Sero-Epidemiological Study of Hepatitis E Virus among Thalassemia as High Risk Patients: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Jahrom, Southern, Iran.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) could be cause of viral hepatitis in the developing countries and cause severe epidemics. According to other studies, blood transfusion as a probable route of HEV infection has been suggested. An infection with hepatitis agents such as HEV causes active liver failure in multi-transfusion patients in particular thalassemia. The purpose of this study determines the seropositivity of anti-HEV antibodies in thalassemia individuals in Jahrom. In a cross-sectional study, sera from 110 thalassemia were collected between 2013 and 2014. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was performed to detection of anti-HEV antibodies. Individuals' data were collected such as, demographic and clinical, for statistical analysis. Our results show that 10% and 1.8% of the enrolled patients were HEV Ig-G and Ig-M positive antibodies respectively. In addition, there was statiscally significant difference in age groups for prevalence of anti-HEV Ig-G (P = 0.01). Also the serum levels of liver enzymes such as ALT and AST in the HEV Ig-G and Ig-M positive samples were significantly higher than anti-HEV negative samples. But there were no significant difference between sex and splenectomy with anti-HEV positive samples. The results indicate more study are needed to assess HEV screening of blood products to these patients that those have a probably risk of exposure to HEV especially in higher years old.

Association of Tumor Growth Factor-ß and Interferon-γ Serum Levels With Insulin Resistance in Normal Pregnancy.

Pregnancy is related to change in glucose metabolism and insulin production. The aim of our study was to determine the association of serum IFN-γ and TGF- ß levels with insulin resistance during normal pregnancy. This cross sectional study was carried out on 97 healthy pregnant (in different trimesters) and 28 healthy non-pregnant women. Serum TGF-ß and IFN- γ level were measured by ELISA method. Pregnant women had high level TGF-ß and low level IFN-γ as compared non-pregnant women. Maternal serum TGF-ß concentration significantly increased in third trimester as compared first and second trimester of pregnancy. Maternal serum IFN-γ concentration significantly decreased in third trimester as compared first and second trimester of pregnancy. Pregnant women exhibited higher score of HOMA IR as compared non-pregnant women. There were association between gestational age with body mass index (r=0.28, P=0.005), TGF-ß (r=0.45, P<0.001) and IFN-γ (r=-0.50, P<0.001). There was significant association between Insulin resistance and TGF-ß (r=0.17, p=0.05). Our findings suggest that changes in maternal cytokine level in healthy pregnant women were anti-inflammatory. Furthermore, Tumor Growth Factor-ß appears has a role in induction insulin resistance in healthy pregnant women. However, further studies needed to evaluate role of different cytokines on insulin resistance in normal pregnancy.

Lack of Association Between rs17568 Polymorphism in OX40 Gene and Myocardial Infarction, Southern of Iran.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is one of the inflammatory cytokines which has an important role in inflammation and migration of other inflammatory cells to the atherosclerotic plaques. OX40 is a member of the TNF super family receptor protein. OX40 and OX40 ligand are co-stimulators for T-cells and can increase inflammatory response in atherosclerotic plaques. The aim of this study was to determine the association of rs17568 polymorphism in OX40 gene with premature myocardial infarction. This case control study was done on 100 patients with premature acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and a similar number of sex, age and some other cardiovascular risk factor matched healthy people. The OX40 rs17568 polymorphism was genotyped, using PCR-RFLP method. A-allele frequency of rs17568 SNP was lower non-significantly in Premature AMI, compared to healthy subjects (49% vs. 51%). The analysis of rs17568 (A/G) polymorphism showed an odds ratio of 1.127 (95% CI: 0.635-1.999; P= 0.686) for the GG genotype and 5.761 (95% CI: 1.200-27.655; P= 0.029) for the AG genotype, compared to the AA genotype. The results of this study indicate that the rs17568 SNP of OX40 gene is not associated with premature AMI in the evaluated population.

Natural immunity against Haemophilus influenza type B in splenectomised Beta-thalassaemia children.

Patients with beta-thalassaemia major and asplenia have an increased risk of encapsulated bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to determine the Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) antibody concentrations in beta-thalassaemia patients with or without spleens. The Hib antibody concentrations were investigated in 850 patients with thalassaemia major, of whom 437 had undergone splenectomy. Hib antibody levels equal or greater than 1.0 µg mL(-1) were classified as long-term protection, those between 0.15 and less than 1.0 µg mL(-1) as short-term protection and those less than 0.15 µg mL(-1) as no protection. The mean Hib antibody level was lower in asplenic subjects than in non splenectomised subjects (0.39 ± 0.5 vs. 1.08 ± 0.55 µg mL(-1), p < 0.001). The protective antibody level prevalence in asplenic patients was significantly lower than that in patients with spleens (32.3% vs. 85.7%, p < 0.001). Protection against Hib decreased as the time interval after splenectomy increased from 57.2% at a less than 60 months interval to 10.8% at a greater than 120 months interval (p = 0.001). Nearly 30% of the 437 splenectomised subjects had long-term protection against Hib, whereas 64.4% of the 413 non splenectomised subjects had long-term protection (p < 0.001). Asplenic subjects had lower Hib antibody levels than non splenectomised subjects. Additionally, the antibody levels decreased as the time interval increased after splenectomy. A Hib vaccine recommendation for splenectomised thalassaemia major seems essential.