Association of polymorphisms of two histamine-metabolizing enzymes with allergic asthma in Egyptian children

Background: Histamine released from mast cells and basophils plays a key role in the development of allergic diseases such as allergic asthma, rhinitis or anaphylaxis. Histamine-metabolizing enzymes: N-methyltransferase (HNMT) and amiloride binding protein 1(ABP) are involved in allergic inflammation.Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between polymorphisms of two genes encoding the histamine metabolizing enzymes HNMT and ABP1 with the development of allergic asthma in Egyptian children.Methods: This is a case control study performed on 100 atopic asthmatic and 94 healthy control children. Conventional method of PCR amplification was used for genotyping.Results: Distribution of HNMT -105 Thr → Ile (-314 C to T) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes and Thr and Ile (C and T) alleles among patients and controls revealed significant increase in the frequencies of Thr / Ile (CT) and Thr / Ile (CT) + Ile / Ile (TT) in atopic asthmatics than in controls (p= 0.04 and 0.002 respectively). There was also a significant increase in Ile (T) alleles in atopic asthmatic patients than controls (p= 0.002). The 2029 CG SNP polymorphism of ABP1gene was significantly associated with atopic asthma (p=0.0003).Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that genetic variations in the histaminemetabolizing enzyme (HNMT and ABP1) genes might contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma in the studied children.Keywords: Amiloride binding protein, asthma, atopy, children, Nmethyltransferas

Factors Affecting Malnutrition in Developing Countries: A Linear Mixed Effect Model Approach

The main objective of this study is to pinpoint the main factors that affect the percentage who suffers of malnutrition in developing countries. Three locations are randomly chosen: Asia, Africa, and Middle east and North Africa (MENA); A total of 96 countries were chosen randomly from 137 developing countries of the three locations; and were cross classified by "Location " and "Human Development Index (HDI) as high, middle, and low (UNDP, 2005) i. Data for the study was compiled from FAO (2005) ii. The analysis started with seven explanatory variables and the dependent variable; however, stepwise regression reveals that the average Protein intake and Infant mortality rate were the only two significant variables. "Location and "HDI " are dummy coded and OLS regression is performed using the two significant variables, but the only significant variable was the "average protein intake". OLS multiple regression Model is re-applied to the data using dummy variables technique with interaction with the "average Protein intake", nine regression equations were reached. The Linear Mixed effect Models are also applied, using "location " as the random factor and "HDI " as the fixed factor. Five models were applied: (1) a null model (baseline model)where no predictors are introduced to the model; (2) the fixed model: where predictors used are the covariate and the HDI; (3) th

Thymectomy in non thymomatous myasthenia gravis: Impact of pathology on outcome and role of survivin in pathogenesis

Background: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by production of acetylcholine receptor antibodies. These antibodies are mainly produced by thymic B-lymphocytes. Our aim was to detect the correlation between thymic pathology and outcome of myasthenia gravis. Moreover, we tried to detect the involvement of survivin as an apoptosis inhibitor in pathogenesis of myasthenia. Methods: This study was a prospective study conducted on 36 non thymomatous myasthenic patients subjected to thymectomy. Patients were followed for 6 months after operation. Moreover, 36 control normal thymic specimens were obtained from patients operated for open heart surgery. Resected thymic tissue was sent for histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining by survivin to examine its role in pathogenesis of myasthenia. Results: Patients were divided into group A with hyperplastic thymus and group B with atrophic thymus. Nine patients had no improvement after surgery and the remaining had variable degrees of clinical improvement. Pathology of thymus did not affect clinical outcome with significant improvement in both groups. Decreased duration of symptoms before surgery and female sex are statistically associated with more improvement of patients' symptoms. Positive expression of survivin was detected in germinal centers of all hyperplastic and atrophic thymuses. All the control thymuses were negative for survivin expression. Conclusion: Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis is an effective and beneficial procedure even in patients with atrophic thymus. Survivin is expressed in all myasthenic thymuses confirming its role in pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis