Advanced paternal age is a risk factor for schizophrenia in Iranians

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since 1958 many, but not all studies have demonstrated that paternal age is a risk factor for schizophrenia. There may be many different explanations for differences between studies, including study design, sample size, collection criteria, heterogeneity and the confounding effects of environmental factors that can for example perturb epigenetic programming and lead to an increase in disease risk. The small number of children in Western families makes risk comparisons between siblings born at different paternal ages difficult. In contrast, more Eastern families have children both at early and later periods of life. In the present study, a cross-sectional population study in an Iranian population was performed to compare frequency of schizophrenia in younger offspring (that is, older paternal age) versus older offspring.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 220 patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia (cases) from both psychiatric hospitals and private clinics and 220 individuals from other hospital wards (controls), matched for sex and age were recruited for this study. Patients with neurological problem, substance abuse, mental retardation and mood disorder were excluded from both groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Birth rank comparisons revealed that 35% vs 24% of the cases vs the controls were in the third or upper birth rank (<it>P </it>= 0.01). Also, the mean age of fathers at birth in case group (30 ± 6.26 years) was significantly more than the control group (26.45 ± 5.64 years; <it>P </it>= 0.0001). The age of 76 fathers at birth in case group was over 32 versus 33 fathers in control group. Individuals whose fathers' age was more than 32 (at birth) were at higher risk (2.77 times) for schizophrenia versus others (<it>P </it>< 0.0001, 95% CI 1.80 to 4.27). The maternal age at parturition of the case versus controls groups was 26.1 ± 5.41 vs 25.07 ± 4.47 (<it>P </it>= 0.02). Logistic regression analysis suggests that maternal age is less likely to be involved in the higher risk of schizophrenia than advanced parental age.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study demonstrates a relationship between paternal age and schizophrenia in large families of an Iranian population. Arguments have been put forth that DNA bases changes or epigenetic changes in sperm account for the increased risk associated with older fathers. However, it would not be surprising that both <it>de novo </it>germline mutations and epigenetic changes contribute to disease occurrence because DNA replication and DNA methylation are closely linked at both the macromolecular level (that is, methylation closely follows replication), and at the metabolic level (both processes require folate), and susceptible to modulation by the environment. Further research on samples such as those collected here are needed to sort out the contributions of de novo mutations versus epigenetic changes to schizophrenia.</p

Churg-Strauss syndrome following cessation of allergic desensitization vaccination: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Churg-Strauss syndrome is a vasculitis of medium to small sized vessels. Diagnosis is mainly clinical with findings of asthma, eosinophilia, rhinosinusitis and signs of vasculitis in major organs.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present a case of a 19-year-old Persian male who developed signs and symptoms of this syndrome related to hyposensitization treatments for allergy control.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>No unifying etiology for the disease can be presented as it is found associated with environmental factors, medications, infections and is even considered a variant of asthma with predisposition to vasculitic involvement. Therefore, it is important to recognize this disease and be aware of underdiagnosis because of emphasis on pathologic evidence. Here, we present a case of allergic desensitization causing Churg-Strauss syndrome in the absence of other known factors.</p

Churg Strauss Syndrome after Polypectomy in Asthmatic and Allergic Patients

Churg Strauss Syndrome (CSS) is a form of primary vasculitis that is characterized by severe eosinophilia and often granulomatous inflammation as well as history of asthma or allergy. Previously, the association between cysteinyl leukotrien receptor antagonists (LTRAs), corticosteroid withdrawal or a sudden change in its used method and CSS had been established. We report three cases that have been referred because of dyspnea, wheezing and cough with a history of allergic rhinitis and nasal polypectomy. After polypectomy, disseminated skin purpuric rashes appeared on their forelegs, abdomen and all of them had experienced neuropathic signs in their extremities. Clinical findings, marked eosinophilia in blood and skin biopsies finally led to the diagnosis of CSS. The patients have been free of symptoms after receiving prednisolone; routine examinations and blood tests have rended regular results. Here, we report a probable occurrence of an association between nasal polypectomy and CSS on the basis of our findings. Further, extended researches are required to establish this correlation

Comparison of clinicoradiologic manifestation of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia and usual interstitial pneumonia/idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A report from NRITLD

<b>Background: </b> Ever since Katzenstein and Fiorelli introduced the term nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) to denote those cases of interstitial pneumonia that cannot be categorized as any of the other types of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIP), there has been continuing debate on whether it is a real clinical entity or not. The American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Symposium task group tried to identify idiopathic NSIP as a separate disease and exclude it from the category of IIP. However, it appears that the clinical presentation of NSIP and usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) are the same. <b> Objective :</b> To show that the radiologic features of NSIP and UIP should be relied upon, instead of clinical presentation and pathologic findings, to differentiate between the two. <b> Materials and Methods:</b> Consecutive patients who had received a diagnosis of either NSIP or UIP on the basis of open lung biopsy between January 2001 and December 2007 were identified for inclusion in this retrospective review. The study included 61 subjects: 32 men and 29 women with a mean age of 59.39 &#x00B1; 14.5 years. Chest computed tomography images of all the cases were collected for a review. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and all pathologic specimens were also evaluated. A weighted kappa coefficient was used to evaluate whether radiology can be used instead of biopsy for the diagnosis of NSIP and UIP. Comparison of the mean ages and the time intervals (i.e., interval between symptom onset and the time of diagnosis) in the UIP and NSIP groups was done using the Mann-Whitney U test. Association between gender and biopsy result was evaluated by the Fisher exact test. Data were evaluated using SPSS, v.13. <b> Results :</b> Sixty-one patients were included in this study, 32 were male and 29 were female. On the basis of biopsy findings, 50 (82&#x0025;) patients had UIP and 11 (18&#x0025;) had NSIP. Thirty (60&#x0025;) of the 50 patients who had UIP were male and 20 (40&#x0025;) were female; 2 (18.2&#x0025;) of the 11 patients who suffered from NSIP were male and 9 (81.8&#x0025;) were female. Based on HRCT findings, 36 (60&#x0025;) patients were diagnosed to have UIP and 24 (40&#x0025;) were diagnosed with NSIP. When diagnosis was based on biopsy findings, the time interval in the UIP group was 13.59 &#x00B1; 8.29 months and in the NSIP group it was 7.90 &#x00B1; 4.18 months. When diagnosed on the basis of HRCT findings, the time interval in the UIP group was 14.22 &#x00B1; 8.94 months and in the NSIP group it was 10.54 &#x00B1; 5.78 months. When diagnosis was on the basis of biopsy, the mean age in the UIP group was 61.30 &#x00B1; 14.18 years and in the NSIP group it was 50.73 &#x00B1; 13.14 years. <b> Conclusion :</b> HRCT can be used instead of invasive methods like lung biopsy to differentiate between UIP and NSIP