Gene frequencies of human platelet alloantigens 1-5 in two Arab populations.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms of the human platelet alloantigens (HPA) arise from single base pair substitutions in alleles and lead to changes in amino acids of glycoproteins expressed on platelets. The aim of this study was to determine the gene frequencies of the five common HPA (HPA-1 to -5) in Egyptians and Jordanians and to compare these data with those established for other populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HPA genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers. RESULTS: The gene frequencies obtained in Egyptians were: HPA-1a/b, 0.767/0.233; HPA-2a/b, 0.759/0.241; HPA-3a/b, 0.704/0.296; HPA-4a/b, 1/0; HPA-5a/b, 0.728/0.272, while the frequencies in Jordanians were: HPA-1a/b, 0.821/0.179; HPA-2a/b, 0.877/0.123; HPA-3a/b, 0.660/0.340; HPA-4a/b, 1/0; HPA-5a/b, 0.795/0.205. The observed gene frequencies in both populations were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The gene frequencies for HPA-2b and HPA-5b among Egyptians were the highest reported among Arabs. Except for HPA-2, there were no significant differences in the distribution of HPA-1 to -5 between the two populations. CONCLUSION: The distributions of HPA alleles among Egyptians and Jordanians are similar to those reported for other Arabs. This study reports the first data on gene frequencies of HPA in Egyptians and Jordanians.

Growth assessment of diabetic rat fetuses under the influence of insulin and melatonin: a morphologic study.

Hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress makes an important contribution to the etiology of diabetic teratogenicity namely fetal growth and congenital dysmorphogenesis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the protective roles of melatonin and insulin against diabetic's embryolethality and teratogenicity. Diabetes was induced to virgin Sprague Dawley albino rats by a single peritoneal injection of alloxan. Thirty pregnant rats were divided equally into 5 groups: 1) Control 2) Diabetic 3) Diabetic insulin 4) Diabetic melatonin 5) Diabetic melatonin-insulin. Insulin and melatonin were administered daily throughout the whole gestational period. Fetuses were collected on day 20 of gestation and were examined for malformations and growth disorders. A significant increase in fetal growth parameters (Macrosomia) were noticed in the diabetic group compared to the control. Melatonin prevents the appearance of soft tissue anomalies, but it leads to fetal growth restriction of diabetic rats (Microsomia). No significant changes were noticed in fetal growth parameters in diabetic insulin or in diabetic melatonin-insulin groups compared to the control. Congenital anomalies were not seen in diabetic insulin and in diabetic melatonin-insulin groups while the rate of resorption was reduced in both groups when compared to the diabetic group. In conclusion, co-administration of melatonin with insulin leads to a slight non significant improvement of the protective role of insulin against diabetic embryolethality, teratogenicity and fetal growth changes.

Growth assessment of children exposed to low frequency electromagnetic fields at the Abu Sultan area in Ismailia (Egypt).

UNLABELLED: A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the growth of 780 children of both sexes, aged between 0-12 years, and living at two different areas in Ismailia, Egypt, with approximately similar socioeconomic standards. Based on a designed questionaire, the exposed group was formed of 390 children from the Abu Sultan area. They were chosen from families living within 50 meters nearby high voltage electric power lines. Another 390 children from the El-Sheikh Zayed area were chosen as the control group. Standard anthropometric measurements were carried out for each child. Plain X-ray was done on the hands of 200 randomly selected children from both groups (100 each) to assess their bone maturation. In the exposed group the weight was significantly decreased only at birth, while the circumferences of the head and chest as well as the height were significantly reduced at all studied ages. The radiological study revealed a significant delay in carpal bone ossification of the exposed children. IN CONCLUSION: Exposure to low frequency electromagnetic fields emerged from high voltage electric power lines increases the incidence of growth retardation of children. Isolating these power lines in a scientific way in order to shield both the magnetic and electric fields or removing them far away from the inhabitant areas is recommended.