title: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma Pro12Ala polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility to ischemic stroke in Taeeumin classified by Sasang medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sasang constitutional medicine classifies mankind into four constitutional types according to individual psychologic and physical traits. We hypothesized that differences among constitutional types might be explained by genetic variations.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the hypothesis, we determined the possible association in ischemic stroke patients (n = 134) of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma with four constitutional types of Sasang medicine. The constitutional type of each patient and control subject (n = 129) was classified and genotyped for PPAR-gamma polymorphism Pro12Ala by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of the Pro/Ala genotypes in the ischemic stroke patients was not significantly different from that of healthy controls [odds ratio (OR)= 0.46; p = 0.1214]. However, very interestingly, we observed that all six Pro/Ala genotypes in ischemic patients were Taeeumin, one of four constitutional types of Sasang medicine. Statistical analysis revealed that Pro/Ala genotype in Taeeumin increases almost 15-fold the susceptibility to ischemic stroke compared to other constitutional types, Taeyangin, Soyangin or Soeumin (OR= 14.72; p = 0.0110).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the results in this study, we might suggest that Pro/Ala genotype in Taeeumin is associated with the susceptibility to ischemic stroke. To the author's best knowledge, this is the first report to study on genetic level the potential relationship between ischemic stroke and Sasang constitutional medicine, one of traditional Korean medicines (TKM). Authors hope that this study could provide a new approach for the study of ischemic stroke and merit further research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Cheol
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Doo
authors.forename: Se-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Sang-Hyuk
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Soon-Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hun-Kuk
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Meesuk
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Eunyoung
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Sung-Vin
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.forename: Changshik
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Kang-Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Leem
authors.forename: Young-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000409:Alanine / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011392:Proline / Q000235:genetics*; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D047495:PPAR gamma; D011392:Proline; D000409:Alanine