Search

Background/aim Angiogenic growth factors expression is not known in the normal cornea. The aim was to study corneal gene expression profile of VEGF and PDGF pathways influencing the avascular state of cornea. Materials and methods cDNA synthesis was performed from mRNA extracted from five fresh pig corneas followed by cDNA synthesis and analysis of VEGF and PDGF pathways by TaqMan Array gene expression profile. Results Normal pig cornea lacks VEGFR2 and VEGFR3 gene expression. MK2 and AKT1 genes were significantly overexpressed (p=0.000684, p=0.050995, respectively). Six PDGF pathway genes were overexpressed: TIAM1 (p=0.047), PIK3CA (p=0.00005), IKBKG (p=0.000006), PAK4 (p=0.034), RAC1 (p=0.000006 and PTGS2, p=0.00375). PDGF A was up-regulated, but not with a statistical significance (p=0.79911), while PDGFRα was down-regulated and PDGFRβ was not expressed. Conclusion Normal cornea avascularity is given by growth factor receptors down-regulation. Rapid corneal neovascularisation is induced by activation of the main angiogenic growth factors that induce angiogenic cascade and vessel recruitment.

To analyze the predictive value of new cardiovascular (CV) risk factors for CV risk assessment in the adult Romanian hypertensive (HT) population.Hypertensive adults aged between 40-65 years of age, identified in national representative SEPHAR II survey were evaluated by anthropometric, BP and arterial stiffness measurements: aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao), aortic augmentation index (AIXao), revers time (RT) and central systolic blood pressure (SBPao), 12 lead ECGs and laboratory workup. Values above the 4th quartile of mean SBP' standard deviation (s.d.) defined increased BP variability. Log(TG/HDL-cholesterol) defined atherogenic index of plasma (AIP). Serum uric acid levels above 5.70 mg/dl for women and 7.0 mg/dl for males defined hyperuricemia (HUA). CV risk was assessed based on SCORE chart for high CV risk countries. Binary logistic regression using a stepwise likelihood ratio method (adjustments for major confounders and colliniarity analysis) was used in order to validate predictors of high and very high CV risk class.The mean SBP value of the study group was 148.46±19.61 mmHg. Over forty percent of hypertensives had a high and very high CV risk. Predictors of high/very high CV risk category validated by regression analysis were: increased visit-to-visit BP variability (OR: 2.49; 95%CI: 1.67-3.73), PWVao (OR: 1.12; 95%CI: 1.02-1.22), RT (OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.93-0.98), SBPao (OR: 1.01; 95%CI: 1.01-1.03) and AIP (OR: 7.08; 95%CI: 3.91-12.82).The results of our study suggests that the new CV risk factors such as increased BP variability, arterial stiffness indices and AIP are useful tools for a more accurate identification of hypertensives patients at high and very high CV risk.