A search for association between the polymorphic markers of PON1 and PON2 genes and diabetic nephropathy in patients with type I diabetes mellitus

Alleles and genotypes of polymorphic markers of paraoxonase 1 and paraoxonase 2 genes (PON1 and PON2) encoding enzymes of the body antioxidative defense were compared in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients with or without diabetic nephropathy. The patients with nonoverlapping ("polar") phenotypes constituted different groups. The first group contained patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN+, n = 62), clinical proteinuria (albuminuria above 300 mg per day), and at least 15-year disease duration. In control group, the patients had no diabetic nephropathy (DN-, n = 68), their albuminuria was below 200 mg per day, and disease duration was at least 20 years. Comparative analysis with exact Fisher's test revealed no significant differences in frequencies of alleles and genotypes of the PON1 gene polymorphic marker Gln192Arg and of PON2 gene polymorphic markers Ala148Gly and Cys311Ser. Our results suggest that the polymorphic markers studied are not associated with diabetic nephropathy among Russian patients in Moscow.     

CARD15 and TLR4 genes polymorphisms in atopic bronchial asthma

In order to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms G(+2722)C and 3020insC in CARD15 gene and Asp299Gly in TLR4 gene contribute to atopic bronchial asthma we performed a comparative analysis of alleles and genotypes frequencies of these polymorphisms in Russian patients from Moscow. DNA samples from 283 patients with atopic bronchial asthma and 227 healthy donors were genotyped. There were associations neither of G(+2722)C and 3020insC in CARD15 gene and Asp299Gly in TLR4 gene with asthma nor of markers of CARD15 gene with asthma severity. Haplotype frequency analysis of CARD15 gene polymorphisms did not reveal significant difference between groups. However, a strong association was found between Asp299Gly and asthma severity. Allele Asp of this marker showed association with mild atopic bronchial asthma and allele Gl--with moderate/severe asthma = 0.47, 95% CI [0.24-0.93] i OR = 2.12, 95% CI [1.08-4.18] respectively).     

Identification of the Locus Associated with Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellites D3S1512, D3S1744, D3S1550, and D3S2326 were used to study the association of chromosome region 3q21–q25 neighboring the angiotensin II receptor type 1 gene (AT ₂ R1) with diabetic nephropathy (DN) in diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1). Allele and genotype frequencies were compared for DM1 patients with (N = 39) or without (N = 62) DN. Fisher's exact test with Bonferroni's correction revealed significant differences in frequencies of two D3S2326 alleles, one D3S1512 allele, and one allele and one genotype of D3S1550. No significant difference was observed with D3S1744. Thus, region 3q21–q25 proved tightly associated with DN in ethnic Russians with DM1 from Moscow.     

Effects of electromagnetic field of thermal intensity on the hypophysis-thyroid unit of the neuroendocrine system

Acute 12-minute exposure of laboratory rats to microwaves with specific dose rate (SAR) of 30 W/kg that exceeded a basal metabolism caused a transient response of hyppophysis-thyroid system of compensatory-adaptive character. Prolonged exposure to microwaves of less intensity (SAR = 6 W/kg, which approximately corresponds to basic metabolic rate for these animals) caused insufficiency of the function of thyroid control in a form of primary hypothyroidis.     

Polymorphic Markers at the Genes Encoding the Endothelial NO-Synthase and Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor and the Susceptibility to Ischemic Heart Disease

Allele and genotype frequency distribution patterns of the polymorphic regions at the genes for human endothelial NO-synthase (NOS3) (theecNOS4a/4b VNTR and the Glu298Asp substitution) and the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT ₁)(the A1166C substitution) were compared in 83 unrelated healthy individuals and 88 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). In the group of patients statistically significantly higher frequencies of the NOS3 allele4a (45.5 versus 19.3%), as well as the 4a/4a (15.9 versus 2.4%) and 4a/4b (59.1 versus 33.7%) genotypes were observed. Frequencies of the allele4b (54.5% versus 80.7%) and the 4b/4b homozygotes (25.0 versus 63.9%) were statistically significantly lower in the group of IHD patients than in healthy individuals. The IHD patients were statistically significantly different from the healthy subjects also in the distributions of the AT ₁ genotypes. In the former group, a significantly decreased frequency of the AA homozygotes (51.1 versus 65.1%) and an increased frequency of AC heterozygotes (40.9 versus 27.7%) were observed. Thus, in the Moscow population the ecNOS4a/4b VNTR of theNOS3 gene and the A1166C polymorphism of the AT ₁ gene are associated with the IHD development. Furthermore, the correlation with the IHD revealed was much stronger for the NO3 VNTR locus.     

Radiation-induced and embryotoxic effects in experimental hyperthyroidism

The purpose of this article was investigation the development of the posterity rat (line Wistar) in the postnatal ontogenesis after combined and separate action of gamma-radiation (1.25 Gy at 20 days) and hyperthyroidism, provoked by toxic thyroid doses of 100 mg thyroidin per rat. It was shown that hyperthyroidism did not affect physical development of the irradiated posterity, but in a long-time period (7 month) it was revealed a decrease in ability to the training of posterity rats after the combined action of the factors.     

The efficiency and direction of thymus changes after whole-body exposure of mice to the weak electromagnetic field are determined by the initial status of the thymus

The work presents results of the experimental study on thymus changes developing after whole-body exposure of mice to ultralow power pulse-modulated electromagnetic field (carrying frequency 2.39 GHz, modulating pulses with frequency 4 Hz, duration of impulses 0.025 sec, average power density 60 mW/cm2, absorbed dose 0.086 J/g or 0.172 J/g). It was shown that a percent of the microwave induced increase or decrease of thymus mass and the number of cells in the organ (y) are determined by the initial mass or number of cells in thymus accordingly to equation of linear regression: (yx = 215-2.25x, where x is the thymus mass of control animals (in a range 31-63 mg) and (yx = 178.6-41x, where x is the initial number of cells in thymus (in a range 0.6 x 10(8)-2.6 x 10(8)) reduced by a factor of 10(8).     

Association of polymorphic markers of lipid metabolism genes with diabetic polyneuropathy in type 1 diabetes mellitus

The aim of this study was the search of association with diabetic polyneuropathy of the polymorphic markers epsilon2/epsilon3/epsilon4 of apolipoprotein E (APOE) and I/D of apolipoprotein B (APOB) genes in groups of type 1 diabetes patients with diabetic polyneuropathy (n = 86) and without its clinical signs (n = 94). We have not found significant association with diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) of epsilon2/epsilon3/epsilon4 marker of APOE gene. However the comparison of allele and genotype frequencies of I/D marker of APOB gene showed that the carriers of I allele and II genotype had higher risk (OR = 1.66 and 2.01, relatively; p < 0.027), whereas the carriers of D allele had lower risk of DPN (OR = 0.60; p < 0.018). Our findings show that APOB gene, encoding one of the main components of lipid metabolism system, is involved into the diabetic polyneuropathy development in type 1 diabetes mellitus.