TIM-1 rs41297579 G>A (-1454) and TIM-4 rs7700944 gene polymorphisms as possible risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis: relation to activity and severity.

This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of both TIM-1 rs41297579 G>A (-1454) and TIM-4 rs7700944 polymorphisms on susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a cohort of Egyptian population and to evaluate for the first time their relation to activity, severity, disease-related disability and erosion. TIM-1 rs41297579 G>A (-1454) and TIM-4 rs7700944 gene polymorphisms were typed by RFLP for 128 patients with RA and 125 healthy controls. The A allele, A-containing genotypes (GA and AA) of the TIM-4 and GA haplotype were present with significant higher frequency in patients with RA than healthy controls (Pc  < 0.001). These findings suggest that the A allele, A-containing genotypes (GA and AA) and GA haplotype may be a susceptibility risk factor for RA [OR = 5.83 (3.6-9.4), OR = 9.41 (5.0-17.6) and OR = 4.21 (1.07-19.2), respectively]. No associations were found between TIM genotypes and disease activity, severity or presence of erosion. However, the RA patients with GA genotype of TIM-4 have higher grade of rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity (P = 0.018), and have worse disease-related disability (P = 0.007) and worse pain (0.025). TIM-4 rs7700944 and not TIM-1 rs41297579 G>A (-1454) is associated with RA in the present cohort of Egyptian and may be a risk factor for development of RA in Egyptian. Both SNPs have no effect on disease activity, severity or erosion. However, TIM-4 GA genotype is associated with higher grade of RF positivity and worse disease-related disability and pain.

Association between HLA-E *0101 homozygosity and recurrent miscarriage in Egyptian women.

The objective was to investigate the frequency of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-E alleles in Egyptian women with and without recurrent miscarriage (RM) to evaluate their role on the maintenance of pregnancy. A case-control study was adopted. HLA-E gene polymorphism typing was carried out by restriction fragment length polymorphism for 108 women with RM and 120 fertile female controls. The frequency of HLA-E *0101 allele was higher in patients with RM and HLA-E*0103 allele was higher in fertile controls, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.003, P(c)=0.006). HLA-E*0101/0101 genotype was the most frequent genotype in patients (45.4%), followed by HLA-E*0101/0103 (44.4%) and finally HLA-E*0103/0103 genotype (10.2%). The difference in the frequency of HLA-E*0101/0101 homozygous genotype in patients with RM compared with that in the fertile controls was statistically significant (OR=2.02, 95% CI=1.13-3.62, P=0.011, P(c)=0.033). We found an increased frequency of homozygosity for HLA-E*0101 in Egyptian women with RM. HLA-E*0101 homozygosity may thus be a risk factor for RM.

Risk perception and precautions taken by health care workers for HIV infection in haemodialysis units in Egypt.

A cross-sectional study was made in 32 haemodialysis units in the the Nile delta, Egypt to evaluate knowledge and practices towards risk of HIV infection by 317 health care workers. Exposure to needle-stick injury was reported by 48.6% in the previous year. Significantly more workers in government units than in private units had good knowledge of bloodborne infections, universal blood precautions and safe disposal of contaminated items, and recognized asymptomatic HIV patients as a risk. Previous training, but not years of experience, influenced knowledge. Despite good knowledge, the performance of health workers was poor for universal blood precautions, and was worse in private haemodialysis units.

Risk perception and precautions taken by health care workers for HIV infection in haemodialysis units in Egypt

A cross - sectional study was made in 32 haemodialysis units in the Nile delta, Egypt to evaluate knowledge and practices towards risk of HIV infection by 317 health care workers. Exposure to injury was reported by 48.6% in the previous year. Significantly more workers in government units needle-stick than in private units had good knowledge of bloodborne infections, universal blood precautions and safe disposal of contaminated items, and recognized asymptomatic HIV patients as a risk. Previous training, but not years of experience, influenced knowledge. Despite good knowledge, the performance of health workers was poor for universal blood precautions, and was worse in private haemodialysis units

HLA class II polymorphism in Egyptian children with lymphomas.

UNLABELLED: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a set of closely-linked genes encoded on the short arm of chromosome 6. It is important for understanding human immunological diseases, transplantation and in host defense against infection. The membrane proteins are two types; class I MHC proteins and class II MHC proteins. Strong arguments supporting genetic linkage between susceptibility to lymphomas and human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-class II are reported and give a clue about susceptibility or protection from the disease. AIM: To evaluate the possible changes of HLA class II (DR, DQ) alleles in children with lymphoma. METHODS: Thirty cases were included in this limited study. Nineteen cases of non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and eleven patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HD). Their ages ranged from 1.5 to 15 years. The control group consisted of 121 unrelated healthy subjects for DRB1 alleles and 59 unrelated healthy subjects for DQB1 alleles (only 59 subjects were typed for both DRB1 and DQB1). All cases in the study were assessed by thorough history taking, physical examination and laboratory investigations that included complete blood count, renal function tests, liver function tests, serum uric acid and HLA typing. Patients and controls were typed for HLA class II DRB1 and DQB1 alleles using INNO-LIPA reverse hybridization line probe assay (Innogenetic, Belgium). RESULTS: HLA-DRB1 *0403 and *1301 and HLA-DQB1 *0501,* 0201 and *0301 were significantly increased in patients with NHL when compared with control; whereas HLA-DRB1 *1302 and HLA-DQB1 *0502 and *0602 were significantly decreased when compared with control. In patients with HD, HLA-DRB1 *0403 and *1202 and HLA-DQB1 *0604, *0201 and *0203 were significantly increased when compared with control. CONCLUSIONS: (1) The susceptibility to NHL is related to HLA-DRB1 *0403 and *1301 and HLA-DQB1 *0501,* 0201 and *0301. (2) The susceptibility to HD is related to HLA-DRB1 *0403 and *1202 and HLA-DQB1 *0604, *0201 and *0203. (3) HLA-DRB1 *1302 and HLA-DQB1 *0502 and *0602 may confer protection to NHL. (4) Different HLA alleles may have a role in patients with both groups of lymphoma and further study is needed to better define the possible prognostic value of different HLA associations in patients with lymphomas regarding increased risk in the presence of certain HLA alleles and the possibility for treatment modifications in the future based on the presence or absence of certain HLA alleles.