Association between angiotensinogen M235T polymorphism and preeclampsia in Iranian pregnant women

To determine the possible association between the M235T variant of angiotensinogen gene and preeclampsia in Iranian preeclamtic women with hypertension during pregnancy. During a case control study, we used polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism [PCR-RFLP] analysis to investigate the association between M235T polymorphism in preeclamtic women compared to normotensive controls. The M235T polymorphism was significantly associated with increased preeclampsia risk in the studied population as supported by a p value of 0.017 and chi-square value of 8.12. The frequency of mutated allele and genotype distribution showed a significant difference between preeclamtic women and control groups. The result indicates that the AGT M235T polymorphism plays a significant role in preeclampsia observed in selected Iranian preeclamtic women, and it can be considered as a major risk factor for preeclampsia

Anti-nuclear antibodies in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome before and after laparoscopic electrocauterization

Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] has been suggested to be linked with autoimmune processes. Laparoscopic ovarian electrocauterization has the potency to stimulate more autoimmune reactions in PCOS patients. In the present study, we considered anti-nuclear antibodies [ANAs] as the hallmark of autoimmune reactions, and investigated the serum level of these antibodies in 35 patients with PCOS [21-38 years old] pre and one-month after electrocauterization, and in 35 fertile healthy women [25-35 years old] as the control group. Serum levels of ANAs, as well as ANA subtyping, were investigated using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA]. While 3 out of the 35 patients [8.6%] were positive for ANAs before electrocauterization, none of the controls was positive. The number of ANA-positive cases increased following electrocauterization [3 out of 35 [8.6%] before vs. 10 out of 35 [28.6%] after the procedure]. The main ANA subtype in the positive samples was SS-A. The higher ANA level among the PCOS patients suggests association of the disease with autoimmune reactions. Laparoscopic ovarian electrocauterization seems to increase the number of positiveANA patients

Serum HER2 level in epithelial ovarian cancer

The proto-oncogene HER2 plays a key role in the control of cellular proliferation. Its overexpression has been reported to be associated with a poor prognosis in cancer, particularly in breast cancer. In the present study, serum HER2 levels were investigated in patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer. Serum HER2 levels were detected by an ELISA commercial kit in 51 patients and 33 healthy individuals. The mean serum HER2 level was found to be significantly higher in patients than healthy controls [P=0.005]. In 29% of patients, serum HER2 levels were higher than the cut-off value. HER2 serum level was not associated with tumor stage at diagnosis. Elevation of HER2 in a high proportion of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer further strengthens the importance of this molecule in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer

Serum level of HER 2 extracellular domain in Iranian patients with breast cancer: a follow up study

A soluble form of HER-2/neu extracellular domain [sHER-2] is reported to be released in the sera of metastatic breast cancer patients. To measure the level of sHER-2 in sera of 115 breast cancer patients. Serial samples of 27 patients with metastasis, 18 non-metastatic patients, 15 patients in stage 0/I and 14 patients with accompanying benign breast disease were also included in this study. No significant difference was observed between sHER-2 level in the pre-operative sera of breast cancer patients and that of healthy individuals. Only 8 out of 27 patients whom later developed metastasis showed elevated levels of sHER-2 in their first serum sample. However, a trend of increase in the level of sHER-2 was observed in 14 [51.8%] of 27 metastatic sera before clinical diagnosis of the metastasis. A significant association between sHER-2 positive status and vascular invasion of the tumor was observed [P = 0.02]. In addition, significant correlation of sHER-2 level with CEA [highest r = 0.74] and CA 15.3 [highest r = 0.74] tumor marker levels in the serial sera were observed. The mean time from sHER-2 positivity to tumor metastasis was calculated to be 98 days [range = 29-174]. Our results indicate that a relatively high percentage of Iranian patients with breast cancer show an elevated level of sHER-2 in their sera before clinical diagnosis of the tumor metastasis. Therefore, measuring the level of this oncoprotein, not only helps physicians in monitoring the patients during HERCEPTINTM therapy, but also can be helpful in choosing more aggressive treatments at the early satges of tumor metastasis

Maternal serum levels of transforming growth factor B1 [TGF-beta1] in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies

Successful pregnancy in allopregnant women depends upon the control of graft rejection mechanisms. It has been suggested that some immunosuppressive cytokines contribute to successful pregnancy and transplantation. Transforming growth factor beta [TGF-beta] exhibits potent immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties which might prolong graft survival. Recent studies suggest a role for TGF-beta in the generation of T-regulatory lymphocytes which preserves the tolerance to peripheral self antigens and may control the response to allogenic tissues and thereby promote the transplantation tolerance. Also, the function of TGF-beta in trophoblast differentiation and hypertension is reported. To evaluate the maternal serum TGF-pl level in normal allopregnant women and in pregnancies complicated by preeclampcia [PE]. Sixty one pregnant preeclamptic women [32 cases with severe and 29 with mild PE], 22 normotensive healthy pregnant, and 20 non-pregnant controls constituted the studied groups. The active form of TGF-beta in serum from all cases was investigated by indirect ELISA technique. The results showed that TGF-beta1 level was higher in all three pregnant groups as compared with the non-pregnant controls. No significant changes in serum levels of TGF-pl were found in PE as compared with the normal pregnancy. TGF-beta may function as a regulatory factor in fetal allograft survival during pregnancy, and TGF-beta1 does not have a pathophysiological role in PE

Placental transfer of respiratory syncytial virus-specific IgG in iranian mothers

Background: Respiratory Syncytical virus infection is the most common cause of bronchioMtis and viral pneumonia in infancy

Objective: To investigate the placental transfer of RSV-specific IgG in Iranian mothers

Methods: The antibodies were measured in sera of 146 mother/newborn pairs using a commercially available indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA]. The studied subjects were among healthy pregnant women who attended to the Zeinabieh Hospital of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in a one year period

Results: A highly significant correlation was observed between RSV-specific IgG in newborns and mothers [r = 0.88]. However, mean RSV-specific IgG antibodies in neonates was significantly higher than that of their mothers [P = 0.019]. In addition, the mean cord/maternal ratio of RSV-specific IgG was detected to be 1.27 +/- 0.60. Maternal blood group, age, parity, previous abortions and neonatal gestational age had no correlation with placental transfer of RSV-specific IgG antibodies

Conclusion: Our finding demonstrates that placental transfer of RSV-specific IgG antibodies is an active process and the main factor that influences this transfer is maternal concentration of these immunoglobulins