RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the polymorphisms of CASP3 gene (rs4647602, intron A/C and rs1049216, UTR C/T) and CASP9 gene (rs1052576, Gln/Arg G/A and rs1052571, Ser/Val T/C) were associated with the development, and clinical severity of ischemic stroke and functional consequences after stroke. METHODS: Genomic DNA from 121 ischemic stroke patients and 201 healthy control subjects were extracted, and polymerase chain reaction products were sequenced. To investigate the association of polymorphisms and the development, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (K-NIHSS), logistic regression models were analyzed. RESULTS: Polymorphism of the untranslational region of CASP3 (rs1049216, UTR C/T) has been associated with the development of ischemic stroke-in codominant1 model (odds ratio [OR], 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.88; p=0.017), in dominant model (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.34-0.97; p=0.034), and in the overdominant model (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.29-0.87; p=0.011). A missense SNP of CASP9 gene (rs1052571, Ser/Val T/C) was associated with the development of ischemic stroke (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.05-3.55; p=0.034 in recessive model). CONCLUSION: These results indicate the possibility that CASP3 and CASP9 genes are markers for the development of ischemic stroke.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between baseline characteristics, three physical performance tests and fall history in a sample of the elderly from Korean population. METHODS: A total of 307 participants (mean age, 76.70±4.85 years) were categorized into one of two groups, i.e., fallers and non-fallers. Fifty-two participants who had reported falling unexpectedly at least once in the previous 12 months were assigned to the fallers group. Physical performance tests included Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go test. The differences between the two study groups were compared and we analyzed the correlations between fall histories and physical performance tests. RESULTS: SPPB demonstrated a significant association with fall history. Although the BBS total scores did not show statistical significance, two dynamic balance test items of BBS (B12 and B13) showed a significant association among fallers. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that SPPB and two dynamic balance test items of the BBS can be used in screening for risk of falls in an ambulatory elderly population.
