APOE polymorphism and carotid atherosclerosis in Korean population: The Dong-gu Study and the Namwon Study

Objective

We evaluated the association between APOE polymorphism and carotid atherosclerosis in two large independent cohorts from South Korea.

Methods

The datasets were from the Dong-gu Study (N = 9056) and the Namwon Study (N = 10,158). Carotid ultrasonography was performed to measure carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and the presence of carotid plaques. The APOE polymorphism was determined by PCR-RFLP. We performed combined and separate analyses for the two datasets.

Results

In the combined analysis, individuals with E2E2 or E2E3 genotype had a lower common carotid IMT compared with individuals with E3E3 genotype (0.684 mm vs. 0.736 mm, p = 0.007; 0.718 mm vs. 0.736 mm, p < 0.001, respectively). This association was very slightly attenuated but remained statistically significant after adjustment for blood lipids (0.690 mm vs. 0.736 mm, p = 0.033; 0.725 mm vs. 0.736 mm, p = 0.005, respectively). Compared with individuals with E3E3 genotype, individuals with E2E3 genotype had lower risk for carotid plaque (odds ratio (OR) = 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.75–0.93), while individuals with E3E4 genotype had a higher risk for carotid plaque (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.00–1.20). After adjustment for blood lipids, ORs of E2E3 genotype for carotid plaque was slightly attenuated but remained significant (OR = 0.87 95% CI = 0.78–0.97), while OR of E3E4 genotype were slightly attenuated and not significant (OR = 1.08, 95% CI, 0.99–1.18).

Conclusions

We found that APOE polymorphism is associated with carotid atherosclerosis and this association was partly mediated through blood lipid. Our results suggest that APOE polymorphism may influence atherosclerosis through non-lipid pathways.     

A T cell/B cell/epithelial cell internet for mucosal inflammation and immunity

Conclusions Mucosal immune responses are strongly regulated by CD4⁺ T cells and their derived cytokines. In this regard, IFN-^–/– mice (i.e., which lack Th1 and have elevated Th2 cells) showed strong mucosal Th2-type responses together with S-IgA production, while IL-4^–/– (e.g., dominant Th1 and lack of Th2 cells) mice had impaired mucosal Th2 and IgA responses following oral delivery of TT and CT. However, when rSalmonella or radenovirus were used for antigen delivery, significant levels of mucosal IgA responses were induced in both IFN-^–/^– and IL-4^–/^– mice. The choice of the antigen delivery system which leads to optimal Th and B cell interactions are important for the induction of effective IgA responses, even in situations where the immune system is compromised. It is clear that Th2-type cytokines are important in mucosal IgA responses; however, other cytokine combinations can compensate for mucosal immunity in situations in which Th2 cell responses are absent. Mucosally induced tolerance may be one approach to prevent several systemic immune disorders; however, the mechanism of this phenomenon still needs to be elucidated. Our recent findings have suggested that IFN- may play an important role in induction of systemic unresponsiveness since oral tolerance was not induced in IFN-^–/^– mice.Our studies as well as those of others indicated that at least two phases of a triad of cell interactions are important for the mucosal immune system. First, it has been shown that epithelial cell-produced IL-7 and SCF and T cell-derived IL-2 are essential activation and growth signals for intestinal T cells. Second, our studies with TCR knockout mice have suggested that mucosal T cells also play a critical role in the regulation of mucosal IgA responses. Thus, a mucosal internet among T cells, T cells, and IgA B cells appear critical for mucosal homeostasis and for regulation of specific mucosal immune responses.     

Pathogenicity and vaccine efficacy of a thymidine kinase gene deleted infectious laryngotracheitis virus expressing the green fluorescent protein gene

Summary.  The deletion of the thymidine kinase (TK) gene of herpesviruses causes a reduction in their virulence. However, the effects of the TK gene in infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) have not been clearly elucidated. In the present study, we constructed a TK gene-deleted recombinant ILTV expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene as a marker. The GFP gene was inserted in place of the TK gene in both virulent and low virulence strains of ILTV. The GFP gene in the recombinants was expressed in chicken kidney cells, LMH cells and in the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated chicken eggs. The recombinants produced cytopathic effects in chicken kidney cells and LMH cells and formed pocks in the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated chicken eggs. The growth rate of the recombinant in chicken kidney cells was similar to that of wild type viruses. The recombinants showed a reduction of virulence compared to that of parental viruses and induced protection against virulent ILTV in specific pathogen free chickens. The recombinant expressing GFP gene may be a candidate for a genetically engineered vaccine and provide a means to study growth kinetics and mechanism of latent infection and reactivation of ILTV. In this study, we confirmed that the TK gene is directly related to virulence of ILTV. This is the first report to show the evidence that the TK gene is a major gene related to virulence of ILTV. Received May 1, 2001; accepted November 14, 2001     

Nursing practice environment,quality of care,and morale of hospital nurses in Japan

The purpose of this study was to describe Japanese hospital nurses' perceptions of the nursing practice environment and examine its association with nurse‐reported ability to provide quality nursing care, quality of patient care, and ward morale. A cross‐sectional survey design was used including 223 nurses working in 12 acute inpatient wards in a large Japanese teaching hospital. Nurses rated their work environment favorably overall using the Japanese version of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index. Subscale scores indicated high perceptions of physician relations and quality of nursing management, but lower scores for staffing and resources. Ward nurse managers generally rated the practice environment more positively than staff nurses except for staffing and resources. Regression analyses found the practice environment was a significant predictor of quality of patient care and ward morale, whereas perceived ability to provide quality nursing care was most strongly associated with years of clinical experience. These findings support interventions to improve the nursing practice environment, particularly staffing and resource adequacy, to enhance quality of care and ward morale in Japan.