Is There a Link Between Changes in Levels of Hepcidin and Stroke?

BACKGROUND: Iron is an essential element for the living body. It is well known that iron homeostasis disorders are important in two ways--its deficiency and its overload lead to several pathologies. METHODS: We measured 17 patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA); 19 with anemia of chronic diseases (ACD); 15 with ischemic stroke (IS). The results were compared to a previously selected control group. For evaluation of iron metabolism status, we measured serum iron levels, ferritin, and soluble transferrin receptors. For inflammation, serum interleukin-6 and hsCRP were measured. Serum hepcidin quantification was performed using a previously validated immunosorbent method. Ferritin was measured by an ECLIA method; serum iron on AAS; hsCRP using a nephelometric analysis. RESULTS: We found statistically significant elevated serum hepcidin levels in patients with ACD and IS compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Patients with IDA had statistically significant lower hepcidin levels compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Serum ferritin levels in the IS group was higher compared to the control and other groups (p < 0.001). The lowest ferritin concentrations were established in the IDA group compared to the control (p < 0.001). We found a strong correlation between serum hepcidin and ferritin levels in the IS group (r = 0.583; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Quantification of serum hepcidin levels might be used as a link for prediction of acute ischemic stroke and future therapeutic influences.

Whole-genome-wide association study in the Bulgarian population reveals HHAT as schizophrenia susceptibility gene.

OBJECTIVE: Schizophrenia, the most common major psychiatric disorder (or group of disorders), entails severe decline of higher functions, principally with alterations in cognitive functioning and reality perception. Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in its pathogenesis; however, its genetic background still needs to be clarified. The objective of the study was to reveal genetic markers associated with schizophrenia in the Bulgarian population. METHODS: We have conducted a genome-wide association study using 554 496 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 188 affected and 376 unaffected Bulgarian individuals. Subsequently, the 100 candidate SNPs that revealed the smallest P-values were further evaluated in an additional set of 99 case and 328 control samples. RESULTS: We found a significant association between schizophrenia and the intronic SNP rs7527939 in the HHAT gene (P-value of 6.49×10 with an odds ratio of 2.63, 95% confidence interval of 1.89-3.66). We also genotyped additional SNPs within a 58-kb linkage disequilibrium block surrounding the landmark SNP. CONCLUSION: We suggest rs7527939 to be the strongest indicator of susceptibility to schizophrenia in the Bulgarian population within the HHAT locus.