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Single Associations (single + association)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	75%

Selected Abstracts

Most readily usable methods to measure ocular blood flow

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009
K GUGLETA
Purpose SIS Lecture. Methods Literature search. Results Ocular Blood Flow Research Association (OBFRA, recently merged with another organization - ISOCO, into one single Association for Ocular CDirculation - AOC) made a significant contribution to standardization of the blood flow measuring techniques in the field of ophthalmology. A consens was reached on the number of OBF measurements techniques that occured in the past decades. Particular emphasis was placed on the basic technology, specific parameters and interpretation, accuracy and reproducibility, field of clinical applications. Open questions were extensively discussed, limits of each technique clearly postulated. and a consensus statement put together for each of the technique involved. It encompassed techniques like color Doppler imaging, laser Doppler flowmetry (continuous as well as scanning LDF), laser Doppler velocimetry, Retinal Vessel Analyzer, combination of the vessel diameter measurement and the LDV, laser interferometry of the fundus pulsations amplitude, retinal oxymetry, measurements of the pulsatile component of the blood flow, blue field entoptic method and the newest - Doppler OCT. Conclusion There is no overwhelming measuring technique able to cover all the aspects of the research and the daily clinical routine. Various parameters and various vascular beds are involved, which makes the interpretation of the obtained results strenuous. Of particular importance is the capability of OBF measuring techniques to capture one dynamic feature of ocular circulation - its ability to regulate and to response to various challenges. It is widely believed that not the constantly reduced blood flow, but rather the lack of regulation thereof, leads to prevalent ocular diseases. [source]

Genetic variation in the toll-like receptor gene cluster (TLR10-TLR1-TLR6) and prostate cancer risk

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 11 2008
Victoria L. Stevens
Abstract Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key players in the innate immune system and initiate the inflammatory response to foreign pathogens such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. The proposed role of chronic inflammation in prostate carcinogenesis has prompted investigation into the association of common genetic variation in TLRs with the risk of this cancer. We investigated the role of common SNPs in a gene cluster encoding the TLR10, TLR6 and TLR1 proteins in prostate cancer etiology among 1,414 cancer cases and 1,414 matched controls from the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort. Twenty-eight SNPs, which included the majority of the common nonsynonymous SNPs in the 54-kb gene region and haplotype-tagging SNPs that defined 5 specific haplotype blocks, were genotyped and their association with prostate cancer risk determined. Two SNPs in TLR10 [I369L (rs11096955) and N241H (rs11096957)] and 4 SNPs in TLR1 [N248S (rs4833095), S26L (rs5743596), rs5743595 and rs5743551] were associated with a statistically significant reduced risk of prostate cancer of 29,38% (for the homozygous variant genotype). The association of these SNPs was similar when the analysis was limited to cases with advanced prostate cancer. Haplotype analysis and linkage disequilibrium findings revealed that the 6 associated SNPs were not independent and represent a single association with reduced prostate cancer risk (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.90). Our study suggest that a common haplotype in the TLR10-TLR1-TLR6 gene cluster influences prostate cancer risk and clearly supports the need for further investigation of TLR genes in other populations. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Original brands and counterfeit brands,do they have anything in common?

JOURNAL OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR, Issue 2 2008
Elfriede Penz
Consumer decisions to purchase fakes instead of originals has developed into a major concern for brand manufacturers worldwide. This research looks at the customers' understanding of the key concepts "original brand" and "counterfeit brand." Using the theory of social representations helped to gain rich insight into the consumers' perception of counterfeit brands in the light of their counterpart original brands, to determine the main differences and similarities, and to identify core aspects and relative evaluations of these two concepts. Taken collectively, the results indicate that, based on single associations, respondents' mental maps of the two concepts do not overlap. It seems that they have a clear picture of what they get with the purchase of original brands versus counterfeits. Although similar attributes to evaluate "original brand" and "counterfeit brand" were used (quality and price), they contribute differently to the nature of the concepts. The benefits of both categories are strongly related to consumers' norms prevalent in their social environment. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

TLR-related pathway analysis: novel gene,gene interactions in the development of asthma and atopy

ALLERGY, Issue 2 2010
N. E. Reijmerink
To cite this article: Reijmerink NE, Bottema RWB, Kerkhof M, Gerritsen J, Stelma FF, Thijs C, van Schayck CP, Smit HA, Brunekreef B, Koppelman GH, Postma DS. TLR-related pathway analysis: novel gene,gene interactions in the development of asthma and atopy. Allergy 2010; 65: 199,207. Abstract Background:, The toll-like receptor (TLR)-related pathway is important in host defence and may be crucial in the development of asthma and atopy. Numerous studies have shown associations of TLR-related pathway genes with asthma and atopy phenotypes. So far it has not been investigated whether gene,gene interactions in this pathway contribute to atopy and asthma development. Methods:, One hundred and sixty-nine haplotype tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 29 genes (i.e. membrane and intracellular receptors, TLR4 or lipopolysaccharide-binding/facilitating proteins, adaptors, interleukin-1 receptor associated kinases, kinases, chaperone molecules, transcription factors and inhibitors) were analysed for single- and multilocus associations with atopy [total and specific immunglobulin E (IgE) at 1,2 and 6,8 years] and asthma (6,8 years). A total of 3062 Dutch children from the birth cohorts PIAMA, PREVASC and KOALA (Allergenic study) were investigated. Chi-squared test, logistic regression and the data mining approach multifactor dimensionality reduction method (MDR) were used in analysis. Results:, Several genes in the TLR-related pathway were associated with atopy and/or asthma [e.g. IL1RL1, BPI, NOD1, NOD2 and MAP3K7IP1]. Multiple, single associations were found with the phenotypes under study. MDR analysis showed novel, significant gene,gene interactions in association with atopy and asthma phenotypes (e.g. IL1RL1 and TLR4 with sIgE to indoor allergens and IRAK1, NOD1 and MAP3K7IP1 with asthma). Interestingly, gene,gene interactions were identified with SNPs that did not have an effect on their own. Conclusion:, Our unbiased approach provided suggestive evidence for interaction between several TLR-related pathway genes important in atopy and/or asthma development and pointed to novel genes. [source]