Determinants and prognostic value of Galectin-3 in patients with aortic valve stenosis.

Objective: Myocardial fibrosis has been proposed as an outcome predictor in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) that may lead to consider prophylactic surgery. It can be detected using MRI but its widespread use is limited and development of substitute biomarkers is highly desirable. We analysed the determinants and prognostic value of galectin-3, one promising biomarker linked to myocardial fibrosis.

Haemodynamic and anatomic progression of aortic stenosis.

Background: Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is a progressive disease, but the impact of baseline AS haemodynamic or anatomic severity on AS progression remains unclear.

Methods: In 149 patients (104 mild AS, 36 moderate AS and 9 severe AS) enrolled in 2 ongoing prospective cohorts (COFRASA/GENERAC), we evaluated AS haemodynamic severity at baseline and yearly, thereafter, using echocardiography (mean pressure gradient (MPG)) and AS anatomic severity using CT (degree of aortic valve calcification (AVC)).

Results: After a mean follow-up of 2.

Prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide in elderly patients with aortic valve stenosis: the COFRASA-GENERAC study.

Objective: Previous studies suggested an independent prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in aortic valve stenosis (AS) but were impeded by small sample sizes and inclusion of relatively selected young patients. We aimed to evaluate the relationship among N-terminal fragment of proBNP (Nt-proBNP), AS severity, symptoms and outcome in a large cohort of elderly patients with AS.

Design: Observational cohort study, COhorte Française de Retrecissement Aortique du Sujet Agé (clinicalTrial.

Progression of aortic valve stenosis is associated with bone remodelling and secondary hyperparathyroidism in elderly patients--the COFRASA study.

Aims: There is currently no medical therapy that can prevent the progression of aortic valve stenosis (AS). Recent data highlight a possible relationship between bone metabolism and AS progression but prospective data are lacking.

Methods And Results: Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, creatinine, 25-OH vitamin D, intact parathyroid hormon (iPTH), C-terminal-telopeptide of type-1-collagen (CTX) and osteocalcin were assessed at baseline in 110 elderly patients (age ≥70 years) with at least mild AS.

Circulating secretory phospholipase A2 activity and risk of incident coronary events in healthy men and women: the EPIC-Norfolk study.

Objective: To assess the association between secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) activity, which encompasses several types of sPLA2, and cardiovascular disease (CAD) in healthy individuals.

Methods And Results: We investigated this association in a nested case-control study among the 25,663 participants in EPIC-Norfolk cohort. Cases (n=991) were subjects in whom CAD developed during the 6 years of mean follow-up.

Association of the -92C/G and 807C/T polymorphisms of the alpha2 subunit gene with human platelets alpha2beta1 receptor density.

Objective: Platelet adhesion to the subendothelial tissue via the collagen receptor alpha2beta1 is a crucial event in vascular biology. Although evidence has been provided that the number of platelets alpha2beta1 copies is genetically determined, the molecular change primary responsible has not been yet elucidated. The aim of our present study was to investigate the effect of combined polymorphisms within both regulatory (-52C/T and -92C/G) and coding regions (807C/T and 1648A/G) of the alpha2 subunit gene on human platelets alpha2beta1 receptor density and/or susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD).

DHFR and DHPS genotypes of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Gabon correlate with in vitro activity of pyrimethamine and cycloguanil, but not with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine treatment efficacy.

Objectives: To assess the relationship between the presence of DHFR and DHPS mutations in Plasmodium falciparum, parasite in vitro resistance, and in vivo efficacy of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) treatment.

Patients And Methods: Measurement of SP treatment efficacy in malaria-infected children in Gabon was combined with in vitro tests of susceptibility to pyrimethamine and cycloguanil, and molecular genotyping at several DHFR and DHPS loci of parasites isolated before treatment. DHFR was studied at codons 108, 51, and 59, whereas DHPS gene was typed at positions 436, 437, 540 and 581.

Nephrolithiasis and osteoporosis associated with hypophosphatemia caused by mutations in the type 2a sodium-phosphate cotransporter.

Background: Epidemiologic studies suggest that genetic factors confer a predisposition to the formation of renal calcium stones or bone demineralization. Low serum phosphate concentrations due to a decrease in renal phosphate reabsorption have been reported in some patients with these conditions, suggesting that genetic factors leading to a decrease in renal phosphate reabsorption may contribute to them. We hypothesized that mutations in the gene coding for the main renal sodium-phosphate cotransporter (NPT2a) may be present in patients with these disorders.

Rapid detection of a molecular marker for chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria.

A PCR-based technique using molecular beacons was developed to detect the chloroquine resistance-associated pfcrt K76T point mutation in Plasmodium falciparum. One hundred thirty African clinical isolates were tested by the new method in comparison with the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. This rapid and inexpensive genomic assay could expand the possibilities for monitoring chloroquine resistance.