Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 gene polymorphisms in Iranian patients with ischemic heart failure

Background: Proinflammatory cytokines have been known to be elevated in patients with Chronic Heart Failure [CHF]. Given the importance of proinflammatory cytokines in the context of the failing heart, the prevalence of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], Interleukin [IL]-6 polymorphisms in patients with CHF was studied due to ischemic heart disease

Methods: Forty three patients with ischemic heart failure were enrolled in this study and compared with 140 healthy individuals. The allele and genotype frequency of four Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms [SNPs] within the IL-6 [-174, nt565] and TNF-alpha [-308, -238] genes were determined, using Polymerase Chain Reaction with Sequence-Specific Primers [PCR-SSP] assay

Results: The frequency of the TNF-alpha [-238] A/A genotype was significantly higher in patients comparing to controls [p=0.043], while TNF-alpha G/A genotype at the same position decreased significantly, in comparison with controls [p=0.018]. The most frequent haplotype for TNF-alpha was A/A in the patient group in comparison with controls [p=0.003]. There was no significant difference in allele and genotype frequencies of IL-6 at positions -174 and nt565, and TNF-alpha at position -308

Conclusion: Certain alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes in TNF-alpha, but not IL-6, gene were overrepresented in patients with ischemic heart failure, which may, in turn, predispose individuals to this disease

Interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma single nucleotide polymorphisms in iranian patients with chronic heart failure

Background: Inflammatory cytokines have been known to be associated with Chronic Heart Failure [CHF]. Given the importance of cytokines in the context of the failing heart, the prevalence of Interleukin-2 [IL-2] and Interferon-gamma [IFN-Gamma] polymorphisms was studied in patients with CHF due to ischemic heart disease in a casecontrol study

Methods: Fifty-six Iranian patients with CHF were enrolled in this study as the case group and compared with 139 healthy subjects, using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers method, so as to determine the frequency of alleles, genotypes and haplotypes of IFN-Gamma [+874 A/T] and IL-2 [-330 G/T, +166 G/T] SNPs

Results: The GG genotype at IL-2 -330 in patients with CHF was significantly overrepresented in comparison with the control group [p=0.013]. Such a positive genotypic association was also observed for IL-2 +166/TT [p=0.022]. Meanwhile, the GT genotype frequency at IL-2 -330/GT in the patient group was significantly lower than the one in healthy controls [p=0.049]. No significant association was detected between the IFN-Gamma gene polymorphisms and individuals' susceptibility to CHF

Conclusion: Certain genotypes in IL-2 gene were overrepresented in patients with CHF, which could render individuals more vulnerable to this disease

Estimation the frequency of human immunodeficiency virus among male and female patients, Iran

A reduction in new human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] cases is one of the ten areas prioritized by the United Nations Program on HIV. However, recent official reports confirm the HIV rate is increasing and predicted a huge incidence in the near future in Iran, despite the preventative program by Iran's Health Ministry. In this descriptive study, we evaluate the frequency of HIV positive cases among referral patients to a private clinic laboratory for its diagnosis in addition to specimens from other laboratories. An epidemiological analysis is also performed. In this descriptive study, the total number of patients was 138 cases that referred for the diagnosis of HIV to the private Laboratory. Of these, 93 males [67.4%] and 45 females [32.6%] voluntarily requested to be examined for specific increases in specific antibody titer, western blot assays and RNA quantitation polymerase chain reaction. We collected two separate tubes of whole blood, one for reverse transcript as epolymerase chain reaction analysis and the second one for the remaining two tests. Those patients who were antibody positive by western blot and/or reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] analyses were considered as HIV positive cases. There were 18.84% confirmed HIV cases [17.39% males; 1.45% females]. Analysis of the results confirmed that the ratio of male to female patients in the infected group was not comparable to those in the suspect group. The majority of HIV positive cases were either infected by their partner via sexual intercourse [84.61%] or needle sticks [11.53%] among the drug addicted group. The infection routes of the remainder were unknown. Analysis of the data revealed a higher frequency of HIV in males than females among the tested group. There was a shift in to unsafe sexual intercourse as seen in the present study. The higher rate of infected male patients shows a shift in transmission route to unsafe intercourse. Therefore, it is necessary to design new supportive programs by actively identifying and contacting at-risk groups, particularly infected females who are uninterested in being and monitored

Associations between HLA-C alleles and definite Meniere's disease

Both genetic and environmental factors seem to play role in the etiology of Meniere's disease [MD]. Several genes may be involved in susceptibility of MD including Human Leukocyte Antigens [HLA]. The associations between MD and HLA alleles have been previously studied in other populations and certain HLA alleles were shown to be predisposing. The aim of this study was to determine the association between HLA-C allele frequencies and definite MD in patients who refer to Amir-Alam otolaryngology tertiary referral center in Tehran. Patients with definite MD [N=22] enrolled according to the diagnostic criteria of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery [AAO-HNS]. Cases with all 3 symptoms of MD [Vertigo, Tinnitus and lower frequency of sensory-neural hearing loss] were included and those with suspected MD were excluded from study. HLA-Cw allele frequencies were determined in patients non-related healthy controls [N=91] using PCR -SSP. We found that the frequency of HLACw[*]04 was significantly higher in patients compared to the controls [P = 0.0015, OR; 20, 95% CI [3.7-196.9]]. Our results revealed that HLA-C is a genetic predisposing factor in definite MD in patients who refer to Amir-Alam otolaryngology tertiary referral center

[Polymorphism in IFN gamma gene has a negative association with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Iranian patients]

Background: type 1A Diabetes Mellitus [T1DM] is a chronic and progressive auto- immune disorder resulting from immune mediated destruction of Langerhans islet beta cells. The etiology of T1DM like the other autoimmune diseases is unknown and many factors are involved, both humoral and cell-mediated immunity have a critical role in T1DM pathogenesis. The cytokines, the immunomodulatory peptides, are responsible for the immune cell recruitment and producing auto-antibodies by the immune effector cells. To evaluate the role of cytokines in sensitivity or resistance to T1DM, we have employed IFN gamma to determine their gene polymorphisms and their association with T1DM

Methods: 30 patient suffering from T1DM and 40 normal control were studied simultaneously .PCR technique was used to characterize the polymorphisms of cytokine. Salting out method was performed for DNA isolation. The polymorphosime of IFN gamma gene was determined on position UTR+5664`5.The PCR products were evaluated by Gel Electerophoresis Technique

Results: there was a significant difference between patient and control group in TT allele IFN gamma gene: p<0.05, RR: 0.39[0.22

Conclusion: in this study, we found a negative association between IFN gamma gene at position 5'UTR+5644 and T1DM in study group that means this allele may be a protective factor against T1DM