Although the biological meaning of the effects exerted by BsmI polymorphism is still under debate, the statistical association found in the present study suggests that further work should be done to verify this variant as a possible risk marker for MM and its aggressiveness, also considering that the real association may be due to other unknown genes linked to the BsmI b allele.

Old CLD development, mainly corresponding to the moderate/severe forms of new BPD, was associated with increased proinflammatory and profibrotic/angiogenic cytokines, while mild forms of new BPD were characterized only by increases in profibrotic/angiogenic cytokines, suggesting a different balance of two pathogenic mechanisms in different phases of the disease.

BackgroundTo determine whether the functional effects of oral supplementation with Saffron, a natural compound that proved to be neuroprotective in early age-related macular degeneration, are influenced by complement factor H (CFH) and age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2) risk genotypes.MethodsThirty-three early AMD patients, screened for CFH (rs1061170) and ARMS2 (rs10490924) polymorphisms and receiving Saffron oral supplementation (20 mg/day) over an average period of treatment of 11 months (range, 6–12), were longitudinally evaluated by clinical examination and focal electroretinogram (fERG)-derived macular (18°) flicker sensitivity estimate. fERG amplitude and macular sensitivity, the reciprocal value of the estimated fERG amplitude threshold, were the main outcome measures.ResultsAfter three months of supplementation, mean fERG amplitude and fERG sensitivity improved significantly when compared to baseline values (p < 0.01). These changes were stable throughout the follow-up period. No significant differences in clinical and fERG improvements were observed across different CFH or ARMS2 genotypes.ConclusionsThe present results indicate that the functional effect of Saffron supplementation in individual AMD patients is not related to the major risk genotypes of disease.

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