[Tumor necrosis factor-alpha -308 G/A polymorphism in Iranian patients with chronic hepatitis C]

The impact of genetic changes like Single nucleotide polymorphisms on expression rate and function of cytokine is under study. The aim of the present study was to determine TNF-alpha cytokine gene polymorphism -308 G/A association with the susceptibility to hepatitis C [HCV] chronic infection. In this case-control study, 152 HCV infected patients and 164 healthy controls were studied. Genotyping was carried out by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction [ARMS-PCR] and the distribution of the TNF-alpha Gene -308 G/A polymorphism was compared in these groups. Tetra-primer ARMS-PCR employs two pairs of primers to amplify two alleles in one PCR reaction. The frequency of the TNF-alpha gene polymorphism at position -308 in HCV patients was GG [88.8%], GA [11.2%], AA [0%] and in healthy controls was GG [75%], GA [24%], AA [0%] [OR=2.626, 95%CI=1.419-4.860, P=0.002]. There was a significant difference in genotype or allele frequency between HCV patients and control group [P<0.05]. Present study showed an association between TNF-alpha promoter polymorphism [-308] and hepatitis C in an Iranian population

Molecular prevalence of JC virus in Tehran, Iran

Since data about prevalence of JC virus in Iranian population is scarce, this study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of JC virus in healthy individuals who had attended Fajr hospital and Farjam clinical laboratory in Tehran, Iran. JC virus is the causative agent of progressive multifocal encephalopathy [PML] in individuals with suppressed immune system. There are some evidences that this virus is responsible for some forms of cancers for example colorectal and gastric cancers in humans. Urine samples from 133 healthy individuals older than 18 years old were collected and after extraction of viral DNA, PCR was performed to determine the presence of virus. Results of the test and demographic data of subjects were entered into SPSS program and were analyzed by it. 71 subjects were male and 62 individuals were female. Mean age of the population was 42.23 +/- 13.47. From the total number of 133 subjects, 51 [38.3%] individuals were positive for the presence of JC virus. Gender had statistically significant relationship with JC virus presence [p= 0.042]. Age was not significantly related to JC virus presence status [p= 0.3]. Obtained rate of JC prevalence in this study is similar to the results of studies in India and Philippine. Because of this virus's role in AIDS and the role of this virus in gastrointestinal cancers have been revealed in recent years, the more extended studies on the prevalence of this virus in different populations in Iran is necessary