Gene Polymorphism of Toll-Like Receptors and Lung Function at Five to Seven Years of Age after Infant Bronchiolitis

Toll-like receptors (TLR) play a crucial role in innate immunity, protecting the host from pathogens such as viruses. Genetic variations in TLRs have been associated with the severity of viral bronchiolitis in infancy and with the later occurrence of post-bronchiolitis asthma. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if there are any exploratory associations between TLR gene polymorphisms and lung function at 5 to 7 years of age in former bronchiolitis patients. METHODS: We performed impulse oscillometry (IOS) at the median age of 6.3 years for 103 children who had been hospitalized for bronchiolitis at less than six months of age. The main parameters evaluated were airway resistance and reactance at 5Hz in baseline and post-exercise measurements. Data on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of TLR1 rs5743618, TLR2 rs5743708, TLR6 rs5743810 and TLR10 rs4129009 (TLR2 subfamily) and TLR3 rs3775291, TLR4 rs4986790, TLR7 rs179008, TLR8 rs2407992 and TLR 9 rs187084 were available for analyses. RESULTS: The TLR4 rs4986790 wild genotype A/A was associated with a greater Rrs5 response (0.72 vs. -0.42, p = 0.03) to exercise. In TLR6 rs5743810, the minor allele T was associated with greater Rrs5 response (0.80 vs. -0.03, p = 0.04) to exercise. In TLR7 rs179008, the major allele A was associated with baseline decline in dRrs/df (-1.03 vs 0.61, p = 0.01) and increased Fres (2.28 vs. 0.89, p = 0.01) in girls. CONCLUSION: Among the nine studied TLRs, only TLR7 rs179008 showed some exploratory associations with post-bronchiolitis lung function deficiency, and polymorphisms of TLR4 rs4986790, and TLR6 rs5743810 in particular, with airway reactivity. These findings call for further confirmatory studies.Public Library of Science open acces

Effects of cognac on coronary flow reserve and plasma antioxidant status in healthy young men

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The cardioprotective effects of certain alcoholic beverages are partly related to their polyphenol content, which may improve the vasodilatory reactivity of arteries. Effect of cognac on coronary circulation, however, remains unknown. The purpose of this randomized controlled cross-over study was to determine whether moderate doses of cognac improve coronary reactivity as assessed with cold pressor testing (CPT) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) measument.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Study group consisted of 23 subjects. Coronary flow velocity and epicardial diameter was assessed using transthoracic echocardiography at rest, during CPT and adenosine infusion-derived CFR measurements before drinking, after a moderate (1.2 ± 0.1 dl) and an escalating high dose (total amount 2.4 ± 0.3 dl) of cognac. To explore the bioavailability of antioxidants, the antioxidant contents of cognac was measured and the absorption from the digestive tract was verified by plasma antioxidant capacity determination.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Serum alcohol levels increased to 1.2 ± 0.2‰ and plasma antioxidant capacity from 301 ± 43.9 μmol/l to 320 ± 25.0 μmol/l by 7.6 ± 11.8%, (p = 0.01) after high doses of cognac. There was no significant change in flow velocity during CPT after cognac ingestion compared to control day. CFR was 4.4 ± 0.8, 4.1 ± 0.9 (p = NS), and 4.5 ± 1.2 (p = NS) before drinking and after moderate and high doses on cognac day, and 4.5 ± 1.4, and 4.0 ± 1.2 (p = NS) on control day.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Cognac increased plasma antioxidant capacity, but it had no effect on coronary circulation in healthy young men.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>NCT00330213</p

Individual changes in hyperemia to baseline ratio of flow velocity in cold pressor test (CPT)

before cognac [before], after a moderate dose (ethanol 0.5 g/kg) [dose1] and a high dose (ethanol 1.0 g/kg) [dose2]. Control 1 corresponds to the first measurement on a control day. Control 2 corresponds to the measurement carried out 2 h after Control 1.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Effects of cognac on coronary flow reserve and plasma antioxidant status in healthy young men"</p><p>http://www.cardiovascularultrasound.com/content/6/1/25</p><p>Cardiovascular Ultrasound 2008;6():25-25.</p><p>Published online 3 Jun 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2427009.</p><p></p

Individual changes in coronary flow velocity reserve (CFR) before cognac before, after a moderate dose (ethanol 0

5 g/kg) [dose1] and a high dose (ethanol 1.0 g/kg) [dose2]. Control 1 corresponds to the first measurement on a control day. Control 2 corresponds to the measurement carried out 2 h after Control 1.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Effects of cognac on coronary flow reserve and plasma antioxidant status in healthy young men"</p><p>http://www.cardiovascularultrasound.com/content/6/1/25</p><p>Cardiovascular Ultrasound 2008;6():25-25.</p><p>Published online 3 Jun 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2427009.</p><p></p

Impulse oscillometry presented as Z-scores in relation to <i>IL-10</i> rs1800896, rs1800871 and rs1800872 haplotype carriage in 99 pre-school-aged children after hospitalization for bronchiolitis in infancy.

<p>Zrs = Total Impedance; Rrs = Resistance; Xrs = Reactance; Fres = Resonant Frequency; dRrs/df = Frequency Dependency of Resistance</p><p>^<b>a</b>ATA vs. non-ATA (n = 78) adjusted for age, maternal smoking during pregnancy, RSV- and rhinovirus etiology of bronchiolitis and BMI z-score</p><p>Impulse oscillometry presented as Z-scores in relation to <i>IL-10</i> rs1800896, rs1800871 and rs1800872 haplotype carriage in 99 pre-school-aged children after hospitalization for bronchiolitis in infancy.</p