Role of neopterin, C-reactive protein and myeloperoxidase in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of neopterin [NP], C-reactive protein [CRP] and myeloperoxidase [MPO] in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with or without cardiopulmonary bypass [CPB]. Patients and Forty patients submitted for elective coronary artery bypass grafting were included in this prospective study. Patients were divided into two groups of 20 individuals, those who did not undergo CPB [group 1], aged 54.1 +/- 13.5 years, and those who did [group 2], aged 60.2 +/- 11.7 years. In group 1, there were 17 males and 3 females, while in group 2, there were 16 males and 4 females. Serum CRP, serum and urine NP and leukocyte MPO activity were measured preoperatively, at the end of surgery, and 4, 24 and 72 h after surgery using high-performance liquid chromatography, immunoturbidimetry and the reduction in o-dianizidine, respectively. The level of serum NP was higher preoperatively and at the end of surgery [0 h], 4, 24, and 72 h after the operation in those who underwent CPB compared to those who did not. However, there was no significant difference in NP concentrations between the two groups at any time except 24 h after surgery [p = 0.002]. Urine NP concentrations showed similar values preoperatively but increased postoperatively in both groups of patients. The only significant difference in urine NP concentration between the two groups occurred at 0 and 24 h after surgery [p = 0.001, p = 0.000]. Serum CRP concentrations showed similar values preoperatively, at the end of surgery and 72 h after the operation and increased at 4 and 24 h postoperatively in both groups. The only significant difference in CRP concentration between the two groups occurred 4 and 24 h after surgery [p = 0.024 and p = 0.000, respectively]. MPO levels were found to be increased in the CPB patients when compared to those patients who did not undergo CPB. However, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant. Our data show that CPB induced a rise in NP and CRP levels

Factor VLeiden and Prothrombin G20210A Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

PURPOSE: The precise molecular mechanisms culminating in coronary artery disease (CAD) are not well understood, despite a wealth of knowledge on predisposing risk factors and pathomechanisms. CAD and myocardial infarction (MI) are complex genetic diseases; neither the environment alone, nor a single gene, cause disease, rather, a mix of environmental and genetic factors lead to atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, our aim was to investigate the roles of prothrombin G20210A mutation and Factor VLeiden mutation in atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. 287 subjects (106 control subjects, who were angiographically normal, and 181 angiographically documented coronary atherosclerotic patients who exhibited coronary artery narrowing to a degree of > or = 50%) were included in this study. The mutations were assessed with LightCycler Real-Time PCR mutation detection kits (Roche Diagnostics, GmbH, Germany). RESULTS: 6.6% of control subjects, and 6.1% of patients with (50% coronary artery narrowing were determined to have the Factor VLeiden heterozygote mutation. 6.6% of control subjects had the Prothrombin G20210A heterozygote mutation, while 7.7% of patients with (50% coronary artery narrowing had this mutation. The OR for Factor VLeiden was 1.52 (CI: 0.240-9.602) and for Prothrombin G20210A mutation, the OR was 1.415 (CI: 0.287-6.962). CONCLUSION: Although both the heterozygote Factor VLeiden and Prothrombin gene mutations were more frequent in patients with CAD than in control subjects, there was no statistical relationship found to exist between coronary artery disease and the Factor VLeiden and Prothrombin G20210A mutations.

role of CYP2C9 gene polymorphisms on anticoagulant therapy after heart valve replacement

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of CYP2C9 gene polymorphisms after heart valve replacement in a group of patients on warfarin therapy. The study population consisted of 74 patients with heart valve replacement. Peripheral blood was collected into evacuated tubes containing EDTA, and DNA was extracted from circulating leukocytes by using a high pure PCR template preparation kit. CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3 alleles were detected by using real-time PCR. The patients with CYP2C9*1/*3 and CYP2C9*2/*3 genotypes were taking 28.21 and 24.47 mg, respectively, as mean weekly warfarin dose, whereas patients with CYP2C9*1/*1 genotype were taking 33.90 mg. The data show that patients with CYP2C9*1/*3 and CYP2C9*2/*3 genotypes needed a lower maintenance dose of warfarin than patients with CYP2C9*1/*1 wild-type genotype

Apolipoprotein E Gene Polymorphism and Serum Lipids in Patients with Superficial Fungal Disease

Superficial mycosis, including dermatophytic infections, tinea versicolor, and cutaneous candidiasis is mostly limited to the outer layers of the skin, nails, and mucous membranes. In this study, Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphism and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were compared between 42 patients with superficial fungal disease and 27 control subjects. Both the patients and controls were found to be normolipemic. The patients with superficial fungal disease had significantly higher concentrations of high-density cholesterol (HDL) compared to the control group (p=0.0462). However, there was no difference in the serum triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol concentrations. A significantly higher incidence of heterozygosity E2/3 was found in the patients (p=0.0228), and significantly lower incidence of homozygosity E3/3 in all patients, and those with candidiasis and dermatophytosis (p=0.0139, 0.0194 and 0.0337, respectively) compared to the control group. The E3/4 genotype differences between patients and controls were not statistically significant. There were slight differences in the allele frequencies between the two groups, but these did not reach statistically significant levels. It was concluded that the presence of apoE2/3 genotype, high HDL-cholesterol levels and the absence of apoE3/3 genotype can be regarded as risk factors for superficial fungal disease, especially dermatophytosis.

Oxidant / Antioxidant Status in Patients with Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common, chronic inflammatory skin disease with unknown etiology. Recently it has been suggested that increased ROS production and deficient function of antioxidant systems activities may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Although there are several studies investigating oxidant/antioxidant systems in psoriatic patients, the data obtained from these studies is not concordant. In this study, superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant potential (AOP) levels in thirty-five patients with psoriasis were investigated and compared with those of twenty-four control subjects. Clinical severity of the disease was determined according to the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores in the patients. Plasma SOD activity and MDA levels were significantly higher (p=0.012 and p=0.005 respectively), whereas AOP levels were lower, in patients than controls (p=0.001). There was no correlation between PASI scores and plasma SOD, MDA, and AOP levels. Our findings may provide some evidence for a potential role of increased ROS production and decreased antioxidant activity in psoriasis.