A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C5507G of the complement receptor 1 (CR1) gene has been as... more A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C5507G of the complement receptor 1 (CR1) gene has been associated with genetic susceptibility to sarcoidosis in an Italian population. In order to provide further data on the possible involvement of CR1 gene polymorphisms in sarcoidosis, CR1 SNPs C5507G and A3650G were investigated in Czech (n = 210) and Dutch (n = 116) patients with sarcoidosis with ethnically matched groups of healthy control subjects (Czech, n = 203; Dutch, n = 112). CR1 C5507G and A3650G SNPs were not associated with susceptibility to sarcoidosis or its clinical course. Further, CR1 messenger RNA expression in bronchoalveolar lavage cells investigated by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction did not differ between sarcoidosis patients and control subjects and was not associated with the presence of the CR1 5507*G allele.
Vascular remodelling occurs during all stages of atherosclerotic progression. Anti-atheroscleroti... more Vascular remodelling occurs during all stages of atherosclerotic progression. Anti-atherosclerotic drugs may function by restoring regulation of the processes involved in remodelling of the extracellular matrix. A key group of enzymes involved . in these processes are the matrix metalloproteinases MMPs . Oestrogens have been demonstrated to possess anti-athero- sclerotic properties at low concentrations while being associated with lesion formation at high concentrations. We examined . the effect of 17b-oestradiol on MMP-2 expression in human coronary artery CAVSMC and umbilical artery vascular . smooth muscle cells UAVSMC . MMP-2 expression was measured by chemiluminescent immunoblotting and quantified by laser densitometry. pro-MMP-2 was secreted by VSMCs and increasing levels of 17b-oestradiol, from physiological through supraphysiological, were associated with significant dose-dependent increases in MMP-2 levels in culture media. This effect was dependent on de novo protein synth...
The heterogeneous disease course of COVID-19 is unpredictable, ranging from mild self-limiting sy... more The heterogeneous disease course of COVID-19 is unpredictable, ranging from mild self-limiting symptoms to cytokine storms, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-organ failure and death. Identification of high-risk cases will enable appropriate intervention and escalation. This study investigates the routine laboratory tests and cytokines implicated in COVID-19 for their potential application as biomarkers of disease severity, respiratory failure and need of higher-level care. From analysis of 203 samples, CRP, IL-6, IL-10 and LDH were most strongly correlated with the WHO ordinal scale of illness severity, the fraction of inspired oxygen delivery, radiological evidence of ARDS and level of respiratory support (p≤0.001). IL-6 levels of >3.27pg/ml provide a sensitivity of 0.87 and specificity of 0.64 for a requirement of ventilation, and a CRP of >37mg/L of 0.91 and 0.66. Reliable stratification of high-risk cases has significant implications on patient triage, reso...
A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C5507G of the complement receptor 1 (CR1) gene has been as... more A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C5507G of the complement receptor 1 (CR1) gene has been associated with genetic susceptibility to sarcoidosis in an Italian population. In order to provide further data on the possible involvement of CR1 gene polymorphisms in sarcoidosis, CR1 SNPs C5507G and A3650G were investigated in Czech (n = 210) and Dutch (n = 116) patients with sarcoidosis with ethnically matched groups of healthy control subjects (Czech, n = 203; Dutch, n = 112). CR1 C5507G and A3650G SNPs were not associated with susceptibility to sarcoidosis or its clinical course. Further, CR1 messenger RNA expression in bronchoalveolar lavage cells investigated by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction did not differ between sarcoidosis patients and control subjects and was not associated with the presence of the CR1 5507*G allele.
Vascular remodelling occurs during all stages of atherosclerotic progression. Anti-atheroscleroti... more Vascular remodelling occurs during all stages of atherosclerotic progression. Anti-atherosclerotic drugs may function by restoring regulation of the processes involved in remodelling of the extracellular matrix. A key group of enzymes involved . in these processes are the matrix metalloproteinases MMPs . Oestrogens have been demonstrated to possess anti-athero- sclerotic properties at low concentrations while being associated with lesion formation at high concentrations. We examined . the effect of 17b-oestradiol on MMP-2 expression in human coronary artery CAVSMC and umbilical artery vascular . smooth muscle cells UAVSMC . MMP-2 expression was measured by chemiluminescent immunoblotting and quantified by laser densitometry. pro-MMP-2 was secreted by VSMCs and increasing levels of 17b-oestradiol, from physiological through supraphysiological, were associated with significant dose-dependent increases in MMP-2 levels in culture media. This effect was dependent on de novo protein synth...
The heterogeneous disease course of COVID-19 is unpredictable, ranging from mild self-limiting sy... more The heterogeneous disease course of COVID-19 is unpredictable, ranging from mild self-limiting symptoms to cytokine storms, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-organ failure and death. Identification of high-risk cases will enable appropriate intervention and escalation. This study investigates the routine laboratory tests and cytokines implicated in COVID-19 for their potential application as biomarkers of disease severity, respiratory failure and need of higher-level care. From analysis of 203 samples, CRP, IL-6, IL-10 and LDH were most strongly correlated with the WHO ordinal scale of illness severity, the fraction of inspired oxygen delivery, radiological evidence of ARDS and level of respiratory support (p≤0.001). IL-6 levels of >3.27pg/ml provide a sensitivity of 0.87 and specificity of 0.64 for a requirement of ventilation, and a CRP of >37mg/L of 0.91 and 0.66. Reliable stratification of high-risk cases has significant implications on patient triage, reso...
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Papers by Edmund Garr