Historically, paediatric oncology patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) have had extremely poor outcomes.

We conducted a retrospective cohort study over a 3-year period in a single centre to evaluate the outcomes for this particularly vulnerable group of patients admitted to a paediatric ICU.

Fifty-five patients were admitted a total of 66 times to the ICU during the study period. The mortality

rate of this group was 23% compared with an overall ICU mortality rate of 5%. 11/15 patients who died had an underlying haematological Rigosertib clinical trial malignancy. Twenty-eight percent of children with organism-identified sepsis died.

While mortality rates for paediatric oncology patients admitted to a ICU have improved, they are still substantial. Those with a haematological malignancy or GW-572016 concentration admitted with sepsis are most at risk.”
“Study Design. The assessment of sacrum angular motions and stress across sacroiliac joint (SIJ) articular surfaces using finite element lumbar spine-pelvis model and simulated posterior fusion surgical procedures.

Objective. To quantify the increase in sacrum angular motions and stress across SIJ as

a function of fused lumbar spine using finite element lumbar spine-pelvis model.

Summary of Background Data. A review of the literature suggests that for 20% to 30% of spine surgery patients, failed back surgery syndrome as a possible complication. The SIJ might be a contributing factor in failed back surgery syndrome in 29% to 40% of cases. The exact pathomechanism which

leads to SIJ pain generation is not well understood. We hypothesized that lumbar spine fusion leads to increased motion or stresses at the SIJ; this alone could be a trigger of the pain syndrome.

Methods. A finite element model of the lumbar spine-pelvis was used to simulate the posterior fusion at L4-L5, L4-S1, and L5-S1 levels. The magnitude of the sacrum SBE-β-CD chemical structure angular motion and average of stresses across SIJ articular surfaces were compared with intact model in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation motions.

Results. The computed sacrum angular motions in intact spine, after L4-L5, L5-S1, and L4-S1 fusion gradually increased with maximum value in L4-S1 fusion model. Also, the average stress on SIJ articular surfaces progressively increased from minimum in L4-L5 to maximum in L4-S1 fusion models.

Conclusion. The fusion at the lumbar spine level increased motion and stresses at the SIJ. This could be a probable reason for low back pain in patients after lumbar spine fusion procedures.”
“Objective: To evaluate the impact of the interaction of physical function and emotional well-being on disease-related parameters and coping with rheumatoid arthritis.

(C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120: 501-508, 2011″
“P>Transport of dicarboxylates across the chloroplast envelope plays an important role in transferring carbon skeletons to the nitrogen assimilation pathway and exporting reducing equivalent to the cytosol to prevent photo-inhibition (the malate valve). It was previously shown that the Arabidopsis plastidic 2-oxoglutarate/malate transporter (AtpOMT1) and the general

dicarboxylate transporter (AtpDCT1) play crucial roles PI3K inhibitor at the interface between carbon and nitrogen metabolism. However, based on the in vitro transport properties of the recombinant transporters, it was hypothesized that AtpOMT1 might play a dual role, also functioning as an oxaloacetate/malate transporter, which is a crucial but currently unidentified component of the chloroplast malate valve. Here, we test this hypothesis

using Arabidopsis T-DNA insertional mutants of AtpOMT1. Transport studies Epigenetic inhibitor ic50 revealed a dramatically reduced rate of oxaloacetate uptake into chloroplasts isolated from the knockout plant. CO(2)-dependent O(2) evolution assays showed that cytosolic oxaloacetate is efficiently transported into chloroplasts mainly by AtpOMT1, and supported the absence of additional oxaloacetate transporters. These findings strongly indicate that the high-affinity oxaloacetate transporter in Arabidopsis chloroplasts is AtpOMT1. Further, the knockout plants showed enhanced photo-inhibition under high light due to greater accumulation of reducing equivalents in the stroma, indicating malfunction of the malate valve in the knockout plants. The knockout mutant showed a phenotype consistent with reductions in 2-oxoglutarate transport, glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase activity, subsequent amino acid biosynthesis and photorespiration. Our results demonstrate that AtpOMT1 acts bi-functionally

see more as an oxaloacetate/malate transporter in the malate valve and as a 2-oxoglutarate/malate transporter mediating carbon/nitrogen metabolism.”
“Background: Studies of sodium have shown improvements in vascular function and blood pressure (BP). The effect of chronic sodium loading from a low-sodium diet to a Western diet on vascular function and BP has been less well studied.

Objective: The objective was to examine the effects of dietary salt intake on vascular function and BP.

Design: Thirty-five hypertensive volunteers met the inclusion criteria. After a 2-wk run-in with a low-sodium diet (60 mmol/d), the participants maintained their diets and were randomly assigned to receive sequentially 1 of 3 interventions for 4 wk, with a 2-wk washout between interventions: sodium-free tomato juice (A), tomato juice containing 90 mmol Na (B), and tomato juice containing 140 mmol Na (C).

Enhancing the denitrifying phosphorus removal ratio in an A(2)O process is an effective way to increase the removal rate of N and P from low C/N wastewater. (C) 2010 Society of Chemical Industry”
“Purpose: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) expand because of

aortic wall destruction. Enrichment in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) stabilizes expanding AAAs in rats. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) can differentiate into VSMCs. We have tested the hypothesis that bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) stabilizes AAAs in a rat model.

Material and methods: Rat Fischer 344 BM-MSCs were isolated by plastic adhesion and seeded endovascularly in experimental AAAs using xenograft obtained from guinea pig. Culture medium without cells was used as control group. The main criteria was the variation of the aortic diameter at one week and four weeks. We evaluated Captisol datasheet the impact of cells seeding on inflammatory response by immunohistochemistry combined with RT-PCR on MMP9 and TIMP1 at one week. We evaluated the healing process by immunohistochemistry at 4 weeks.

Results: The endovascular seeding of BM-MSCs decreased AAA diameter expansion more powerfully than VSMCs or culture medium infusion (6.5% +/- 9.7, 25.5% +/- 17.2 and 53.4% +/- 14.4; p = .007, respectively). This result was sustained at 4 weeks. BM-MSCs decreased expression of MMP-9 and infiltration by macrophages (4.7 +/- 2.3 vs. 14.6 +/- 6.4 mm(2) respectively; p = .015), increased

Tissue Inhibitor Metallo Proteinase-1 (TIMP-1), compared to culture medium infusion. BM-MSCs induced Saracatinib mw formation of a neo-aortic tissue rich in SM-alpha active positive cells (22.2 +/- 2.7 vs. 115.6 +/- 30.4 cells/surface units, p = .007) surrounded by a dense collagen and elastin network covered by luminal endothelial cells.

Conclusions: We have shown in this rat model selleck chemicals of AAA that BM-MSCs exert a specialized function in arterial regeneration that transcends that of mature mesenchymal cells. Our observation identifies

a population of cells easy to isolate and to expand for therapeutic interventions based on catheter-driven cell therapy. (C) 2013 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“In this study, a mixture of ozone and air (ozonation air for short) was adopted for the inactivation of Microcystis aeruginosa in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Scanning electron microscopy of Microcystis aeruginosa revealed damage to the cell wall and leakage of intracellular contents after ozone oxidation. Owing to the destruction of cells, the chlorophyll a released from the cells was degraded by ozone oxidation, which showed that chlorophyll a concentrations increased vastly during the first 5 min, then, decreased continuously. pH in the SBR declined with increasing time, reaching around 3.0 at the end of the cycle. It was observed that the removal efficiencies of chlorophyll a were, respectively, 68.4%, 74.

“
“Dehydroabietic acid (DAA) is a food-derived terpenoid with various bioactivities. Our previous study has revealed that DAA activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR gamma) in luciferase assay SCH727965 mouse and suppresses chronic inflammation in obese adipose tissues. In this study, we examined the effects of DAA on adipocyte differentiation. DAA treatment stimulated the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The DAA treatment increased

the mRNA expression levels of adipocyte differentiation marker genes such as aP2 lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and PPAR gamma. In particular, the expression level of adiponectin, which is an adipocytokine with stimulatory effects on insulin sensitivity, was increased at both the mRNA and protein levels by the DAA treatment. Moreover, the DAA treatment stimulated insulin-dependent glucose uptake into differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These findings indicate that DAA stimulates adipocyte differentiation and insulin sensitivity in 3T3-L1 cells, suggesting that DAA is a valuable food-derived compound for the management of metabolic syndrome.”
“BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) and APOA5 play an important role in lipid transport and metabolism.

GW3965 Polymorphisms in APOE and APOA5 have been reported to be associated with baseline lipid levels and lipid responses to statins in different populations.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated associations of APOE and APOA5 genotype with baseline lipid levels and response to rosuvastatin in Chinese patients with hyperlipidemia.

METHODS: A total of 386 patients with hyperlipidemia, including 166 with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), with good adherence to rosuvastatin 10 mg daily, were genotyped for the APOE e2/e3/e4 and APOA5 – 1131T>C polymorphisms. The lipid profile was examined before and after at least 4 weeks of therapy.

RESULTS: In patients

without FH, there was a trend that e2 carriers had lower and those e4 carriers had higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels than subjects with the e3/e3 genotype (P>.05). However, an opposite significant association between APOE polymorphisms and LDL-C levels was observed in patients with FH (P=.005). The APOA5 – 1131C variant allele was associated with increased baseline triglycerides levels in both patients Caspase inhibitor with and without FH (P < .005 or both). Neither APOE nor APOA5 polymorphisms showed a significant effect on the lipid responses to rosuvastatin.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates different associations of APOE polymorphisms with baseline LDL-C concentrations in Chinese patients with or without FH and confirms the strong relation between the APOA5 polymorphism and baseline triglyceride levels. These findings expand our knowledge on the genetic determinants of lipids and lipid response to rosuvastatin in Chinese patients with hyperlipidemia. (C) 2012 National Lipid Association. All rights reserved.

After burial in soil for 30 days, the red and white WGP boards degraded by about 50 and 80%, respectively. Microstructure studies indicated that the use of binders and other functional agents resulted in a compact fracture surface of the WGP biocomposite boards. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 119: 2834-2846, 2011″
“A booster dose of Haemophilus influenzae type b-Neisseria meningitidis serogroup

C conjugate (Hib-MenC-TT) vaccine simultaneously administered with measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in 13- to 14-month-old Spanish toddlers, primed with 3 doses of a combined Diphteria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertusis DTPa-Hib-containing vaccine and a MenC-CRM197 conjugate vaccine, had a good reactogenicity profile and induced similar Hib and MenC booster responses and MMR seropositivity rates as the vaccines given selleck kinase inhibitor alone.”
“Prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains the number Sapitinib clinical trial one preventable cause of death in hospitalized patients. The pathogenesis of thrombosis involves the triad of venous stasis, dilatation of the leg veins, and changes in coagulability of the blood. These changes can be modified by the use of intermittent pneumatic compression devices (IPC) and, to a much lesser extent, by graduated compression

hose (GCS). Studies have shown the effectiveness of GCS in preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) compared to placebo, but there is no evidence that they reduce the incidence of pulmonary emboli (PE). No venographic data are available regarding the efficacy of GCS; however, IPC have shown excellent efficacy in several venographic studies over the past 25 years. Mechanical methods are important to use in situations where the risk of bleeding exists, thereby making the use of anticoagulants hazardous. One of the key uses for mechanical methods is in combination with anticoagulants in patients at the highest risk of developing VTE. Chest consensus selleck chemical guidelines assigns a 2A recommendation for the use of combination prophylaxis in the highest risk patients. Unfortunately, studies

to show which type of leg compression device is optimal for DVT prevention are not available, so individual preference, ease of use, and company support are the determining factors at the present time. Finally, compliance using these devices is a major problem, and until systems have been developed to easily monitor and ensure compliance, these methods will enjoy only limited use.”
“This work is an experimental study of the effects of nanoparticles with different characteristics and contents on foaming composites made of three different nanosilica particles with different geometrical and chemical surface properties in a polystyrene matrix. In addition to the general characteristics reported in our last study on the morphology of polymer-nanoparticle composites, this study shows that nanosilicas of larger sizes can result in foams of higher cell densities.

Activation of the pheromone response pathway leads to the phosphorylation of Fan, which inhibits the function of complexes formed by G1 cyclins (Cln1 and Cln2) and the CDK (Cdc28), blocking the transition to the S phase. This response prepares the cells to fuse cytoplasms and nuclei to generate a diploid cell. Activation of the Hog1 MAP kinase in response to osmotic stress or arsenite leads to the transient arrest of the cell cycle in G1 phase, which is mediated by direct phosphorylation of the CDK inhibitor, Sic1, and by downregulation of cyclin expression. Osmotic

stress also induces a delay in G2 phase by direct phosphorylation of Hsl7 via Hog1, which results in the accumulation of Swe1. BGJ398 in vivo As a consequence, cell cycle arrest allows cells to survive upon stress. Finally, cell wall damage can induce cell cycle arrest at G2 via the cell integrity MAPK Slt2. By linking MAPK signal transduction pathways to the cell cycle Selleckchem PND-1186 machinery, a tight and precise control of the cell division takes place in response to environmental changes. Research into similar MAPK-mediated cell cycle regulation in the opportunistic pathogen Candid albicans may result in the development of new antifungal therapies.”
“This study reports on the successful use of magnetic albumin nanosphere

(MAN) with in vivo magnetohyperthermia (MHT) in a mouse Ehrlich tumor. Maghemite nanoparticles (8.9 nm average diameter) were encapsulated

within MAN (73.0 nm average diameter). Ehrlich tumor obtained after implantation of tumor cells in the subcutaneous Small molecule high throughput screening tissue of mice was used as a model throughout this study. MHT was performed with MAN (40 mu L) containing 1.2 x 10(15) particle/mL and 40 Oe amplitude ac magnetic field oscillating at 1 MHz. Animals not treated, treated with MAN, or exposed to the ac field were used as controls. Histopathological analysis was carried out after 2, 5, or 11 days of tumor implantation. We found that the MHT most efficient condition was obtained while applying the ac field protocol twice a day during three consecutive days. Further, in this ac field-treated group no proliferation cells were detected. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3559498]“
“Background: In patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS), life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias predominantly occur during vagal stimulation at rest or during sleep. Previous imaging studies displayed an impaired autonomic function in BrS patients. However, it remains unclear whether these alterations primarily stem from a reduction of synaptic release of norepinephrine (NE) or an enhanced presynaptic reuptake. Both conditions could lead to reduced NE concentrations in the synaptic cleft. Therefore, we analyzed key components of the sympathoadrenergic signaling pathways in patients with BrS.

Larger preoperative Cobb angle and positive sagittal balance at the most recent follow-up were related to poor outcome in QOL as assessed by the SRS-22.”
“Background Oral surgical procedures produce side effects such as pain and inflammation, the magnitude of which depends on the degree of tissue damage produced. Objective To explore the effectiveness and safety of the topical application of 1% oxytetracycline hydrochloride after

biopsy of the oral mucosa. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo- and no treatment-controlled study was conducted in 90 patients with lesions needing histopathologic analysis. The patients were divided into three groups. Group I (control) received no treatment; in group II, the site of surgical intervention was treated topically with 1% oxytetracycline

hydrochloride three times a day for 1 similar to week; and in group III, the patients https://www.selleckchem.com/products/pd-0332991-palbociclib-isethionate.html were treated in the same way but with placebo. Using a visual analog scale, we determined the time of maximum postoperative pain. Results Maximum pain intensity was recorded in the placebo group, with peak pain occurring 24 similar to hours after surgery. The pain subsequently tended to decrease gradually over the 1-week period of the study. The maximum AZD6244 cell line level of pain was significantly lower in group II than in the controls. No adverse effects were recorded. Conclusions Topical 1% oxytetracycline hydrochloride decreases pain symptoms after oral mucosa biopsy.”
“Astroglial cells are key modulators of neuropathology events. Resveratrol, a redox-active compound present in grapes and wine, has a wide range of biological effects. The aim of this study was to investigate whether resveratrol is able to prevent hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced oxidative damage in C6

astroglial cells. We found that following a short oxidative insult (Model I-1 mM H(2)O(2)/30 min), resveratrol increased glutamate uptake (60%), glutamine synthetase (GS) (139%), glutathione (GSH) (120%), and S100B secretion (24%); and attenuated DCFH oxidation (34%) as compared to H(2)O(2) values. Under less intense (0.1 mM H(2)O(2)), but β-Nicotinamide ic50 lasting (6 h) insult (Model II), resveratrol had an opposite effect, potentiating the H(2)O(2)-induced decrease in glutamate uptake (from 34 to 63%), in GS (from 22 to 50%), in GSH (from 22 to 54%), and also potentiating DCFH oxidation (from 24 to 38%). The transcription factor, NF-kappa B, was activated in both models. Cell morphology alterations were also observed in the presence of H(2)O(2) with process-bearing cells, accompanied by cell body retraction and actin reorganization. This effect was not prevented by resveratrol, but was prevented by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a specific upstream positive regulator of Rho A. In summary, these findings showed that resveratrol, a redox-active compound, was able to modulate important neurotrophic function of astroglial cells under different oxidative conditions.

Another consequence of activation of caspase-3 in muscle is stimulation

of the activity of the proteasome, which increases the degradation of muscle proteins. Treatment strategies for blocking muscle wasting include correction of metabolic acidosis, which can suppress learn more muscle protein losses in patients with CKD who are or are not being treated by dialysis. Correcting acidosis also improves bone metabolism in CKD and hence should be a goal of therapy. Exercise training is a potentially beneficial approach, but more information is needed to optimize exercise regimens. Replacing testosterone deficits can improve muscle mass in men, but dosing and side effects in women have not been adequately tested. Although insulin resistance occurs early in the course of CKD, there are no effective means of correcting it. Consequently, new therapies that can safely suppress muscle wasting are needed. Am J Clin Nutr 2010;91(suppl):1128S-32S.”
“Study Design. Prospective longitudinal study.

Objective. To evaluate the effect of

bed-rest on the lumbar musculature and soft-tissues.

Summary of Background Data. Earlier work has suggested that the risk of low back injury is higher after overnight bed-rest or spaceflight. Changes in spinal morphology and atrophy BTSA1 clinical trial in musculature important in stabilizing the spine could be responsible for this, but there are limited data on how the lumbar musculature and vertebral structures are affected during bed-rest.

Methods. Nine male subjects underwent 60-days head-down tilt bed-rest as part of the second Berlin Bed-Rest Study. Disc volume, intervertebral spinal length, intervertebral lordosis angle, and disc height were measured on sagittal plane magnetic resonance images. Axial magnetic resonance images were used to measure cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of the multifidus (MF), erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, and psoas

from L1 to L5. Subjects completed low back pain (LBP) questionnaires for the first 7-days after bed-rest.

Results. Sotrastaurin cell line Increases in disc volume, spinal length (greatest at lower lumbar spine), loss of the lower lumbar lordosis, and move to a more lordotic position at the upper lumbar spine (P < 0.0097) were seen. The CSAs of all muscles changed (P < 0.002), with the rate of atrophy greatest at L4 and L5 in MF (P < 0.002) and at L1 and L2 in the erector spinae (P = 0.0006). Atrophy of the quadratus lumborum was consistent throughout the muscle (P = 0.15), but CSA of psoas muscle increased (P < 0.0001). Subjects who reported LBP after bed- rest showed, before reambulation, greater increases in posterior disc height, and greater losses of MF CSA at L4 and L5 than subjects who did not report pain (all P < 0.085).

Conclusion.

The recommendations were developed using the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the GSK3326595 management of early arthritis as a guide, along with local expert opinion. As significant joint damage occurs early in the course of RA, initiating therapy early is key to minimizing further damage and disability. Patients with serious disease or poor prognosis should receive

early, aggressive therapy. Because of its good efficacy and safety profile, methotrexate is considered the standard first-line DMARD for most treatment-na < ve RA patients. Patients with a suboptimal response to methotrexate monotherapy should receive step-up (combination) therapy with either the synthetic or biologic DMARDs. In recent years, combinations of methotrexate with tocilizumab, abatacept, or rituximab have emerged as effective therapies in patients who are unresponsive to traditional DMARDs or the anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha agents. As biologic agents can increase the risk of infections such as tuberculosis and reactivation of viral hepatitis, screening

for the presence of latent tuberculosis and chronic viral hepatitis carrier state is recommended before initiating therapy.”
“Introduction: Rate smoothing algorithms, while known to help prevent ventricular tachyarrhythmias in some patients, have been shown to result in underdetection of ventricular tachycardia (VT) due to interaction between bradycardia pacing and tachycardia detection parameters. A new algorithm named Bradycardia Tachycardia Response (BTR) Crenigacestat ic50 has been developed in order to RG-7388 chemical structure prevent rate smoothing-induced underdetection. The efficacy of BTR is not known. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of BTR in preventing VT underdetection due to rate smoothing.

Methods and Results: Two ICD models (TELIGEN and VITALITY AVT, Boston Scientific, St. Paul, MN, USA) bearing identical rate smoothing algorithms were connected to a VT simulator. Devices were programmed similarly except for the BTR feature that exists in TELIGEN only. The detection performance of both devices was tested using varying combinations of AV delay, rate smoothing down, and upper rate limit and compared between the two models. VT underdetection (delay or nondetection) occurred during pacing in 62% of the VT episodes with VITALITY AVT. In TELIGEN, all simulated VT episodes were detected appropriately as soon as their rates exceeded the programmed VT detection rate. Detection tended to be affected by higher upper rate, longer AV delays, and more aggressive rate smoothing. Conclusion: The BTR algorithm effectively counteracts VT detection delay caused by the interaction of rate smoothing with VT detection parameters, thus enabling safe use of the rate smoothing feature.

007). The post-PCI alanine aminotransferase levels in all four groups were significantly https://www.selleckchem.com/products/mk-5108-vx-689.html higher than the pre-PCI levels, but were within normal ranges. No myalgia or myasthenia was observed.

CONCLUSION: The results of the present study show that short-term atorvastatin loading before PCI was well tolerated and had beneficial myocardial effects

in patients with NSTE-ACS.”
“The evolutionary origins of genetic robustness are still under debate: it may arise as a consequence of requirements imposed by varying environmental conditions, due to intrinsic factors such as metabolic requirements, or directly due to an adaptive selection in favor of genes that allow a species to endure genetic perturbations. Stratifying the individual effects of each origin requires one to study the pertaining evolutionary forces across many species under diverse conditions. Here we conduct

the first large-scale computational study charting the level of robustness of metabolic networks of hundreds of bacterial species across many simulated growth environments. We provide evidence that variations among species in their level of robustness reflect ecological adaptations. We decouple metabolic robustness into two components and quantify the extents of each: the first, environmental-dependent, is responsible for at least 20% of the non-essential reactions and its extent is associated with AZD1208 the species’ lifestyle (specialized/generalist); the second, environmental-independent, is associated (correlation = similar to 0.6) with the intrinsic metabolic capacities of a species-higher robustness is observed in fast growers or in organisms with an extensive production of secondary metabolites. Finally,

Cyclopamine purchase we identify reactions that are uniquely susceptible to perturbations in human pathogens, potentially serving as novel drug-targets.”
“Background and aims: Rare (611C) and common (1062V) variants of the Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein 6 (LRP6) display reduced activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. The rare gene variant was associated with hypertension, metabolic abnormalities, and early coronary artery disease. We investigated whether the common 1062V LRP6 variant was related to carotid artery atherosclerosis (CAA) in hypertensive patients.

Methods and results: Retrospective study of 334 hypertensive patients (< 65 years old) who underwent carotid artery ultrasonography. Hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, glomerular filtration rate, and smoking habit were evaluated. CM was defined by the presence of atherosclerotic plaques (focal intima-media thickness >= 1.3 mm). Logistic regression models were used to estimate the independent effect of 1062V allele. The relationship between LRP6 genotypes and LRP6 gene expression in carotid plaques was also investigated. No difference was observed between genotypes in clinical variables except for a slightly higher fasting glucose in 1062V carriers.