Genetic polymorphisms of NFκB1 -94 del/ins ATTG, NFκB1A 2758 A>G and SUMO rs237025 G>A in psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO4) are key transcription factors involved in the regulation of immune responses and apoptosis. The aim of this study is to test for the association of NF-κB and SUMO gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility and severity of psoriasis among Saudi cases. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is a case controlled study including 85 Saudi psoriasis patients in addition to 92 matched healthy unrelated controls from the same locality. For all participants, DNA was analyzed by PCR for characterization of NF-κB1 -94 del/ins ATTG, NF-κB IA 2758 A>G and SUMO rs237025 G>A gene polymorphisms. RESULTS: Compared to controls, psoriasis patients showed a non-significant difference for all frequencies of genotypes and alleles of NF-κB1 ins/del, NF-κB1A A>G and SUMO4 G>A polymorphisms (p>0.05). However, cases with the plaque type had significantly higher frequency of the SUMO4 A allele carriage (GA+AA genoytpes) than the guttate type (78.6% vs. 21.4%, p=0.02). The PASI score was also significantly higher among cases with the NF-κB1A AA genotype than other cases (p=0.00). CONCLUSION: Genetic polymorphisms of NF-κB1-94 ins/del ATTG, NF-κB IA 2758 A>G and SUMO4 rs237025 G>A were not associated with the susceptibility to psoriasis vulgaris in Saudi patients. However, it might be associated with the expressivity of the disease in terms of its clinical type and severity.

Association of CYP2C9 Genetic Variants with Vitiligo.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a depigmenting skin disorder in which genetic factors play an important role. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of CYP2C9 (*) 1/(*) 2/(*) 3 gene polymorphism with vitiligo. METHODS: In this case controlled study, 95 Saudi patients with vitiligo (50 men and 45 women), with a mean age of 27.3 years, were analyzed. Patients were compared to 86 healthy controls from the same locality (76 men and 10 women), with a mean age of 20.1 years. In all participants, DNA was extracted and processed for characterization of 2C9 (*) 1/(*) 2/(*) 3 gene variants using real time-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Vitiligo patients have a significantly higher CYP2C9 (*) 3 allele carriage rate compared to controls (32.7% versus 4.7%, p=0.00, odds ratio=9.9, 95% confidence interval=3.3~29.6). On the other hand, frequencies of CYP2C9 (*) 2 genotypes and alleles did not show any significant difference between vitiligo cases and controls. When the frequencies of CYP2C9 genotypes were compared among subgroups of age, gender, family history, and disease patterns, the cases with positive consanguinity had significantly higher frequencies of homozygous genotypes than others (p=0.029). CONCLUSION: CYP2C9 (*) 3 allele carriage is probably associated with vitiligo susceptibility.

Montelukast as an episodic modifier for acute viral bronchiolitis: a randomized trial.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of once-daily montelukast therapy on the clinical progress and the cytokine profile of patients with acute viral bronchiolitis. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 85 patients (mean age, 3.5 +/- 2.35 months), clinically diagnosed as first-episode acute bronchiolitis in addition to 10 healthy controls of matched age and sex. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either montelukast (4-mg sachets; n = 47) or placebo (n = 38) daily from the time of admission until discharge. The primary outcome measure was the length of hospital stay (LOS), and clinical severity scores (CSs) and changes in plasma levels of interferon gamma and interleukin-4 were secondary outcomes. LOS for the montelukast group was found to be significantly lower than that of the placebo group (p < 0.05). This effect was also found at nonsignificant levels among patients with a positive family history of asthma or allergy. Moreover, cases receiving montelukast showed lower CSs all through the hospital stay that were significant in the first 24 hours (p < 0.05). Montelukast is probably of benefit as an episodic modifier in infants with acute viral bronchiolitis.

Flow cytometry for cell cycle parameters in healthcare workers potentially exposed to ionizing radiation.

INTRODUCTION: There is much controversy about the effects of chronic low dose exposure to ionizing radiation and the possible consequences particularly in occupational exposures. OBJECTIVES: This study aims at the assessment of cell cycle in healthcare workers (HCWs) occupationally exposed to radiation. Subjects and Methods. Participants in the study included 106 HCWs, of them 79 were potentially exposed to ionizing radiation during their routine work, while the other 27 were non-exposed subjects taken as controls. Exposure was monitored by thermo-luminescent dosimeters. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were separated, fixed and stained with propidium iodide followed by analysis via flow cytometry for DNA content as a marker of cell cycle and apoptosis pattern. RESULTS: Compared to controls, exposed subjects showed a significant higher mean percentage of G2/M cell (4.01+/-4.19 vs. 1.88+/-3.02, p<0.05) and higher mean percentage of coefficient of variation (CV) (4.41+/-1.37 vs. 3.81+/-1.07, p<0.05). Furthermore, HCWs with older age, longer duration of exposure and higher cumulative radiation dose had significant higher G2/M % and CV% with lower G0/G1 % than other workers. Significant correlation was found between cumulative dose of radiations and the mean percentage of cells in the phases of G0/G1 and G2/M as well as their mean CV% (p<0.05). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Healthcare workers exposed to radiation had cellular changes that could be detected by flow cytometry that probably can be used as a follow up marker for potential major harmful effects.

Gene polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor alpha-308 and interleukin-10-1082 among asthmatic Egyptian children.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha-308 and interleukin (IL)-10(-1082) have potent inflammatory responses in the process of airway inflammation in asthma. The purpose of this study was to check for association of polymorphisms related to cytokine genes with susceptibility and severity of bronchial asthma in Egyptian children. Blood samples of 69 asthmatic children receiving treatment and follow-up at the Allergy and Respiratory Medicine Unit, Mansoura University Children Hospital, Mansoura, Egypt, were subjected to DNA extraction and amplification using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers for detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter regions of cytokine genes TNF-alpha(-308(G-->A)), IL-10(-1082(G-->A)). Compared with normal controls, Egyptian asthmatic children showed a significant higher frequency of IL-10(-1082) G/G homozygosity genotype (p < 0.001; odds ratio [OR] = 7) with lower frequency of G/A heterozygosity genotype among cases. This finding also was detected in cases with persistent asthma and eczema. These cases showed significant lower frequency of TNF-alpha-308 G/A heterozygosity (p < 0.05; OR = 0.44). Also, male cases, cases with positive family history, and those patients with persistent types of asthma showed a higher frequency of TNF-alpha-308 G/G homozygosity. IL-10(-1082(G-->A)) G/G and TNF-alpha-308(G-->A) G/G may be a contributing factor in susceptibility as well as severity of asthma among Egyptian children. Separate studies should be specified relating these cytokine genotypes to response to various modalities in asthma therapy. This study reports that IL-10(-1082(G-->A)) G/G and TNF-alpha-308(G-->A) G/G genotypes may be contributing factors in susceptibility as well as in severity of asthma among Egyptian children. Separate studies may be specified relating these cytokine genotypes to response to various modalities in asthma therapy.