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Query: UMLS:C0038454 (stroke)
 147,016 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Werner syndrome (WS) is a progeroid syndrome caused by autosomal recessive null mutations at the WRN locus. The WRN gene encodes a nuclear protein of 180 kD that contains both exonuclease and helicase domains. WS patients develop various forms of arteriosclerosis, particularly atherosclerosis, and medial calcinosis. The most common cause of death in Caucasian subjects with WS is myocardial infarction. Previous studies have identified specific polymorphisms within WRN that may modulate the risk of atherosclerosis. Population studies of the 1074Leu/Phe and 1367Cys/Arg polymorphisms were undertaken to evaluate the role of WRN in atherogenesis. Frequencies of the 1074Leu/Phe polymorphisms in Finnish and Mexican populations revealed an age-dependent decline of 1074Phe/Phe genotype. In Mexican newborns, but not in Finnish newborns, the 1074Leu/Phe and 1367Cys/ Arg polymorphisms were in linkage disequilibrium. Among coronary artery disease subjects, there was a tendency for the 1074Phe allele to be associated with coronary stenosis in a gene dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the 1367Arg/Arg genotype predicted a lower degree of coronary artery occlusion, as measured by NV50, when compared to the 1367Cys/Cys or 1367Cys/Arg genotypes. However, these tendencies did not achieve statistical significance. Samples from Mexican patients with ischemic stroke showed a trend of haplotype frequencies different from that in a control group of Mexican adults. These data support the hypothesis that WRN may mediate not only WS, but may also modulate more common age-related disorders and, perhaps, a basic aging process.
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PMID:Polymorphisms at the Werner locus: II. 1074Leu/Phe, 1367Cys/Arg, longevity, and atherosclerosis. 1118 93

Atherosclerosis constitutes the most common medical and surgical problem. This can be manifested clinically as stroke, coronary artery disease, or peripheral vascular disease. In the present review the microscopic appearance of the normal arterial wall, the definition of atherosclerosis and the five theories of atherogenesis are described. These are: the lipid theory, the hemodynamic theory, the fibrin incrustation theory, the nonspecific mesenchymal hypothesis and the response to injury hypothesis. Based on the above theories the sequence of events in atherogenesis is analyzed. The classification of the atherosclerotic lesions according to Stary (types I-VI) and their characteristics appear in a table. The epidemiology and the role of the following risk factors are presented in detail: age, sex, lipid abnormalities, cigarette smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, obesity, and hemostatic factors. In addition, less common genetically determined associations like homocystinuria, Tangier disease, Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome (progeria), Werner's syndrome, radiation induced atherosclerosis and the implications of Chlamydia pneumoniae on the arterial wall are discussed.
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PMID:The genesis of atherosclerosis and risk factors: a review. 1122 92

The leading causes of death for individuals with Werner syndrome (WS) are myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. The WS gene encodes a nuclear protein with both helicase and exonuclease activities. While individuals with WS have mutations that result in truncated, inactive proteins, several sequence variants have been described in apparently unaffected individuals. Some of these gene polymorphisms encode non-conservative amino acid substitutions, and it is expected that the changes would affect enzyme activity, although this has not been determined. Two research groups have studied the Cys/Arg 1367 polymorphism (located near the nuclear localization signal) in healthy and MI patients. Their results suggest that the Arg allele is protective against MI. We have characterized the Cys (C) and Arg (R) forms of the protein and find no notable difference in helicase and nuclease activities, or in nuclear/cytoplasmic distribution. The frequency of the C/R alleles in healthy individuals and subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD) drawn from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) was also examined. There was no indication that the R allele was protective against CAD. We conclude that the C/R polymorphism does not affect enzyme function or localization and does not influence CAD incidence in the BLSA cohort.
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PMID:Werner syndrome protein 1367 variants and disposition towards coronary artery disease in Caucasian patients. 1524 44

Mutations in the WRN gene lead to the Werner syndrome (WS), which resembles premature aging. Here, we hypothesize that genetic variations in the WRN gene may also influence aging-trajectories in the population at large. To test this hypothesis, we assessed the impact of the i1-C/T, L1074F and C1367R polymorphisms in the WRN gene on the occurrence of cardiovascular pathologies, on cognitive performance and on the risks of all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortalities in the population-based Leiden 85-plus Study. This prospective follow-up study includes 1,245 participants aged 85 years and older, with a total follow-up of 5,164 person-years. At baseline the risks of myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia, intermittent claudication, arterial surgery and stroke dependent on the i1-C/T, L1074F and C1367R polymorphisms, did not vary between the different genotypes. Also no differences in cognitive functioning were observed, except for attention, where carriers of the 1367R allele performed worse compared to the 1367C homozygotes (94.2 (4.35) versus 84.8 (1.84), p=0.04). Mortality risks, calculated separately for all SNPs, were similar between the different genotype carriers of the i1-C/T, L1074F and C1367R polymorphisms, showing no evidence of altered survival. In conclusion, the i1-C/T, L1074F and C1367R polymorphisms in the WRN gene do not influence the aging-trajectories and survival in the population at large.
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PMID:Impact of genetic variations in the WRN gene on age related pathologies and mortality. 1640 62

Postmitotic neurons must survive for the entire life of the organism and be able to respond adaptively to adverse conditions of oxidative and genotoxic stress. Unrepaired DNA damage can trigger apoptosis of neurons which is typically mediated by the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-p53 pathway. As in all mammalian cells, telomeres in neurons consist of TTAGGG DNA repeats and several associated proteins that form a nucleoprotein complex that prevents chromosome ends from being recognized as double strand breaks. Proteins that stabilize telomeres include TRF1 and TRF2, and proteins known to play important roles in DNA damage responses and DNA repair including ATM, Werner and the catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs). We have been performing studies of developing and adult neurons aimed at understanding the effects of global and telomere-directed DNA damage responses in neuronal plasticity and survival in the contexts of aging and neurodegenerative disorders. Deficits in specific DNA repair proteins, including DNA-PKcs and uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG), render neurons vulnerable to adverse conditions of relevance to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and stroke. Similarly, early postmitotic neurons with reduced telomerase activity exhibit accentuated responses to DNA damage and are prone to apoptosis demonstrating a pivotal role for telomere maintenance in both mitotic cells and postmitotic neurons. Our recent findings suggest key roles for TRF2 in regulating the differentiation and survival of neurons. TRF2 affects cell survival and differentiation by modulating DNA damage pathways, and gene expression. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which neurons respond to global and telomere-specific DNA damage may reveal novel strategies for prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Indeed, work in this and other laboratories has shown that dietary folic acid can protect neurons against Alzheimer's disease by keeping homocysteine levels low and thereby minimizing the misincorporation of uracil into DNA in neurons.
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PMID:DNA damage responses in neural cells: Focus on the telomere. 1720 36

The European Stroke Organisation held its first European Stroke Science Workshop in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (December 15-17, 2011). Stroke experts based in Europe were invited to present and discuss their current research. The scope of the workshop was to review the most recent findings of selected topics in stroke, to exchange ideas, to stimulate new research, and to enhance collaboration between European stroke research groups. Seven scientific sessions were held, each starting with a keynote lecture to review the state of the art of the given topic, followed by 4 or 5 short presentations by experts. They were asked to limit their presentations to 10 slides containing only recent information. The meeting was organized by the executive committee of the European Stroke Organisation (Heinrich Mattle, chairman, Michael Brainin, Angel Chamorro, Werner Hacke, Didier Leys) and supported by the European Stroke Conference (Michael Hennerici). The following sections summarize the content of the workshop.
Stroke 2012 Sep
PMID:European stroke science workshop. 2283 50

The European Stroke Organisation held its first European Stroke Science Workshop in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (December 15-17, 2011). Stroke experts based in Europe were invited to present and discuss their current research. The scope of the workshop was to review the most recent findings of selected topics in stroke, to exchange ideas, to stimulate new research, and to enhance collaboration between European stroke research groups. Seven scientific sessions were held, each starting with a keynote lecture to review the state of the art of the given topic, followed by 4 or 5 short presentations by experts. They were asked to limit their presentations to 10 slides containing only recent information. The meeting was organized by the executive committee of the European Stroke Organisation (Heinrich Mattle, chairman, Michael Brainin, Angel Chamorro, Werner Hacke, Didier Leys) and supported by the European Stroke Conference (Michael Hennerici). The following sections summarize the content of the workshop.
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PMID:European Stroke Science Workshop. 2284 53

A 39-year-old woman was explored for recurrent syncopes. She was already known for a Werner's syndrome with symptoms of aging disorders. The explorations revealed an episode of sinusal arrest. A pacemaker was implanted. This case emphasises the relation between Werner syndrome and the development of cardiovascular abnormalities. This pathology should be recalled in young patients with symptoms of aging disorders and cardiovascular abnormalities. Valvular abnormalities, myocardial infarction and stroke are the major complications of Werner's syndrome. This case indicates that a sick sinus syndrome is a rare but possible complication of Werner's syndrome.
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PMID:[Severe sick sinus syndrome associated with a Werner's syndrome]. 2296 84

Progeria is a devastating disorder in which patients exhibit signs of premature aging. The most well-known progeroid syndromes include Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) and Werner Syndrome (WS). While HGPS and WS are rare, they often result in severe age-associated complications starting in the early developmental period or after the pubertal growth spurt during adolescence, respectively. In addition, patients with HGPS ultimately die of diseases normally seen in the elderly population, with stroke and myocardial infarction as the leading causes of death. Many WS patients develop similar cardiovascular complications but also have an increased predisposition to developing multiple rare malignancies. These premature aging disorders, as well as animal and cell culture models that recapitulate these diseases, have provided insight into the genetics and cellular pathways that underlie these human conditions and have also uncovered possible mechanisms behind normal aging. Here we discuss the history, the types of progeria, and the various pathophysiological mechanisms that drive these diseases. We also address recent medical advances and treatment modalities for patients with progeria.
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PMID:Speeding up the clock: The past, present and future of progeria. 2669 Oct 51

Introduction: Werner syndrome is a rare genetic disorder; classical Werner syndrome is caused by mutations in the WRN gene. However, recent research has shown that LMNA gene mutations can also cause premature ageing syndromes such as atypical Werner syndrome (AWS). AWS usually manifests as muscular damage, defects in the cardiac conduction system, lipoatrophy, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and premature ageing. Clinical presentation: A 24-year-old man presented with severe abdominal aortic and peripheral artery disease and cerebral haemorrhage. He was prescribed once-daily 20 mg atorvastatin. Another large cerebral haemorrhage occurred 8 months after discharge. Although he underwent minimally invasive intracranial haematoma surgery, paralysis set in. Molecular studies showed a missense mutation within exon 5 (c.898G>C) that caused amino acid aspartate 300 to be replaced by histidine (p.Asp300His) in the LMNA gene. The patient was diagnosed with AWS. Conclusions: Haemorrhagic stroke and progeroid features may be manifestations of LMNA-linked AWS. In such cases, the patient's family history and genetic background should be investigated. WRN and LMNA gene testing of the proband and the immediate family should be considered. This case report provides a deeper understanding of the role of LMNA mutations in AWS.
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PMID:Cerebral Haemorrhage in a Young Patient With Atypical Werner Syndrome Due to Mutations in LMNA. 3012 86


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