VAMP-8 gene variant is associated with increased risk of early myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION: Single nucleotide polymorphism in the 3' untranslated region of the vesicle-associated membrane protein gene (VAMP-8) has been associated with increased risk of early-onset myocardial infarction (MI). In this study the risk of early onset MI conferred by VAMP-8 gene polymorphism was investigated in a group of 171 male subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Male patients with a history of MI who underwent coronary angiography were enrolled and divided into early (incident < 55 years of age) and late (incident ≥ 55 years of age) MI onset groups. Apart from the RFLP-PCR based analysis of the VAMP-8 variant, history of hypertension, lipid abnormalities, smoking and body mass index were recorded. In statistical analyses odds ratios and relative risk were used as a measure of genotype-MI association while logistic regression was implemented for evaluation of MI risk factor strength. RESULTS: VAMP-8 A allele frequency proved to be significantly higher in the early-onset MI group and conferred higher relative risk of early MI in the investigated cohort, when calculated for the individual A allele (p = 0.029). In logistic regression analyses no association between risk genotypes and traditional risk factors was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this study VAMP-8 A variant was identified as a risk allele for early MI in male subjects.

[Diagnostic problems of rare cerebellopontine angle tumors]. / Problemy diagnostyczne w rozpoznawaniu rzadkich guzów kata mostowo-mózdzkowego.

UNLABELLED: Astrocytoma (neuroepithelial tumor) determine about 25% all the cerebroma but their original location in cerebellopontine angle is seldom. In case of this kind of tumors in this place, the symptoms can be non-characteristic and similar to these, which appear in the acoustic neurinoma. The most important in case of this diagnosis is both that this tumors can infiltrate of the brain tissues and the fact that they can transformate toward the anaplastic astrocytoma or glioblastoma multiforme (very malignant tumors). MATERIAL AND METHODS: [corrected] A rare case of astrocytoma presenting as a cerebellopontine angle tumor is discussed. The special characteristics of this tumor and unusual clinical course are disscused. CONCLUSION: The early diagnosis of the astrocytoma increases the patient's chance on convalescence and limits extension of the operation, and consequently of the neurological complication.

Noncystic white matter injury--a case report.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in preterm infants at term-equivalent age demonstrated that apart from cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), noncystic white matter injury may take place, detected as diffuse excessive high signal intensity (DEHSI) in the white matter on T2-weighted imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is conducted in few neonatal intensive care units. Consequently, the literature on the subject lacks descriptions of sequelae of noncystic white matter injury in premature newborns with very low birth weight (VLBW). We present the results of a three-year long observation of a child born at the 27th week of pregnancy diagnosed with DEHSI. The boy exhibited cerebral palsy, hyperexcitability and hypoacusis. In the authors' opinion, noncystic white matter injury may not just be one of the reasons for cognitive/behavioral deficits--it may also be responsible for some cases of cerebral palsy in premature infants.