Prevalence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T and A1298C polymorphisms in Egyptian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM] is a major public health problem around the world. The C677T and A1298C polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase [MTHFR] gene have been reported to be associated with T2DM and its complications. This study is a case-control study which was performed to clarify the association between polymorphisms in these two genes and T2DM among Egyptians. Study population [n = 120] consists of 60 Egyptian diabetic patients and 60 healthy controls. The MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms were gen-otyped by polymerase chain reaction, followed by enzymatic digestion with Hinfl and MboII enzymes, respectively. C677T and A1298C genetic polymorphisms conveyed an increase in T2DM risk [OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.1-11.6, p = 0.032 and OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 0.7-6.9, p = 0.004 respectively] Additionally, no significant associations between lipid/glucose metabolic indexes with MTHFR genotypes among diabetic patients were observed. Combined MTHFR gene polymorphisms revealed higher T2DM risk in homozygous and heterozygous forms compared to single gene polymorphism with pronounced risk in C677T/CT-A1298C/CC combined form [OR = 6.56, 95% CI = 0.76-56.2, p 0.041]. In conclusion, our data suggest that MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms are risk factor for T2DM in Egyptian patients. Also, the two gene polymorphisms may act synergistically to increase the risk of diabetes. Furthermore, it should be noted that the size of the studied population was relatively small and therefore, large-scale prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings

Correlative study between immunodulatory action of propolis on cultured PBMNCs and it's schistosomicidal activity

Propolis, a beehive product widely used in folk medicine as an anti-nflammatory agent, have heen attracting researchers attention to scientifically elucidate us biological properties and therapeutic activities. This study aimed to spot light on the value of propolis as an immune-stimulant and to evaluate the influence on schistosome hematobium infection cure rate. To achieve this goal we estimated the effect of propolis on cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells activation in-vitro by IL-2 and NO determination. We also evaluated the effect of in-vivo treatment with propolis on Schistosoma hematobium worm and bone marrow by parasitological and ultrastructural studies. Twenty S. haematobium infected golden hamsters were included in the study, subdivided into two groups each of 10 animals Group 1: Infected Control with 300 +/- 10 cercariae of S. haematobium by abdominal skin exposure. Group 2: Animals were treated with propolis three months post the infection. Our in-vitro results revealed that propolis induces a discreet elevation in IL-2 and NO release in PBMNCs cultures supernatant of S. hematobium infected hamsters. Mean level of IL-2 was 16.17 +/- 1.67 pg/ml in the presence of propolis and 3.31 +/- 0.76 in its absence with highly statistically significant difference [p < 0.001]. Regarding NO, Mean level of NO was 7. 76 +/- 1.30 U/ml in the presence of propolis and 2.6 +/- 0.42 in its absence with. highly statistically significant difference [p < 0.001]. Also, propolis caused observed activation and absence of apoptotic changes at the ultrastructural level of cultured PBMNCs revealed. In-viva results, revealed significant reductions in mature worm loads [either male or female], tissue egg loads [either intestinal or hepatic] 21.00 and 19.79% respectively and Percentage reductions of egg developmental stages was 68.07% with statistically significant difference compared with infected control group [P < 0.05]. Ultrastructural study of S. hematobium women revealed implantation and degeneration of the spines within vesiculated tegument and for the bone marrow it revealed evidence of lymphocyte and promonocyts activation in addition to remarkable increase in the number of the activated natural killer cell. Data suggest that propolis acts on host immunity by PBMNCs activation. This information would provide new insights in considering propolis to have a potential therapeutic benefit if used in conjunction with antischistosomal drug in treatment of schistosome infection