[Comparison of hepatitis C virus genotypes in hemodialysis and nonuremic patients]

Hepatitis C viruses [HCVs], which is an enveloped RNA cense positive, are classified into six major genotypes and multiple subtypes. Infection with this virus has been found to be a major cause of liver disease. Also, HCV infection is quite high among chronic hemodialysis patients. The purpose of the present study was to compare the genotypes of HCV and associated risk factors in hemodialysis patients with positive HCV non uremic patients. Sera sample were taken from population consisted of 113 non uremic patients and uremic ones with HCV who referred to Imam Khomeini nephrology clinic and Sari and Ghaemshahr Dialysis Centers: Case group was consisted of 55 patients with positive HCV hemodialysis disease. The control group consisted of 58 patients suffering from non-uremic positive HCV. Samples were tested with improved Real-Time PCR technique using the appropriate kit. In this study, the mean age of case group was 44.88 +/- 14.6 and for the control group was 46.73 +/- 11.9. Considering the sex of participants, 23 [41.8%] were female patients and 32 [58.2%] were in the case group while 13 female [22.4%] and 45 male [77.6%] were in the control group. The most common genotype of HCV in case group was 1a-b [72.7%] and in control group was 3a [50%]. Significant differences [p<0.05] were seen in HCV genotypes between two case and control groups. BUN and Cratinin in hemodialysis patients showed observable differences in comparison to control group [p<0.05], while PTT, AST, ACT in control group were higher in compare with hemodialysis patients [P < 0.05]. This study showed that the hepatitis C virus genotype and its associated risk factors in hemodialysis patients and non uremic patients is different

Interleukin- 18 gene polymorphism in patients with and without atherosclerotic coronary artery disease

Several studies have revealed that inflammation plays an important role in development of Coronary Artery Disease [CAD] and its other manifestations. IL-18 is a pleiotropic cytokine that enhances Th1 [T helper 1] or Th2 [T helper 2] immune response depending on its cytokine milieu and genetic background. It strongly induces formation of plaques in patients with CAD. Variation in the Il-18 gene found to influence both levels of IL-18 and clinical outcomes in individuals with history of heart disease. To investigate the association of two IL-18 promoter gene polymorphisms at -607C/A and - 137 G/D positions with CAD, and some CAD risk factors such as diabetes, arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cigarette smoking and obesity. Genomic DNA was extracted by the salting out method from the peripheral arterial blood of 280 patients with CAD documented by coronary angiography [143 with a documented history of myocardial infarction termed positive MI and 137 without myocardial infarction designated negative MI] and 140 age- sex matched persons with a normal coronary angiography [control group]. The genotype of both CAD and control groups were assessed by ASP-PCR method. Arlequin program was used for gametic phase estimation and haplotype analysis. There was no significant difference between patient and control groups either allelic, genotypic, and haplotypic for both variants[p>0.05]. Furthermore, no significant correlation was found between IL-18 genotypes and CAD risk factors in the patient group [P>0.05]. There results suggest that the investigated IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms at -607 C/A and -137G/C positions are not associated with genetic susceptibility to CAD in southern Iran

Prevalence of helicobacter pylori Cag E genotypes, in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia, peptic ulcer and gastric carcinoma

Helicobacter pylori are a bacterial pathogen evolved to chronically colonize the gastric epithelium and causes gastritis, peptic ulcers, and even gastric malignancies in few infected humans. More recently, a pathogenicity island has been identified within the H. pylori genome that contains a cluster of genes, including cagE. The aim of the current study was to investigate the prevalence of cagE genotypes of H. pylori isolates from patients with NUD[Non Ulcer Dyspepsia], peptic ulcer and cancer. 150 Gastric biopsy specimens obtained from patients were inoculated onto a Brucella Columbia Agar containing 5% sheep for 3 to 5 days at 37°C under micro aerobic conditions [5% O2, 5% CO2, and 90% N2]. After DNA extraction, genotyping of the cagE gene was performed by PCR amplification using the primers. PCR products were separated by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis and examined under UV illumination. Of 92 positive cultures, 34, 28, 20, and 10 isolations were obtained from patients with NUD, duodenal ulcers [DU], gastric ulcers [GU] and gastric cancer [GC], respectively. The frequency of cagE gene was 88/24%, 100%, 85%, 100% and within isolates of patients with NUD, DU, GU and GC, respectively. The presence of cagE in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection is not a marker for predicting or diagnosing the resultant diseases

[Iohexol effects on tear biochemical profiles in normal large animal model]

Dacryocystography or visualization of nasolacrimal duct has been widely used in the assessment of the nasal lacrimal system. The water-soluble agent iohexol is currently widely used in nervous and vascular lesion in diagnostic radiology and also employed in dacryocystography. This study was performed to determine the effects of iohexol on tear parameters in normal donkey as a large animal model. We examined 10 normal donkeys mean age approximately 4.5 years. The donkeys received iohexol once a day. All donkeys were housed out doors throughout the study. Different tear parameters [total protein, lysozyme, sodium, and potassium and protein electrophoresis of tear] were measured at 0, 2 hours and 2 weeks after dacryocystography with iohexol. The results showed that mean and standard deviation of total protein of tear were 5.88 +/- 2.15 mg/ml before dacryocystography and after 2 hours was 4.10 +/- 0.96 and after two weeks was 7.36 +/- 3.68. Mean and standard deviation of lysozyme was 858.39 +/- 170.88 units in Mg of protein of tear and after two hours was 1013.19 +/- 178.67 and after two week was 702.54 +/- 360.50. Mean +/- SD of sodium of tear before dacryocystography was 3084.90 +/- 725.44 micro/ml and after two hours and two weeks were 3508.40 +/- 1372.52 and 8026.20 +/- 2953.88 respectively. Mean +/- SD of Potassium of tear before dacryocystography was 863.37 +/- 52.55 micro/ml and after two hours and two weeks were 753.84 +/- 46.81 and 1564.20 +/- 276 +/- 41 respectively. Results of SDS-PAGE of donkeys tear confirmed that nine protein bands with molecular weights between 10 kDa and 15 kDa are present. No differences found in protein electrophoresis pattern before and after iohexol administration. No significant changes were present in measured factors at different times. In conclusion iohexol is a safe and suitable contrast media for dacryocystography