HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 genotyping in a sample of Iranian celiac patients and their first-degree relatives

Recent studies have shown a critical role for HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 in the pathogenesis of celiac disease. No study has been performed on the prevalence of these two HLA types in Iranian celiac patients. We enrolled 24 celiac patients and 37 first-degree relatives in whom the diagnosis of celiac was excluded by sero-logic tests. HLA typing for HLA-DQ2 [DQB1*02], HLA-DQ8 [DQB1*03], HLA-DQ B1*05 and HLA-DQ B1*06 was performed using polymerase chain [PCR] reaction. Twenty two [91.7%] celiac patients and twenty seven [73%] controls were positive for the HLA-DQ2 and/or HLA-DQ8 heterodimers. There was no significant difference between the two groups p=0.068]. However, celiac patients were statistically more positive for homozygote HLA-DQ2, whereas non-celiac participants were more positive for homozygote HLA-DQ8 [p<0.05]. The total prevalence of HLA-DQ2 and/or HLA-DQ8 allels did not significantly differ between the two groups. Hence, first-degree relatives of celiac patients appear to be more susceptible for developing celiac disease. On the other hand, the higher prevalence of homozygote HLA-DQ2 in celiac patients shows its stronger role in disease pathogenesis. Further studies on larger populations are needed in Iran.

study of histological effects of solder fumes in rat lungs

To determine the potential toxic effects of manual soldering flux cored solder wire on lung of the rat as an experimental model. A total number of 48 adult male rats were divided into experimental [n=30] and control [n=18] groups. Based on exposure time to solder fume, each group was further subdivided into 2, 4 and 6 week subgroups. Rats of experimental groups were exposed to fume in exposure chamber for 1 hour/day [Research Center of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, 12 Apr 2005 to 14 May 2005]. The amount of fumes were measured daily by standard methods. At the end of experiment, lung specimens were collected from each experimental and control subgroups. Tissue samples were processed routinely and thickness of epithelium in bronchioles and interalveolar septas were measured in stained microscopic slides. Obtained data were analyzed by SPSS. Statistical analysis of data for thickness of epithelium in bronchioles showed that there was only a significant difference between 4 week experimental and control subgroups [P< 0.001]. Analysis of data for thickness of interalveolar septa showed statistically significant differences between experimental and control subgroups of 4 and 6 weeks [P< 0.001]. Histological examination was also revealed an inflammatory process in bronchioles and disorganized architecture in alveoli of lung in experimental subgroups. The result showed that solder fume can change the normal architectures of epithelium in bronchioles and alveoli of the lung and it seems that the severities of changes were dependent on the exposure time

Histochemical study of N-acetygalactosamine containing glycoconjugate in intraductal carcinoma of the breast by HPA lectin

Glycoconjugates are a class of glycoproteins or glycolipids, their terminal sugars are responsible for cell-cell and/or cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Aberrant glycosylation of these compounds are one of the most important aspects of cellular transformation, metastasis and escape of tumoral cells from immune system and resistance to antineoplastic drugs. Recent studies showed that patients with HPA [helix pomatia agglutinin] positive intraductal carcinoma cells have worse prognosis compared to patients with HPA negative cells. The aim of the present study was to define the presence of GalNac terminal sugar in glycoconjugate of different grades of intraductal breast carcinoma and to compare the degree and the pattern of reactivity of tumoral cells to HPA lectin. Material and The paraffin blocks belonging to 20 patients of intraductal carcinoma was chosen from pathology archive of Khatam-Al-Anbia hospital in Zahedan and 5-7 micrometer sections were prepared. Two expert pathologists determined histopathological grading independently. The lectin histochemistry was performed using HPA. The same observers determined histochemical grading. Data were analyzed by NPAR [non-parametric] test of Mann Whitney. Results of this study revealed that the pattern and the degree of histochemical reactivity of neoplastic cells differ in all grades of intraductal carcinoma. Histochemical staining showed significant difference between grades of intraductal carcinoma of the breast [p<0.003]. The lowest reactivity was seen in grade I and the highest in grade III. Furthermore, the reaction of tumoral cells was primarily confined to apical surfaces of cells in grade I, to the Golgi zone in grade II, and to a diffuse cytoplasmic distribution in grade III Our data suggest that the HPA reactivity of tumoral cells were different in all grades of intraductal carcinoma. The tumor cells showed aberrant glycosylation, which occurred in the course of anaplastic changes. It seems that our data suggest a potential and clinically important role of HPA reactivity to predict the invasive nature of malignant tumoral cells of intraductal carcinoma of the breast