Analysis of association of TaqI VDR gene polymorphism with the chronic periodontitis in Dravidian ethnicity.

AIM: The aim of this study is to analyze the association of TaqI vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism with the chronic periodontitis (CP) in Dravidian ethnicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 subjects were recruited for this study, which included 60 CP and 60 healthy controls. TaqI VDR gene polymorphism was analyzed using specific primers and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and visualized under 2% agarose gel. RESULTS: Our study results showed that Tt and tt genotype had a higher frequency of occurrence in CP compared with controls. Similarly, t allele was found to be associated with CP. CONCLUSION: Our study concludes that TaqI VDR gene polymorphism is associated with CP in Dravidian ethnicity.

Cryptosporidium hominis Infection Diagnosed by Real-Time PCR-RFLP

There are approximately 20 known species of the genus Cryptosporidium, and among these, 8 infect immunocompetent or immunocompromised humans. C. hominis and C. parvum most commonly infect humans. Differentiating between them is important for evaluating potential sources of infection. We report here the development of a simple and accurate real-time PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method to distinguish between C. parvum and C. hominis. Using the CP2 gene as the target, we found that both Cryptosporidium species yielded 224 bp products. In the subsequent RFLP method using TaqI, 2 bands (99 and 125 bp) specific to C. hominis were detected. Using this method, we detected C. hominis infection in 1 of 21 patients with diarrhea, suggesting that this method could facilitate the detection of C. hominis infections.

Frequency of fokI and taqI polymorphism of vitamin D receptor gene in Indian population and its association with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.

BACKGROUND: The VDR protein is at the centre of the vitamin D endocrine system, a complex physiological system with substantial feedback regulatory mechanisms involved in maintaining serum calcium and 1, 25 dihydroxy vitamin D3. Variations in VDR gene are shown to have implications in several diseases and have also been implicated as an important genetic factor affecting bone mass. AIM: To determine the frequency of Fok I and Taq I variants in healthy Indian individuals and its association with 25-OH-Vitamin D levels. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Blood samples were collected from 143 unrelated normal individuals (Male-84 and Female-59) and their genotypes determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After amplification by polymerase chain reaction, each polymorphism was genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism. For 100 normal healthy individuals 25-hydroxyvitamin D estimation was done using DiaSorin kit method. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Graph pad software was used to calculate the P values from the Chi-square. RESULTS: Out of 143 samples analyzed for FokI and TaqI polymorphisms the following genotypic frequency was obtained FF 59%, Ff 36%, ff 5% and TT 49%, Tt 43%, tt 8% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that the distribution of the polymorphic loci Fok I and Taq I vary considerably not only in different populations, but also within India. Furthermore, when the genotypes were analyzed with respect to 25-OH-Vitamin D levels, a significant association was seen for the Taq 1 SNP but not with the Fok I.

Increased Synthesis of IL1beta in Monocytes by Examination Stress / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: There is now some evidence that, in humans, psychological stress may affect immune and neuroendocrine system. In stress response, cytokines are known to orchestrate the cellular interaction of immune system and act as a major messenger in a communication with CNS. Specifically, IL1beta has been reported to be colsely related with stress induced behavior change, such as depression. Accordingly, we assessed cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) before and after an academic examination in 45 healthy medical students. Furthermore the possibility that IL1beta TaqI polymorphism may be associated with stress response of IL1beta production was investigated. METHODS: Blood samples were collected on the day of examination and at the second week after examination. For cytokine assay seperated PBMC were incubated for 3 days at 37 degrees C, 5% CO2. DNA was prepared by Ficoll-paque method and polymorphic region was amplified by PCR. After TaqI restriction, products were seperated by 15% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: IL1beta production and stress score were significantly higher on the examination day. The change of stress score was significantly correlated with the change of IL1beta production. However, the frequency of allele A2 was too low that the significance of genetic association could not be properly estimated. CONCLUSION: This study reports that psychological stress is accompanied by an increased production of IL1 beta with significant correlation.

Association between Alcohol Dependence and the Al Allele of the Dopamine D2 Receptor Gene TaqI A RFLP in Korean Population / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The existence of an allelic association between alcohol dependence and the TaqI 1 AI allele at the D, dopamine receptor(DRD2) locus has been proposed but still remains controversial. The purpose of the present study was to examine the allelic association of alcohol dependence and the TaqI A polymorphism of DRD2 gene in ethnically homogenous Korean population. METHODS: The subjects were 59 male patients diagnosed as alcohol dependence(DSM-RT) and the controls were 74 nonalcoholic male volunteers screened for alcohol problems in their 2nd degree relatives. The severity of alcohol dependence was estimated by the number of items of diagnostic level 1 of the Major Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism by National Council on Alcoholism(NCA). Genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction(FCR) and the electrophoresis of the FCR products digested by TaqI RESULTS: The frequency of the A1 allele in alcoholic group(0.45) was higher than that in control group(0.34) but there was no significant difference between them(x2=2.98, p=0.08). The frequency of A1 allele in 47 more severe alcoholic patients who met five or more items of Major Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism by NCA was 0.48 and it was significantly higher compared with that in control group (x2=4.21, p=0.04). In less severe alcoholic patients, the frequency of A1 allele(0.33) was similar to that in control group(x2=0.04, p=0.85). The proportions of subjects with more severe alcoholism in the patients with A1A1, A1A2, and A2A2 were 92%, 77%, and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSION: An allelic association of more severe alcoholic subgroup and the TaqI Al allele of Da dopamine receptor gene was supported in Korean population. It is suggested that the TaqI A1 allele is related to or has a linkage disequilibrium with a genetic factor which may be one of the risk factors for susceptibility to more severe alcoholic subgroup in multifactorial-threshold etiologic model.