Polymorphisms in the estrogen receptor beta gene and the risk of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion

Background: Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion [RSA] is caused by multiple genetic and non-genetic factors. Around 50% of the RSA cases have no known etiology and are considered as Unexplained RSA [URSA]. Estrogens, via binding to their receptors, play an important role in female reproduction. This study aimed to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs; +1082G/A, +1730G/A and rs1256030C/T] in the estrogen receptor beta [ESR2] gene are associated with susceptibility to URSA in a population of Iranian women

Methods: In this case-control study, the study groups consisted of 240 subjects with a history of URSA and 102 fertile women as controls. Serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH], and estradiol [E2] were measured on day 2-3 of menstrual cycle. Two functional SNPs, +1082G/A [a silent mutation in exon 5] and +1730G/A [3' untranslated region of the exon 8], and one intron, rs1256030C/T, in the ESR2 gene were genotyped, using polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism [PCR-RFLP] analysis

Results: Serum levels of LH were significantly increased in URSA women. No significant differences in distribution of +1082G/A, +1730G/A and rs1256030C/T between URSA and control groups were observed

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the studied SNPs on ESR2 gene may not be associated with URSA

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T and A1298C polymorphisms in male partners of recurrent miscarriage couples

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase [MTHFR] single-nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] C677T and A1298C have been described as strong risk factors for idiopathic recurrent miscarriage [RM]. However, very few studies have investigated the association of paternal MTHFR SNPs with RM. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of paternal C677T and A1298C SNPs among Iranian RM couples. The study subjects comprised 225 couples with more than three consecutive pregnancy losses, and 100 control couples with no history of pregnancy complications. All females in the case group had MTHFR polymorphisms; and genotype SNPs were analyzed by PCR-RFLP. Groups were statistically compared using Mann Whitney U-test and Chi-square statistical tests. The p < 0.05 were considered significant. Statistically significant difference was detected in the frequency of MTHFR SNPs in male partners of the two groups [p=0.019]. Combined heterozygosity of MTHFR polymorphisms was a common phenomenon in the males; 52 [23.1%] and 14 [14%] of males in RM and control groups, respectively. Absence of combined homozygosity for both SNPs in all studied groups/genders was observed. The MTHFR gene composition of male partners of RM couples may contribute to increased risk of miscarriage

Investigation on estrogen receptor alpha gene polymorphisms in Iranian women with recurrent pregnancy loss

Recurrent pregnancy loss [RPL] is a multifactorial disorder. Environmental factors and genetics can affect pregnancy outcomes. Conflicting data suggest an association between estrogen receptor alpha [ESR1] gene polymorphisms and RPL. In this study, such association was investigated in Iranian women with RPL. In this case control study, blood samples were collected from 244 women with a history of three or more consecutive pregnancy losses and 104 healthy women with at least two live births. Using polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism [PCR-RFLP], we studied -397C/T and -351A/G polymorphisms on ESR1 gene in case and control subjects. The genotypic frequencies of -397C/T and -351A/G polymorphisms on ESR1were not significantly different between RPL and control groups [p=0.20 and p=0.09, respectively]. A significantly negative correlation was observed between -397C/T and -351A/G [r=-0.852, p<0.001] in RPL women and complete linkage disequilibrium between the investigated polymorphisms was found [D': 0.959; r-square= 0.758, p<0.001]. This investigation suggests that the analyzed polymorphisms on ESR1gene are not associated with an increased risk of RPL in the studied population

Sero-prevalence of antibodies against varicella zoster virus in children under seven-years old in 2012 in Tehran, Iran

Varicella zoster virus [VZV] is a member of herpes family viruses, which causes varicella [chickenpox] after primary infection and herpes zoster [shingles] because of latent virus reactivation from dorsal root ganglia. Generally, prevalence of varicella antibodies increases with age. We aimed to compare the prevalence of anti-VZV antibody in children under seven years old, in order to obtain a preliminarily picture of general presence of these antibodies to design an immunization plan. In this cross-sectional study, performed from September 2011 to September 2012 in Tehran, Iran, 267 serum samples including sera from 7 month old infants, n= 87; 18 month old children, n= 86; and 6 year old children, n= 94 were assessed for the presence of specific IgG antibodies against VZV, using ELISA technique. 4.6% of 7 month, 12.8% of 18 month and 21.3% of 6-year-old children were seropositive. No relation was found between demographic variables [e.g. age and birth weight] and seropositivity in these age groups. VZV antibodies increased with age. Serum levels of varicella antibodies were elevated in 18 months old compared to 7 months old children, significantly [P < 0.001]. In view of the significant elevation of VZV antibodies in children from 7 months to 18 months of age and rate of seronegative children, our results support the necessity of varicella immunization between 7 and 18 months of age in order to prevent viral infection

Combination of thrombophilic gene polymorphisms as a cause of increased the risk of recurrent pregnancy loss

Recurrent pregnancy loss is [RPL] a heterogeneous condition. While the role of acquired thrombophilia has been accepted as an etiology for RPL, the contribution of specific inherited thrombophilic gene polymorphisms to the disorder has been remained controversial. One hundred women with a history of two or more consecutive abortions and 100 women with at least two live births and no miscarriages were included in the study and evaluated for the presence of 11 thrombophilic gene polymorphisms [Factor V LEIDEN, Factor V 4070 A/G, Factor V 5279 A/G, Factor XIII 103 G/T, Factor XIII 614 A/T, Factor XIII 1694 C/T, PAI-1-675 4G/5G, ITGB3 1565 T/C, ?-Fibrinogen-455G/A, MTHFR 677 C/T, MTHFR 1298 A/C] using PCR-RFLP technique. The data were statistically analyzed using Mann-Whitney test and logistic regression model. There was no relation between factor XIII 103G/T gene polymorphism with increased risk of RPL. However, the other 10 gene polymorphisms were found to be associated with increased/decreased risk of RPL. Multiple logistic regression model for analyzing the simultaneous effects of these polymorphisms on the risk of RPL showed that six of these 11 polymorphisms [Factor V 1691G/A, Factor V 5279A/G, Factor XIII 614A/T, ?-Fibrinogen-455G/A, ITGB3 1565T/C, and MTHFR 1298A/C] were associated with RPL. It is possible to calculate the risk of abortion in a patient with RPL by determining only six of the 10 polymorphisms that are individually associated with RPL

Serum leptin levels in women with immunological recurrent abortion

Recurrent abortion [RA] may be a consequence of aberrant expression of immunological factors during pregnancy. Although the relative importance of immunological factors in human reproduction remains controversial, substantial evidence suggests that autoantibodies contribute to reproductive failure. Production of such antibodies is under the control of cytokines; and leptin, besides its role in reproductive success, has a profound effect on directing the cytokine profile toward Th[1] [cellular] pattern. Therefore, the present study was performed to assess serum leptin levels in women with immunological recurrent abortion. In this prospective study, 250 women who attended Avicenna Infertility Clinic with RA were screened for known causes of abortion from July to December 2008 in Tehran, Iran. Eighty-one patients with normal karyotypes and hormonal profile with normal ovaries and uterus and no signs of infection were categorized as patients with immunological [IRA, n = 39] or unexplained [URA, n = 42] recurrent abortion based on presence or absence of autoantibodies. After blood sampling, levels of anti-nuclear antibody [ANA], anti-double stranded DNA antibody [anti-dsDNA], lupus anti-coagulant antibody [LACAb], anti-phospholipid antibody [APA], anti-cardiolipin antibody [ACA], anti-thyroglobulin antibody [TgAb], anti-thyroperoxidase antibody [TPOAb] and anti-thrombin III antibody [ATIIIAb] were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] or chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay [CLEIA]. In IRA group, 9 [23.1%], 24 [61.5%], 25[64.1%] and 1 [2.6%] women were above the normal cut-off point for ANA, TgAbs, TPOAbs and AT-III Abs, respectively. IRA patients had normal values of LACAbs, APA and ACA. With normal level of fasting blood sugar [FBS], IRA and URA groups had similar serum leptin levels [23.7 +/- 13.2 ng/ml vs. 22.7 +/- 12.5 ng/ml, respectively]. Serum leptin concentrations showed a positive correlation with weight and BMI in both groups. This study suggests that serum leptin levels are higher in IRA and URA patients than normal women. The findings of this study suggest the need for a more comprehensive study and comparison of leptin levels in IRA and URA patients to women with no history of miscarriages

[ level of knowledge among Shahid Beheshti University students about genital herpes]

Genital herpes is increasing in Asia and the world. Based on other studies, knowledge has an important role in reducing high risk sexual behavior. In this study we evaluated knowledge among Shahid Beheshti University students as a sample of young and educated population of Iran. This cross-sectional study carried out on 409 of Shahid Beheshti University students in Tehran - Iran at Autumn 2004. Research material was questionnaire and data analyzed by SPSS-13, T-student, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis Tests. Mean +/- SD of level of knowledge, nature and transmission of genital herpes was 26.5 +/- 26%, 23.7 +/- 24.2% and 30.56 +/- 36.8%, respectively. The level of knowledge about signs, treatment and prevention of disease was 18.8%, 16.4% and 46.2%, respectively. There was a significant relation between age, marital status and education with knowledge [P < 0.05]. The level of knowledge among engineering students was higher than humman sciences students [P < 0.05]. Based on our study, most of participants had no enough knowledge about genital herpes. Most of participants were willing to know more about it as they obviously welcomed to our pamphlets. It seems that educations about genital herpes should be added to educational programs

Immunogenicity of a triple diphtheria-tetanus-whole cell pertussis vaccine in iranian preschool children

Immunization against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis has been applied in Iran since 1950. WHO suggests periodical evaluation of effectiveness of the triple diphtheria-tetanus-whole cell pertussis [DTwP] vaccine, worldwide. To determine the immunogenicity of locally manufactured DTwP vaccine administered to preschool children in a number of health centers of Tehran in 2006. In this prospective study, 350 children aged 4-6 years were injected with DTwP vaccine manufactured by Razi Institute of Iran. Blood samples were collected before and 2-4 weeks after the vaccination. The immunogenicity of the vaccine was assayed by measurement of specific antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] technique. Of the 337 children who were vaccinated, 99.4% and 100% had protective anti-diphtheria and anti-tetanus antibody titers, respectively. The vaccine response and seroconversion for pertussis was achieved in 70.3% of the subjects. The geometric mean titers [GMT] of the antibodies produced against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis by DTwP vaccine were 7.76, 9.37 lU/ml and 30.20 EU/ml after booster vaccine dose, respectively. Comparison of the results obtained from this study with those of previous studies performed in other countries reveals that immunogenicity of diphtheria and tetanus components is similar to other vaccines, but the immunogenicity of pertussis vaccine was less efficient. The lower immunogenicity of DTwP against pertussis may be related to the bacterial strain used or the formulation protocol adopted for the vaccine preparation