Association between the HHEX polymorphism and delayed memory in first-episode schizophrenic patients

The hematopoietically-expressed homeobox gene (HHEX) played a critical role in regulating the immune system that the abnormality of which was involved in the psychopathology and cognitive deficits of psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HHEX rs1111875 polymorphism on the susceptibility and cognitive deficits of first-episode schizophrenic patients (FSP). We assessed cognitive function in 239 first-episode patients meeting DSM-IV for schizophrenia, and 368 healthy controls using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The HHEX rs1111875 polymorphism was genotyped. Our results showed that the allelic and genotypic frequencies of HHEX rs1111875 polymorphism didn't differ between FSP and healthy controls (both p > 0.05) after adjusting for sex and age. Cognitive test scores in FSP were significantly lower than those in healthy controls on all scales (all p < 0.001) except for the visuospatial/constructional score (p > 0.05) after adjusting for covariates. There was a significant genotype (p < 0.05) rather than genotype × diagnosis (p > 0.05) effect on the delayed memory score after adjusting for covariates. The HHEX rs1111875 polymorphism was significantly associated with the delayed memory score in FSP (p < 0.05), but not in healthy controls (p > 0.05) after adjusting for covariates. Our findings supported that the HHEX rs1111875 polymorphism did not contribute to the susceptibility to FSP. However, this polymorphism might influence the delayed memory in FSP. Moreover, FSP had poorer cognitive function than healthy controls except for the visuospatial/constructional domain.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms as important risk factors of diabetes among Middle East population

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that leads to the dysfunction of various tissues and organs, including eyes, kidneys, and cardiovascular system. According to the World Health Organization, diabetes prevalence is 8.8% globally among whom about 90% of cases are type 2 diabetes. There are not any significant clinical manifestations in the primary stages of diabetes. Therefore, screening can be an efficient way to reduce the diabetic complications. Over the recent decades, the prevalence of diabetes has increased alarmingly among the Middle East population, which has imposed exorbitant costs on the health care system in this region. Given that the genetic changes are among the important risk factors associated with predisposing people to diabetes, we examined the role of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the pathogenesis of diabetes among Middle East population. In the present review, we assessed the molecular pathology of diabetes in the Middle East population that paves the way for introducing an efficient SNP-based diagnostic panel for diabetes screening among the Middle East population. Since, the Middle East has a population of 370 million people; the current review can be a reliable model for the introduction of SNP-based diagnostic panels in other populations and countries around the world.

The association between HHEX single-nucleotide polymorphism rs5015480 and gestational diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between the rs5015480 single-nucleotide polymorphism of hematopoietically expressed homeobox (HHEX) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) via meta-analysis.

METHODS

A comprehensive electronic search was performed of the PubMed, Springer, Science Direct, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and VIP databases for studies worldwide on the relationship between HHEX rs5015480 and GDM published up to July 2019. Rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed, and the quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale, followed by heterogeneity evaluation using the Q test and I statistic and data pooling. A meta-analysis was then performed on the included studies using RevMan 5.3.

RESULTS

A total of 4 eligible case-control studies were included, involving a total of 1651 patients and 3513 controls. The meta-analysis showed the following odds ratios: C allele vs T allele, 1.24 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.38); CC genotype vs TT genotype, 1.65 (95% CI: 1.26-2.17); CC genotype vs CT genotype, 1.22 (95% CI: 1.00-1.50); and CC genotype vs CT + TT genotype, 1.32 (95% CI: 1.09-1.61).

CONCLUSIONS

HHEX rs5015480 represents a risk factor for the development of GDM, and pregnant women carrying the CC genotype have an increased risk of GDM.

The SDF1 A/G Gene Variant: A Susceptibility Variant for Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

Although environmental factors play an important role in susceptibility to myocardial infarction (MI), genetic determinants also provide a significant contribution. This study aimed to determine whether or not MI susceptibility is influenced by the SDF1-rs1801157A/G and HHEX-rs1111875 A/G polymorphisms in an Iranian population.

METHODS

A total of 120 patients with MI and 120 healthy controls were enrolled. Blood samples were collected from all the participants for genomic DNA extraction and testing. Polymorphism genotyping was determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique.

RESULTS

Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the A allele and AA genotype of the SDF1-rs1111875 polymorphism produce a significant risk of MI both before (crude odds ratio [OR] = 8.83, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.05-73.76, p = 0.025) and after adjustment (adjusted OR = 8.12, 95% CI = 5.02-19.42, p = 0.04). In contrast, the GG genotype of the SDF1-rs1111875 polymorphism provides a protective effect on MI in a recessive model (GG vs. AA+AG) before (crude OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.34-0.97, p = 0.037) and after adjustment (adjusted OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.3-0.82, p = 0.021). No association was found between the HHEX-rs1111875 A/G polymorphism alleles and the susceptibility to MI.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, the current findings suggest that the SDF1-rs1801157A/G gene variant may play an important role in relation to MI in this Iranian population. Nevertheless, more replication studies and meta-analyses should be carried out in this area.