Association of Nitric Oxide Levels and Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase G894T Polymorphism with Coronary Artery Disease in the Iranian Population

PURPOSE: The endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) G894T polymorphism has been reported to cause endothelial dysfunction and may have a role in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of eNOS G894T genetic polymorphism and plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO) with CAD risk in an Iranian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 200 patients with angiographically documented CAD and 100 matched controls. Analysis of G894T genetic polymorphism of eNOS was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Plasma levels of NO were determined using Griess method. Biochemical analysis was conducted by routine colorimetric methods. RESULTS: Plasma levels of NO were significantly lower in CAD patients than control subjects (41.60±12.70 vs. 55.48±16.57, P=0.001). Also, the mean plasma levels of NO were significantly lower in T allele carriers of eNOS G894T polymorphism than G allele carriers (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Reduced plasma level of NO is associated with increased risk of CAD in our population. Moreover, eNOS G894T polymorphism is a significant risk factor for CAD development via reducing the plasma levels of NO. However, eNOS G894T polymorphism is not a contributing factor for the severity of CAD.

PER, CTX-M, TEM and SHV beta-lactamases in clinical isolates of klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from Tehran, Iran

Different types of extended spectrum beta-lactamases [ESBLs] are encountered in the clinical settings worldwide. There are a few studies regarding the prevalence of ESBL genes among Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates at Tehran especially those of bla[PER] and bla[CTX]. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of bla[SHV], bla[TEM], bla[PER] andbla[CTX] genes among clinical K. pneumoniae of different hospitals in Tehran. Two hundred isolates of K. pneumoniae were received from different clinical specimens. The susceptibility of the isolates to 10 different antibiotics was examined by disk diffusion test. The MICs for ceftazidime were also determined using micro-broth dilution assay. Isolates showing MIC >/= 4 micro g/ml for ceftazidime were screened for ESBL production by phenotypic confirmatory test [PCT] and subjected to PCR for studied genes. Variation among four amplified genes was evaluated using PCR-RFLP. By disk diffusion test, resistance to ceftazidime and cefotaxime were 34.7% and 33.5% respectively. However, all strains were susceptible to imipenem. Eighty isolates showed MICs >/= 4 micro g/ml for ceftazidime of which 77 [96%] were positive for ESBL in PCT. The prevalence of bla[SHV], bla[CTX-M], bla[TEM] and bla[PER] among these isolates were 26%, 24.5%, 18% and 7.5%, respectively. No variation was detected in the genes by PCR-RFLP. As far as we know this is the first report of the bla[PER-1] in K. pneumoniae in Iran. The bla[CTX-M] was the second most common gene detected among the ESBL positive isolates of K. pneumoniae. For rapid identification of ESBL producing isolates it was recommended that clinical laboratories adopt simple test based on CLSI recommendation for confirming ESBL production in enterobacterial species