Effect of IL-23 Receptor Gene Polymorphism (Rs1884444) on the Prevalence of Oral Fungal Infection in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case-Control Study in Iraqi Patients.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex metabolic disorder linked to several genetic disorders. Over the last decade, advancements in genetic association studies have resulted in the identification of at least 75 distinct genetic loci associated with T2DM, allowing for a better understanding of the genetic architecture of this disease. Recently, there has been a positive association between the prevalence of oral fungal infection and T2DM. The current study aimed to assess the effect of single nucleotide polymorphism in IL23R (rs1884444) on oral fungal infection and the distribution of alleles in T2DM patients compared to healthy controls. A total of 150 specimens, including oral swabs and whole blood samples, were collected from the Endocrinology and Diabetes Center in Baghdad. Oral swabs were collected via AIMS transport media. Routine tests and the Vitek 2 system carried out fungal identification; moreover, the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) was used for molecular detection. The findings revealed that the O blood group was positively associated with T2DM and oral fungal infection. Moreover, the TT genotype for IL23R SNP (rs1884444G/T) increased significantly in patients, as compared to that in healthy control. Furthermore, the T allele was increased in patients suffering from T2DM (P<0.001). The GT and TT were more frequent in oral fungal infection in patients with T2DM. The TT and T alleles were positively associated with the risk of developing T2DM. Moreover, GT and TT were associated with oral fungal infection and T2DM.

Effect of valproic acid administration during pregnancy on postnatal development of cerebellar cortex and the possible protective role of folic acid.

BACKGROUND: Valproic acid (VPA), one of the most important antiepileptic drugs, proved to be inevitable for epileptic pregnant women to limit the hazards of convulsions on the foetuses and mothers. Periconceptional folic acid supple-mentation was investigated to protect against several birth defects. However, its role against VPA cerebellar toxicity was not properly investigated. The present study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of folic acid against VPA cerebellar neurotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four pregnant female albino rats were divided into three groups; group I (control group, did not receive any drugs), group II (given VPA at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight once daily) and group III (given the same dose of VPA and 400 µg/kg of body weight folic acid once daily). Ten male offspring from each group were sacrificed at two ages: at 2 and 12 weeks after birth. Samples of cerebellar cortex were taken and prepared for light, electron microscopic examination, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemical study and histomorphometric analysis. RESULTS: The present study confirmed the neurotoxic effect of prenatal VPA on the cerebellar cortex, especially on Purkinje cells. The cells appeared shrunken, reduced in density, disorganised and surrounded by empty haloes. Nuclear damage and axon degeneration in the form of vacuolation, loss of organelles and absence of neurofilaments with myelin sheath depletion were detected. Concomitant supply of folic acid was shown to retain the normal architecture of Purkinje cells with their axons and nuclei. In many animals receiving folic acid, the thickness of all layers of the cortex increased up to that of the control groups, after being markedly reduced in VPA-treated groups. GFAP immunoreaction was also improved against the strong positive gliosis detected in VPA-treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed the protective role of folic acid against the cerebellar neurotoxic effects of VPA prenatal exposure. It is recommended that folic acid supplements should be given to every epileptic pregnant mother treated with VPA. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 2: 201-209).

Pupillary response to sparse multifocal stimuli in multiple sclerosis patients.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this paper is to investigate the pattern of abnormalities and establish the diagnostic power of multifocal objective pupil perimetry (mfPOP) in multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: A prospective study enrolling 35 normal (47.9 ± 16.8 years, 22 females) and 85 MS subjects (49.8 ± 11.3 years, 62 females; 72 relapsing-remitting (RR), and 13 primary or secondary progressives (PorS)). EDSS scores for the RR and PorS groups were 3.53 ± 1.04 (mean ± SD), and 5.9 ± 1.43, respectively. mfPOP responses were obtained from 44 regions/visual field. Each region was analysed according to response time-to-peak and standardised amplitude (AmpStd). Predictive power was measured by percentage area under the receiver operator curve (%AUC). RESULTS: mfPOP responses showed a significant reduction of 0.69 ± 0.04 dB (mean ± SE) in AmpStd and significantly delayed time-to-peak of 25.95 ± 0.89 ms (mean ± SE) in MS subjects compared to control subjects (p<0.001). %AUC was greater for time-to-peak than AmpStd both for RR and PorS patients. Diagnostic power followed the EDSS scores but not a history of optic neuritis. CONCLUSIONS: mfPOP is well tolerated and potentially has a role in the diagnosis and assessment of patients with MS.

Daclizumab in treatment of multiple sclerosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Daclizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) that blocks the interleukin-2 receptor alpha subunit (IL-2R-alpha chain; CD25) expressed on activated T cells leading to the inhibition of T-cell expansion, thus strongly reduces brain inflammation in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Another mechanism is significant expansion of CD56 (bright) natural killer (NK) cells that in turn inhibit T-cell survival. OBJECTIVE: At the Partners MS center, we have been using Daclizumab in an open-label fashion in patients who fail first line therapy or non-standard immunosuppressive treatment. Our aim was to assess its safety and tolerability in our patient population.

Prevalence of cigarette smoking in the Rafsanjan urban population.

This study determined the smoking rate in the urban population of Rafsanjan, Islamic Republic of Iran, in a random community sample of 491 adults (247 males and 244 females) aged > 20 years. The overall prevalence of current smoking (1+ cigarettes per day) was 24.2%; 38.5% in males and 9.8% in females. The mean number of cigarettes consumed per day was 12.1 [standard deviation (SD 8.6)]; 13.6 (SD 8.9) in men and 6.5 (SD 4.5) in women. The prevalence and mean number of cigarettes smoked per day increased significantly in older age groups.

Prevalence of cigarette smoking in the Rafsanjan urban population

This study determined the smoking rate in the urban population of Rafsanjan, Islamic Republic of Iran, in a random community sample of 491 adults [247 males and 244 females] aged > 20 years. The overall prevalence of current smoking [1+ cigarettes per day] was 24.2%; 38.5% in males and 9.8% in females. The mean number of cigarettes consumed per day was 12.1 [standard deviation [SD 8.6]]; 13.6 [SD 8.9] in men and 6.5 [SD 4.5] in women. The prevalence and mean number of cigarettes smoked per day increased significantly in older age groups

Coronary events in Khartoum, Sudan.

The aim of the study was to determine coronary events in a defined Sudanese population. All coronary events occurring in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, were registered during the calendar year 1989. The cold pursuit method of identifying coronary events by surveillance of routinely collected data was adopted. A total of 517 cases representing coronary events in 1989 was recorded and submitted to the WHO MONICA diagnostic and classification protocol. The annual (1989) coronary event rate for men and women was 112/100,000, with a total mortality rate of 36/100,000 (men, 52/100,000; women, 18/100,000). Event rates for men and women were 162/100,000 and 64/100,000 and fatality rates were 33 and 30%, respectively. The highest event rate 364/100,000, occurring in men 45-64 years of age compared to 120/100,000 in women of the same age group. The study establishes a baseline for coronary event rates, mortality, and case fatality rates. It also defines coronary heart disease in Khartoum and provides means for comparison with other countries. We recommend that the disease receive more health attention, and efforts to define the precipitating risk factors should be undertaken. Health education and preventive measures to curb the disease are needed.