Association of Genetic Polymorphisms in the Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) Gene with Coronary Artery Disease and Serum MGP Levels.

Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is an important regulatory protein for inhibition of calcification in the vessel wall and cartilage. The MGP gene polymorphisms are suspected to increase the risk of extracellular calcification through altering the related gene expression and serum MGP levels. The goal of this study was to examine the correlation between rs4236 (Thr83-Ala), rs12304 (Glu60-X) and rs1800802 (T138-C) polymorphisms of the MGP gene and coronary artery calcification. Serum MGP levels of 168 subjects who had undergone coronary angiography were analyzed along with genotyping of MGP gene polymorphisms. The results indicated that serum MGP levels were significantly associated with rs4236 and rs1800802 polymorphisms of the MGP gene with the occurrence of coronary artery diseases (CAD). Allelic distributions of MGP gene polymorphisms and serum MGP levels, respectively, were not significantly interconnected with the presence of CAD. Our results revealed that serum MGP levels of CAD patients show association with rs4236 and rs1800802 polymorphisms, but serum MGP levels alone do not directly reflect the risk of CAD. The role of MGP genetic variants on formation and progression of arterial calcification should be regarded in cardiovascular diseases.

Psychological effects of calisthenic exercises on neuroinflammatory and rheumatic diseases.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of calisthenic exercises on psychological status in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: This study comprised 40 patients diagnosed with AS randomized into two exercise groups (group 1 = hospital-based, group 2 = home-based) and 40 patients diagnosed with MS randomized into two exercise groups (group 1 = hospital-based, group 2 = home-based). RESULTS: The exercise programme was completed by 73 participants (hospital-based = 34, home-based = 39). Mean age was 33.75 ± 5.77 years. After the 8-week exercise programme in the AS group, the home-based exercise group showed significant improvements in erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR). The hospital-based exercise group showed significant improvements in terms of the Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A) scores. After the 8-week exercise programme in the MS group, the home-based and hospital-based exercise groups showed significant improvements in terms of the 10-m walking test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), HADS-A, and MS international Quality of Life (MusiQoL) scores. There was a significant improvement in the hospital-based and a significant deterioration in the home-based MS patients according to HADS-Depression (HADS-D) score. CONCLUSION: The positive effects of exercises on neurologic and rheumatic chronic inflammatory processes associated with disability should not be underestimated.

Iron deficiency prevalence and dietary patterns by school district in Istanbul.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to record the prevalence of iron deficiency (serum ferritin concentration <15 microg L(-1)) among schoolchildren and identify possible factors related to the development of this medical condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 504 schoolchildren attending three primary schools, located in two districts of Istanbul with higher and lower socio-economic level (SEL) respectively. Certain biochemical and haematological indices of iron status were measured. Dietary intake was estimated using the 24-h recall technique and a food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of iron deficiency in the lower SEL school district was twice that of the higher SEL school district (42% and 21.2% respectively). Furthermore, the levels of serum ferritin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (all P < 0.001) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (P = 0.016) were higher for students in the higher than in the lower SEL school district. Consumption of tea, cola beverages and dairy products was more frequent by children living in the lower than in the higher SEL school district. Furthermore, consumption of red meat and citrus fruits was less frequent by boys in the lower than in the higher SEL school district. CONCLUSIONS: Iron deficiency was more prevalent among children from the lower SEL school district. Different patterns in the consumption of foods and beverages that inhibit or enhance intestinal iron absorption between children in the two school districts could provide some explanation for the observed differences in the prevalence of iron deficiency.

Prevalence of iron deficiency among schoolchildren of different socio-economic status in urban Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of iron deficiency among schoolchildren of different socio-economic status (SES), living in the three largest cities of Turkey. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: Primary schools of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. SUBJECTS: Schoolchildren aged 12 and 13 y (males: 504; females: 510) from nine primary schools. Inclusion of subjects in the study was on a voluntary basis. METHODS: Data were obtained on children SES, anthropometry, haematological and biochemical indices of iron status and consumption of food items related to dietary iron bioavailability. One-way analysis of variance was mainly applied, for the evaluation of the tested hypotheses, using Bonferroni correction in order to take into account the inflation of Type I error. RESULTS: Iron deficiency (serum ferritin <15 microg/l) prevalence was 17.5% among boys and 20.8% among girls. Furthermore, iron deficiency was significantly more prevalent among boys of lower SES, who were also found to have significantly lower levels of serum iron, serum ferritin, transferrin saturation, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration compared to those of higher SES. In terms of dietary factors affecting iron bioavailability, low SES boys exhibited significantly higher frequency of tea consumption and lower frequency of citrus fruit, red meat and fish consumption, compared to their higher SES counterparts. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of iron deficiency was relatively high, particularly among lower SES schoolboys. Higher tea and lower citrus fruits, red meat and fish consumption by boys of lower SES may provide an indication about the possible role of certain dietary patterns in the different manifestation of this medical condition among the socio-economic groups. However, further research is needed.