Factor V Leiden, MTHFR, and FXIIIVal34Leu gene polymorphisms and their association with clinical features and risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is expanding to epidemic levels globally due to the progressing prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM). In this study, the association between factor V Leiden (FVL), MTHFRC677T, and FXIIIVal34Leu polymorphisms and diabetic retinopathy was investigated in Eastern Iran. Methods: This case-control study enlisted the participation of 300 people (diabetic patients=100, diabetic retinopathy patients=100, healthy controls=100), and polymorphisms were examined by Tetra primer ARMS-PCR. Results: The frequency of FVL (p=0.294) and FXIIIVal34Leu (P=0.349) polymorphism showed no significant results between the genotype frequency in the mentioned groups. In contrast, MTHFRC677T SNP was significantly different in diabetic patients and controls (P=0.008). The MTHFRC677T polymorphism was found to be connected with increased systolic blood pressure in patients who had the TT genotype (130.96±11.92mm/Hg; P=0.011). Conclusion: Our study recommended that the MTHFRC677T polymorphism may offer to DR development. Studies with larger sample sizes and a wider spectrum of populations are authorized to verify this finding.

The effect of black seed raisin on some cardiovascular risk factors, serum malondialdehyde, and total antioxidant capacity in hyperlipidemic patients: a randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The lipid-lowering properties and antioxidants of the raisins may reduce the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effect of black seeded raisin consumption on blood pressure (BP), lipid profile, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in hyperlipidemic patients. METHODS: Thirty-eight hyperlipidemic patients aged 41.05 ± 10.4 years were recruited to this two-armed, randomized, controlled intervention trial. Participants were instructed to consume 90 g per day black seed raisin in the intervention group, and control group received no intervention. BP, lipid profile, and plasma levels of TAC, MDA, hs-CRP, and FBS were determined at baseline and week 5. RESULTS: After 5 weeks, the diastolic BP reduced significantly in raisin group compared with baseline (81.80 ± 10.22 vs 77.05 ± 11.03, P = 0.001) and TAC was significantly increased in raisin group compared with the control group (394 ± 116.93 vs 479 ± 122.31, P = 0.001). The serum level of MDA in the raisin group was significantly lower compared with the control group (1.35 ± 0.88 vs 1.39 ± 0.67, P = 0.039). No significant changes were found in lipid profile, SBP, hs-CRP, and FBS. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that consumption of black raisin which is rich in polyphenolic compounds has beneficial effects on some cardiovascular risk factors especially blood pressure and serum antioxidant capacity in patients with hyperlipidemia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration number: IRCT2015091624049N1. This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT). URL of trial registry record: https://www.irct.ir/trial/20395.

Association between HLA-DRB1*01 and HLA-DRB1*15 with alloimmunisation in transfusion-dependent patients with thalassaemia.

BACKGROUND: Alloantibody production is one of the most challenging complications in transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients. Haemolytic anaemia, an increase in blood consumption, difficulty in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and reduced quality of life are consequences of alloimmunisation. The most predisposed antigens (Ags) for alloantibody development are Rh and Kell blood group Ags. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to evaluate any correlation between HLA-DRB1 alleles and Rh and Kell alloantibodies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two non-responders (control) and 54 responders (case) were enrolled in this study. Alloantibody detection was performed using the tube method. Genotyping of HLA-DRB1*01 and HLA-DRB1*15 was conducted by single-specific primer-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: In the responder group, 77.8% were hyper-responders (more than one alloantibody), and only 22.2% were mono-responders. Most detected alloantibodies were Anti-K (94.4%), followed by Anti-E (64.8%), Anti-C (29.6%) and Anti-D (25.9%). There was a significant difference in HLA-DRB1*15 between responder and non-responder groups, 73.7% vs 26.3%, respectively. (P = .029, OR = 3.290; 95%CI). Our results showed that HLA-DRB1*15 was more frequent in hyper-responders than mono-responders (92.9% vs 7.1%) (P = .007). The greatest HLA-DRB1*15 was seen in Anti-K (P = .014, odds ratio [OR = 3.784]; 95% confidence interval [CI]) and Anti-E (P = .011, OR = 3.609; 95%CI) alloantibodies. There is no association between HLA-DRB1*01 and alloimmunisation. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that there is a significant correlation between HLA-DRB1*15 and Anti-K and Anti-E alloantibodies. These findings can be useful in detecting susceptible thalassaemic patients and improving transfusion management.

Cellular expression of CD markers in immune thrombocytopenic purpura: implications for prognosis.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune bleeding disorder associated with platelet destruction. Abnormalities in frequency and function of different immune cells can play a crucial role in this disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of CD markers' expressions by immune cells in ITP. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 25 ITP patients before and after treatment. The expression of CD markers was evaluated by flow cytometry technique. The expression of CD38 and CD56 was significantly lower before treatment than after it (p = 0.025 and p = 0.036, respectively). Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between CD38 expression with platelet count before (r = 0.496, p = 0.012) and after treatment (r = 0.404, p = 0.045). No significant relationship was found between this marker and platelet count while CD4 expression was higher before treatment than after it (p = 0.002). In conclusion, CD38 may have independent prognostic value in ITP and we suggest that it can be a prognostic marker for this disease.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Different Polymorphisms of ß-globin Gene in Ahvaz.

BACKGROUND: Hemoglobinopathy and thalassemia are prevalent genetic disorders throughout the world. Beta thalassemia is one of these disorders with high prevalence in Iran, especially in Khuzestan province. In this study, the rate of different mutations in ß-globin gene for prenatal diagnosis in fetal samples was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental pilot study, 316 fetal samples (chorionic villus or amniotic fluid) suspicious to hemoglobin disorders were enrolled. Afterwards, DNA was extracted and PCR and DNA sequencing were used for evaluation of different mutations in ß-globin gene. RESULTS: Amongst 316 samples evaluated for prenatal diagnosis, 180 cases (56.8%) were carrying at least one mutated gene of ß-thalassemia. In addition, results showed that CD 36-37 (- T) and IVS II-1 (G > A) polymorphisms are the most prevalent polymorphisms of ß-thalassemia in Ahvaz city with 13.9% and 10.1% rates, respectively. CONCLUSION: Using molecular tests for prenatal diagnosis is considered an efficient approach for reducing the birth of children with hemoglobinopathy and identification of prevalent mutations in each region.

Adverse effect of high glucose concentration on stem cell therapy.

Stem cell therapy could have great potential for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases. Stem cells might have the ability to differentiate into a widespread cell types, and to repopulate and revitalize the damaged cells with healthy tissue, and improve its performance. We provide here the evidence supporting the critical use of stem cell as a treatment in disease conditions existing with high glucose complaint such as diabetes. The reduction of glucose stimulated cell proliferation and high glucose enhanced apoptosis in rat model, which may be a problem in therapeutic strategies based on ex vivo expansion of stem cell, and may also propagate the development of osteoporosis in high glucose complaint such as diabetes. This leads to the hypothesis that, high glucose could be more deleterious to stem cell therapy that may be due to the aggravation of oxidative stress triggered by high glucose. These findings may help to understand the possible reasons associated with high glucose induced detrimental effects on stem cells as well as provide novel therapeutic strategies for preventing the adverse effects of glucose on the development and progression of stem cells in patients with diabetes.