In this study, we investigated the contribution of vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORC1) and cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) genotypes, age, and body surface area (BSA) on warfarin dose requirements and in an adult Turkish population. Blood samples were collected from 100 Turkish patients with stable warfarin dose requirements and an international normalized ratio (INR) of the prothrombin time within the therapeutic range. Genetic analyses for CYP2C9 genotypes (*2 and *3 alleles) and VKORC1 -1639 G>A polymorphism were performed and venous INR determined. The mean warfarin daily dose requirement was higher in CYP2C9 homozygous wild-type patients, compared to those with the variant *3 allele (P < 0.05), similar to those with the variant *2 allele (P > 0.05) and highest in patients with the VKORC1 -1639 GG genotype compared to those with the GA genotype and the AA genotype (P < 0.01). The time to therapeutic INR was longer in CYP2C9 homozygous wild-type patients compared with those with the variant *2 and *3 alleles (P < 0.01), and longer in patients with the VKORC1 (position -1639) GG genotype compared with those with the GA genotype and the AA genotype (P < 0.01). The multivariate regression model including the variables of age (R (2) = 4.4%), BSA (R (2) = 27.4%), CYP2C9 (R (2) = 8.1%), and VKORC1 genotype (R (2) = 34.1%) produced the best model for estimating warfarin dose (R (2) = 60.4%). VKORC1 genotype and CYP2C9 polymorphism affect daily dose requirements and time to therapeutic INR in Turkish patients receiving warfarin for anticoagulation.

Previous studies revealed that there were various mutations on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene and these mutations might be a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), and hypertension (HT). In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between eNOS gene polymorphism (T-786 C) and coronary artery disease in the Turkish population. Two hundred and eleven unrelated individuals (152 male, 59 female, mean age 59 years, range 27-85) whose angiographic examinations were performed in our hospital were enrolled into the study; 159 of these had angiographically determined coronary artery lesions (>or=50% stenosis at least in one vessel). Fifty-two individuals were free of coronary artery disease on their coronary angiography. The Gensini scoring system was used to determine the severity of the CAD. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used for genotyping the individuals. To determine the independent risk factors for coronary artery disease, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used. The variant distribution of the T-786 C polymorphism was as follows. For all individuals: TT 94 (44.5%), TC 88 (41.7%), CC 29 (13.8%); in CAD patients: TT 63 (39.6%), TC 73 (45.9%), CC 23 (14.5%); and in normal individuals: TT 31 (59.6%), TC 15 (28.8%), CC 6 (11.5%). There was a statistically significant difference in the variant distribution between CAD and normal individuals (P<0.05). On the other hand, when we compared the frequency of the at-least-one-C-allele carriers (CC+TC, dominant model) and TT homozygous, those with at least one C allele were more prevalent in CAD patients. The results were as follows. In coronary artery disease patients: CC+TC 96 (60.4%), TT 63 (39.6%); in normals: TC+CC 21 (40.4%), TT 31 (59.6%) (P<0.01). When we compared the allele distribution (T vs C, additive model) between CAD patients and normal controls, the results were as follows: T 0.625 vs 0.740, C 0.375 vs 0.260; there was also a statistically significant association between CAD and C allele (P<0.05). When we compared the means of the Gensini scores between each genotype of the T-786 C mutation, there was a statistically significant difference. The results were TT (48.6+/-37.3, median 43.0), TC (55.4+/-41.2, median 41.0), CC (77+/-43.6, median 80.0) (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that C-dominant (CC+TC) individuals had 2.9-fold more likelihood to suffer from CAD (odds ratio: 2.902; confidence interval: 1.272-6.622) (P<0.05). We conclude that the T-786 C polymorphism of eNOS gene might be a risk factor for coronary artery disease in the Turkish population.

Background:Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as localized or diffuse dilatation of the coronary arteries. There are scarce data about the role of inflammation in CAE. In the present study, the plasma soluble adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) levels in CAE were investigated. Methods: The study population (n = 67) consisted of four groups. Group 1: patients with normal coronary artery (NCA); group 2: patients with isolated ectasia without stenotic lesion; group 3: patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD) without CAE; group 4: patients with both OCAD and CAE. Results: Plasma concentrations of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were higher in patients with isolated ectasia than in cases with NCA (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Compared with OCAD patients, patients with CAE had significantly elevated concentrations of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). The levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 of the CAE and OCAD group were higher than in patients in the OCAD group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively). We detected a positive correlation between the presence of CAE and the levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed a significant independent relation between the presence of CAE and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Conclusion: We found elevated plasma levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in patients with CAE and OCAD + CAE compared with subjects with NCA and OCAD. These data strongly suggest that more severe vascular wall inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of CAE.

Carotenoids and chlorophylls are photosynthetic compounds and also efficient antioxidants. This study aims to identify and quantify carotenoids and chlorophylls in some vegetables (carrot, tomato, spinach), to measure the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of these samples with two spectrophotometric methods, to correlate TAC data with carotenoid structure, and to compare the TAC results with HPLC findings. Separation of the individual antioxidant pigments was achieved on a C30 column using a developed gradient elution program involving methanol-acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) with 0.1% (v/v) triethylamine (TEA) (A) and acetone (B) mobile phases. Total antioxidant capacities of the acetone extracts of studied samples, in trolox and β-carotene equivalents, were in the order: spinach > tomato > carrot by both CUPRAC and ABTS methods. CUPRAC responded favorably to both chlorophylls a and b. The TAC calculated with aid of combined HPLC-spectrophotometry was very close to the spectrophotometric value (93-108%) for real samples and synthetic mixtures.