[Molecular analysis of alpha globin gene deletions among patients with microcytic hypochromic anemia in Kermanshah-Iran]

The majority of alpha-thalassemi mutations are deletions of one or both alpha- globin genes. Since the Iranian populaion is a mixture of different ethnic groups, frequency and distribution of globin mutations in various regions of the country need to be clarified. The aim of this study was to determine the common alpha globin gene deletions among individuals with hypochromic microcytic anemia in Kermanshah province. Following the initial evaluation, 92 patients [47 women and 45 men] were found as microcytic hypochromic [MCV < 80 fl and MCH< 27 pg] anemia and selected for this study. All samples were analyzed for detection of four alpha-gene deletions [-alpha3.7,-alpha4.2,- [alpha] 20.5 and --MED] by GAP-PCR technique. After amplification, 10microl of PCR product was electrophoresed through 1.2% agarose gel and bands were visualized by staining gel in ethidium bromide solution and photographed under a UV transilluminater. 45 patients had -alpha 3.7 single gene deletion. In patients with -alpha3.7 deletion, in both homozygous and heterozygous states, MCH was lower than normal ranges. However, the percent of HbA2 was in normal range. In this study, other common deletional mutations, including - [alpha]20.5, -alpha4.2 and --MED were not found. The results of persent study showed that the frequency of -alpha3.7 single gene deletion among patients with microcytic hypochromic anemia in Kermanshah province was 48.9%

Typing of the uropathogenic E. coli strains using O-serotyping and detection of pap adhesion-encoding operon by polymerase chain reaction

Urinary tract infection [UTI] is a frequently diagnosed renal and urologic disease. Escherichia coli is by far the most common etiologic agent of this disease. This study was aimed to type the E. coli strains isolated from the patients with urinary tract infection using sero-grouping Detection of pap adhesion-encoding operon was also targeted. A total of 130 E. coli strains isolated from patients with UTI were investigated for O-serotyping. The presence of pap adhesion-encoding operon was detected using polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. In serogrouping with 13 antisera, 86 strains [66.14%] were O-serogroupable and belonging to O1, O6, O15, O18 and O20 serogroups, while 44 strains [33.86%] were O-non typeable. Predominant serogroups were O6 and O18. The PCR results showed that 61% of strains exhibited the pap genotype. Serogroups O1, O6, O15 and O18 possessed pap operon. There was an obvious correlation between the pap operon and the O-serogroups of the strains. Our results showed that obtained protein patterns of the isolated strains were more reliable than serotyping results for typing purposes. Our findings indicated that pap adhesion-encoding operon has an important role in the development and severity of UTI. Many cases of serious urogenital diseases are caused by a limited number of uropathogenic E. coli strains that generally possess special virulence factors such as pap operon