Association between reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentration & coronary heart disease

Background & objectives: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) facilitates neuronal survival, differentiation and synaptic connectivity and affects neurotransmission throughout the brain. However, it has also a modulatory role in energy homeostasis, obesity and cardiovascular function. Obesity, high body mass index (BMI) and dyslipidaemia, among other factors, contribute to coronary heart disease (CHD) development. The exact role of BDNF in development of CHD is not well defined. This study was aimed to evaluate if plasma BDNF concentration was associated with CHD in ethnically homogeneous groups of patients and to correlate plasma BDNF levels with known risk factors for CHD. Methods: Plasma BDNF concentration, BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and other biological and anthropological risk factors for CHD were determined in 208 patients with CHD and 156 healthy controls. Results: Plasma BDNF concentration was significantly (P <0.01) reduced in patients with CHD compared to controls, and it was not influenced by gender, age, smoking or BDNF Val66Met polymorphism. It was considerably correlated with cholesterol (P=0.004), low-density lipoprotein (P=0.006), and diastolic blood pressure (P=0.018) in patients with CHD and with platelet number (P=0.003) in healthy controls. Interpretation & conclusions: The results revealed lower plasma BDNF concentration in patients with CHD, suggesting that decreased plasma BDNF concentration might be associated with CHD pathogenesis. Longitudinal studies with a large sample need to be conducted to confirm these findings.

Evaluation of Hard Tissue Cephalometric Norms for Maharashtrian Population using Downs Analysis

Aim: Based on Downs analysis, the present study aims to evaluate hard tissue cephalometric norms for the Maharashtrianpopulation.Materials and Methods: The digital lateral cephalograms of 100 subjects with Maharashtrian ethnicity within the age rangeof 18–30 years with normal occlusion were obtained. Downs analysis was performed using Dolphin software. The obtainedvalues were statistically analyzed to evaluate hard tissue norms for the Maharashtrian population.Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in hard tissue norms between Maharashtrian population andCaucasian norms.Conclusion: Ethnic differences exist between Maharashtrian population and Caucasian population, which should be consideredwhen formulating an orthodontic treatment plan.

Classification of chronic rhinosinusitis according to a nasal polyp and tissue eosinophilia: limitation of current classification system for Asian population

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) can be classified according to the presence of a nasal polyp (NP): CRS with NP (CRSwNP) and CRS without NP (CRSsNP). CRSwNP has characteristics with high infiltration of tissue eosinophilia with a burst of Th2 inflammatory cytokine. However recent findings in Eastern Asia countries suggest that CRSwNP can be divided according to the presence of tissue eosinophilia. Thus, CRSwNP can be classified into eosinophilic and noneosinophilic. Eosinophilic CRSwNP seems to have different immunological and clinical feature compared to noneosinophilic CRSwNP. From the same point of view, CRSsNP can also be divided according to tissue eosinophilia. However, the meaning of this dichotomous categorization in CRS seems to be not quite clear. This review focus on the limitations in current subclassification of CRS according to the presence of NP and tissue eosinophilia and discuss other factors related to tissue remodeling and NP generation which may provide clues for the further understanding of CRS pathogenesis.

When Eastern Surgeons Meet Western Patients: A Pilot Study of Gastrectomy with Lymphadenectomy in Caucasian Patients at a Single Korean Institute

East Asian surgeons generally report lower morbidity and mortality rates for gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy than do surgeons in Western countries; however, the disparity remains unexplained. The aim of this article was to determine the feasibility and safety regarding cases in which East Asian surgeons perform such procedures in Caucasian patients (CPs). Twelve CPs underwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer at Yonsei University Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea between June 2011 and April 2014. Procedures performed included total gastrectomy (7 of 12, 58%), distal gastrectomy (4 of 12, 33%), and completion total gastrectomy (1 of 12, 8%). Nine patients (75%) underwent D2 lymphadenectomy, and D1+ lymphadenectomy was performed in three others (25%). In four patients (33%), combined resections were carried out. The median values of surgical parameters were as follows: operative time, 266.5 min (range, 120-586 min); estimated blood loss, 90 mL (range, 37-350 mL); retrieved lymph node count, 37.5 (range, 22-63); and postoperative hospital stay, 13.7 days (range, 5-63 days). No mortality was encountered, although two patients (17%) experienced complications (both Clavien-Dindo classification grade IIIa anastomotic leakages), which were successfully managed by conservative treatment. In the hands of East Asian surgeons, mortality and short-term morbidity appears to be acceptably low in CPs subjected to gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer.

Molecular epidemiology of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in lung cancers in Indian population.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related mortality world‑wide and amongst males in India. The discovery of tyrosine kinase inhibitors holds a ray of hope for a subset of lung cancer patients, which have activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. Much of the preliminary data on frequency of EGFR mutations emanated from Western studies, which reported EGFR mutation rates of 10‑15%. However, studies from Asian countries report a much higher frequency of EGFR mutations, not only in the male population, but also in females. AIM: The object of this study was to share the author’s experience of EGFR mutation testing in 402 lung cancer patients as no large‑scale study addressing the issue has been published from India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues were analyzed for EGFR exon 19 deletions and exon 21 point mutation by length analysis of fluorescently labeled polymerase chain reaction products on Applied Biosystems Inc. 310 genetic analyzer. RESULTS: Out of 402 samples, 35 samples could not be analyzed because of poor deoxyribonucleic acid material. Thus of the remaining 367 cases analyzed, EGFR mutations were found in 118 patients (32%). Mutations were equally distributed between males (50%) and females (50%). Majority of the mutations were seen in adenocarcinoma subtype (90%). Exon 19 mutations accounted for 76% while exon 21 mutations accounted for 24% of the mutations. SUMMARY: EGFR mutation frequency is higher in Indian population vis‑à‑vis Caucasian population, but lower than that reported in the East Asian population. A significantly higher number of males also harbor EGFR mutations.

Cephalometric norms for Central Indian population using Burstone and Legan analysis.

Background: Lateral cephalometric standards of normal Central Indian adults having class I occlusion and acceptable facial profile were studied using the Burstone and Legan comprehensive cephalometric analyses that are specific for orthognathic surgery. Aim: To study normal dentofacial patterns of adult population belonging to Central India. Materials and Methods: Cephalometric radiographs of 76 Central Indian adults (38 males and 38 females) having class I occlusion with acceptable facial profile were analyzed, and the mean values of their hard and soft tissue measurements were compared with those of Caucasian adults as reported in the literature. Results: The Central Indian males demonstratedgreater anterior cranial base length and ramal length and a reduced chin depth. The inclination of the upper and lower incisors was also greater. The females demonstrated greater posterior cranial base length, increased upper anterior and posterior facial heights, and an increased maxillary length. Both mandibular body and ramal lengths were increased and there was greater mandibular protrusion and a reduced chin depth. The lower incisors were found to be proclinated. Conclusion: This study reveals that some of the cephalometric parameters in the Central Indian population are significantly different than that of the Caucasian population, especially in the females.

Sex-biased gene flow in African Americans but not in American Caucasians

We have previously shown evidence of strong sex-biased genetic blending in the founding and ongoing history of the Brazilian population, with the African and Amerindian contribution being highest from maternal lineages (as measured by mitochondrial DNA) and the European contribution foremost from paternal lineages (estimated from Y-chromosome haplogroups). The same phenomenon has been observed in several other Latin American countries, suggesting that it might constitute a universal characteristic of the Iberian colonization of the Americas. However, it has also recently been detected in the Black population of the United States. We thus wondered if the same could be observed in American Caucasians. To answer that question, we retrieved 1387 hypervariable I Caucasian mitochondrial DNA sequences from the FBI population database and established their haplogroups and continental geographical sources. In sharp contrast with the situation of the Caucasian population of Latin American countries, only 3.1% of the American Caucasian sequences had African and/or Amerindian origin. To explain this discrepancy we propose that the finding of elevated genomic contributions from European males and Amerindian or African females depends not only on the occurrence of directional mating, but also on the [quot ]racial[quot ] categorization of the children born from these relations. In this respect, social practices in Latin America and in the United States diverge considerably; in the former socially significant [quot ]races[quot ] are normally designated according to physical appearance, while in the latter descent appears to be the most important factor.