44 research outputs found
The V471A polymorphism in autophagy-related gene ATG7 modifies age at onset specifically in Italian Huntington disease patients
The cause of Huntington disease (HD) is a polyglutamine repeat expansion of more than 36 units in the huntingtin protein, which is inversely correlated with the age at onset of the disease. However, additional genetic factors are believed to modify the course and the age at onset of HD. Recently, we identified the V471A polymorphism in the autophagy-related gene ATG7, a key component of the autophagy pathway that plays an important role in HD pathogenesis, to be associated with the age at onset in a large group of European Huntington disease patients. To confirm this association in a second independent patient cohort, we analysed the ATG7 V471A polymorphism in additional 1,464 European HD patients of the “REGISTRY” cohort from the European Huntington Disease Network (EHDN). In the entire REGISTRY cohort we could not confirm a modifying effect of the ATG7 V471A polymorphism. However, analysing a modifying effect of ATG7 in these REGISTRY patients and in patients of our previous HD cohort according to their ethnic origin, we identified a significant effect of the ATG7 V471A polymorphism on the HD age at onset only in the Italian population (327 patients). In these Italian patients, the polymorphism is associated with a 6-years earlier disease onset and thus seems to have an aggravating effect. We could specify the role of ATG7 as a genetic modifier for HD particularly in the Italian population. This result affirms the modifying influence of the autophagic pathway on the course of HD, but also suggests population-specific modifying mechanisms in HD pathogenesis
Health risks of tattoo colors
The number of tattooed individuals has increased significantly,
especially among youth. In the United States ∼24%
of the population is tattooed [1], whereas in Europe it is
∼10% [2]. Cosmetic tattoos (permanent make up) to mimic
eye, lip or eyebrow-liner, have also become increasingly
popular [3]. Tattoos or permanent make-up are simply
performed by injection of colorants into the skin using solid
needles. Injury of the skin and the application of unregulated
colorants cause health problems in humans [4]. A
survey is being performed by the Department of Dermatology
of the University of Regensburg in order to elucidate
the frequency of medical problems with tattoos [5], in
particular after laser treatment [6]