Dimitrios Degiannis

Publications (72) View all

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  Available from: Dimitrios Degiannis

  Article: Association of gender, ABCA1 gene polymorphisms and lipid profile in Greek young nurses.

  Vana Kolovou, Apostolia Marvaki, Agathi Karakosta, Georgios Vasilopoulos, Antonia Kalogiani, Sophie Mavrogeni, Dimitrios Degiannis, Christina Marvaki, Genovefa Kolovou
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  ABSTRACT: One of the important proteins involved in lipid metabolism is the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) encoding by ABCA1 gene. In this study we evaluated the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ABCA1 gene. We analyzed SNPs in chromosome 9 such as rs2230806 (R219K) in the position 107620867, rs2230808 (R1587K) in the position 106602625 and rs4149313 (I883M) in the position 106626574 according to gender and lipid profile of Greek nurses. The study population consisted of 447 (87 men) unrelated nurses who were genotyped for ABCA1 gene polymorphisms. Additionally, lipid profile [total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein A1] was evaluated. The distribution of all three studied ABCA1 gene polymorphisms did not differ according to gender. However, only R219K genotype distribution bared borderline statistical significance (p = 0.08) between the two studied groups. Moreover, allele frequencies of R219K, R1587K and I88M polymorphisms did not differ according to gender. In general, blood lipid levels did not seem to vary according to ABCA1 gene polymorphisms, when testing all subjects or when testing only men or only women. However, a significant difference of LDL-C distribution was detected in all subjects according to R1587K genotype, indicating lower LDL-C levels with KK polymorphism (p = 0.0025). The above difference was solely detected on female population (p = 0.0053). The ABCA1 gene polymorphisms frequency, distribution and lipid profile did not differ according to gender. However, in the female population the KK genotype of R1587K gene indicated lower LDL-C levels. Further studies, involving a higher number of individuals, are required to clarify genes and gender contribution.
  Lipids in Health and Disease 06/2012; 11:62. · 2.17 Impact Factor
• Article: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2): a protagonist in cardiac allograft vasculopathy development?

  Malena P Pantou, Athanasios Manginas, Peter A Alivizatos, Dimitrios Degiannis
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  ABSTRACT: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) has been reported to be upregulated in experimental models of chronic cardiac allograft rejection. We investigated the contribution of CTGF to the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), a surrogate marker for chronic rejection. This prospective study included 72 adult heart allograft recipients. Genotyping of the rs6918698 polymorphism was performed by sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR). CTGF protein levels were measured in serum. CTGF messenger RNA (mRNA) from myocardial biopsy specimens was quantified by quantitative real-time PCR. Recipient genotype was associated with the development of CAV (p = 0.014) and the carriers of the C allele (CC and CG genotype) were high-risk recipients for the development of CAV (odds ratio, 3.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-9.74; p = 0.044). Serum CTGF protein levels could not be associated with the presence of the C allele but were significantly lower in the patients that had developed CAV (p = 0.038). This was attributed to the addition of everolimus to their immunosuppression scheme. Myocardial relative CTGF mRNA expression was estimated to be approximately twice as much in the CAV patients than in the patients without CAV (p = 0.013). The important role of CTGF during the development of CAV in heart transplantation was supported by the association of CAV with the recipient CTGF-945 CC/CG genotypes. The CAV patients, who were all receiving everolimus treatment, displayed elevated myocardial CTGF mRNA transcription levels, while everolimus has been observed to reduce serum CTGF protein levels.
  The Journal of heart and lung transplantation: the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 04/2012; 31(8):881-7. · 3.54 Impact Factor
• Article: Deferoxamine attenuates lipid peroxidation, blocks interleukin-6 production, ameliorates sepsis inflammatory response syndrome, and confers renoprotection after acute hepatic ischemia in pigs.

  Demetrios Vlahakos, Nikolaos Arkadopoulos, Georgia Kostopanagiotou, Sofia Siasiakou, Loukas Kaklamanis, Dimitrios Degiannis, Maria Demonakou, Vassilios Smyrniotis
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  ABSTRACT: We have previously shown that deferoxamine (DFO) infusion protected myocardium against reperfusion injury in patients undergoing open heart surgery, and reduced brain edema, intracranial pressure, and lung injury in pigs with acute hepatic ischemia (AHI). The purpose of this research was to study if DFO could attenuate sepsis inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and confer renoprotection in the same model of AHI in anesthetized pigs. Fourteen animals were randomly allocated to two groups. In the Group DFO (n=7), 150mg/kg of DFO dissolved in normal saline was continuously infused in animals undergoing hepatic devascularization and portacaval anastomosis. The control group (Group C, n=7) underwent the same surgical procedure and received the same volume of normal saline infusion. Animals were euthanized after 24h. Hematological, biochemical parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA), and cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α) were determined from sera obtained at baseline, at 12h, and after euthanasia. Hematoxylin-eosin and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling were used to evaluate necrosis and apoptosis, respectively, in kidney sections obtained after euthanasia. A rapid and substantial elevation (more than 100-fold) of serum IL-6 levels was observed in Group C reaching peak at the end of the experiment, associated with increased production of oxygen free radicals and lipid peroxidation (MDA 3.2±0.1nmol/mL at baseline and 5.5±0.9nmol/mL at the end of the experiment, P<0.05) and various manifestations of SIRS and multiple organ dysfunction (MOD), including elevation of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, severe hypotension, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, hypoproteinemia, and increased serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (fourfold), alkaline phosphatase (fourfold), alanine aminotransferase (14-fold), and ammonia (sevenfold). In sharp contrast, IL-6 production and lipid peroxidation were completely blocked in DFO-treated animals offering remarkable resistance to the development of SIRS and MOD. Profound proteinuria, strips of extensive necrosis of tubular epithelial cells, and occasional apoptotic tubular epithelial cells were already present in Group C, but not in Group DFO animals at the time of euthanasia. DFO infusion attenuated lipid peroxidation, blocked IL-6 production, and substantially diminished SIRS and MOD, including tubulointerstitial damage in pigs after acute ischemic hepatic failure. This finding shows that iron, IL-6, and lipid peroxidation are important participants in the pathophysiology of renal injury in the course of generalized inflammation and provides novel pathways of therapeutic interventions for renal protection.
  Artificial Organs 12/2011; 36(4):400-8. · 2.00 Impact Factor
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  Available from: Dimitrios Degiannis

  Article: The role of common variants of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene in left main coronary artery disease.

  Genovefa Kolovou, Ioannis Vasiliadis, Vana Kolovou, Agathi Karakosta, Sophie Mavrogeni, Evaggelia Papadopoulou, Spiridon Papamentzelopoulos, Vasiliki Giannakopoulou, Apostolia Marvaki, Dimitrios Degiannis, Helen Bilianou
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  ABSTRACT: The cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) has a central role in the lipid metabolism and therefore may alter the susceptibility to atherosclerosis. The DNA of 471 subjects [133 subjects with angiographically documented left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD), 241 subjects with more peripheral coronary artery disease (MPCAD) and 97 subjects self reported healthy (Controls)] was analyzed for the frequency of TaqIB and I405V polymorphisms in the gene coding CETP. There is no significant difference in CETP allele frequency or genotype distribution among LMCAD and MPCAD patients although there is statistical difference between LMCAD and Controls (p = 0.001). Specifically, patients with LMCAD and B1B1 genotype of TaqIB polymorphism were more frequent present compared to Controls (33.8% vs 22.9%, respectively). The frequency of B2B2 genotype was 3 times lower in the LMCAD group compared to Controls (10.5% vs 30.2%, respectively). In the LMCAD group the frequency of B1 allele compared to Controls was higher (62% vs 46%, respectively, p = 0.001). The relationship between TaqIB gene polymorphism and the LMCAD was independent of lipid profile, with the exception of apolipoprotein A. These findings indicate that the TaqIB polymorphism may have potential importance in screening individuals at high risk for developing CAD. However, this polymorphism cannot distinguish between LMCAD and MPCAD. Further prospective investigations in larger populations are required to confirm these findings.
  Lipids in Health and Disease 09/2011; 10:156. · 2.17 Impact Factor
• Article: Increased inflammatory response in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy is associated with dyslipidemia: Effects of statin therapy.

  Panagiotis Iakovis, Zaharias-Alexandros Anyfantakis, Constantinos Limas, Christos Kroupis, Dimitrios Degiannis, Dennis V Cokkinos
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  ABSTRACT: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is associated with increased inflammatory response reflected among other markers in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels. We examined prospectively 60 consecutive patients with DCM. Of them, 30 were dyslipidemic (group I) and 30 normolipidemic (group II). Group I patients were randomized to either simvastatin therapy (20 mg/day, group Ia, n = 15) or hypolipidemic diet therapy (group Ib, n = 15). Patients were re-evaluated 6 months later. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and sIL-2R levels were significantly higher in group I compared with group II patients (19.5 ± 3.4 vs 3.03 ± 3.5 mg/L, P = .01, 1137 ± 441 vs 599 ± 235 pg/mL, P = .001, respectively). There was a significant correlation between sIL-2R and hsCRP levels in dyslipidemic patients but not in normolipidemic patients. Significant reduction of hsCRP and sIL-2R levels was observed only in group Ia patients. Patients with DCM having dyslipidemia have increased inflammatory response, which is reduced after 6 months of statin therapy.
  Angiology 01/2011; 62(1):55-61. · 1.51 Impact Factor