Arg753gln and Arg677 Trp polymorphisms of toll-like receptor 2 in acute apical abscess

Statement of the Problem: Genetic polymorphisms can alter immunity response against pathogens, which in turn influence individuals' susceptibility to certain infections

Purpose: Our aim was to determine the association of Arg753Gln [rs5743708] and Arg677Trp [rs12191786] polymorphisms of toll like receptor-2 gene with the two clinical forms of apical periodontitis: acute apical abscess [AAA] and asymptomatic apical periodontitis [AAP]

Materials and Method: There were 50 patients with AAA as case group and 50 with AAP as control group. Genotyping was done using Tetra-ARMS [amplification refractory mutation system] PCR

Results: Heterozygous genotype of Arg677Trp polymorphism was associated with risk of AAA [OR=1.9, 95% CI: 0.7-5.5, p= 0.05]. Although statistically insignificant, Arg677Trp polymorphism promoted the risk of AAA in dominant model [OR=2.1, 95% CI: 0.7-5.9, p> 0.05]. The frequency of mutant allele [T] of Arg677Trp polymorphism was higher in AAA [14%] than AAP [7%] subjects [OR=1.7, 95% CI: 0.6-4.7]. For Arg753Gln polymorphism, wild homozygous [GG] represented the dominant genotype in both cases [96%] and controls [100%]. Variant allele [A] of Arg753Gln polymorphism was identified in 2% of AAA, while no individual represented with this allele in AAP subjects. Individuals with Arg753Gln; Arg677Trp [GG; TC] combination showed an elevated risk of AAA [OR=1.6, 95% CI: 0.5- 4.2, p> 0.05]

Conclusion: Arg677Trp polymorphism of TLR-2 rendered a higher risk for the development of abscesses in apical periodontitis. It is recommended to explore role of this polymorphism in other populations

Duffy blood group genotypes among malaria Plasmodium vivax patients of Baoulch population in Southeastern Iran

OBJECTIVE@#To determine the distribution of Duffy blood group genotypes in Balouch population as a major ethnic group that living in a sub-tropical area in south East of Iran.@*METHODS@#In this study, the Duffy blood group FY phenotypes were determined using indirect anti-globulin technique and also genotype by PCR-RFLP in 160 vivax malaria patients and 160 control individuals.@*RESULTS@#The results showed that the most common Duffy genotype was FYA/FYB (46.6%) followed by FYA/FYA (15.3%), FYA/FYO (14.4%), FYB/FYO (11.9%), FYB/FYB (10%) and FYO/FYO (1.9%). In case individuals, frequency of FYA, FYB and FYO alleles were 0.471, 0.431 and 0.097, respectively compaired to 0.444, 0.353 and 0.203, respectively in control (non-infected) group.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This data provide evidence that individuals with the FYA/FYB genotype have higher susceptibility to malaria and there are significant associations between Duffy blood group variants and susceptibility or resistance to vivax malaria.

Human herpesvirus-6 and Epstein-Barr virus infections at different histopathological grades of oral squamous cell carcinomas

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and viral load of Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] and Human herpesvirus-6 [HHV-6] in different histopathologic grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma [OSCC]. Forty-five formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue section of OSCC patients were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for detection of EBV and HHV-6. The mean age of the patients was 58.6 years, 69% of whom were female, and 31% were male. Overall, the positive rate for EBV and HHV-6 were 16.7% and 27.1%, respectively; and the mean viral load EBV was 27.9 x 10[3] and 38.5 x 10[3] for HHV-6. No correlation was demonstrated between the viral load of EBV DNA [P = 0.35] and HHV-6 [P = 0.38] at the different OSCC histopathologic grades. These findings neither lend support to the hypothesis that EBV and HHV-6 are directly involved in OSCC nor rule out the possibility that these viruses play an indirect role in carcinogenesis in this area

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in two patients with beta-Thalassemia major

Occurrence of leukemia in thalassemia major is a rare presentation. Here we report two cases of thalassemic patients, developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The genetic analysis revealed that, female and male patients were homozygous for IVSI-6 and IVSI-5, respectively. Two years ago the female patient presented by a high leukocyte count [154,000 micro L] and male one also presented by 80,000 WBC/micro L count 1 year ago. Microscopic examination of both patients revealed lymphoblasts that morphologically accommodate with ALL-L1 that were confirmed by photocytometry