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Normal Healthy Subjects (normal + healthy_subject)
Selected AbstractsPromoter polymorphism of IL-18 gene in pulmonary tuberculosis in South Indian populationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMMUNOGENETICS, Issue 5 2007M. Harishankar Summary Interleukin-18 (IL-18) plays a vital role in both innate and acquired immunity. We analysed polymorphisms at ,607(C/A) and ,137(G/A) in the promoter region of IL-18 gene by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction in normal healthy subjects (n = 173) and patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 165). Allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies did not differ significantly between normal healthy subjects and patients. The results suggest that the IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms are not associated with susceptibility or resistance to pulmonary tuberculosis in south Indian population of Dravidian descent. [source] Influence of HLA-DR2 on perforin-positive cells in pulmonary tuberculosisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMMUNOGENETICS, Issue 5 2007D. N. Rajeswari Summary Perforin is one of the key effector molecules of cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells. The influence of HLA-DRB1 alleles on peripheral blood perforin-positive CD4, CD8, CD16 and CD56 cells was studied by flow cytometry. HLA-DRB1 typing was done in normal healthy subjects (NHS: n = 156) and patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB: n = 102) by polymerase chain reaction-based sequence-specific oligonucleotide hybridization method. We observed a significantly decreased percentage of total perforin-positive cells (per+) (P = 0.0004); CD8+/Per+ (P = 0.0005); CD16+/Per+ (P = 0.05) and CD56+/Per+ cells (P = 0.001) in HLA-DR2-positive PTB patients compared to non-DR2 patients. Subtyping of HLA-DR2-positive subjects at the allelic level revealed that the percentage of CD8+/Per+ cells did not differ among DRB1*1501 and DRB1*1502 patients while a trend towards a decreased percentage of CD16+/Per+ and CD56+/Per+ cells was noticed in DRB1*1501 patients compared to DRB1*1502 patients. The present study suggests that HLA-DR2 may be associated with down-regulation of perforin-positive cytotoxic lymphocytes and natural killer cells in pulmonary tuberculosis. [source] Assessment of endothelial function as a marker of cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Issue 3 2010Faisel KHAN Abstract The endothelium is a major regulator of cardiovascular function and maintains an atheroprotective role through several mechanisms, including vasodilatation, inhibition of platelet aggregation, having anticoagulant and profibrinolytic effects, and having an anti-inflammatory effect. Early changes in the normal functioning of the endothelium are key initiating factors in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. These changes are present well before the presentation of clinical symptoms. Thus, researchers have focused much attention on developing methods for reliable non-invasive testing of endothelial function to allow early detection and monitoring and progression of subclinical atherosclerosis. To date, there is a wide range of methods in use to assess endothelial function, each with its own advantages and limitations. Ideally, the tests should be non-invasive to allow repeated measurements and be applicable in normal healthy subjects and also in children. Given the wide range of regulatory functions of the endothelium, it is not surprising that there is no single measure of endothelial function that provides all the necessary information regarding vascular integrity in different vascular beds. Therefore, a combination of tests examining different components of the vascular system is more appropriate. Since patients with rheumatoid arthritis have increased mortality due to cardiovascular disease, assessment of endothelial function could prove to be useful tools in the identification and monitoring of cardiovascular risk. The purpose of this review is to give a brief overview of some of the commonly used techniques for assessment of endothelial function, and in particular on those that have been used in studies of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. [source] Association between the TAP2 gene codon 665 polymorphism and Graves' DiseaseJOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 3 2006Rong-Hsing Chen Abstract A total of 95 patients with active Graves' disease (GD) and 105 normal healthy subjects were enrolled in this study, which attempted to determine whether single-site polymorphisms of the transporter associated with antigen processing 2 (TAP2) gene contribute to an individual's susceptibility to GD. Such polymorphisms were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based restriction analysis. Associations between GD and the three site polymorphisms of the TAP2 gene at codons 379, 565, and 665 were investigated. The results of the genotype analysis revealed that the frequency of the GG homozygote's presence at codon 665 was lower, and that of the AA homozygote's presence was greater in GD patients (15.8% and 36.8%, respectively) compared to normal controls (34.3% and 16.2%, respectively; P<0.001). The OR (OD) for the risk of occurrence for the AA homozygote and AG heterozygote compared to the GG homozygote (as was the case for the GD patients) was respectively 4.941 and 2.117, with respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 2.303,10.598 and 1.020,4.369. The allelic analysis also demonstrated reduced G and enhanced A allele frequencies for GD patients compared to controls (respectively 39.5% vs. 59.0% [G allele], and 60.5% vs. 41.0% [A allele]; P=0.0001; OR=2.219, 95% CI: 1.449,3.395). By contrast, the differences between patient and control groups for the frequency of appearance of genotypes and allelic variants at codon 379 (P=0.522 and P=0.306, respectively) and codon 565 (P=0.199 and P=0.157, respectively) did not appear to be significant. These data reveal that the single-site polymorphism of the TAP2 gene at codon 665 may be an indicator for predicting GD development. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 20:93,97, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Correlation of hepatic vein Doppler waveform and hepatic artery resistance index with the severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseJOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 7 2010Amir Reza Mohammadinia MD Abstract Purpose. The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various degrees of fatty infiltration in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease on hepatic artery resistance index and hepatic vein waveform patterns. Methods. After identification and grading of fatty infiltration, 60 patients and 20 normal healthy subjects were examined using color and spectral Doppler sonography. The level of fatty liver infiltration was ascertained and graded by biopsy in patients and excluded by MRI in controls. The patients were allocated to four study groups consecutively, until the required number was reached, according to infiltration level as follows: normal (group A), mild (group B), moderate (group C), and severe (group D). The hepatic vein waveforms were classified into the three following groups: triphasic, biphasic, and monophasic waveform. The hepatic artery resistance index was calculated as the mean of three different measurements. Results. The incidence of monophasic and biphasic hepatic vein waveform was 2 (10%) for group B, 11 (55%) for group C, 16 (80%) for group D, and none for group A. The difference in the distribution of triphasic Doppler waveform pattern between the patients and the control group was significant (p < 0.001). Hepatic artery resistance index was 0.81 (±0.02), 0.78 (±0.03), 0.73 (±0.03), and 0.68 (±0.05), respectively, in groups A, B, C, and D and was significantly different between groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion. As the severity of nonalcoholic fatty infiltration increases, the incidence of abnormal hepatic vein waveforms increases and hepatic artery resistance index decreases. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 38:346-352, 2010 [source] Incomplete Aneurysm Coverage after Patent Foramen Ovale Closure in Patients with Huge Atrial Septal Aneurysm: Effects on Left Atrial Functional RemodelingJOURNAL OF INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 4 2010GIANLUCA RIGATELLI M.D. Background: Large devices are often implanted to treat patent foramen ovale (PFO) and atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) with increase risk of erosion and thrombosis. Our study is aimed to assess the impact on left atrium functional remodeling and clinical outcomes of partial coverage of the approach using moderately small Amplatzer ASD Cribriform Occluder in patients with large PFO and ASA. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 30 consecutive patients with previous stroke (mean age 36 ± 9.5 years, 19 females), significant PFO, and large ASA referred to our center for catheter-based PFO closure. Left atrium (LA) passive and active emptying, LA conduit function, and LA ejection fraction were computed before and after 6 months from the procedure by echocardiography. The preclosure values were compared to values of a normal healthy population of sex and heart rate matched 30 patients. Results: Preclosure values demonstrated significantly greater reservoir function as well as passive and active emptying, with significantly reduced conduit function and LA ejection fraction, when compared normal healthy subjects. All patients underwent successful transcatheter closure (25 mm device in 15 patients, 30 mm device in 6 patients, mean ratio device/diameter of the interatrial septum = 0.74). Incomplete ASA coverage in both orthogonal views was observed in 21 patients. Compared to patients with complete coverage, there were no differences in LA functional parameters and occlusion rates. Conclusions: This study confirmed that large ASAs are associated with LA dysfunction. The use of relatively small Amplatzer ASD Cribriform Occluder devices is probably effective enough to promote functional remodeling of the left atrium. (J Interven Cardiol 2010;23:362,367) [source] Magnetic resonance elastography in the liver at 3 Tesla using a second harmonic approachMAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE, Issue 2 2009D.A. Herzka Abstract Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) using mechanical stimulation has demonstrated diagnostic value and clinical promise in breast, liver, and kidney at 1.5 Tesla (T). However, MRE at 1.5T suffers from long imaging times and would benefit from greater signal-to-noise for more robust postprocessing. We present an MRE sequence modified for liver imaging at 3.0T. To avoid artifacts in the phase images, the sequence maintains a short TE by using a second harmonic approach, including stronger motion encoding gradients, shorter radio frequency pulses and an echo-planar readout. Scan time was decreased by a factor of ,2 relative to 1.5T by using an EPI readout and a higher density sampling of the phase waveform was used to calculate shear stiffness and viscosity. Localized (small region of interest) and global (whole-liver region of interest) measurements in normal healthy subjects compared very favorably with previously published results at 1.5T. There was no significant difference between global and localized measures. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Physical fitness indices and anthropometrics profiles in schoolchildren with sickle cell trait/diseaseAMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Hisham Moheeb Abstract The current studies aimed at determining physical fitness indices and anthropometrics profiles of school children with sickle cell trait (SCT) and sickle cell disease (SCD). Male school children (150) comprising 3 Groups participated in the studies. Group 1 has 50 normal healthy controls, while Groups 2 and 3 each has 50 children who were suffering from SCT and SCD, respectively. Anthropometrics measurement and parameters of physical fitness were assessed in all subjects. All children were also subjected to a 5-min running exercise test on a flat motorized treadmill at speed corresponding to 5 km/hr. Throughout the test, heart rate was monitored and recoded during exercise and for 10-min during recovery. Blood lactate was measured before and 5 min following the completion of test. The mean values of lean body mass and height were lower in the SCD children (P < 0.05) compared with the healthy subjects and SCT individuals. Children with SCD exhibited a higher mean value (P < 0.05) for percent body fat and fat mass than the normal healthy subjects and SCT individuals. Although all groups tolerated well the treadmill exercise protocol, the SCD group exhibited higher (P < 0.05) mean values of heart rate during exercise than those observed in the SCT and normal control children. In addition, SCD children showed higher serum lactate values before and after treadmill exercise compared to the other groups. Children with SCD exhibit high level of adiposity; low level of fitness and their exercise performance appears to be physiologically more stressful as indicated by heart rate and blood lactate concentration responses. Am. J. Hematol., 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Differential effects of ageing on foveal and peripheral colour visionACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009F RAUSCHER Purpose Colour sensitivity was assessed to establish aging effects both at the fovea and 6 deg away from fixation, in each of the four quadrants. Methods 65 normal healthy subjects (from 20 to 80 years of age) took part in the study. All subjects had Visual Acuity (VA) of 6/6 or better. Fixation accuracy was monitored using infrared imaging of the pupil and the tests were carried out on the P_SCAN system. Target size was adjusted for parafoveal locations to account for retinal and cortical magnification. Yellow-blue (YB) and red-green (RG) colour discrimination was assessed using the CAD (colour assessment and diagnosis) test (http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/200904.pdf). Results RG and YB colour thresholds were analysed separately for all five locations tested and showed no significant effect with ageing below the age of 60 years. Two age bands were formed based on statistical analysis (20-59.9 and 60-79.9). The decline in performance with age was more rapid at the fovea and exhibited a steeper gradient when compared with results in the periphery for both RG and YB discrimination. Foveal YB discrimination showed the largest ageing effect. No significant difference was found between the four parafoveal locations. YB discrimination at the fovea also exhibited the largest inter-subject variability. Conclusion These findings may have clinical significance in the very early detection of disease processes that remain subclinical in many subjects. Differences between foveal and peripheral locations help to differentiate between the normal effects of ageing and disease. For example, higher foveal and normal peripheral YB thresholds in normal subjects from high peripheral thresholds in early glaucomatous subjects. [source] | ||||||||||