Association of interleukin-18 gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms with susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease.

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is believed to be one of the most important cytokines in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the study was to clarify the significance of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the 5'-end of the IL-18 gene in the development of IBD. DNA was obtained from peripheral blood of 99 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 79 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), and 102 healthy controls. All participants were Japanese. SNPs at -656G/T, -607C/A, -137G/C, +113T/G, and +127C/T were determined by means of direct sequencing, and a genetic association with IBD was examined. The frequencies of the G allele at +113 and the T allele at +127 were significantly higher in patients with CD and UC compared with controls. The differences in allelic frequencies were more striking in patients with CD than in patients with UC, and at position +127 than at position +113. The haplotype estimation, according to the E-M algorithm, suggested that TACGT is closely associated with IBD, especially with CD. It was concluded that SNPs at the 5'-end of IL-18 gene might be closely related to the etiology of IBD.

Staphylococcus aureus causing chorioamnionitis and fetal death with intact membranes at term. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal infection without premature rupture of amniotic membranes occurs in 1-2% of births. The prevalence of membrane inflammation among term births is approximately 10%. There has been only one case report of Staphylococcus aureus as the cause of chorioamnionitis with intact membranes. CASE: A 24-year-old woman was admitted at 38 weeks of pregnancy with labor pains. On admission, she had a slight fever of 37.8 degrees C, but the other physical findings were within normal limits. There were no symptoms or signs of membrane rupture. Fetal heart monitoring showed slight tachycardia, 160 beats per minute, and loss of variability. Fetal death was detected when the fetal monitoring was resumed after being interrupted for 30 minutes. A male infant weighing 2,920 g was born dead. Artificial rupture of the membranes had been performed just before delivery. CONCLUSION: Culture specimens from the placenta and cord blood showed growth of S aureus, and histologic examination revealed chorioamnionitis. The bacteriologic evidence from the infant clearly identified S aureus.