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1.
AIDS Behav ; 20(8): 1621-31, 2016 08.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26860536

RESUMO

Screening for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) is important to improve clinical outcomes. We compared the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the mini-mental state examination, International HIV dementia scale (IHDS), Montreal cognitive assessment, Simioni symptom questionnaire and cognitive assessment tool-rapid version (CAT-rapid) to a gold standard neuropsychological battery. Antiretroviral-experienced participants from Cape Town, South Africa, and Baltimore, USA, were recruited. The sensitivity and specificity of the five tools, as well as those of the combined IHDS and CAT-rapid, were established using 2 × 2 contingency tables and ROC analysis. More than a third (65165) had symptomatic HAND. In detecting HIV-D, the CAT-Rapid had good sensitivity (94 %) and weak specificity (52 %) (cut-point ≤10), while the IHDS showed fair sensitivity (68 %) and good specificity (86 %) (cut-point ≤10). The combined IHDS and CAT-rapid showed excellent sensitivity and specificity for HIV-D at a cut-off score of ≤16 (out of 20; 89 and 82 %). No tool was adequate in screening for any HAND. The combination IHDS and CAT-rapid tool appears to be a good screener for HIV-D but is only fairly sensitive and poorly specific in screening for any HAND. Screening for milder forms of HAND continues to be a clinical challenge.


Assuntos
Complexo AIDS Demência/diagnóstico , Comparação Transcultural , Infecções por HIV/complicações , Programas de Rastreamento/instrumentação , Inquéritos e Questionários/normas , Complexo AIDS Demência/psicologia , Baltimore , Transtornos Cognitivos/diagnóstico , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/psicologia , Humanos , Masculino , Programas de Rastreamento/métodos , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Curva ROC , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , África do Sul
2.
Int J Clin Pract ; 69(7): 738-42, 2015 Jul.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25707773

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) levels and atheroma burden in Pakistanis presenting to an ambulatory centre with chest pain. METHODS: A prospective matched case-control study of 400 patients selected for presence/absence of angiographic disease referred between 2001 and 2003. A comprehensive cardiovascular disease risk factor profile was assessed including demographics, environmental and biochemical risk factors including insulin resistance and PCSK-9 levels. Coronary atheroma burden was quantified by Gensini score. RESULTS: In this population, PCSK-9 levels were weakly correlated (r = 0.23) with male gender (p = 0.06) and number of diabetes years (p = 0.09), and inversely with log10 of lipoprotein (a) concentration (p = 0.07) but not LDL-C. In multiple regression analysis, Gensini score was associated with age (p = 0.002), established angina (p = 0.001), duration of diabetes (p = 0.05), low HDL-C (p < 0.001), lipoprotein (a) (p = 0.01), creatinine (p < 0.001), C-Reactive Protein (p = 0.02) and PSCK-9 (p = 0.05) concentrations. PCSK9 added to the regression model. Neither total cholesterol nor LDL-C were significant risk factors in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 concentrations are correlated with atheroma burden in Indian Asian populations from the sub-continent, not taking statin therapy, independent of LDL-C or other CVD risk factors.


Assuntos
Dor no Peito/etiologia , Dor Crônica/etiologia , Doença da Artéria Coronariana/enzimologia , Placa Aterosclerótica/enzimologia , Pró-Proteína Convertase 9/sangue , Medição de Risco/métodos , Biomarcadores/sangue , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Dor no Peito/diagnóstico , Dor Crônica/diagnóstico , Doença da Artéria Coronariana/complicações , Doença da Artéria Coronariana/epidemiologia , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Paquistão/epidemiologia , Placa Aterosclerótica/complicações , Placa Aterosclerótica/epidemiologia , Prognóstico , Estudos Prospectivos , Fatores de Risco
3.
Br J Biomed Sci ; 72(2): 52-5, 2015.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26126319

RESUMO

The lipaemic index can be used to assess whether or not blood samples are suitable for laboratory analysis. However, little is known about which patients have a raised lipaemic index. In this article we study patient demographics and serum lipid concentrations in samples showing a raised lipaemic index. Of the 4271 patient samples measured in the month of July 2014, a total of 310 had a lipaemic index 0.4. Blood samples showing a raised lipaemic index were studied in a retrospective patient case review of laboratory results. Overall, 7.3% of all samples measured had a raised lipaemic index 0.4. This study found that males were more likely to have a high lipaemic index (56%) and neonates were the group most frequently producing lipaemic samples (30.6%). The correlation between the lipaemic index and the triglyceride concentration showed an r2 value of only 0.37 (r = 0.61), and the correlation between cholesterol and lipaemic index showed an r2 value of 0.16 (r = -0.41). Male and neonatal samples were most likely to show a raised lipaemic index. There was a positive correlation between sample triglyceride and lipaemic index and an inverse correlation with cholesterol concentration and the lipaemic index, although this did not account for all the variance. Thus, other factors may also be important in the expression of the lipaemic index.


Assuntos
Hiperlipidemias/sangue , Lipídeos/sangue , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Análise Química do Sangue , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Inglaterra/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Hiperlipidemias/epidemiologia , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Modelos Lineares , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Adulto Jovem
4.
Int J Clin Pract ; 68(12): 1473-7, 2014 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25283732

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between troponin-T levels and atheroma burden in Pakistanis presenting to an ambulatory centre with chest pain. METHODS: A prospective case-control study of 400 patients selected for presence/absence of angiographic disease referred between 2001 and 2003. A comprehensive cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor profile was assessed including demographics, environmental and biochemical risk factors including insulin resistance and troponin-T levels. Coronary atheroma burden was quantified by Gensini score. RESULTS: Clinically significant elevated troponin-T levels (> 30 pmol/l) were found in 40 patients (10%) with equal numbers in groups selected with or without angiographic disease. Troponin-T elevation (> 13 pmol/l) was present in 59 vs. 47 patients (30% vs. 24%; p = 0.04). Troponin-T levels did not correlate with any measured demographical, environmental, drug therapy or biochemical risk factor. No difference was found in concentrations of lipids, apolipoproteins, insulin resistance, C-reactive protein or sialic acid in cohorts stratified by troponin-T concentrations. In univariate analysis comparing patients with high (> 30 pmol/l) and low troponin-T levels (< 13 pmol/l) higher plasma total protein (91 g/l vs. 85 g/l; p = 0.01), increased immunoglobulin levels (41 g/l vs. 36 g/l; p = 0.02) and prevalence of hyperparathyroidism (40% vs. 21%; p = 0.04) were associated with higher troponin-T concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that measurement of troponin-T is not an alternative to imaging in an Indian asian population, but that it does identify a separate potentially high-risk population that would not be identified by the use of imaging alone which is potentially at higher risk of CVD events.


Assuntos
Biomarcadores/sangue , Dor no Peito/epidemiologia , Doença da Artéria Coronariana/diagnóstico , Troponina T/sangue , Adulto , Idoso , Doença Crônica , Estudos de Coortes , Angiografia Coronária/estatística & dados numéricos , Doença da Artéria Coronariana/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Paquistão/epidemiologia , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Estudos Prospectivos , Medição de Risco/métodos , Medição de Risco/estatística & dados numéricos
5.
Sci Eng Ethics ; 19(1): 107-22, 2013 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21611820

RESUMO

Some ethicists argue that patient confidentiality is absolute and thus should never be broken. I examine these arguments that when critically scrutinised, become porous. I will explore the concept of patient confidentiality and argue that although, this is a very important medical and bioethical issue, this needs to be wisely delivered to reduce third party harm or even detriment to the patient. The argument for absolute confidentiality is particularly weak when it comes to genetic information and inherited disease.


Assuntos
Temas Bioéticos , Confidencialidade/ética , Ética Médica , Doenças Genéticas Inatas , Humanos , Risco
6.
Br J Dermatol ; 164(1): 26-32, 2011 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20819085

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: There is well-documented evidence that patients with moderate and severe psoriasis have a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). While this risk can, at least in part, be attributed to the high prevalence of traditional risk factors in the population with psoriasis, some epidemiological evidence suggests it may be independent of these. OBJECTIVES: This prospective, case-controlled study investigates whether psoriasis is a risk factor for CVD using two, validated, sensitive markers of CVD, endothelial dysfunction and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). METHODS: Patients were recruited from a tertiary referral psoriasis clinic and exclusion criteria included established CVD and/or conventional risks for CVD. Preclinical CVD was assessed using flow-mediated brachial artery dilatation, which measures endothelial dysfunction, and hsCRP, a serological marker of atherosclerosis. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients (22%) out of a total of 285 consecutive patients attending the severe psoriasis clinic were entered into the study. One hundred and sixty-one (56%) were excluded following identification of cardiovascular risk; 39 of the 161 (24%) had at least two cardiovascular risk factors. A further 16 (6%) patients were excluded because of established CVD. No statistically significant difference in endothelial dysfunction was observed between patients with psoriasis (n = 60) and healthy controls (n = 117) (P = 0·508). The hsCRP level was, however, significantly elevated in the psoriasis group (2·828 mg L(-1), SEM 0·219; controls 0·728 mg L(-1), SEM 0·142; P < 0·05). CONCLUSION: This large, investigative study is the first to assess endothelial function in patients with psoriasis after exclusion of traditional risk factors for CVD. These data suggest that psoriasis per se is not a risk factor for CVD and that elevated hsCRP is possibly independent of atheroma risk. There was a high prevalence of traditional risk factors in our population with severe psoriasis.


Assuntos
Doenças Cardiovasculares/fisiopatologia , Endotélio Vascular/fisiopatologia , Psoríase/fisiopatologia , Biomarcadores/análise , Artéria Braquial/diagnóstico por imagem , Artéria Braquial/fisiologia , Proteína C-Reativa/análise , Doenças Cardiovasculares/etiologia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Estudos de Coortes , Feminino , Humanos , Lipídeos/sangue , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Prospectivos , Psoríase/sangue , Psoríase/complicações , Fluxo Sanguíneo Regional/fisiologia , Fatores de Risco , Ultrassonografia , Vasodilatação/fisiologia
8.
Int J Clin Pract ; 63(10): 1451-5, 2009 Oct.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19769701

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: Increased mortality with severe hyponatraemia is well known. What is less clear is the mortality risk according to the pattern of the developing hyponatraemia and whether this may be affected by the intervention of the clinician. METHODS: From our laboratory database, we retrospectively collected data of a 12-month period of adult patients with severe hyponatraemia (< or = 120 mmol/l). One hundred and thirteen patients were identified. Normonatraemic controls (n = 113) were identified by plasma sodium of 135 mmol/l over the same period, and whose nadir during hospitalisation was > or = 130 mmol/l. Results are mean +/- SD unless stated otherwise. Duration of hospitalisation and clinical outcomes was confirmed from hospital records. RESULTS: The mean nadir plasma sodium of the hyponatraemic group was 116.0 +/- 4.4 mmol/l and 134.0 +/- 2.8 mmol/l in controls. Although the hyponatraemic patients were younger than controls (65.8 +/- 18.4 vs. 72.3 +/- 14.9 years; p = 0.004), they had higher mortality (24 vs. 7, p = 0.002) and longer hospitalisation than controls: median (IQR), 12 (7-22) vs. 7 (3-16.5) days (p < 0.001). A total of 55 patients developed severe hyponatraemia following admission. This subgroup comprised a higher proportion of surgical patients (23.6% vs. 1.7%, p < 0.001) than those with severe hyponatraemia on admission. Furthermore, both mortality (n = 17 vs. n = 7; p = 0.02) and duration of hospitalisation, median 19 days (IQR 10-35) vs. 9.5 (5-15) days (p < 0.001), were greater. Failure to measure plasma and urinary osmolalities was associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Severe hyponatraemia is associated with prolonged admission and increased mortality compared with normonatraemic patients. Progressive hyponatraemia following admission incurs a higher risk of death. This may represent illness-severity, inappropriate management or inadequate investigation.


Assuntos
Técnicas de Laboratório Clínico/mortalidade , Hiponatremia/mortalidade , Adulto , Idoso , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Feminino , Hospitalização/estatística & dados numéricos , Hospitais de Distrito , Humanos , Hiponatremia/diagnóstico , Masculino , Concentração Osmolar , Encaminhamento e Consulta , Estudos Retrospectivos
9.
Histopathology ; 52(2): 175-82, 2008 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18184266

RESUMO

AIMS: To evaluate fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for SRY, the testis-determining gene on the Y-chromosome, in gonadal specimens from patients with intersex disorders including two older individuals presenting with Sertoli cell adenomas and clinically unsuspected androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). METHODS AND RESULTS: FISH, using probes for SRY and the X-centromere, was performed on two Sertoli cell adenomas presenting as ovarian masses in phenotypic females aged 62 and 73 years with previously undiagnosed AIS. Gonadal biopsies and tumours from eight additional patients with known intersex disorders and XY phenotype were also studied. Signal for SRY was demonstrated in at least one specimen from all patients, and from 16/18 (89%) specimens overall. The specificity of FISH was determined by analysis of 10 sporadic ovarian tumours including six dysgerminomas and four Sertoli-Leydig cell tumours: all cases expressed a female XX chromosomal signal. CONCLUSIONS: The demonstration of SRY using FISH is useful in the assessment of gonadal specimens from patients with intersex disorders, particularly in older individuals where the diagnosis may be unsuspected clinically. However, it may be necessary to examine multiple specimens in some cases to confirm the presence of Y-chromosomal material.


Assuntos
Adenoma/genética , Síndrome de Resistência a Andrógenos/diagnóstico , Cromossomos Humanos Y/genética , Transtornos do Desenvolvimento Sexual/diagnóstico , Hibridização in Situ Fluorescente/métodos , Neoplasias Ovarianas/genética , Tumor de Células de Sertoli/genética , Adenoma/diagnóstico , Adenoma/patologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Síndrome de Resistência a Andrógenos/genética , Biópsia , Transtornos do Desenvolvimento Sexual/genética , Disgerminoma/diagnóstico , Disgerminoma/genética , Disgerminoma/patologia , Feminino , Genes sry/genética , Gonadoblastoma/diagnóstico , Gonadoblastoma/genética , Gonadoblastoma/patologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias Ovarianas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Ovarianas/patologia , Fenótipo , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Tumor de Células de Sertoli/diagnóstico , Tumor de Células de Sertoli/patologia
10.
Int J Clin Pract ; 62(5): 701-7, 2008 May.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18341566

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and atheroma burden in Pakistanis. METHODS: A prospective case-control study of 400 patients selected for the presence/absence of angiographic disease. Coronary atheroma burden was quantified and IR and cardiovascular risk factors were measured. RESULTS: The patients were divided into two groups by QuickI score. Waist circumference (90 +/- 10 vs. 90 +/- 9 cm; p = 0.7) was similar but the groups differed in body mass index (26.5 +/- 3.7 vs. 24.2 +/- 3.5 kg/m(2); p < 0.001) and waist:hip ratio (0.94 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.90 +/- 0.06; p < 0.001). Lipid parameters showed similar high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (0.77 +/- 0.23 vs. 0.82 +/- 0.22 mmol/l; p = 0.1) differences in triglycerides [1.32 (0.08-3.98) vs. 1.12 (0.37-3.61) mmol/l; p = 0.01], but no difference in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (2.75 +/- 1.00 vs. 2.90 +/- 0.94 mmol/l; p = 0.14). In insulin-resistant patients C-reactive protein (CRP) [6.8 (0.3-175.1) vs. 3.9 (0.2-57.9) mg/l: p < 0.001], sialic acid (82 +/- 14 vs. 77 +/- 15 mg/l; p < 0.001) aspartate transaminase [24 (7-171) vs. 21 (7-83) IU/l; p < 0.001] and gamma-glutamyl transferase [27 (8-482) vs. 21 (7-168) IU/l; p = 0.005] levels were increased. In insulin-resistant patients (n = 187), coronary artery disease (CAD) burden correlated (r = 0.55) with age (beta = 1.62; p < 0.001), HDL-C (beta = -53.2; p < 0.001), lipoprotein (a) (beta = 11.4; p = 0.007), smoking (beta = 7.98; p = 0.004), CRP (beta = 6.06; p = 0.03) and QuickI index (beta = -146; p = 0.04). In contrast in insulin-sensitive patients (n = 178) CAD burden (r = 0.46) correlated with LDL-C (beta = 10.0; p = 0.02), CRP (beta = 7.13; p = 0.03), HDL-C (beta = -38.1; p = 0.03), and weakly with age (beta = 0.73; p = 0.07) and smoking (beta = 5.52; p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Indian Asians show a dichotomous insulin-resistance phenotype. Atheroma is associated with low HDL-C and inflammation associated in all but LDL-C is a factor in the insulin sensitive in contrast to age and extent of IR in the insulin resistant.


Assuntos
Doença da Artéria Coronariana/fisiopatologia , Resistência à Insulina , Adulto , Aterosclerose/fisiopatologia , Constituição Corporal , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Síndrome Metabólica/etiologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fenótipo , Estudos Prospectivos , Fatores de Risco
11.
RSC Adv ; 7(71): 45061-45065, 2017.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29629176

RESUMO

Superatom electron shell and/or geometric shell filling underlies the thermodynamic stability of coinage and alkali metal clusters in both theoretical and experimental results. Factors beyond simple shell filling contribute substantially to the lifetime of ligated clusters in solution. Such factors include the nature of the solvent, the atmosphere and the steric size of the ligand shell. Here we systematically lay out a 'practical' stability model for ligated metal clusters, which includes both shell-closing aspects and colloidal stability aspects. Cluster decomposition may follow either fusion or fission pathways. Solvent polarity can be determinative of the decomposition pathway.

13.
Ann Clin Biochem ; 58(5): 392-394, 2021 09.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34044610
14.
Oncogene ; 35(35): 4591-600, 2016 09 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26804166

RESUMO

To improve treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), a better understanding of disease development is needed to tailor new therapies. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) is highly expressed in leukaemia cells from the majority of paediatric patients with B-lineage ALL (pre-B ALL). CTGF is a matricellular protein and plays a role in aggressive cancers. Here we have genetically engineered leukaemia cells to modulate CTGF expression levels. Elevated CTGF levels accelerated disease dissemination and reduced survival in NOD/SCID mice. In vitro studies showed that CTGF protein induces stromal cell proliferation, promotes adhesion of leukaemia cells to stromal cells and leads to overexpression of genes associated with cell cycle and synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM). Corresponding data from our leukaemia xenograft models demonstrated that CTGF leads to increased proliferation of non-leukaemia cells and deposition of ECM in the bone marrow. We document for the first time a functional role of CTGF in altering disease progression in a lymphoid malignancy. The findings provide support for targeting the bone marrow microenvironment in aggressive forms of leukaemia.


Assuntos
Ciclo Celular/genética , Proliferação de Células/genética , Fator de Crescimento do Tecido Conjuntivo/genética , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/genética , Animais , Diferenciação Celular/genética , Fator de Crescimento do Tecido Conjuntivo/antagonistas & inibidores , Progressão da Doença , Matriz Extracelular/genética , Regulação Leucêmica da Expressão Gênica , Técnicas de Silenciamento de Genes , Humanos , Camundongos , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/patologia , Células Estromais/patologia , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de Xenoenxerto
15.
Biochim Biophys Acta ; 1014(1): 26-39, 1989 Oct 30.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-2572274

RESUMO

A continuous flow electrophoresis procedure has been developed to study platelet subpopulation heterogeneity with separations based upon surface electrical charge differences. Taxol at low concentrations has been used to transiently stabilize the cells during the separations. At a concentration of 10(-5) M taxol has no effect upon a wide range of physical, analytical and enzymatic properties and does not compromise agonist-induced activation responses (aggregation and secretion). A typical normal platelet subpopulation profile extends over 15-20 fractions with mobilities from -0.97 to -0.78 microns per s per volt per cm. Platelet size (resistive particle counter volumes) differed significantly across the profile, the most electronegative cells being the larger, and the least electronegative the smaller platelets. Total platelet sialic acid content and surface neuraminidase-labile sialic acid correlated positively with electronegativity, but the surface -SH group status had an inverse relationship with the least electronegative smaller platelets, having twice as many surface DTNB-titratable - SH groups as the most electrophoretically mobile and larger cells. Normalisation of analytical and enzymatic data to cell volumes revealed that the smaller less electronegative platelets were substantially richer in all constituents and properties than the larger more electronegative platelets. These smaller cells showed higher activities for lysosomal enzymes, and their functions (capacity to transport 5-hydroxytryptamine and adenosine across the plasma membrane and responsiveness to thrombin expressed by synthesis of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) or release of 5HT) were greater than the larger more electronegative cells. No significant differences were observed, however, in the subpopulations by optical aggregometry using six different agonists each at three different concentrations. This free flow electrophoresis separation of platelets, which can be carried out on a preparative scale, may have some advantages over the conventional density gradient separations of subpopulations for investigating clinical states affecting thrombopoietic regulation or platelet losses from the circulation due to vessel wall disease, prosthetic implants or during extracorporeal circuitry.


Assuntos
Alcaloides/farmacologia , Plaquetas/citologia , Plaquetas/análise , Plaquetas/efeitos dos fármacos , Separação Celular/métodos , Eletroforese/métodos , Humanos , Técnicas In Vitro , Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura , Paclitaxel , Agregação Plaquetária
16.
Int J Parasitol ; 35(14): 1473-5, 2005 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16139836

RESUMO

The many similarities between arrested dauer larvae of free-living nematodes and infective L3 of parasitic nematodes has led to suggestions that they are analogous lifecycle stages. The control of the formation of dauer larvae in Caenorhabditis elegans is well understood, with a TGF-beta-superfamily growth factor playing a central role. Recent analyses of the expression of homologous TGF-beta genes in parasitic nematodes has allowed this analogy to be tested; but the results so far do not support it. Rather, the results imply that in the evolution of animal parasitism, parasitic nematodes have taken signalling pathways and molecules from their free-living ancestors and used them in different ways in the evolution of their parasitic lifestyles.


Assuntos
Evolução Biológica , Interações Hospedeiro-Parasita , Nematoides/metabolismo , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta/metabolismo , Animais , Caenorhabditis elegans/fisiologia , Regulação da Expressão Gênica no Desenvolvimento , Genes de Helmintos , Larva , Receptores de Fatores de Crescimento Transformadores beta/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta/genética
17.
J Clin Pathol ; 58(2): 151-4, 2005 Feb.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15677534

RESUMO

AIMS: Studies have suggested that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to examine cardiovascular risk profiles in women with PCOS compared with healthy age and weight matched control subjects using novel biochemical and biophysical markers. METHODS: After ethics committee approval, 11 women with PCOS and 12 controls were recruited (mean age, 32; SD, 6.5 years; mean body mass index (BMI), 33.1; SD, 5.9 kg/m2). Serum was analysed for lipid and lipoprotein profile (total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B-100, apolipoprotein A1, lipoprotein (a)), and sialic acid, fibrinogen, homocysteine, and C reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. Endothelial function was also assessed by a standard venous occlusion plethysmography technique to measure reactive hyperaemic forearm blood flow (RH), and expressed as per cent increase from baseline. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in glucose, lipid, or lipoprotein concentrations between the two groups. Furthermore, sialic acid (PCOS: mean, 70.5; SD, 149 mg/litre; controls: mean, 71.3; SD, 112 mg/litre), fibrinogen (PCOS: mean, 3.1; SD, 1.0 g/litre; controls: mean, 3.3; SD, 0.7 g/litre), CRP (PCOS: mean, 4.6; SD, 4.2 mg/litre; controls: mean, 5.41 SD, 5.5 mg/litre), and RH (PCOS: mean, 158.7; SD, 135.5%; controls: mean, 200.1; SD, 114.2%) were similar. CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in surrogate markers of the processes linked to enhanced cardiovascular risk between patients with PCOS and weight matched controls.


Assuntos
Doenças Cardiovasculares/etiologia , Síndrome do Ovário Policístico/complicações , Adolescente , Adulto , Antropometria , Biomarcadores/sangue , Glicemia/análise , Feminino , Antebraço , Humanos , Hiperemia/fisiopatologia , Lipídeos/sangue , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores de Risco
18.
Diabetes Care ; 16(1): 57-60, 1993 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8422833

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: In view of the possible link between serum sialic acid and cardiovascular disease in the general population, we investigated whether serum total and lipid-associated sialic concentrations are elevated in NIDDM patients compared with normal subjects. We also investigated how sialic acid levels relate to glycemic control, blood pressure, microalbuminuria, retinopathy, and serum lipid levels. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We selected 20 NIDDM patients at random and matched them for age and sex with 20 normal subjects. The patients also had a similar BMI as the control subjects. A first morning blood sample was taken for sialic acid, glucose, fructosamine, and lipid analysis, as was a first morning urine sample for assessment of microalbuminuria. Retinopathy was assessed by fundoscopy. RESULTS: Both total and lipid-associated sialic acid levels were elevated in the NIDDM patients compared with control subjects (mean +/- SD, total: 0.74 +/- 0.11 vs. 0.60 +/- 0.22 g/L, P < 0.02; lipid-associated: 0.18 +/- 0.04 vs 0.12 +/- 0.04 g/L, P < 0.001). Total serum sialic acid was correlated with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.58, P < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.58, P < 0.02). There was no significant relationship of total sialic acid with age, duration of diabetes, BMI, microalbuminuria, serum triglyceride, blood glucose, or serum fructosamine. A relationship of lipid-associated sialic acid levels and systolic blood pressure did not reach significance (P = 0.09). In 9 patients with background retinopathy with or without maculopathy, the total serum sialic acid concentration was higher than in those without retinopathy (0.81 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.69 +/- 0.10 g/L, P < 0.008). Lipid-associated sialic acid levels were similar in those with and without retinopathy. (The conversion factor for standard units to SI units is 1 gL = 3.2 mM.) CONCLUSIONS: Total serum sialic acid levels were significantly elevated in a relatively small group of NIDDM patients and were correlated with hypertension and retinopathy. A larger study of circulating sialic acid concentrations as a risk factor for the development or marker of diabetic angiopathy is therefore justified.


Assuntos
Pressão Sanguínea , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/fisiopatologia , Retinopatia Diabética/sangue , Ácidos Siálicos/sangue , Albuminúria , Biomarcadores/sangue , Glicemia/análise , Índice de Massa Corporal , Colesterol/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/urina , Feminino , Frutosamina , Hexosaminas/sangue , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Ácido N-Acetilneuramínico , Valores de Referência , Triglicerídeos/sangue
19.
Diabetes Care ; 17(4): 305-10, 1994 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8026286

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: An elevated serum sialic acid concentration has recently been shown to be a potent cardiovascular risk factor in the general population. Because clinical proteinuria is associated with a high frequency of cardiovascular disease, and because microalbuminuria predicts the development of renal and cardiovascular disease in diabetes, we investigated whether serum sialic acid levels are increased in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients with microalbuminuria or clinical proteinuria. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied 23 patients with IDDM who had a normal urinary albumin excretion rate, 23 patients who had microalbuminuria, and 23 patients with clinical proteinuria. The patients were matched for age, sex, duration of diabetes, GHb levels, and body mass index (BMI). Fasting blood samples were taken for measurement of sialic acid, cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine, and GHb. RESULTS: Serum sialic acid was significantly higher in the microalbuminuric patients compared with the normoalbuminuric group (mean +/- SD: 1.93 +/- 0.26 vs. 1.76 +/- 0.27 mM, P < 0.01). Moreover, serum sialic acid was also significantly higher in the group with clinical proteinuria compared with the microalbuminuric patients (2.34 +/- 0.24 vs. 1.93 +/- 0.26 mM, P < 0.001). Serum sialic acid was not related independently to age, BMI, diabetes duration, GHb, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, or creatinine concentration in any of the diabetic groups. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that the serum sialic acid concentration is raised in IDDM patients with both microalbuminuria and clinical proteinuria and may play a role as a cardiovascular risk factor or disease marker in these conditions.


Assuntos
Albuminúria , Doenças Cardiovasculares/epidemiologia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/urina , Proteinúria , Ácidos Siálicos/sangue , Adulto , Análise de Variância , Biomarcadores/sangue , Doenças Cardiovasculares/sangue , Colesterol/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/fisiopatologia , Neuropatias Diabéticas/sangue , Neuropatias Diabéticas/fisiopatologia , Neuropatias Diabéticas/urina , Feminino , Taxa de Filtração Glomerular , Humanos , Masculino , Ácido N-Acetilneuramínico , Fatores de Risco , Triglicerídeos/sangue
20.
Diabetes Care ; 18(8): 1100-3, 1995 Aug.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7587844

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE--To examine the association between serum sialic acid concentrations and coronary heart disease (CHD) in a cross-sectional study of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--NIDDM patients (n = 145) attending a diabetic clinic were studied. CHD status was assessed by questionnaire and electrocardiogram coding, and potential risk factor assessment included measurement of fasting serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, blood pressure, and urinary albumin excretion rate (AER). RESULTS--Male NIDDM patients with CHD had a higher serum sialic acid level than those without CHD: 2.56 (2.24, 2.72) mmol/l vs. 2.24 (2.18, 2.30) mmol/l, P = 0.01, mean (95% confidence interval). They were also older, had a longer duration of diabetes, had a higher AER, had higher total triglyceride, very-low-density lipoprotein triglyceride and cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a) concentrations, and had a lower apolipoprotein A1 concentration. In an age adjusted multiple lipoprotein(a), hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension were associated with CHD. In women, only hypertension treatment was associated with CHD. CONCLUSIONS--There is a strong univariate association between elevated serum sialic acid and CHD in men (but not women) with NIDDM.


Assuntos
Doença das Coronárias/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/sangue , Ácidos Siálicos/sangue , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Apolipoproteínas/sangue , Glicemia/análise , Pressão Sanguínea , Colesterol/sangue , Doença das Coronárias/complicações , Doença das Coronárias/fisiopatologia , Estudos Transversais , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/complicações , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/fisiopatologia , Angiopatias Diabéticas/sangue , Angiopatias Diabéticas/fisiopatologia , Feminino , Hemoglobinas Glicadas/análise , Humanos , Hipertensão/epidemiologia , Lipoproteínas/sangue , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Análise Multivariada , Ácido N-Acetilneuramínico , Razão de Chances , Valores de Referência , Análise de Regressão , Caracteres Sexuais , Triglicerídeos/sangue
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