[Study of polymorphism of CYP2D6*4 gene in susceptibility to breast cancer]

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy among women worldwide. Polymorphisms in Xenobiotic Metabolizing Enxymes [XEMs] and drugs such as P450 [CYP2D6] may increase susceptibility to breast cancer. Little is known about the association of CYP2D6*4 [1894 G to A] polymorphism and susceptibility to breast cancer. This study aimed to investigate the possible relationship of the CYP2D6 *4 gene polymorphism and breast cancer. One hundred women with confirmed breast cancer and 100 healthy women were the subject of this study. Subjects were assessed for the gene polymorphism of CYP2D6*D by a PCR-RFLP assay at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2009. The collected data were analyzed by the SPSS using chi-square test and Fisher exact test. No correlation was found between CYP2D6*4 gene polymorphism and breast cancer [P=0.299]. Our results demonstrated that CYP2D6 *4 mutant displays a non-significant increased risk for breast cancer

Study on the association between squamous cell carcinoma of larynx and HPV by PCR

Abroad epidemiologic studies have suggested human papillomavirus [HPV] to be an etiological agent in Squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] of larynx. In this study we investigated the frequency of HPV 16 infection in various neoplastic and non-neoplastic laryngeal tissue. The study was done on 55 cases of laryngeal SCC, 10 cases of dysplastic and 5 cases of normal tissues were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction [PCR] for the presence of HPV 16. none of the five normal and ten dysplastic laryngeal tissues showed the presence of HPV. Seven of fifty-five Squamous cell carcinoma of larynx [12.7%] were positive for HPV type 16. The results suggested that HPV DNA has a major role in squamous cell carcinoma of larynx

Detection of the soluble form of the Fas/Apo-1 receptor in patients with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1-associated myelopathy

Fas/Apo-1 mediates apoptosis via Fas and Fas ligand transduction. recently, a soluble form of Fas [sFas] was described which seems to be functionally implicated in the Fas signaling system, suggesting a relationship between some disorders and sfas function. To determine is sFas is involved in the pathogenesis of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis [HAM/TSP], we measured sfas-levels in sera from normal controls, human T lymphotropic virus type-1 [hTLV-1] healthy carriers and patients with HAM/TSP using a highly sensitive enzymelinked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. The sFas of normal individuals, HTLV-1 carriers, and patients with HAM/TSP, was 0.14 +/- 0.11, 0.26 +/- 0.25, and 0.39 +/- 0.35 ng/ml, respectively. although the level of sFas in patient's group with HAM/TSP, was significantly higher in comparsion to that of normal controls [p< 0.05], the individual values were highly variable within the groups. These results suggest that sFas may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HAM/TSP and that serum sFas may be related to clinical activity in HAM/TSP patients

[Peripheral blood monocytes responsiveness in aggressive periodontitis patients by comparison of Interleukin-6 production before and after stimulation by E. Coli lipopolysacharide]

Results of other studies suggests that hyper-responsiveness of monocytes to the products of dental plaque especially the endotoxin of Gram negative bacteria and secretion of high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines may have a role in the pathogenesis of AP. To investigate this possibility, we evaluated the IL-6 production by cultured peripheral blood monocytes before and after stimulation by E.coli lipopolysacharide [LPS] in AP patients and healthy controls. Fifteen patients with AP were compared to 15 periodontal healthy controls in a case control study. Mononuclear layer was obtained from peripheral blood samples and monocytes were isolated and cultured. The reaction of monocytes was studied by IL-6 production before and 6 hours after stimulation by 0.1 micro g/ml E.coli. LPS. The IL-6 concentration in the culture supernatant was measured with ELISA [Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay]. Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to compare the groups. There was no significant difference in IL-6 production levels before LPS stimulation between patients and controls [P = 0.5]. The IL-6 production after LPS stimulation in the patients was higher than controls, and the difference approached the significance threshold [P = 0.07]. However, the increase in the IL-6 production as a result of LPS stimulation was significantly higher in patients compared to controls [P = 0.029]. Our results suggest that increase in monocyte responsiveness may play a potential role in the pathogenesis of AP. Elevation in cytokines elicited at the site of infection in response to a minimal bacterial challenge can exert significant effects locally and systemically. An over aggressive immune response can provide the basis of explanation for the observed severe tissue damage. and bone loss in periodontium, familial nature of aggressive periodontitis and other immunological findings associated with the pathogenesis of this disease. Future investigations through longitudinal monitoring of monocyte responsiveness over time and following successful treatment are required to elucidate the role of this phenomenon in the pathogenesis of periodontitis