[Association of D19H polymorphism of ABCG8 gene with gallstone susceptibility]

Increased level of cholesterol may be saturated in the gall bladder resulting in gall stone. Product of ABCG8 gene is responsible for evacuation of cholesterol from cells and made dissolved cholesterol in bile. It appears that genetic changes of this gene can alter its function and make gall stone. This study was designed to evaluate association of D19H polymorphism of ABCG8 gene with gallstone susceptibility. This was a case-control research that was conducted on 100 gallstone patients and 106 healthy controls without any family history of gallstone. For DNA extraction, salting out method has been used and for detection of alleles in polymorphic region, PCR-RFLP has been used. Heterozygote genotype in this polymorphic region [G/C] had association with gallstone formation [OR=7.14; 95%CI=3.47-14.66; P<0.001]. We found that people with heterozygote genotype had more than 7 times susceptibility to gall stone compared to healthy controls. This study confirms previous studies about D19H polymorphism on ABCG8 gene and shows importance of this SNP in different populations. For this reason, we can use analysis of this region to predict susceptibility to gall stone formation

[Tumor necrosis factor-alpha -308 G/A polymorphism in Iranian patients with chronic hepatitis C]

The impact of genetic changes like Single nucleotide polymorphisms on expression rate and function of cytokine is under study. The aim of the present study was to determine TNF-alpha cytokine gene polymorphism -308 G/A association with the susceptibility to hepatitis C [HCV] chronic infection. In this case-control study, 152 HCV infected patients and 164 healthy controls were studied. Genotyping was carried out by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction [ARMS-PCR] and the distribution of the TNF-alpha Gene -308 G/A polymorphism was compared in these groups. Tetra-primer ARMS-PCR employs two pairs of primers to amplify two alleles in one PCR reaction. The frequency of the TNF-alpha gene polymorphism at position -308 in HCV patients was GG [88.8%], GA [11.2%], AA [0%] and in healthy controls was GG [75%], GA [24%], AA [0%] [OR=2.626, 95%CI=1.419-4.860, P=0.002]. There was a significant difference in genotype or allele frequency between HCV patients and control group [P<0.05]. Present study showed an association between TNF-alpha promoter polymorphism [-308] and hepatitis C in an Iranian population

[Prevalence of adenovirus infection and the dominant serotype among patients with acute gastroenteritis in Tehran between May 2008 and May 2009]

Adenoviruses are double-stranded DNA and non-enveloped viruses. It causes different diseases in human through respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal tracts. Interestingly, more than fifty serologic types of human adenovirus were distinguished and just serotypes 40 and 41 cause gastroenteritis in human. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of adenovirus infection in patients with acute gastroenteritis in the population of Tehran. Between May 2008 and May 2009, 293 stool samples were collected from patients with acute gastroenteritis. After DNA extraction, PCR procedures were performed, using designed primers. Positive adenoviruses samples were analyzed by the software and their serotypes were determined. 6 positive samples of 293 patients recruited to the hospital were children less than 5 years old. Additionally, they were diagnosed as serotype 41 of adenoviruses F group. According to our results, serotype 41 of adenovirus was an important cause of gastroenteritis in less than 5 years old children in population of Tehran

Association of co-stimulatory human B-lymphocyte antigen B7-2 [CD86] gene polymorphism with colorectal cancer risk

This study investigated the role of CD86 +237 G/C polymorphism in intensifying the risk of CRC development. Colorectal cancer [CRC] is a multi-factorial diseases. Genetic background could affect the susceptibility of individuals to CRC development. CD86 is a co-stimulatory factor on antigen-presenting cells that plays key roles in several cancer related mechanisms such as autoimmunity, transplantation and tumor immunity. A total of 300 individuals, 150 known CRC patients and 150 healthy control individuals, were subjected for the study. CD86 rs17281995 single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] was genotyped using Allelic Discrimination method. A statistically significant difference was found among CD86 gene polymorphism [rs17281995] and risk of CRC development. The frequency of GG, GC and CC in control subjects was determined as 38%, 57.3% and 4.7% respectively and in CRC subjects were determined as 42%, 85% and 23% respectively. The data shows a significant association between CC genotype [P=0.007] and C allele [P=0.017] of the studied polymorphism and risk of CRC. CC genotype and C allele are also more frequent in female patients when the data is stratified according to gender status. Our results suggest that CD86 gene alteration could affect the individual's risk for developing CRC among Iranian population and could be used as an important prognostic factor associated with risk of CRC

Molecular prevalence of JC virus in Tehran, Iran

Since data about prevalence of JC virus in Iranian population is scarce, this study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of JC virus in healthy individuals who had attended Fajr hospital and Farjam clinical laboratory in Tehran, Iran. JC virus is the causative agent of progressive multifocal encephalopathy [PML] in individuals with suppressed immune system. There are some evidences that this virus is responsible for some forms of cancers for example colorectal and gastric cancers in humans. Urine samples from 133 healthy individuals older than 18 years old were collected and after extraction of viral DNA, PCR was performed to determine the presence of virus. Results of the test and demographic data of subjects were entered into SPSS program and were analyzed by it. 71 subjects were male and 62 individuals were female. Mean age of the population was 42.23 +/- 13.47. From the total number of 133 subjects, 51 [38.3%] individuals were positive for the presence of JC virus. Gender had statistically significant relationship with JC virus presence [p= 0.042]. Age was not significantly related to JC virus presence status [p= 0.3]. Obtained rate of JC prevalence in this study is similar to the results of studies in India and Philippine. Because of this virus's role in AIDS and the role of this virus in gastrointestinal cancers have been revealed in recent years, the more extended studies on the prevalence of this virus in different populations in Iran is necessary

Prevalence of sapovirus infection among infant and adult patients with acute gastroenteritis in Tehran, Iran

This study investigated the prevalence of sapovirus infections in patient with acute gastroenteritis in Tehran, Iran. Sapovirus, a member of the family Caliciviridae is one of the major causative agents of viral gastroenteritis affecting both children and adult individuals. There isn't enough data about prevalence and genotypes of sapovirus infection in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. A total of 42 fecal samples were collected from patients with acute gastroenteritis from May to July 2009. RT nested- PCR was performed for screening. To genotype the sapovirus isolates, some positive samples were subjected to phylogenetic analysis by sequencing of fragments of viral capsid gene region. Sapovirus was detected in 5 of 42 stool specimens from patients with acute gastroenteritis. Saporvirus detected in this study was clustered into only one distinct genogroup I/2. Sapovirus GI/2 was predominant. Our results show that among the studied viruses responsible for this disease, sapovirus was a major viral isolate virus

[Evaluation of the association between FokI and BsmI polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor gene and risk of colorectal cancer in Iranian patients referred to Taleghani hospital, Tehran]

There are several studies that have identified relationship between VDR gene polymorphisms and colorectal [CRC] or other kinds of cancers, such as breast and prostate cancers. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association of VDR gene polymorphisms, BsmI and FokI, with colorectal cancer risk among Iranian patients. In this case-control study, 110 DNA samples from Iranian CRC patients and 110 samples from healthy Iranian people. Genotyping of BsmI and FokI polymorphisms were performed by PCR-RFLP method. To confirm the RFLP results, 5% of samples were sequenced with direct sequencing method. The frequency of the VDR gene polymorphisms at BsmI and FokI restriction sites in CRC patients and healthy controls was almost similar. Allele distribution in patients and controls was same. There was no statistically significant difference in genotype or allele frequency between CRC patients and control group. VDR FokI and BsmI genotypes are not associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer in Iranian patients. However, these data remain to be confirmed by studies with larger sample size in Iran