Assessment of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background and Aims: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] is a kind of pulmonary diseases characterized by chronic obstruction of lung that is in the form of a diffuse narrowing of airways resulting in air flow resistance. Alpha-1 antitrypsin [AAT] deficiency is genetically relatively common risk factor in patients with COPD throughout the world and the exact cause of its prevalence is unknown. We therefore performed a study to determine the frequency of AAT deficiency in patients with severe COPD compared to the healthy controls

Materials and Methods: in this cross-sectional case control study, AAT serum level in 60 patients with severe COPD for whom the history and spirometry test with FEV1<50% had been confirmed based on gold criteria as well as 60 healthy controls, were tested using commercial kit and nephelometry method

Results: the lowest serum levels of AAT measured in patients was <0.349 g/l and the highest was 3.099 g/l. These were obtained in healthy subjects as 1.180 g/l and 4.195 g/l respectively. Out of 60 patients, 4 [6.7%] had partial deficiency of AAT [AAT<1 g/l] and 6 [10%] had definite shortage of AAT [AAT<0.5 g/l]. In healthy subjects, we did not find any definite and relative lack of AAT. The comparison of results obtained from these two groups indicated a significant difference between frequency of AAT [P=0.001]

Conclusions: our findings revealed the frequency of AAT deficiency, as a factor involved in COPD disease, to be 10% and can be the reason for the high prevalence and severity of COPD in Zahedan city

Evaluation of haptoglobin phenotypes in association with clinical features of patients suffered from preterm labor disease

Preterm birth means the birth before thirty seven week of pregnancy that causes a lot of complications for the baby. Variety factors are suggested to be involved in disease. In this study, we decided to evaluate haptoglobin [Hp] phenotypes association with clinical features of patients suffered from premature delivery to understand better the possible correlation of genetic and clinical features in this disease. This cross-sectional analytic descriptive study has been carried out in two groups of 120 women, 60 with preterm and 60 with term labor. Patients were selected with previously diagnosed by gynecologist with preterm birth in the labor during the study period. After performing diagnostic tests, the frequency of each haptoglobin phenotype in the two groups was analyzed using the Chi-square test [X2] test and SPSS software. The maximum serum haptoglobin phenotype frequency in patients with Hp2-2, was 43 [71.7%] whereas in healthy individuals, 35 [58.3%]. No, statistically significant differences between the two groups were found [p=0.310]. But based on some patients clinical features such as their history of preterm delivery, previous history of recurrent abortions and history of preterm delivery in their family, significant association was found with Hp2-2 compared with healthy control [p<0.003]. This study showed that Hp2-2 phenotypes levels in the case group was higher than in control but the factors influencing the presence or absence of preterm labor is clinically various

effect of fasting on the immune system of athletes during holly Ramadan

Holly Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar in which millions of mature and obligated Muslims fast many hours during a day in all over the world. This study was performed to evaluate some immune factors in fasting athletes during the month. This cross sectional study was performed in 90 athletes with physical activity of 2-3 hours per day, age ranged of 16-36 years old, during holly Ramadan. Serum immunoglobulin levels of IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE, as well as serum complement components of C3, C4 and blood count cells with differential evaluation were measured at the beginning and end of holy Ramadan. Mean serum IgA level has significantly increased from 239.2 +/- 98.2 mg/dL before Ramadan to 262.8 +/- 88.6 mg/dL at the end of this month [p=0.008]. Mean serum C4 level was 258.2 +/- 150.6 g/L and 330.7 +/- 127.6 g/L before and after Ramadan, respectively [p<0.001]. However, the percentage of lymphocytes was decreased from 37.81 +/- 4.14% before Ramadan to 36.50 +/- 5.98% at the end [p=0.005] and neutrophils was decreased from 60.0 +/- 4.2% before this month to 56.2 +/- 8.3% at the end of the month [p=0.003]. Fasting seems to have positive effects on increasing the serum levels of C4, IgA levels, which could have protective effect on the athletes' immune system against infection during exercise

Association of haptoglobin phenotypes with clinical features of preterm labor disease

Preterm birth means the birth before thirty seven week of pregnancy that causes a lot of complications for the baby. Variety factors are suggested to be involved in disease. In this study, we decided to evaluate haptoglobin [Hp] phenotypes association with clinical features of patients suffered from premature delivery to understand better the possible correlation of genetic and clinical features in this disease. This cross sectional analytic descriptive study has been carried out in two groups of 120 women, 60 with preterm and 60 with term labor. Patients were selected with previously diagnosed by a gynecologist with preterm birth in hospital during the study period. After performing diagnostic tests, the frequency of each haptoglobin phenotype in the two groups was analyzed using the X2 test and SPSS software. The maximum serum haptoglobin phenotype frequency in patients with Hp2-2, was 43 [71.7%] whereas in healthy individuals, 35 [58.3%]. No statistically significant differences between the two groups was found [P=0.310]. But based on some patients clinical features such as their history of preterm delivery, previous history of recurrent abortions and history of preterm delivery in their family, significant association was found with Hp2-2 compared with healthy control [P<0.003]. This study showed that Hp2-2 phenotypes levels in the case group was higher than in control but the factors influencing the presence or absence of preterm labor is clinically various.

Association of haptoglobin phenotypes with serum levels of IgE and IgA in allergic rhinitis patients

Allergic rhinitis [AR] is an allergic disorder of the nasal tissue that underlies diseases such as sinusitis, otits and asthma. Different predisposing factors including immunological and non-immunological factors contribute to the disease pathogenesis. To investigate association of haptoglobin [Hp] phenotypes [Hp1-1, 2-1 and 2-2] with serum immunoglobulins A and E levels in patients suffering from AR in comparison with healthy individuals. Two hundred and forty patients and 240 healthy individual entered in this case-control study. Serum levels of IgE and IgA were measured and haptoglobulin phenotypes were determined by electrophoresis. The results were evaluated by chi[2] statistical test using SPSS software. Serum electrophoresis showed that the distribution of haptoglobin phenotypes of Hp1-1, Hp2-1 and Hp2-2 among 240 patients were 11.3%, 37.9% and 50.8%, respectively. The distribution of different haptoglobin phenotypes in healthy controls were 88.7%, 36.6% and 54.7%, respectively. However, the difference between patients and controls was not statistically significant [p=0.136]. The mean of IgE level was significantly higher in patients than controls in association with all three phenotypes [p<0.001]. Mean of IgA serum level was also significantly different between case and control groups for Hp1-1 [p<0.048] and Hp2-2 phenotypes [p<0.027]. We conclude that there is an association of all three haptoglobin phenotypes with IgE level. Hp1-1 and Hp2-2 phenotypes showed association with IgA in allergic rhinitis, as well. However, we cannot solely attribute these associations to the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis

Eucalyptus globulus [Eucalyptus] treatment of candidiasis in normal and diabetic rats

The leaves of Eucalyptus globulus [eucalyptus] are used for treatment of diabetes mellitus in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of eucalyptus in treatment of established systemic infection with Candida albicans in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Sixty normoglycemic male Wistar rats, weighing 200-250 g, were selected and randomly divided into six groups [n= 10]: normal control, control + C. albicans, control + eucalyptus + C. albicans, diabetic control, diabetic + C. albicans, diabetic + eucalyptus + C. albicans. Diabetes was induced after a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin [60 mg/kg body weight] and eucalyptus was added to the diet [62.5 g/kg] and drinking water [2.5 g/L] of treated animals for 4 weeks. The concerned groups were inoculated with C albicans 15 days after diabetes induction. At the end of one month experiment, fasted rats were killed by cervical decapitation. Blood was collected from neck vein for estimation of glucose. C. albicans concentrations were estimated in liver and kidneys using serial dilution culture of tissue homogenates. Eucalyptus administration significantly improved the hyperglycemia, polydipsia, polyphagia, and it also compensated weight loss of diabetic rats [P<0.05]. Moreover, eucalyptus caused a significant reduction in C. albicans concentration in liver and kidney homogenates [P<0.01]. The results revealed that eucalyptus improves Candidia infection in normal and diabetic rats that in some ways validates the traditional use of this plant in treatment of diabetic patients

Human leukocyte antigen profile of two ethnic groups in southeast of Iran

This study was performed to determine the genetic diversity of HLA class I and II alleles among two ethnic groups in Southeastern Iran. HLA profiles were determined in 71 Iranian populations [41 Zaboli and 30 Baloch]. The frequencies of HLA-A02 [p=0.017],-Cw4 [p=0.003], and-DR8 [p=0.025] in the Zaboli populations were significantly higher than that in Baloch ethnic group. In contrast, the frequency of HLA-A23 allele was more frequent in Baloch than Zaboli [p=0.020]. This report represents an important resource for investigators in the fields of transplantation immunology and population genetics from widely dispersed areas of Iran

KatG mutation of isoniazid-resistant isolated from tuberculosis patients

The emergence of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis [MTB] is an increasing problem in developed and developing countries. The aims of the present study were to identify various types of mutations in katG region from 28 MDR strains isolated from sputum of tuberculosis patients. Twenty-eight rifampin-resistant strains isolated from sputum of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis were obtained from various geographic regions of Iran. Drug susceptibility was determined by using the BACTEC system. DNA extraction, standard PCR identification, katG gene amplification, DNA sequencing and analysis were done. There was no mutation in 2 strains. In 20 strains, mutation was shown to be in codon 315. Three types of mutations were detected consisting of AGC-ACC [Ser-Thr] [80%], AGC-AGG [Ser-Arg] [5%] and AGC-AAC[Ser-Asn] [15%].Furthermore, one type of mutation was seen in codons 311, 299, and 323. Twelve strains showed one mutation in codon 315 [46%], 7 strains 2 mutations [27%], 5 isolate 3 mutations [19%] and in 2 strains 4 mutations [8%] were observed in different codons. Nine silent mutations was demonstrated in codon 311[GAC1TAC]. This research demonstrated that mutations were mostly seen in codons 315 and 299 indicating resistance to isoniazide

Human leukocyte antigen profile in the Zaboli ethnic group living in the South-East Region of Iran

The human leukocyte antigen has become a key component in investigating the genetic relationships between populations. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of HLA class I and II alleles among Zaboli ethnic group of South-east Iran to establish a database for further investigations on ancestry and the genetic factors contributing to complex diseases in this region. Unrelated individuals from the Southeast geographic location throughout Iran were serologically typed using standard microcytotoxicity assays with commercial and local trays. The ethnic background of each individual was self-defined. HLA profiles were determined in 41 Zaboli populations. The most frequent class I alleles of the Zaboli ethnic group being the following: HLA-A1 [34.1%], -A2 [58.5%], -A11 [29.3%], -A24 [23.9%], -B5 [70.7%], -B16 [26.8%], and -Cw4 [24.4%]. The class II alleles more frequently observed in this group were HLA-DR1 [26.8%], -DR2 [26.8%], -DR3 [31.7%], -DR4 [29.3%], -DR7 [24.4%], -DR8 [22%], -DR11 [48.8%], -DRw52 [73.2%], -DRw53 [53.7%], -DQ1 [53.7%], -DQ2 [31.7%], and -DQ3 [29.3%]. This report utilized a first study of HLA class I and II typed individuals, from widely dispersed areas of Iran. This will help in studies related to disease associations and cadaver organ allocation programmes