GSTT1 null and rs156697 Polymorphism in GSTO2 Influence the Risk and Therapeutic Outcome of B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene deletion or polymorphic sequence variations lead to decreased enzyme activity that influences susceptibility and response to chemotherapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This case-control study investigated the association of GST gene polymorphisms with the etiology and therapeutic outcome of B-ALL among Kashmiri population. METHODS: A total of 300 individuals including 150 newly diagnosed B-ALL patients and an equal number of age and gender matched controls were genotyped for five GST gene polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique (PCR-RFLP) and multiplex PCR techniques. RESULTS: Higher frequency of GSTT1 null, GSTO2-AG, and GSTO2-GG genotypes was observed in ALL cases compared to controls that associated significantly with ALL risk (GSTT1 null: OR = 2.93, p = 0.0001; GSTO2-AG: OR = 2.58, p = 0.01; GSTO2-GG: OR = 3.13, p = 0.01). GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTO1 SNPs showed no significant association (p > 0.05). Combined genotype analysis revealed significant association of GSTT1 null/GSTM1 null (OR = 4.11, p = 0.011) and GSTT1 null/GSTP1-AG (OR = 4.93, p = 0.0003) with B-ALL susceptibility. Haplotype analysis of rs4925 and rs156697 revealed that carriers of CG haplotype had increased risk of B-ALL (p = 0.04). Kaplan-Meier plots revealed significantly inferior 3-year disease-free survival for GSTO2-GG carriers (p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis confirmed GSTO2-GG as an independent poor prognostic factor for DFS (HR = 4.5, p = 0.034). Among combined genotypes, only GSTT1 null/GSTP1-AG associated significantly with poorer DFS rates (p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that GSTT1 null individually or in combination with GSTM1null and GSTP1-AG genotypes associated with increased B-ALL risk. Also, rs156697 variant genotypes (AG and GG) associated with B-ALL, whereas the GG genotype of rs156697 influenced the treatment outcome.

Evidence of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in atmospheric air and surfaces of a dedicated COVID hospital.

The present study was conducted from July 1, 2020 to September 25, 2020 in a dedicated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospital in Delhi, India to provide evidence for the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus in atmospheric air and surfaces of the hospital wards. Swabs from hospital surfaces (patient's bed, ward floor, and nursing stations area) and suspended particulate matter in ambient air were collected by a portable air sampler from the medicine ward, intensive care unit, and emergency ward admitting COVID-19 patients. By performing reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for E-gene and RdRp gene, SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected from hospital surfaces and particulate matters from the ambient air of various wards collected at 1 and 3-m distance from active COVID-19 patients. The presence of the virus in the air beyond a 1-m distance from the patients and surfaces of the hospital indicates that the SARS-CoV-2 virus has the potential to be transmitted by airborne and surface routes from COVID-19 patients to health-care workers working in COVID-19 dedicated hospital. This warrants that precautions against airborne and surface transmission of COVID-19 in the community should be taken when markets, industries, educational institutions, and so on, reopen for normal activities.

Molecular Evaluation of Exon 8 Cystathionine rs5742905T T>C Gene Polymorphism and Determination of its Frequency, Distribution Pattern, and Association with Susceptibility to Coronary Artery Disease in the North Indian Population.

BACKGROUND: The protein coded by the cystathionine ß synthase (CBS) gene acts as a catalyzer and converts homocysteine to cystathionine. Impairment of the CBS gene leads to homocystinuria by cystathionine ß synthase deficiency which is linked to Coronary Artery Disease. A number of polymorphisms studies have been performed on the cystathionine ß synthase gene. In the current study, we planned to analyze the influence of CBS T833C gene polymorphism(exon 8 cystathionine rs5742905T T>C), its association with Coronary Artery Disease development, and its progression in the north Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study comprises 100 angiographically confirmed CAD patients and 100 age and sex-matched healthy controls. A total of 50% or more luminal stenosis at one major coronary artery was considered for the inclusion criteria of the cases. The investigation of T833C polymorphism in the CBS gene was performed by PCR- RFLP technique. RESULTS: As a result, we found that homozygous mutant (CC) and heterozygous (TC) genotypes of CBS T833C gene polymorphism were significantly higher in CAD patients than in healthy subjects. We also observed a substantially increased CAD risk in dominant, codominant inheritance, and allele-specific models for the CBS T833C gene polymorphism. We analyzed the differential distribution with respect to disease severity, but there was no significant association (p=0.96). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study demonstrates that CBS T833C gene polymorphism plays a key role in developing coronary artery disease and its progression.