. This study aimed to examine the independent effects of physical, behavioural and genetic factors identified in childhood and mid-adulthood for prediction of adult hypertension.

Methods: The study subjects were participants of the Kaunas Cardiovascular Risk Cohort study started in 1977 (n = 1082, age 12-13 years).

Left ventricular remodelling after acute myocardial infarction: impact of clinical, echocardiographic parameters and polymorphism of angiotensinogen gene.

Introduction: The development of left ventricular remodelling after acute myocardial infarction is a predictor of heart failure and mortality. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether the polymorphism of angiotensinogen (AGT) gene with threonine (T) instead of methionine (M) at amino acid 235 in exon 2 (M235T) had effects on cardiac remodelling after acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: One hundred and forty-one patients (mean age 56.

CTX-M-producing Escherichia coli in Lithuania: associations between sites of infection, coresistance, and phylogenetic groups.

Increasing resistance of Escherichia coli (E. coli) to antibiotics, especially to the third-generation cephalosporins, has prompted studies on widespread resistance genes such as blaCTX-M and differentiation of E. coli to phylogenetic groups.

Early age-related macular degeneration in patients with myocardial infarction.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: Enrolled in the study were 262 acute MI patients (MI group), aged 40-64 years, as well as 1,155 non-MI persons, aged 40-64 years, from a random sample (reference group) of the Kaunas population.

Results: The prevalence of early AMD in the random sample was 7.

Matrix metalloproteinase-3 gene polymorphism and dilatative pathology of ascending thoracic aorta.

Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) degrades extracellular matrix and may lead to development of dilatative pathology of ascending thoracic aorta. Expression of MMP-3 depends upon the 5A/6A polymorphism in the promoter region. An increased number of 5A alleles leads to high expression of MMP-3.

Influence of cadmium and zinc on the mice resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Unlabelled: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of chronic exposure to cadmium and zinc on the mice resistance to experimental Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Materials And Methods: At the day beginning of experiment outbred mice were injected with suspension of bacteria and 8 weeks were given the following oral intake treatment: control group (n=28) deionized drinking water, Cd- group (n=37) water containing CdCl2 10 mg/l and Cd+Zn- group (n=33) water containing CdCl2 10 mg/l and ZnSO4 100 mg/l. The delayed type hypersensitivity was evaluated by the inflammatory response during so-called "foot" test.

[Effects of aluminum ions on the resistance of mice to experimental Listeria monocytogenes infection].

This study presents evaluation of effects of aluminium ions on the development of experimental infection induced by the injection of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria into growing mice. We show that single exposure of mice to 0.05 LD50 or 0.

[Effects of aluminum ions on the mouse protein synthesis in vivo and in vitro].

Impact of aluminium ions on the translation process in mice liver, kidney, skeletal muscle and heart was investigated in vivo as well as on the protein synthesis in liver cell-free translation system in vitro. We find that at early stages of intoxication the effect of aluminium ions on protein synthesis in muscle tissues differs qualitatively from that one in liver or kidneys. Most noticeable aluminium-induced changes of protein synthesis in organs in vivo occur within the first 15-20 h after intoxication.