ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to analyze the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductases ( MTHFR s) C677T and A1298C genotype distributions in couples with unexplained fertility problems (UFP) and healthy controls, and to analyze the genotype and haplotype distribution in spontaneously aborted embryonic tissues (SAET) using allele specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 200 probands with UFP, 353 samples of SAET and 222 healthy controls. The analysis revealed a significant overall representation of the 677T allele in male probands from couples with UFP ( p = 0.036). The combined genotype distribution for both MTHFR polymorphisms was also significantly altered (χ (2) 21.73, p <0.001) although female probands made no contribution (χ (2) 1.33, p = 0.72). The overall representation of the 677T allele was more pronounced in SAET (0.5 vs. 0.351 in controls, p <0.001) regardless of the karyotype status (aneuploidy vs. normal karyotype). In addition, the frequencies of the CA and CC haplotypes were significantly lower than in the control group ( p = 0.021 and p = 0.001, respectively), whereas the frequency of the TC haplotype was significantly higher than in controls ( p <0.0001). The presented findings indicate that only male probands contribute to the association of MTHFR mutations with fertility problems in grown adults and demonstrate a high prevalence of mutated MTHFR genotypes in SAET.
ABSTRACT
This study, carried out in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region (N.E. Italy), concerns the traditional uses of wild plants against human diseases. One hundred eighty-one local plant species are used for treating various illnesses. Parts of plants, their traditional uses, methods of preparing the drug, chemical constituents and therapeutical properties are described. Often the therapeutical properties are correctly known. This study may be useful to pharmacologists and chemists interested in plants with medicinal properties, as well as to botanists with ethnobotanical interests.
