Publications by authors named "T E Merriman"
Article Synopsis
- * Research focused on IL1RN rs9973741, highlighting that this gout risk allele (G) is associated with decreased production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-1Ra after stimulation and increased IL-1β production in immune cells.
- * The findings suggest that the genetic variations in the IL1RN-IL1F10 locus influence how immune cells respond to MSU crystals, contributing to the inflammatory processes involved in gout.
Objective: Evidence for an association of smoking with gout is conflicting. We assessed associations of current and past smoking with gout in an Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) population.
Methods: Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed on cross-sectional data from participants of NZ Māori (from 2 studies: Genetics of Gout in Aotearoa [GGA] study of 293 participants with gout and 431 without; and Ngāti Porou Hauora [NPH] study of 111 participants with gout and 42 without), Pacific people (257 participants with gout and 357 without), and European (694 participants with gout and 688 without) ancestry.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates whether ultrasound detection of monosodium urate crystals can predict the development of symptomatic gout in individuals with elevated urate levels over a five-year period.
- It involves more than 250 participants with asymptomatic hyperuricemia, assessing various health metrics and using ultrasound imaging to monitor the presence of MSU crystal deposition.
- The research is ethically approved and aims to share findings through peer-reviewed publications and conferences.
Article Synopsis
- * The study analyzed data from 258 gout patients and found that increased oxypurinol exposure is necessary for effective urate reduction in those with decreased kidney function or on diuretics, despite lower overall dose requirements at severe kidney impairment.
- * Ultimately, the research concluded that patients with significant kidney impairment need lower allopurinol doses, but these doses do not directly correlate with kidney function, and diuretics do not affect required doses.