Factor V Leiden, MTHFR, and FXIIIVal34Leu gene polymorphisms and their association with clinical features and risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is expanding to epidemic levels globally due to the progressing prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM). In this study, the association between factor V Leiden (FVL), MTHFRC677T, and FXIIIVal34Leu polymorphisms and diabetic retinopathy was investigated in Eastern Iran.

Methods

This case-control study enlisted the participation of 300 people (diabetic patients=100, diabetic retinopathy patients=100, healthy controls=100), and polymorphisms were examined by Tetra primer ARMS-PCR.

Results

The frequency of FVL (p=0.294) and FXIIIVal34Leu (P=0.349) polymorphism showed no significant results between the genotype frequency in the mentioned groups. In contrast, MTHFRC677T SNP was significantly different in diabetic patients and controls (P=0.008). The MTHFRC677T polymorphism was found to be connected with increased systolic blood pressure in patients who had the TT genotype (130.96±11.92mm/Hg; P=0.011).

Conclusion

Our study recommended that the MTHFRC677T polymorphism may offer to DR development. Studies with larger sample sizes and a wider spectrum of populations are authorized to verify this finding.

The effect of black seed raisin on some cardiovascular risk factors, serum malondialdehyde, and total antioxidant capacity in hyperlipidemic patients: a randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The lipid-lowering properties and antioxidants of the raisins may reduce the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effect of black seeded raisin consumption on blood pressure (BP), lipid profile, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in hyperlipidemic patients.

METHODS

Thirty-eight hyperlipidemic patients aged 41.05 ± 10.4 years were recruited to this two-armed, randomized, controlled intervention trial. Participants were instructed to consume 90 g per day black seed raisin in the intervention group, and control group received no intervention. BP, lipid profile, and plasma levels of TAC, MDA, hs-CRP, and FBS were determined at baseline and week 5.

RESULTS

After 5 weeks, the diastolic BP reduced significantly in raisin group compared with baseline (81.80 ± 10.22 vs 77.05 ± 11.03, P = 0.001) and TAC was significantly increased in raisin group compared with the control group (394 ± 116.93 vs 479 ± 122.31, P = 0.001). The serum level of MDA in the raisin group was significantly lower compared with the control group (1.35 ± 0.88 vs 1.39 ± 0.67, P = 0.039). No significant changes were found in lipid profile, SBP, hs-CRP, and FBS.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that consumption of black raisin which is rich in polyphenolic compounds has beneficial effects on some cardiovascular risk factors especially blood pressure and serum antioxidant capacity in patients with hyperlipidemia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Trial registration number: IRCT2015091624049N1. This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT). URL of trial registry record: https://www.irct.ir/trial/20395.

Cellular expression of CD markers in immune thrombocytopenic purpura: implications for prognosis

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune bleeding disorder associated with platelet destruction. Abnormalities in frequency and function of different immune cells can play a crucial role in this disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of CD markers' expressions by immune cells in ITP. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 25 ITP patients before and after treatment. The expression of CD markers was evaluated by flow cytometry technique. The expression of CD38 and CD56 was significantly lower before treatment than after it (p = 0.025 and p = 0.036, respectively). Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between CD38 expression with platelet count before (r = 0.496, p = 0.012) and after treatment (r = 0.404, p = 0.045). No significant relationship was found between this marker and platelet count while CD4 expression was higher before treatment than after it (p = 0.002). In conclusion, CD38 may have independent prognostic value in ITP and we suggest that it can be a prognostic marker for this disease.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Different Polymorphisms of β-globin Gene in Ahvaz

BACKGROUND

Hemoglobinopathy and thalassemia are prevalent genetic disorders throughout the world. Beta thalassemia is one of these disorders with high prevalence in Iran, especially in Khuzestan province. In this study, the rate of different mutations in β-globin gene for prenatal diagnosis in fetal samples was evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this experimental pilot study, 316 fetal samples (chorionic villus or amniotic fluid) suspicious to hemoglobin disorders were enrolled. Afterwards, DNA was extracted and PCR and DNA sequencing were used for evaluation of different mutations in β-globin gene.

RESULTS

Amongst 316 samples evaluated for prenatal diagnosis, 180 cases (56.8%) were carrying at least one mutated gene of β-thalassemia. In addition, results showed that CD 36-37 (- T) and IVS II-1 (G > A) polymorphisms are the most prevalent polymorphisms of β-thalassemia in Ahvaz city with 13.9% and 10.1% rates, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Using molecular tests for prenatal diagnosis is considered an efficient approach for reducing the birth of children with hemoglobinopathy and identification of prevalent mutations in each region.

Adverse effect of high glucose concentration on stem cell therapy

Stem cell therapy could have great potential for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases. Stem cells might have the ability to differentiate into a widespread cell types, and to repopulate and revitalize the damaged cells with healthy tissue, and improve its performance. We provide here the evidence supporting the critical use of stem cell as a treatment in disease conditions existing with high glucose complaint such as diabetes. The reduction of glucose stimulated cell proliferation and high glucose enhanced apoptosis in rat model, which may be a problem in therapeutic strategies based on ex vivo expansion of stem cell, and may also propagate the development of osteoporosis in high glucose complaint such as diabetes. This leads to the hypothesis that, high glucose could be more deleterious to stem cell therapy that may be due to the aggravation of oxidative stress triggered by high glucose. These findings may help to understand the possible reasons associated with high glucose induced detrimental effects on stem cells as well as provide novel therapeutic strategies for preventing the adverse effects of glucose on the development and progression of stem cells in patients with diabetes.

Determination of hepatitis C virus genotypes among blood donors in Ahvaz, Iran

This study aims to determine the genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among blood donors at Ahvaz Blood Transfusion Centre. Blood samples were taken from 2376 blood donors - 1795 (75.54%) male and 581(24.45%) female - who referred to Ahvaz Blood Transfusion Centre during 2007-2008. Detection of anti-HCV antibody for all the donors was carried out by ELISA and the confirmatory RIBA tests. HCV RT-PCR followed by RFLP test was carried out for anti-HCV positive samples. Out of 2376 blood donors, only 55 (2.3%) male donors showed to be positive for HCV antibody by ELISA and RIBA tests out of which 45(1.8%) donors were positive for RT-PCR test. Female donors were negative for HCV antibody. The result of HCV genotyping by RFLP test showed 24 (53.3%) for 1a, 17 (37.7%) for 3a (a) and 4 (8.8%) for 3a (b) genotypes respectively. In conclusion, high prevalence of 53.3% HCV 1a genotype was observed among blood donors in Ahvaz city.