University of Ioannina

About: University of Ioannina is a education organization based out in Ioannina, Greece. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Large Hadron Collider. The organization has 7654 authors who have published 20594 publications receiving 671560 citations. The organization is also known as: Panepistimio Ioanninon.

Genome-wide association analysis identifies novel blood pressure loci and offers biological insights into cardiovascular risk

Abstract: Elevated blood pressure is the leading heritable risk factor for cardiovascular disease worldwide. We report genetic association of blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, pulse pressure) among UK Biobank participants of European ancestry with independent replication in other cohorts, and robust validation of 107 independent loci. We also identify new independent variants at 11 previously reported blood pressure loci. In combination with results from a range of in silico functional analyses and wet bench experiments, our findings highlight new biological pathways for blood pressure regulation enriched for genes expressed in vascular tissues and identify potential therapeutic targets for hypertension. Results from genetic risk score models raise the possibility of a precision medicine approach through early lifestyle intervention to offset the impact of blood pressure-raising genetic variants on future cardiovascular disease risk.

Magnetic properties of ultrafine iron particles.

Abstract: The magnetic and morphological properties of fine Fe particles have been studied. Ultrafine particles of Fe were prepared using a vapor deposition technique under an argon atmosphere. The argon pressure was varied from 0.5 to 8 Torr during evaporation, and samples with a median diameter in the range 50--200 \AA{} were obtained having a log-normal distribution. The dependence of magnetic properties on particle size and temperature (10 KT300 K) were studied using superconducting-quantum-interference-device magnetometry and M\"ossbauer spectroscopy. Samples with particle diameter below 90 \AA{} showed a superparamagnetic behavior below room temperature. The saturation magnetization of the particles varied from 25 to 190 emu/g, with the higher values corresponding to larger particles. For these larger particles, a coercivity of 1.05 kOe was obtained at room temperature. The magnetic and structural data suggested a core-shell type of structure, where the core consists of metallic Fe and the shell is composed of Fe oxides.

Darapladib for preventing ischemic events in stable coronary heart disease.

Abstract: Background Elevated lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity promotes the development of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, and elevated plasma levels of this enzyme are associated with an increased risk of coronary events. Darapladib is a selective oral inhibitor of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2. Methods In a double-blind trial, we randomly assigned 15,828 patients with stable coronary heart disease to receive either once-daily darapladib (at a dose of 160 mg) or placebo. The primary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Secondary end points included the components of the primary end point as well as major coronary events (death from coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, or urgent coronary revascularization for myocardial ischemia) and total coronary events (death from coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, hospitalization for unstable angina, or any coronary revascularization). Results During a median follow-up period of 3.7 years, the primary end point occurred in 769 of 7924 patients (9.7%) in the darapladib group and 819 of 7904 patients (10.4%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio in the darapladib group, 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85 to 1.03; P=0.20). There were also no significant between-group differences in the rates of the individual components of the primary end point or in all-cause mortality. Darapladib, as compared with placebo, reduced the rate of major coronary events (9.3% vs. 10.3%; hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82 to 1.00; P=0.045) and total coronary events (14.6% vs. 16.1%; hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84 to 0.98; P=0.02). Conclusions In patients with stable coronary heart disease, darapladib did not significantly reduce the risk of the primary composite end point of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. (Funded by GlaxoSmithKline; STABILITY ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00799903.).

Long-term risk of mortality and lymphoproliferative disease and predictive classification of primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Abstract: Objective Primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) may lead to lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) and death in certain patients. We sought to determine the incidence and predictors of adverse long-term outcomes to achieve a rational predictive classification of the syndrome. Methods Predictive modeling was performed in a cohort of 723 consecutive patients with primary SS (587 newly diagnosed [incident] cases and 136 prevalent cases). Results During 4,384 person-years of followup, we recorded 39 deaths (7 due to lymphoma) and 38 diagnoses of LPD. The standardized mortality ratio was 1.15 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.86–1.73) compared with the general population of Greece. In incident cases, the probability of LPD was 2.6% at 5 years and 3.9% at 10 years. Mortality rates were significantly higher in patients with low C4 levels at the first study visit (hazard ratio [HR] 4.39, 95% CI 2.18–8.83). LPD was independently predicted by the presence of parotid enlargement (HR 5.21, 95% CI 1.76–15.4), palpable purpura (HR 4.16, 95% CI 1.65–10.5), and low C4 levels (HR 2.40, 95% CI 0.99–5.83) at the first study visit. All patients who eventually developed lymphoma resulting in death during the followup period had either low C4 levels or palpable purpura at the first study visit. Training-validation split-cohort modeling confirmed the predictive importance of low C4 levels and palpable purpura, both of which were present in 20.9% of patients at their first visit. Conclusions In patients with primary SS, 1 in 5 deaths is attributable to lymphoma. The presence of palpable purpura and low C4 levels at the first visit adequately distinguishes high-risk patients (type I primary SS) from patients with an uncomplicated disease course (type II [low-risk] primary SS).