β globin mutations in Turkish, Northern Iraqi and Albanian patients with β thalassemia major

Rare Pathogenic β0-Thalassemia Mutation, Codon 7 (GAG>TAG) (HBB: c.22G>T). Report of the First Two Cases in Albanian Immigrants of Northern Greece

We report the hematological data of the codon 7 (GAG>TAG (HBB: c.22G>T) mutation for the first time in two Albanian individuals from the region of Elbasan, who underwent genetic testing due to prenatal counseling and diagnosis for β-thalassemia major (β-TM) anemia. The phenotype was compatible with a typical β⁰-thalassemia (β⁰-thal) carrier but the hematological findings of the mutation has not been previously reported. The mutation involves the conversion of codon 7 GAG (Glu) into a translation termination codon (TAG), involving the replacement of guanine by thymine so that no β chains are produced.

Investigation of Some Endogenous Antimicrobial Peptides in Thalassemia

The aim of this work was a comparative study of the amount of antimicrobial peptides—human neutrophil peptides—defensins (HNP), hepcidin, bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI), and endotoxin in β-thalassemia. Blood samples of 135 patients with thalassemia were investigated. All patients were divided into 3 groups. The first group included patients with heterozygous form (n = 45). The second group consisted of patients with homozygous form before splenectomy (n = 45). The third group included patients with homozygous form after splenectomy (n = 45). The age of patients varied from 2 to 18 years. Biochemical [unconjugated and conjugated bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, hemoglobin, ferritin, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV)] and immune (IgA, IgM, IgG, phagocytic activity) parameters were defined. Obtained results suggest that increased levels of endogenous antimicrobial peptides are associated with the development of the infectious process and reflect the dynamics of changes in biochemical parameters and immune status.