Ghrelin Administration Increases the Bax/Bcl-2 Gene Expression Ratio in the Heart of Chronic Hypoxic Rats

Purpose: Programmed cell death or apoptosis, is a biochemical procedure that initiates due to some conditions, including hypoxia. Bax and Bcl-2 are among the agents that regulate apoptosis. The amplification of the first one triggers the initiation of apoptosis, and the second one prevents it. Ghrelin is an endogenous peptide that antiapoptosis is its new effect. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of ghrelin on the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Methods: Twenty four wistar rats were divided randomly in three groups; control, hypoxic + saline and hypoxic + ghrelin. Hypoxic animals lived in O2 11% for 2 weeks and received either saline or ghrelin subcutaneously daily. The bax and Bcl-2 gene expression were measured by Real-Time RT-PCR. Results: Chronic hypoxia increased the Bax gene expression significantly compared with normal animals (P = 0.008), but the Bcl-2 was not affected by hypoxia. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio also amplified significantly (P=0.005). Ghrelin administration significantly increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the hypoxic animals compared to the hypoxic + saline and normal groups (p=0.042 and P= 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: In the present study, animals’ treatment with ghrelin leads to an increment of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, which indicates a controversy related to cardioprotection of ghrelin

Sporadic colorectal polyps and mismatch repair proteins

Background: Colorectal cancers often arise from benign polyps. Adenomatous polyps and serrated polyps progress step by step to adenocarcinoma and change into malignant cancers. Genetic and epigenetic changes have correlation with specific stages of polyp-adenocarcinoma progression and colorectal cancer histopathological changes. Aims: In this study we used immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining in sporadic colorectal polyps to assay functional status of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 proteins, to track genetic/epigenetic roles of this issue in our patients. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study we assessed all patients who were admitted with sporadic colorectal polyps and underwent polypectomy in endoscopy department during 2004-2008. Result: IHC results were abnormal in 6.8% cases for MLH1, in 4.5% cases for MSH2, in 3% for MSH6, and in 4.8% for PMS2. In all cases with abnormal PMS2, MLH1 was also reported as abnormal. Same results were reported for abnormal MSH2, which is accompanied with abnormal MSH6 in all cases (P values < 0.001). There is no significant difference between IHC staining results, gender, dysplasia grade, adenomatous type, and invasion. On the other hand, there was significant difference between IHC staining results, polyp location, and mean age of patients. The same significant difference was between adenomatous polyps and serrated adenoma polyps by MLH1 and PMS2 (P values < 0.05). Conclusion: According to our findings, maybe MMR dysfunction is the cause of sporadic colorectal polyps in younger age and its increasing risk of dysplasia progression and malignancy progression is only in serrated adenoma. Sporadic polyps in left colon had a higher risk to progress to malignancies, and abnormal IHC staining for MLH1 and PMS2 in serrated polyps is much more than in other adenomatous polyps

Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 gene polymorphism C1858T is not associated with leprosy in Azerbaijan, Northwest Iran

Background: Leprosy (Hansen′s disease) is a human chronic granulomatous infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Several types of study support a role for host genetics in susceptibility to leprosy. The protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) gene encodes an intracellular lymphoid protein tyrosine phosphatase that has been shown to play a negative regulatory role in T-cell activation. Aims: The aim of the present study was to find out associating the PTPN22 C1858T (R620W) polymorphism and leprosy in the Azeri population from Northwest Iran. Materials and Methods: A total of 153 treated leprosy patients and 197 healthy and ethnic matched controls entered this study. We used restriction fragment length polymorphism method to type PTPN22 C1858T polymorphism. Results: There was no significant difference in distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of PTPN22 C1858T polymorphism between leprosy patients and controls (P = 0.641 and 0.645; respectively). Moreover, there was no significant association between different clinical findings (karnofsky performance status score, clinical forms and manifestations of leprosy) and PTPN22 C1858T polymorphism. Data showed a low frequency of the minor (T) allele by 2.3% in leprosy and 1.5% in healthy individuals. Conclusions: The PTPN22 C1858T (R620W) is not relevant in susceptibility to leprosy in the Azeri population of Northwest Iran

Interleukin-16 (IL-16) Gene Polymorphisms in Iranian Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Abstract Background &amp; Aims: A number of theories have been put forward to clarify the etiology of colorectal cancer (CRC), such as genetic alterations and cytokine production. A combination of inflammatory cytokines has an important role in cancer development. The aim of our study was to screen for alterations located in promoter and exons of IL-16 gene sequence, to determine the distribution of genotypes in individuals with CRC and healthy controls in a sample of Iranian population. methods: The case group consisted of 260 individuals with colorectal cancer and the control group included 405 healthy individuals. Three IL-16 gene polymorphisms (rs4072111, rs11556218, rs4778889) were genotyped using PCR-RFLP method. RFLP results were confirmed by direct sequencing. Results: A significant association between rs11556218 SNP in the IL-16 gene and the risk of CRC was found. The TG genotype of rs11556218 T/G polymorphism showed significant association with a 1.75 fold increased risk of CRC (P=0.005; adjusted OR: 1.759; 95% CI: 1.191-2.598). In addition a significant association between CC genotype of rs4778889 T/C polymorphism and decreased risk of CRC in male subjects (P=0.045; adjusted OR: 0.192; 95% CI: 0.038-0.967) was determined. Conclusion: This study is the first report of IL-16 gene polymorphisms among CRC patients from Iran. Our results suggest an influence of rs11556218 T&gt;G and rs4778889 T/C polymorphisms on the altered risk of CRC

Comparison of immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoglobulin G avidity techniques for screening of anti: Toxoplasma antibodies among single serum sample pregnant women in Tabriz, Iran

Background: Congenital toxoplasmosis is that pregnant women acquire the infection during gestation; diagnosis of the acute infection during pregnancy is a complex subject of maternal toxoplasmosis. Thus, the presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and/or IgM Toxoplasma antibodies in a single serum sample drawn during gestation cannot be used to define whether the infection was recently acquired or chronic. Materials and Methods: At this cross-sectional descriptive study, sera of 391 pregnant women examined and compared. They were in an age range of 21-35 years, referred by gynecologists and infectious disease specialists, during March 2012-April 2013. They have referred, 215 (54.98%), 102 (26%), 74 (18.92%) in the first, second and third trimesters of gestation, respectively. For each of them, a questionnaire was completed and serum samples were prepared in an equal condition, examined according to the procedures of indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and IgG Avidity techniques. Results: We have found 111 (28.38%) seronegative and 280 (71.61%) seropositive cases by IIF and 124 (31.70%) seronegative, 267 (68.28%) seropositive cases by ELISA. The IgG avidity test confirmed 45 (69.23%) and 7 (10.76%) doubtful cases of IgM test in IIF and ELISA techniques. Conclusions: This study highlights how to manage pregnant women with toxoplasmosis, especially in a single serum sample condition