Shorter GT repeat polymorphism in the heme oxygenase-1 gene promoter has protective effect on ischemic stroke in dyslipidemia patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The microsatellite polymorphism of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 gene promoter has been shown to be associated with the susceptibility to ischemic event, including coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction, and peripheral vascular disease. We aimed to examine whether the length of (GT)_nrepeats in HO-1 gene promoter is associated with ischemic stroke in people with CAD risk factors, especially low level of HDL.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 183 consecutive firstever ischemic stroke inpatients and 164 non-stroke patients were screened for the length of (GT)_nrepeats in HO-1 promoter. The long (L) and short (S) genotype are defined as the averaged repeat number >26 and ≦26, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Stroke patients tended to have more proportions of hypertension, diabetics and genotype L, than those of genotype S. Patients with genotype L of HO-1 gene promoter have higher stroke risk in comparison with genotype S especially in dyslipidemia individuals. The significant differences on stroke risk in multivariate odds ratios were found especially in people with low HDL-C levels.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Subjects carrying longer (GT)_nrepeats in HO-1 gene promoter may have greater susceptibility to develop cerebral ischemic only in the presence of low HDL-C, suggesting the protective effects in HO-1 genotype S in the process of ischemic stroke, particularly in subjects with poor HDL-C status.</p

Expression Profiles of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase and Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase Kinase Genes in Phalaenopsis, Implications for Regulating the Performance of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism

Phalaenopsis is one of the most important potted plants in the ornamental market of the world. Previous reports implied that crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) orchids at their young seedling stages might perform C3 or weak CAM photosynthetic pathways, but the detailed molecular evidence is still lacking. In this study, we used a key species in white Phalaenopsis breeding line, Phalaenopsis aphrodite subsp. formosana, to study the ontogenetical changes of CAM performance in Phalaenopsis. Based on the investigations of rhythms of day/night CO2 exchange, malate contents and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) activities, it is suggested that a progressive shift from C3 to CAM occurred as the protocorms differentiated the first leaf. To understand the role of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase kinase (PEPC kinase) in relation to its target PEPC in CAM performance in Phalaenopsis, the expression profiles of the genes encoding PEPC (PPC) and PEPC kinase (PPCK) were measured in different developmental stages. In Phalaenopsis, two PPC isogenes were constitutively expressed over a 24-h cycle similar to the housekeeping genes in all stages, whereas the significant day/night difference in PaPPCK expression corresponds to the day/night fluctuations in PEPC activity and malate level. These results suggest that the PaPPCK gene product is most likely involved in regulation of CAM performance in different developmental stages of Phalaenopsis seedlings

Real-Time Epidemic Monitoring and Forecasting of H1N1-2009 Using Influenza-Like Illness from General Practice and Family Doctor Clinics in Singapore

10.1371/journal.pone.0010036PLoS ONE54

C-reactive protein concentration as a significant correlate for metabolic syndrome: a Chinese population-based study. Endocrine 43

Abstract Increasing evidence suggests that chronic, lowgrade inflammation may be a common soil involving the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular disease. We examined the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, an extensively studied biomarker of low-grade inflammation, and the MetS in a representative sample of Chinese adults in Taiwan. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from 4234 subjects [mean (±SD) age, 47.1 (±18.2) years; 46.4 % males] who participated in a population-based survey on prevalences of hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia in Taiwan. CRP levels were measured by the immunoturbidimetric CRP-latex high-sensitivity assay. The MetS was defined by an unified criteria set by several major organizations. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with logistic regression model. Overall, there were 938 subjects with MetS among 4,234 participants, resulting in a prevalence rate of 22.1 %. A significantly progressive increase in the prevalence of MetS across quartiles of CRP was observed (p for trend \0.001). Participants in the second, third, and upper quartiles of CRP had significantly higher risk of having MetS when compared with those in the lowest quartile [adjusted ORs (95 % CIs) were 2.18 (1.62-2.94), 4.39 (3.31-5.81), and 7.11 (5.39-9.38), respectively; p for trend \0.001]. Furthermore, there was a strong stepwise increase in CRP levels as the number of components of the MetS increased. The prevalence of MetS showed a graded increase according to CRP concentrations. The possible utility of CRP concentration as a marker for MetS risk awaits further evaluation in prospective studies

Evaluation of real-time methods for epidemic forecasting

Master'sMASTER OF SCIENC

Description and prediction of the development of metabolic syndrome: a longitudinal analysis using a markov model approach.

BACKGROUND: Delineating the natural history of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is prerequisite to prevention. This study aimed to build Markov models to simulate each component's progress and to test the effect of different initial states on the development of MetS. METHODS: MetS was defined with revised AHA/NHLBI criteria. Each reversible multistate Markov chain consisted of 8 states (no component, five isolated component states, 2-component state, and MetS state). Yearly transition probabilities were calculated from a five-year population-based follow up studywhich enrolled 2,247 individuals with mean aged 32.4 years at study entry. RESULTS: In men, high BP or a 2-component state was most likely to initiate the progress of MetS. In women, abdominal obesity or low HDL were the most likely initiators. Metabolic components were likely to occur together. The development of MetS was an increasing monotonic function of time. MetS was estimated to develop within 15 years in 12.7% of young men with no component, and 2 components developed in 16.3%. MetS was estimated to develop in 10.6% of women with at the age of 47, and 2 components developed in 14.3%. MetS was estimated to develop in 24.6% of men and 27.6% of women with abdominal obesity, a rate higher than in individuals initiating with no component. CONCLUSIONS: This modeling study allows estimation of the natural history of MetS. Men tended to develop this syndrome sooner than women did, i.e., before their fifth decade of life. Individuals with 1 or 2 components showed increased development of MetS

Prevalence of metabolically healthy obesity and its impacts on incidences of hypertension, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in Taiwan

Obesity is an epidemic health problem related to morbidity and mortality of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known regarding the development of cardiometabolic diseases in an obese subgroup with a healthy metabolic risk profile. This study examined the prevalence of baseline metabolically healthy obese subjects and its impacts on the incidences of cardiometabolic diseases using a nation-wide population cohort. Metabolically healthy obese were prevalent in 8.2% of the baseline population and 28.5% of the obese subjects. Subjects included were 1,547 men and women (age range, 18-59 years), who were free of components of the metabolic syndrome except waist criteria. During an average 5.4-year follow-up, the cumulative incidences of hypertension, type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome were 7.8%, 1.2% and 5.6%, respectively. The hazard ratios (95% CIs) for the metabolic syndrome incidence were significantly higher at BMI levels of 2 ). The hazard ratios for diabetes or hypertension incidence were significantly higher at BMI levels of ≥25.0 kg/m 2 . Each kg/m 2 of BMI gained was associated with an 18% increase in the risk of developing hypertension and a 26% increase in risk for the metabolic syndrome. We conclude that metabolically healthy obese individuals are at higher risk to develop hypertension, type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome than their nonobese counterparts. Our data provide further evidence that opposes the notion of metabolically healthy obese as harmless conditions