Keyword: BMI

The interactions between risk factors for ischemic stroke

Stroke has a significant prevalence in Romania. The predisposition for this multifactorial disease is partially known. The aim of this study is to investigate the predisposition for stroke in Romanian population. Material and methods. We selected cases with recent ischemic stroke (n=100) and healthy control subjects (n=100). The AGTR1 A1166C (rs5186) polymorphism was genotyped by restriction of amplicons with Dde I endonuclease. Results. Active cigarette smoking (O.R. =6.92, p=0.0001) or presence of the AT1R C variant (O.R. =6.69, p=0.0006) in overweight or obese women significantly increase the risk for ischemic stroke. The diagnosis of stroke (71.5 vs 68 years old) or T2DM (63.39 vs 60.77 years old) was recorded at an older age in women compared to men (p<0.05). Obesity considered independent (O.R. =4.22, p<0.05) or in association with T2DM (O.R. = 10.16, p=0.0002) confers the highest risk of stroke when compared to women. Conclusions. Obesity in association with T2DM confers the highest risk of stroke for men when compared to women. Active cigarette smoking or AT1R C variant significantly increase the risk for stroke in women with a high BMI compared with controls.

Gender-Dependent Associations Between Digit Ratio and Genetic Polymorphisms, BMI, and Reproductive Factors

The digit ratio (2D:4D) has been associated with prenatal hormonal influences and various traits and pathologies. This article explores the relationship between 2D:4D and a series of common polymorphisms and Torque Teno Viruses. In this study, 120 healthy participants were included. The IGF2 Apa I, ACE I/D, INS -23 Hph I, VDR Fok I, VDR Apa I, VDR Taq I, AT1R A1166C polymorphism were genotyped by PCR-RFLP technique, and the IL-6 -174 G/C polymorphism by tetra-primer ARMS-PCR. The presence of TTV was identified by a hemi-nested PCR technique. Haplotype analyses were performed using the SHEsis software. The average 2D:4D values were similar for men and women. Overweight men presented higher 2D4D ratios than normal-weight women (p<0.05). Lower 2D:4D values were recorded in women with pregnancy loss or one child or none (p<0.001). Men with lower 2D4D ratios reported a higher number of children (p<0.001). The IGF2 GG and ACE DD were associated with a higher digit ratio in all subjects and in the women’s subset. A significant association was found in men between 2D:4D and the INS-23 Hph I – IGF2 Apa I T-G haplotype (p<0.01). The data obtained in this study indicate a sexual dimorphism for the digit ratio. The associations between 2D:4D and the genetic polymorphisms studied could be influenced by gender.