Objectives-Several lines of evidence suggest that the endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) may have a role in Alzheimer's disease. ACE is widely expressed in the brain, and a DNA polymorphism at the ACE gene has been linked to the risk for late onset Alzheimer's disease. Nitric oxide (NO) production by microglial cells, astrocytes, and brain microvessels is enhanced in patients with Alzheimer's disease. There is a growing evidence that NO is involved in neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease, and the oxidative stress caused by NO in the brain could be a pathogenic mechanism in Alzheimer's disease. The objective was to determine if two DNA polymorphisms at the ecNOS and ACE genes that have been linked with diVerent levels of enzyme expression, have some eVect on the risk of developing late onset Alzheimer disease. Methods-A total of 400 healthy controls younger than 65 years and 350 patients with Alzheimer's disease (average age 72 years) were genotyped for the ACE and ecNOS polymorphisms. To define a possible role for these polymorphisms in longevity 117 healthy controls older than 85 years were also analysed. Genomic DNA was obtained and amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and genotypes were defined following a previously described procedure. Gene and genotype frequencies between patients and controls were compared statistically. Results-Gene and genotype frequencies for the ecNOS and ACE polymorphisms did not diVer between both groups of healthy controls (<65 years and >85 years). EcNOS gene and genotype frequencies were similar between patients and controls. There was a slight but significantly increased frequency of the ACE-I allele among patients with Alzheimer's disease compared with controls (p=0.03; OR=1.28, 95%CI= 1.04;1.58). Conclusions-The ACE-I allele was associated with a slightly increased risk of developing late onset Alzheimer's disease. (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1999;67:733-736) Keywords: angiotensin converting enzyme, nitric oxide synthase DNA polymorphisms; Alzheimer's disease Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is a major component of the renin-angiotensin system. The enzyme catalyses the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II (Agt II). Agt II exerts its biological functions through binding to two receptors, AT1R and AT2R. A polymorphism at intron 16 of the ACE gene (also known as the DCP1 gene), consisting in an insertion/deletion (I/D) of a 287 base pair sequence, is associated with ACE concentrations in blood, and the DD genotype has been linked to an increased risk for myocardial infarction and left ventricular hypertrophy.

CTCs ≥2 at baseline were detected only in 24 % of this group of patients with advanced NSCLC and poor performance status. No significant differences in PFS and OS between patients with or without CTCs at baseline were observed.

No abstract

No abstract

types in multiple sclerosis and relationship to disease severity.