Association of polymorphism of ser311cys paraoxonase-2 gene with type 2 diabetes mellitus in iran.

BACKGROUND: It is believed that paraoxonase-2 gene polymorphism is associated with type 2 diabetes. This study is aimed to investigate the association between paraoxonase-2 gene polymorphism and type 2 diabetes in an Iranian population. METHODS: This study was performed on 200 individuals including 100 diabetics and 100 healthy subjects. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes, and PCR-RFLP was carried out. Palindromic sequence in PON2 gene was recognized by Dde1 restriction endonuclease. In order to visualize restriction products, electrophoresis was carried out using polyacrylamide gel (8%) and ethidium bromide staining. RESULTS: The expected PCR product of 331 bp was obtained. Digestion of this product with DdeI showed four Ser homozygotes, three Cys homozygotes, and five Ser311 Cys heterozygotes. The gene frequency of Cys (C) in diabetic subjects was significantly higher than in healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that an association exists between Ser311 Cys polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Toxicity of ecstasy (MDMA) towards embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac and neural cells.

"Ecstasy" or methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is primarily a recreational drug commonly used during the child bearing period, thus, there is a major concern regarding the embryonic and fetal toxicity of this drug. Here, we report the cardio- and neuro-toxic effects of MDMA on beating embryoid bodies (EBs) and neural cell-containing EBs derived from mouse embryonic stem cell (ESCs). Based on our linear discriminate function, MDMA is considered to be a moderate or weak teratogen. Moreover, the generation of EBs with neural cell morphology and the expression of MAP2, a mature neuron marker, decrease more when MDMA is administered during the EB formation stage rather than post-plated EBs. In addition, the ID50 (inhibition of differentiation) of EBs with neural cell morphology is less than cardiac cells. In conclusion, MDMA causes a marked reduction in beating cardiomyocytes and neurons in ESC cultures, and this drug has a more potent toxicity on neural rather than cardiac cell differentiation.