Down-regulation of ribosomal S6 kinase RPS6KA6 in acute myeloid leukemia patients

Objective: Signaling pathways such as extracellular regulated kinase/mitogen activated protein kinase [ERK/MAPK] have increased activity in leukemia. Ribosomal 6 kinase [RSK4] is a factor downstream of the MAPK/ERK pathway and an important tumor suppressor which inhibits ERK trafficking. Decrease in RSK4 expression has been reported in some malignancies, which leads to an increase in growth and proliferation and eventually poor prognosis. In this study we measured RSK4 expression rate in acute myeloid leukemia [AML]

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken in 2013-2014 at Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad, Iran, on 40 AML patients and 10 non-AML patients as the control group. The expression rate was measured by real-time polymerase change reaction [PCR] and employing the ??CT method. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney and Spearman tests using SPSS [version 11.5]

Results: Expression rate of RSK4 was significantly decreased in the AML group in comparison with the non-AML group [P<0.001]. There was also a significant decrease in RSK4 expression in AML with t[15;17] in comparison to other translocations [P=0.004]

Conclusion: We detected a down-regulation of RSK4 in AML patients. This may lead to an increase in the activity of the ERK/MPAK pathway and exacerbate leukemogenesis or the prognosis of the patients

Role of the Lewis and ABO Blood Group Antigens in Helicobacter pylori Infection

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is a major risk factor for chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. Some findings show increased frequencies of these diseases in individuals with type O blood and in secretors (expressing Leb antigen), but other studies have not found any relationship between blood groups and this infection. Given that H. pylori infection and gastric cancer are common in Iran, the assessment of the pathogenesis of this infection in relation to these blood groups could be valuable. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we determined the ABO and Lewis blood groups of participants using the tube method and evaluated the level of anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This study included 171 Iranian blood donors from Mashhad, Iran, during 2010. The significance of the differences in the frequencies of the Lewis and ABO phenotypes between individuals infected with and without H. Pylori infection were tested using the chi-square test. A P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: H. pylori infection was found in 76.6% of the study subjects (n = 131). The most common ABO blood group was O (33.9%), and the most common Lewis blood group was Le(a-b+) (54.7%). The frequencies of the ABO, Lewis, and secretion phenotypes were not significantly different between the infected and uninfected subjects. Conclusion: We did not find any significant relationship between the Lewis, ABO, and secretion phenotypes and H. pylori infection.

Association of HTLV-I with autoimmune thyroiditis in patients with myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis and in HTLV-I carriers

There are some reports about the association of autoimmune thyroid diseases with human T cell leukemia virus type I [HTLV-I] infection. The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence rates of anti-thyroid antibodies in HTLV-I carriers and HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis [HAM/TSP] patients in Mashhad, north east of Iran, to determine any association between HTLV-I infection and Hashimoto's thyroiditis [HT. A total of 46 HTLV-I infected patients [24 patients with HAM/TSP and 22 asymptomatic carriers] and 40 HTLV-I seronegative healthy individuals were screened for the presence of thyroid autoantibodies. The diagnosis of HT was based on the presence of positive thyroid autoantibodies [Anti thyroid peroxidase and/or Anti thyroglobulin] and at least one of two additional criteria [hypothyroidism and/or goiter]. Analysis of data was done, using Fisher-Exact test by statistical software SPSS version 13.0. A P value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Positivity for thyroid autoantibodies was found in 14 [63.6%] of 22 asymptomatic carriers, 6 [25%] of 24 patients with HAM/TSP and 3 [7.5%] of 40 HTLV-I seronegative healthy individuals. HT found in 45.4% of asymptomatic carriers, 25% of HAM/TSP patients and 5% of seronegative healthy individuals. This study demonstrates a high prevalence of HT in the HAM/TSP patients and the HTLV-I carriers in Mashhad. Our findings suggest an association between HTLV-I infection and HT in our region

relationship of level of maternal serum copper and zinc with neonatal birth weight

Minerals and trace elements such as zinc and copper have significant influence on development and growth of fetus and newborn. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between low birth weight and maternal, neonatal zinc, copper status. This is a case-control study, which was done in Ghaem hospital, Mashhad University over one year from September 2006 to September 2007. The study consisted of 65 infants with birth weight < 2500 gr and 65 infants with > 2500 g and their mothers' as case and control groups, respectively. Cord and maternal blood samples collected at delivery were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotomety for zinc and copper levels. Mean serum zinc levels in maternal and the cord blood were 6.35 +/- 2.09 micro mol/1, 12.77 +/- 3.83 micro nol/l and 7.57 +/- 1.75 micro mol/l, 13.18 +/- 2.69 micro mol/1 of case and control groups, respectively [p<0.05]. The mean copper levels in maternal and cord blood were 21.82 +/- 4.45 micro mol/1, 5.12 +/- 1.54 micro mol/1 and 21.19 +/- 5.34 micro mol/l, 3.65 +/- 2.04 micro mol/l of control and case groups, respective [p<0.05]. This study indicated that mothers with the zinc level of less than 6.4 micro mol/l were 3.8 time more at risk of having infant with the birth weight of less than 2500 gr. Lower maternal weight, was associated with increased risk of having low birth weight infants