This thesis examines the impact of genetic and epigenetic factors on several aspects of vascular disease. Part 1 addresses the influence of genetic variation in genes involved in the different... Show moreThis thesis examines the impact of genetic and epigenetic factors on several aspects of vascular disease. Part 1 addresses the influence of genetic variation in genes involved in the different processes that lead to the occurrence of adverse events after percutaneous coronary intervention, mainly restenosis after bare metal stent placement, but also late acquired stent malapposition after implantation of a drug-eluting stent. Part 2 discusses the role of a relatively new area of research, which we refer to as 'epigenetic epidemiology', in restenosis and other aspects of coronary heart disease. In this part we show that polymorphisms in genes encoding lysine acetyltransferases, which are able to modify chromatin structure to allow gene transcription, can influence restenosis and mortality from coronary heart disease in several large prospective follow-up studies. Show less
Sotos syndrome is a childhood overgrowth disorder which is characterised by an increased statural height and/or head circumference, characteristic facial dysmorphism and a variable level of... Show moreSotos syndrome is a childhood overgrowth disorder which is characterised by an increased statural height and/or head circumference, characteristic facial dysmorphism and a variable level of learning disability. The aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive study of Sotos syndrome and it__s molecular background. Therefore, the following three yet unresolved topics were addressed: 1. The molecular basis and mechanisms of the microdeletions in Sotos syndrome. 2. The causative molecular alterations in patients with features of Sotos syndrome but without NSD1 abnormalities. 3. The signaling pathways and downstream effectors of NSD1. Show less
My thesis concerns different aspects of diabetic nephropathy. A pathologic classification of diabetic nephropathy is developed, a meta-analyis of genes in diabetic nephropathy is developed and the... Show moreMy thesis concerns different aspects of diabetic nephropathy. A pathologic classification of diabetic nephropathy is developed, a meta-analyis of genes in diabetic nephropathy is developed and the other chapters are about the CNDP1 gene in relation to kidney disease, mainly diabetic nephropathy. Show less