We evaluated the association of APOE genotype with risk of ischaemic stroke and assessed whether the observed effect was consistent with the effects of APOE genotype on LDL-C or other lipids and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk.

Methods We conducted a systematic review of published and unpublished studies reporting on APOE genotype and ischaemic stroke. We pooled 41 studies (with a total of 9027 cases and 61 730 controls) using a Bayesian meta-analysis to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) for ischaemic stroke with APOE genotype. To better

evaluate CP-673451 Protein Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor potential mechanisms for any observed effect, we also conducted a pooled analysis of primary data using 16 studies (up to 60 883 individuals) of European ancestry. We evaluated the association of APOE genotype with lipids, other circulating biomarkers of cardiovascular risk and carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT).

Results The ORs for association of APOE genotypes with ischaemic stroke were: 1.09 (95% credible intervals (CrI): 0.84-1.43) for epsilon 2/epsilon 2; 0.85 (95% CrI: 0.78-0.92) for epsilon 2/epsilon 3; 1.05 (95% CrI: 0.89-1.24) for epsilon 2/epsilon 4; 1.05 (95% CrI: 0.99-1.12)

for epsilon 3/epsilon 4; and 1.12 (95% CrI: 0.94-1.33) for epsilon 4/epsilon 4 using the epsilon 3/epsilon 3 genotype as the reference group. A regression GSK923295 analysis that investigated the effect of LDL-C (using APOE as the instrument) on ischaemic stroke showed a positive dose-response association with an OR of 1.33 (95% CrI: 1.17, 1.52) per 1 mmol/l increase in LDL-C. In the separate

pooled analysis, APOE genotype was linearly and positively associated with levels of LDL-C (P-trend: 2 x 10(-152)), apolipoprotein B (P-trend: 8.7 x 10(-06)) and C-IMT (P-trend: 0.001), and negatively and linearly associated with apolipoprotein E (P-trend: 6 x 10(-26)) and HDL-C (P-trend: 1.6 x 10(-12)). Associations with lipoprotein(a), C-reactive protein and triglycerides were non-linear.

Conclusions In people of European ancestry, APOE genotype selleck chemical showed a positive dose-response association with LDL-C, C-IMT and ischaemic stroke. However, the association of APOE epsilon 2/epsilon 2 genotype with ischaemic stroke requires further investigation. This cross-domain concordance supports a causal role of LDL-C on ischaemic stroke.”
“The aim of this study was to compare the long-term results between laparoscopic myotomy and pneumatic dilatation in achalasia treatment.

A retrospective study was conducted involving 46 achalasia patients. Twenty-three patients underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy with partial (Toupet) fundoplication (I group), other 23 – endoscopic pneumatic dilatation (II group). Long-term results included evaluation of dysphagia according Vantrappen and Hellemans and intensity of heartburn.

The patients in these two groups were similar in terms of age, weight and height. The median follow up was 44 months in I group, 47 months in II group. Laparoscopic myotomy was effective in 82.