Association of heat shock protein70-2 (HSP70-2) gene polymorphism with obesity

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Value of Automated ECG Interpretation in Diagnosis of Cardiac Disorders

Background: Electrocardiography (ECG) is a valuable device in the assessment of cardiovascular diseases. Recent medical software developments such as the invention of modern automated ECG interpreters have greatly facilitated the work of electrocardiographers and cardiologists. We present our experience in the use of one such device in the routine reporting of 200 successive ECGs recorded in our Cardiac Care Unit and Cardiac Emergency Ward. Methods: The interpretations of 200 ECGs provided by the GE-digital ECG device were chosen and compared with those supplied by four cardiologists in a single blind manner. All statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS version 11.5 for windows. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: There was a diagnostic match between the interpretations by the device and those by the cardiologists in 107 (53.5%) cases as opposed to a diagnostic mismatch in 93 cases (46.5%). The matching rate in the interpretations of myocardial ischemic disorders was high, which means practically all the ischemic cases diagnosed by the device were confirmed by the cardiologists. Only in 12 cases myocardial infarction or ischemic changes were reported by the cardiologists, while they were missed by the device. As regards rhythm disorders, the sensitivity and specificity of the device were 67.7% and 75.7%, respectively. With respect to conductive disorders, the respective sensitivity and specificity of the device were 70% and 96.6%, respectively. Finally, in the case of structural disorders, the interpretations of the device were 92.8% sensitive and 83.3% specific.Conclusion: According to the results of our study and similar researches, it seems that the interpretations of an automated ECG device in diagnosing the ischemic and structural disorders of the heart are reliable. The device, however, should not be relied upon when assessing conduction disorders and dysrhythmias. We, therefore, recommend that the users of digital ECG devices recheck the digital interpretations in those cases

The effects of Nigella sativa on sickness behavior induced by lipopolysaccharide in male Wistar rats

Objective: Neuroimmune factors contribute on the pathogenesis of sickness behaviors. Nigella sativa (NS) has anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety and anti-depressive effects. In the present study, the effect of NS hydro-alcoholic extract on sickness behavior induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was investigated. Materials and Methods: The rats were divided into five groups (n=10 in each): (1) control (saline), (2) LPS (1 mg/kg, administered two hours before behavioral tests), (3-5) LPS-Nigella sativa 100 , 200 and 400 mg/kg (LPS-NS 100, LPS-NS 200 and LPS-NS 400, respectively). Open- field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swimming test (FST) were performed. Results: In OF, LPS reduced the peripheral crossing, peripheral distance, total crossing and total distance compared to control (pConclusion: The results of the present study showed that the hydro-alcoholic extract of NS reduced the LPS-induced sickness behaviors in rats. Further investigations are required for better understanding the responsible compound (s) and the underlying mechanism(s)

Association of heat shock protein70-2 (HSP70-2) gene polymorphism with coronary artery disease in an Iranian population

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is an inflammatory process and a major cause of mortality and morbidity. The (heat shock protein70-2) HSP70-2 gene is reported to be associated with coronary artery disease possibly by affecting the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha. The association between CAD and the HSP70-2 gene +1267A>G polymorphism has been studied in some populations but there are no data about this association in the Iranian population. Aim: We have investigated the association between the HSP70-2 gene +1267A>G polymorphism and angiographically defined CAD within an Iranian population. Methods: We determined the presence of the HSP70-2 gene +1267A>G polymorphism in 628 patients with CAD and 307 healthy individuals using PCR-RFLP. Of the patients, 433 (68%) had >50% stenosis (CAD+) and the remaining 195 patients had <50% stenosis (CAD), based on coronary angiography. Angiogram positive patients were subdivided into three groups: those with single (n = 113), double (n = 134), and triple vessels (n = 186) disease. Results: A significant higher frequency of AG + GG genotypes (G allele carriers) was observed in angiogram positive and angiogram negative groups compared to controls in a dominant analysis model of the HSP70-2 gene +1267A>G position (51.2 vs. 43.2, P = 0.002, OR = 137) (51.0 vs. 43.2, P = 0.01, OR = 1.37). The allele frequency of the HSP70-2 G was also significantly higher in angiogram positive and angiogram negative groups compared to the control group (512 vs. 43.2, P = 0.002, OR = 1.37) (51.0 vs. 432, P = 0.01, OR = 1.37). Conclusion: These results suggest that HSP70-2 +1267 polymorphism may influence the risk of CAD in Iranian population, however further studies are needed to clarify the role of other HSP70-2 gene polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of the CAD

Cytokine and growth factor profiling in patients with the metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with a pro-inflammatory milieu that may partially account for its association with an increased cardiovascular risk. We aimed to (1) evaluate the serum concentrations of twelve cytokines and growth factors (epidermal growth factor (EGF), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-1α/-1β/-2/-4/-6/-8/-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), TNF-α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) in 303 individuals with or without the MetS; and (2) explore their relationship with the presence of the MetS. Patients with the MetS had significantly higher serum concentrations of IFN-γ, EGF, IL-1α/-1β/-2/-4/-6/-8/-10, MCP-1 and TNF-α, whilst serum VEGF concentrations were markedly lower compared with the control group (e.g. 38-55 v. 82-18 pg/ml; P<0-05). Amongst these parameters, IFN-γ and IL-1α emerged as the most significant independent predictors of the MetS. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that patients with the MetS had an altered blood cytokine and growth factor profile that may partially account for its adverse clinical outcomes. Further prospective studies in larger multi-centre settings are required to unravel the role and association of the emerging biomarkers with the MetS and their implication in therapeutic intervention. Copyright © The Authors 2015

Relationship between serum cytokine and growth factor concentrations and coronary artery disease

Background: We have assessed the association between serum concentrations of 12 cytokines/growth factors and angiographically-defined coronary artery disease, comparing the concentrations in four groups (one control group and three case groups). Methods: We studied a total of 426 subjects including; 98 control subjects and 3 case groups. The patient groups consisted of: coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) candidates (. n=. 48) and patients undergoing coronary angiography, with, or without obstructive coronary artery disease. Twelve cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, MCP-1, IFN-γ, EGF, and VEGF) were measured using a sandwich chemi-luminescence assays, on the Evidence Investigator® system. Results: The four groups were well matched for demographic and clinical characteristics, except waist circumference, fasting blood glucose (FBG), total and LDL cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure that were significantly higher in case groups compared to the control group (. P<. 0.05 for all). There were significant differences between control group and the other three groups regarding the measured cytokines, such as IL-1α, IL-8, MCP-1, and VEGF (. P<. 0.01). Furthermore, IL-4, IL-6 and EGF were also significantly different between the control, obstructive coronary disease and CABG candidate groups (. P<. 0.01). Analysis of the ROC curve showed 92.1 sensitivity, 99.2 specificity and 100 positive predictive value (PPV) for VEGF in its ability to distinguish the CABG group at the cut-off point of 37.18. pg/ml. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10 and VEGF may play major roles in pathogenesis of CAD. © 2015 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists

An imbalance in serum concentrations of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in hypertension

Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and there is increasing evidence that inflammation and abnormal immune responses are involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. However, the data on the association between specific cytokine concentrations and hypertension are inconsistent. We have evaluated the association between 12 cytokines/growth factors and the presence of different degrees of hypertension, comparing these concentrations to values in a healthy group of subjects. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1α, -1β, -2, -4, -6, -8, -10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), epidermal growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor were measured in 155 hypertensive patients and 148 healthy subjects, using EV-3513 cytokine biochip arrays, a competitive chemiluminescence immunoassay. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the association of specific cytokines and growth factors with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Hypertensive subjects had higher serum concentrations of IL-1α, -2, -8, vascular endothelial growth factor, IFN-γ, TNF-α, MCP-1, and epidermal growth factor; and lower concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 (P < .05), compared with the healthy individuals. The serum concentrations of IL-4, -6, and -1β did not differ between the hypertensive subjects and control group. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that IL-1α and IFN-γ were independent predictors of a high SBP, while IFN-γ, IL-1α, TNF-α, and MCP-1 remained statistically significant for DBP after correction for age, gender, Body mass index, smoking, fasting blood glucose, and triglycerides. There was a significant association between the concentrations of several cytokines and hypertension. These associations may either be related to common underlying factors that cause hypertension and may also be proinflammatory or because these inflammatory cytokines might directly be involved in the etiology of hypertension