Evaluation of Hepatitis B Infection Prevalence in Institutionalized Intellectually Disabled Children

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection causes chronic infection in human population, with high mortality. One of the high risk communities is mentally retarded children, who are institutionalized. Special conditions in these centers predispose children for HBV infection and transmission to healthy people. In this study our objective was to determine the prevalence of HBV infection among institutionalized mentally retarded children and study its associated risk factors.Materials and Methods: In this study, 250 mentally retarded children (younger than 14 years old) were included. They were living in 5 nursing institutions, located in different parts of Tehran. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was measured in the sera of these patients by ELISA method.Results: Among 250 children, 20 children (8%) were HBsAg positive. HBV infection in girls was more than boys (11% to 5.6%). Among the types of mental retardation, children with cerebral palsy had the highest positive result for HBsAg. The most HBV infection (28.5%) was seen in children with longest duration of being institutionalized (10 to 11 years). Vaccinated children were more HBsAg positive (8.7%) than non-vaccinated children (5.3%). However, no significant relationship was observed between any of these factors and HBsAg positivity.Conclusion: Despite improvement of people’s health condition and implementation of HBV vaccination, the prevalence of HBV infection is increased in institutionalized mentally retarded children, which highlights the need for active measures to reduce this infection among this high risk populatio

HLA-B*1502 in Iranian Children with Anticonvulsant Drugs-Induced Skin Reactions

How to Cite This Article: Tonekaboni SH, Jafari N, Mansouri M, Jabbehdari S, Eftekhari R, Chavoshzadeh Z, Abdollah Gorji F, Mesdaghi M. HLA-B*1502 in Iranian Children with Anticonvulsant Drugs-Induced Skin Reactions. Iran J Child Neurol. Spring 2017; 11(2):26-30. AbstractObjectiveAnticonvulsant drugs can cause various forms of skin drug reactions, ranging from exanthema to severe blistering reactions. An association between HLA-B*1502 allele and severe skin reactions have been reported.Materials & Methods Fifteen patients with severe skin reactions following treatment with anticonvulsant drugs (Carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, primidone) and 15 controls (age-matched epileptic patients taking similar anticonvulsants without drug eruption) were included. They were referred to Mofid Children’s Hospital in Tehran, Iran, between Jan 2012 to Jan 2014. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of all patients and HLA- B*1502 genotype was detected by real-time PCR.Results None of the patients was positive for HLA- B*1502, but two patients in control group had positive HLA- B*1502.Conclusion The HLA- B*1502 is not correlated with severe anticonvulsant drugs -induced skin reactions in Iranian children. References 1.Roujeau JC. Clinical heterogeneity of drug hypersensitivity. Toxicology 2005; 209: 123 –9.2.McCormack M, Alfirevic A, Bourgeois S, Farrell JJ, Kasperavičiūtė D, Carrington M, et al. HLA-A*3101 and carbamazepine-induced hypersensitivity reactions in Europeans. N Engl J Med 2011; 364(12):1134-43.3.Daly AK, Donaldson PT, Bhatnagar P, Shen Y, Pe’er I, Floratos A, et al. HLA-B*5701 genotype is a major determinant of drug-induced liver injury due to flucloxacillin. Nat Genetic 2009; 41:816–9.4.Amstutz U, Ross CJ, Castro-Pastrana LI, Rieder MJ, Shear NH, Hayden MR, Carleton BC. CPNDS Consortium; HLA-A 31:01 and HLA-B 15:02 as genetic markers for carbamazepine hypersensitivity in children. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2013; 94(1):142-9.5.Man CB, Kwan P, Baum L, Yu E, Lau KM, Cheng AS, Ng MH. Association between HLA-B*1502 allele and antiepileptic drug-induced cutaneous reactions in Han Chinese. Epilepsia 2007; 48(5):1015-8.6.Zeng T, Long YS, Min FL, Liao WP, Shi YW. Association of HLA-B*1502 allele with lamotrigine-induced Stevens– Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in Han Chinese subjects: a meta-analysis. Int J Dermatol 2015; 54(4):488-93.7.Bastuji-Garin S, Rzany B, Stern RS, Shear NH, Naldi L, Roujeau JC. Clinical classification of cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and erythema multiforme. Arch Dermatol 1993; 129(1):92-6.8. Hung SI, Chung WH, Jee SH, Chen WC, Chang YT, Lee WR, et al. Genetic susceptibility to carbamazepine-induced cutaneous adverse drug reactions. Pharmacogenet Genomics 2006; 16(4):297-306.9. Wang Q, Zhou JQ, Zhou LM, Chen ZY, Fang ZY, Chen SD, et al. Association between HLA-B*1502 allele and carbamazepine-induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions in Han people of southern China mainlan. Seizure 2011; 20 (6):446-8.10. Li LJ, Hu FY, Wu XT, An DM, Yan B, Zhou D. Predictive markers for carbamazepine and lamotrigine-induced maculopapular exanthema in Han Chinese. Epilepsy Res 2013; 106 (1-2):296-300.11. Kim SH, Lee KW, Song WJ, Kim SH, Jee YK, Lee SM, et al; Adverse Drug Reaction Research Group in Korea. Carbamazepine-induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions and HLA genotypes in Koreans. Epilepsy Res 2011; 97 (1-2):190-7.12. Criado PR, Criado RFJ, Avancini JM, Santi CG. Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)/drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS): a review of current concepts. An Bras Dermatol 2012; 87(3):435–49.13. Chung WH, Hung SI, Hong HS, Hsih MS, Yang LC, Ho HC, et al. Medical genetics: a marker for Stevens– Johnson syndrome. Nature 2004; 428: 486.14. Man CB, Kwan P, Baum L, Yu E, Lau KM, Cheng AS, Ng MH. Association between HLA-B*1502 allele and antiepileptic drug induced cutaneous reactions in Han Chinese. Epilepsia 2007; 48: 1015–8.15. Locharernkul C, Loplumlert J, Limotai C, Korkij W, Desudchit T, Tongkobpetch S, et al. Carbamazepine and phenytoin induced Stevens–Johnson syndrome is associated with HLA-B*1502 allele in Thai population. Epilepsia 2008; 49:2087–91.16. Kaniwa N, Saito Y, Aihara M, Matsunaga K, Tohkin M, Kurose K, et al. HLA-B locus in Japanese patients with anti-epileptics and allopurinol-related Stevens– Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Pharmacogenomics 2008; 9: 1617–22.17. Alfirevic A, Jorgensen AL, Williamson PR, Chadwick DW, Park BK, Pirmohamed M. HLA-B locus in Caucasian patients with carbamazepine hypersensitivity. Pharmacogenomics 2006; 7: 813–8.18. Tangamornsuksan W, Chaiyakunapruk N, Somkrua R, Lohitnavy M, Tassaneeyakul W. Relationship between the HLA-B*1502 allele and carbamazepine-induced Stevens- Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Dermatol 2013; 149(9):1025-32

A gain-of-function mutation of STAT1: A novel genetic factor contributing to chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis

Heterozygous gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) have increasingly been identified as a genetic cause of autosomal-dominant (AD) chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC). In this article, we describe a 33-year-old man who experienced chronic refractory candidiasis, recurrent otitis media, and pneumonia resulting in bronchiectasis, severe oral and esophageal candidiases with strictures associated with hypothyroidism and immune hemolytic anemia. His son also suffered from persistent candidiasis, chronic diarrhea, poor weight gain, and pneumonia that resulted in his demise because of sepsis. The immunological workup showed that an inverse CD4/CD8 ratio and serum immunoglobulins were all within normal ranges. The laboratory data revealed failure in response to Candida lymphocyte transformation test. In addition, by Sanger sequencing method, we found a heterozygous mutation, Thr385Met (T385M), located in the DNA-binding domain of STAT1, which was previously shown to be GOF. These findings illustrate the broad and variable clinical phenotype of heterozygous STAT1 GOF mutations. However, more clinical information and phenotype–genotype studies are required to define the clinical phenotype caused by AD STAT1 GOF

Human OTULIN haploinsufficiency impairs cell-intrinsic immunity to staphylococcal alpha-toxin

The molecular basis of interindividual clinical variability upon infection with Staphylococcus aureus is unclear. We describe patients with haploinsufficiency for the linear deubiquitinase OTULIN, encoded by a gene on chromosome 5p. Patients suffer from episodes of life-threatening necrosis, typically triggered by S. aureus infection. The disorder is phenocopied in patients with the 5p- (Cri-du-Chat) chromosomal deletion syndrome. OTULIN haploinsufficiency causes an accumulation of linear ubiquitin in dermal fibroblasts, but tumor necrosis factor receptor-mediated nuclear factor kappa B signaling remains intact. Blood leukocyte subsets are unaffected. The OTULIN-dependent accumulation of caveolin-1 in dermal fibroblasts, but not leukocytes, facilitates the cytotoxic damage inflicted by the staphylococcal virulence factor alpha-toxin. Naturally elicited antibodies against alpha-toxin contribute to incomplete clinical penetrance. Human OTULIN haploinsufficiency underlies life-threatening staphylococcal disease by disrupting cell-intrinsic immunity to alpha-toxin in nonleukocytic cells.Peer reviewe

Characterization of greater middle eastern genetic variation for enhanced disease gene discovery

The Greater Middle East (GME) has been a central hub of human migration and population admixture. The tradition of consanguinity, variably practiced in the Persian Gulf region, North Africa, and Central Asia1-3, has resulted in an elevated burden of recessive disease4. Here we generated a whole-exome GME variome from 1,111 unrelated subjects. We detected substantial diversity and admixture in continental and subregional populations, corresponding to several ancient founder populations with little evidence of bottlenecks. Measured consanguinity rates were an order of magnitude above those in other sampled populations, and the GME population exhibited an increased burden of runs of homozygosity (ROHs) but showed no evidence for reduced burden of deleterious variation due to classically theorized ‘genetic purging’. Applying this database to unsolved recessive conditions in the GME population reduced the number of potential disease-causing variants by four- to sevenfold. These results show variegated genetic architecture in GME populations and support future human genetic discoveries in Mendelian and population genetics

Number and subtypes of natural killer cells in patients with allergic rhinitis in comparison to healthy subjects

"n Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Background: Allergic rhinitis is a common disorder with great morbidity. Its prevalence has increased during recent years, therefore attracting attentions to its mechanisms. Type 2 cytokines play a major role in allergies. It has been proposed that Natural killer (NK) cells may be able to produce type 2 cytokines. This study was done to evaluate NK cells number and subtypes in patients with allergic rhinitis, comparing healthy subjects."n"nMethods: In a case control study, patients with allergic rhinitis were compared to healthy non-atopic subjects. Allergic rhinitis was diagnosed according to ARIA guidelines. NK cells quantity was studied by staining of peripheral blood mono nuclear cells with anti-CD16-FITC and anti-CD56-PE and evaluated by two color flowcytometry. Intracellular cytokines were evaluated by tri-color flowcytometry. NK cells were separated by magnetic beads, and cultured for 72 hours. Secretion of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and IFN-γ was measured by ELISA, in stimulated and unstimulated conditions."n"nResults: Patients had more CD16+ CD56+ NK cells than control group. IL-4+ NK cells were significantly higher in patients (p<0.001), but the number of IFN-γ+ NK cells was not different. Cytokine secretion of NK cells was similar in case and control groups. Although IL-13 level after stimulation seemed higher in patients, the difference was not significant."n"nConclusion: NK cells number is increased in patients with allergic rhinitis and a considerable number of them produce IL-4

Langerin(+) Dermal Dendritic Cells Are Critical for CD8(+) T Cell Activation and IgH gamma-1 Class Switching in Response to Gene Gun Vaccines

International audienceThe C-type lectin langerin/CD207 was originally discovered as a specific marker for epidermal Langerhans cells (LC). Recently, additional and distinct subsets of langerin(+) dendritic cells (DC) have been identified in lymph nodes and peripheral tissues of mice. Although the role of LC for immune activation or modulation is now being discussed controversially, other langerin(+) DC appear crucial for protective immunity in a growing set of infection and vaccination models. In knock-in mice that express the human diphtheria toxin receptor under control of the langerin promoter, injection of diphtheria toxin ablates LC for several weeks whereas other langerin(+) DC subsets are replenished within just a few days. Thus, by careful timing of diphtheria toxin injections selective states of deficiency in either LC only or all langerin(+) cells can be established. Taking advantage of this system, we found that, unlike selective LC deficiency, ablation of all langerin(+) DC abrogated the activation of IFN-γ-producing and cytolytic CD8(+) T cells after gene gun vaccination. Moreover, we identified migratory langerin(+) dermal DC as the subset that directly activated CD8(+) T cells in lymph nodes. Langerin(+) DC were also critical for IgG1 but not IgG2a Ab induction, suggesting differential polarization of CD4(+) T helper cells by langerin(+) or langerin-negative DC, respectively. In contrast, protein vaccines administered with various adjuvants induced IgG1 independently of langerin(+) DC. Taken together, these findings reflect a highly specialized division of labor between different DC subsets both with respect to Ag encounter as well as downstream processes of immune activation

JAGN1 mutation with distinct clinical features; two case reports and literature review

Abstract Jagunal homolog 1 (JAGN1) has been recognized as an essential protein in neutrophil function. The mutated JAGN1 is responsible for immunodeficiency related to innate and humoral defense mechanisms. This deficiency impairs neutrophil development and function, leading to recurrent infections and facial dysmorphism as phenotypic consequences of severe congenital neutropenia (SCN). We report two siblings having the reported JAGN1 mutation with different clinical manifestations. Recurrent abscess formation unresponsive to antibiotic therapy, a history of delayed umbilical separation, frequent bacterial or fungal infection, dysmorphic face, failure to thrive, and other coexisting organ abnormalities should prompt physicians to syndromic immunodeficiencies involving neutrophils. Genetic investigations to elucidate the responsible mutation is critical as clinical management varies. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, a multi-disciplinary team should perform further workups to investigate other coexisting malformations and neurodevelopmental evaluation