Gene Linked to Stroke Risk

By Nancy Steinbach

Broadcast: October 1, 2003
This is Faith Lapidus with the VOA Special English Health Report.
Scientists in Iceland say they have identified the first gene¹ linked to common forms of stroke. These strokes are caused by a 1)blockage² in the flow of blood to the brain. They are known as ischemic (eh-SKEE-mic) strokes. Ischemic strokes often result in death or severe disability.
Researchers at the 2)Decode³ Genetics company say differences in the gene can increase the chance of a stroke by three to five times. They believe that a protein produced by the gene influences the movement and growth of muscle cells. They believe this influence causes the cells to grow inside arteries⁵ and restrict the flow of blood.
All people have this gene. But the risk of stroke appears higher in those with a version that produces low levels of the protein. Work has begun on a genetic⁴ test to identify those at risk.
The researchers say other genes⁶ are probably also involved in a stroke. But they believe this one is among the strongest. They say treatments are possible in the future to reduce the risk of stroke. Such drugs could target the protein produced by the gene. The Swiss drug company Hoffman-La Roche is already doing tests on rats.
The scientists mapped the genes of almost one-thousand-eight-hundred people. Half had suffered a stroke.
The discovery is part of a larger genetic study of the 3)Icelandic people. Their family histories have been unusually well documented. 4)Vikings from Norway settled in Iceland in the ninth and tenth century. The population of three-hundred-thousand is a mix of Norwegian and Celtic. Celtic means Scottish and Irish.
The researchers say they expect to find that the gene has a similar effect in people outside Iceland. The discovery appears in the publication 5)Nature Genetics. The work is part of the effort by Decode to identify the genetic causes of more than fifty common diseases.
At least eighty percent of all strokes are from blockages⁷. The others happen when a blood vessel⁸ breaks and causes bleeding in the brain.
The new finding may help explain why strokes happen in some people who do not seem at high risk. Doctors say high blood pressure, heart disease, smoking, 6)diabetes⁹ and 7)high cholesterol¹⁰ all increase the risk of stroke.
This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Nancy Steinbach. This is Faith Lapidus.

注释：
1) blockage [ 5blCkidV ] n.闭塞，妨碍
2) Decode Genetic  解码基因
3) Icelandic [ais5lAndik] adj.冰岛的
4) Viking [5vaikiN] n.海盗，北欧海盗
5) Nature Genetics  天性遗传学, 自然遗传学
6) diabetes [7daiE5bi:ti:z] n.（医） 糖尿病, 多尿症
7) high cholesterol  高胆固醇

1 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

2 blockage   

n.障碍物；封锁

参考例句：

• The logical treatment is to remove this blockage.合理的治疗方法就是清除堵塞物。
• If the blockage worked,they could retreat with dignity.如果封锁发生作用，他们可以体面地撤退。

3 decode   

vt.译（码），解（码）

参考例句：

• All he had to do was decode it and pass it over.他需要做的就是将它破译然后转给他人。
• The secret documents were intercepted and decoded.机密文件遭截获并被破译。

4 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

5 arteries   

n.动脉( artery的名词复数 )；干线，要道

参考例句：

• Even grafting new blood vessels in place of the diseased coronary arteries has been tried. 甚至移植新血管代替不健康的冠状动脉的方法都已经试过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This is the place where the three main arteries of West London traffic met. 这就是伦敦西部三条主要交通干线的交汇处。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

7 blockages   

n.堵塞物( blockage的名词复数 )；堵塞，阻塞

参考例句：

• The storms could increase the risks posed by river blockages. 暴风雨会增加因河道堵塞所造成的危险。 来自互联网
• An angiogram shows the location and severity of blockages in blood vessels. 冠状动脉造影能够显示血管内的阻塞位置以及阻塞的严重程度。 来自互联网

8 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

9 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

10 cholesterol   

n.（U）胆固醇

参考例句：

• There is cholesterol in the cell of body.人体细胞里有胆固醇。
• They are determining the serum-protein and cholesterol levels.他们正在测定血清蛋白和胆固醇的浓度。