Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research, 2005
It has been suggested that iron metabolism may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherothromboti... more It has been suggested that iron metabolism may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherothrombotic cerebral infarction (ACI). The C282Y and H63D mutations in the hemochromatosis (HFE) gene are associated with increased serum iron levels and net iron accumulation. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the C282Y and H63D mutations in the HFE gene are risk factors for ACI in a Slovene population. The C282Y and H63D HFE gene mutations were tested in 96 Caucasian patients who had suffered an acute cerebral infarction, later confirmed as ACI, and 115 control subjects. Genotypes were determined by electrophoresis of the DNA digestion products from RsaI (C282Y) and MboI (H63D). We failed to demonstrate that the C282Y and H63D mutations were risk factors for ACI in Caucasians. The percentage of C282Y and H63D genotypes (dominant model) in ACI-cases (C282Y: 7.3%, n=7; H63D: 28.1%, n=27) did not differ significantly (P=0.9 and P=0.7 respectively) from that of the controls (C282...
Several studies demonstrated alterations of gene expression in blood in various neurological diso... more Several studies demonstrated alterations of gene expression in blood in various neurological disorders including Huntington's disease (HD). Using microarray technology, a recent study identified a large number of significantly altered mRNAs in HD blood, from which a 12gene set was selected as classifier for discriminating controls and HD patients. The aim of our study was to validate expression changes of these 12 genes in an independent cohort of HD patients and evaluate their sensitivity and specificity. Four different subject groups were includedpatients with HD, Parkinson's disease (PD), acute ischemic stroke (AS) and healthy controls. Although the previous results were successfully validated, gene expression changes in HD blood partly overlapped with those observed in blood from PD and AS patients. Predictive value of the selected biomarker set for HD group was 78%, with 82% sensitivity and 53% specificity. Further gene expression analyses in longitudinal studies are needed to validate and refine possible transcriptomic blood biomarkers in HD.
The objective of this study was to report bladder dysfunction and cystometric findings in a syste... more The objective of this study was to report bladder dysfunction and cystometric findings in a systematically studied cohort of Huntington's disease (HD) patients. In HD patients and asymptomatic HD gene carriers a urinary function questionnaire, neurologic assessment using the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale, and postvoid residual volume measurement were applied. All patients were also invited to cystometric studies. Urinary function data were compared to control men and women. The most common symptoms in 54 HD patients (24 men) were those of bladder overactivity (men/women 54%/40%), followed by urinary incontinence (29%/43%) and symptoms of disturbed bladder emptying (25%/40%). Using urinary function questionnaires severe bladder dysfunction was found in 4%/0%, moderate in 21%/23%, and mild in 25%/30% of HD men/women. Urinary symptoms interfered with daily life in 21%/37% and sexual life in 21%/33% of sexually active HD men/women. In 5 HD men and 1 woman, increased postvoid residual volume (>100 ml) was found. Compared to 49/55 control men/women urinary incontinence, and urgency were more common in HD men, but not in HD women (urinary incontinence reported 10%/38% of control men/women). Cystometry, performed in 12 HD patients and 1 of 10 asymptomatic HD gene carriers, demonstrated detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in 5 (42%), detrusor overactivity in 2 (17%), and reduced detrusor capacity in 2 (17%) HD patients. Our study demonstrated significant urinary symptoms in HD patients, which reduced their quality of life. Physicians helping HD patients should also consider this largely neglected aspect of the disease.
Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research, 2005
It has been suggested that iron metabolism may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherothromboti... more It has been suggested that iron metabolism may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherothrombotic cerebral infarction (ACI). The C282Y and H63D mutations in the hemochromatosis (HFE) gene are associated with increased serum iron levels and net iron accumulation. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the C282Y and H63D mutations in the HFE gene are risk factors for ACI in a Slovene population. The C282Y and H63D HFE gene mutations were tested in 96 Caucasian patients who had suffered an acute cerebral infarction, later confirmed as ACI, and 115 control subjects. Genotypes were determined by electrophoresis of the DNA digestion products from RsaI (C282Y) and MboI (H63D). We failed to demonstrate that the C282Y and H63D mutations were risk factors for ACI in Caucasians. The percentage of C282Y and H63D genotypes (dominant model) in ACI-cases (C282Y: 7.3%, n=7; H63D: 28.1%, n=27) did not differ significantly (P=0.9 and P=0.7 respectively) from that of the controls (C282...
Several studies demonstrated alterations of gene expression in blood in various neurological diso... more Several studies demonstrated alterations of gene expression in blood in various neurological disorders including Huntington's disease (HD). Using microarray technology, a recent study identified a large number of significantly altered mRNAs in HD blood, from which a 12gene set was selected as classifier for discriminating controls and HD patients. The aim of our study was to validate expression changes of these 12 genes in an independent cohort of HD patients and evaluate their sensitivity and specificity. Four different subject groups were includedpatients with HD, Parkinson's disease (PD), acute ischemic stroke (AS) and healthy controls. Although the previous results were successfully validated, gene expression changes in HD blood partly overlapped with those observed in blood from PD and AS patients. Predictive value of the selected biomarker set for HD group was 78%, with 82% sensitivity and 53% specificity. Further gene expression analyses in longitudinal studies are needed to validate and refine possible transcriptomic blood biomarkers in HD.
The objective of this study was to report bladder dysfunction and cystometric findings in a syste... more The objective of this study was to report bladder dysfunction and cystometric findings in a systematically studied cohort of Huntington's disease (HD) patients. In HD patients and asymptomatic HD gene carriers a urinary function questionnaire, neurologic assessment using the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale, and postvoid residual volume measurement were applied. All patients were also invited to cystometric studies. Urinary function data were compared to control men and women. The most common symptoms in 54 HD patients (24 men) were those of bladder overactivity (men/women 54%/40%), followed by urinary incontinence (29%/43%) and symptoms of disturbed bladder emptying (25%/40%). Using urinary function questionnaires severe bladder dysfunction was found in 4%/0%, moderate in 21%/23%, and mild in 25%/30% of HD men/women. Urinary symptoms interfered with daily life in 21%/37% and sexual life in 21%/33% of sexually active HD men/women. In 5 HD men and 1 woman, increased postvoid residual volume (>100 ml) was found. Compared to 49/55 control men/women urinary incontinence, and urgency were more common in HD men, but not in HD women (urinary incontinence reported 10%/38% of control men/women). Cystometry, performed in 12 HD patients and 1 of 10 asymptomatic HD gene carriers, demonstrated detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in 5 (42%), detrusor overactivity in 2 (17%), and reduced detrusor capacity in 2 (17%) HD patients. Our study demonstrated significant urinary symptoms in HD patients, which reduced their quality of life. Physicians helping HD patients should also consider this largely neglected aspect of the disease.
Uploads
Papers by J. Kobal