Frequency of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism in patients with cardiovascular disease in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Homozygosity for the C677T mutation in the gene of the thermolabile enzyme 5, 10 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase [MTHFR] associates with reduced enzyme activity, leading to mild hyperhomocysteinemia. We now know that an elevated level of homocysteine is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease [CVD]. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of the C677T mutation in Saudi patients diagnosed with CVD. Over a period of 2 years [2003-2004] in a case control study, we determined the prevalence of the C677T mutation in 83 CVD patients and in 40 age and gender-matched controls in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. We determined the MTHFR genotype by restriction fragment length polymorphism and allele specific hybridization procedures. The CVD group showed over representation of the C677T allele frequencies [20.5%] compared with unaffected controls [15%] [p=0.3]. Furthermore, the genotypic data indicated that the prevalence of homozygosity for the C677T mutation was dramatically higher in the CVD patients [10.8%] when compared with normal [0%] [p=0.058]. These results suggest that the MTHFR C677T variant mildly influences CVD. However, we require further investigation in large independent samples

changing sensitivity of helicobacter pylori to metronidazole

The objective was to determine over two periods, seven years apart, the sensitivity of H. pylori isolates to metronidazole, tetracycline and erythromycin. The study periods were 1987/88 and 1995/96 and the population consisted of 133 patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for peptic ulcer disease in KFHU. The sensitivity of H. pylori isolates from their biopsy specimens was tested to three antibiotic using the disc diffusion method. In 1987/88, 62%, 97.0% and 98.6% of isolates were sensitive to metronidazole, erthyromycin and tetracycline respectively. The corresponding sensitivities in 1995/96 were 14.5, 93.5% and 100% respectively. In 1987/88 there was no difference in the metronidazole resistant H. pylori isolates from men and women [38.2% vs 37.5%] but in 1995/96 slightly more women than men had metronidazole resistant isolates [89% vs 82.9%]. The resistance of H. pylori to metronidazole increased over time. in order to improve outcome of treatment, sensitivity of H. pylori isolates needs to be determined for each patient. The recommended Triple therapy requires to be modified if the prevailing sensitivity pattern of H. pylori in our environment is taken into account