Beta thalassemia major: the effect of age on glomerular filtration rate

Thalassemia is a common hereditary hemoglobinopathy disorder that affects many organs in the body. Estimation of kidney function is important, as it is the vital organ that plays the major role in the elimination of accumulated iron as well as the chelating drugs that have to be used as therapy. Sixty- three patients aged 1-29 years, with a mean ± SD of 14 ± 6.7 years, affected with beta- thalassemia major in Tabriz Children's Hospital were evaluated for their renal function on the basis of their age, serum iron, serum ferritin and serum creatinine levels along with two methods of estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR); by Schwartz method for those under 18 years old and using Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula for those who were 18 years and above. Elevation of serum creatinine denoting renal dysfunction was not seen in our patients, but hyperfiltration was a common finding. An increasing GFR was observed, which corresponded to age, but no relationships were seen between serum iron, serum ferritin, regular blood transfusion, chelating therapy to GFR.     

Comparison of venous and arterial blood sampling for the assessment of platelet aggregation with whole blood impedance aggregometry

Platelet monitoring is presently under evaluation in the clinic as a tool to improve antiplatelet treatment in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Measuring platelet function has, however, many inherent problems. It is important not only to evaluate the method used, but also to evaluate and standardize sampling and sample handling. As platelet monitoring is often performed in connection to coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary interventions, arterial sampling may be more convenient. However, in the outpatient follow-up setting venous sampling is, for obvious reasons, more practical and convenient. In the present study we compared platelet aggregation in blood collected from the arterial sheath to blood collected from the antecubital vein using multiple electrode aggregometry in whole blood in 28 patients with CAD. We found that sampling from artery and vein give similar data and that an identical number of patients with insufficient antiplatelet responses ('low responders' to aspirin and clopidogrel, respectively, according to predefined criteria) were detected with respect to adenosine diphosphate induced and arachidonic-acid induced aggregation. Thus both arterial and venous blood samples can be used in the monitoring of platelet function when multiple electrode aggregometry is applied to detect 'low responders'.     

Influenza A viruses: why focusing on M2e-based universal vaccines

The threat of highly virulent avian influenza, such as H5N1 and swine-origin H1N1 influenza viruses, bring out an urgent need to develop a universal influenza vaccine, which may provide cross-protection against different strain of influenza A viruses. The extra-domain of influenza M2 protein (M2e), which is almost completely conserved among all subtypes of influenza A viruses, is considered as a promising candidate target for the development of a broad-spectrum recombinant influenza A vaccine. The results of several preclinical studies with M2e protein, with or without carriers, have already proved the successful protection of M2e-based vaccinated animal model against lethal challenge of heterologous and homologous influenza A viruses. Recently, the results of Phase I/II clinical trail studies with M2e-based vaccines have raised hopes for considering these vaccines against seasonal and pandemic influenza A strains. Hence, it is expected that more and more effective and safe universal influenza vaccines based on M2e will be developed for prevention of seasonal and pandemic influenza in the near future.     

Sequence analysis of cox1 and nad1 genes in Echinococcus granulosus G3 genotype in camels (Camelus dromedarius) from central Iran

Nineteen hydatid cyst isolates collected from camels in central Iran were subjected to sequences analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) genes. A consensus sequence obtained containing 366 nucleotides for cox1 and 471 nucleotides for nad1 genes. Overall, the camel isolates indicated five different sequences in cox1 and nine in nad1 genes. The sequences analysis indicated that 26.3%, 42.1%, and 31.6% of isolates belonging to G1, G3, and G6 genotypes of Echinococcus granulosus, respectively. The isolates with G3 genotype indicated one cox1 sequence having 100% homology with reference G3 sequence (AN: M84663) and two different nad1 sequences, one having100% homology with reference G3 sequence (AN: AJ237634) and the other with a silent mutation (G to A) in position 279. The presence of G3 genotype (buffalo strain) of E. granulosus as dominant genotype in camels is emphasized. As G3 genotype has formerly been reported in human, the epidemiological role of camels is warranted in future surveys.     

A functional polymorphism in the miR-146a gene is associated with the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a preliminary report

Growing evidence showed that microRNAs (miRs) are involved in normal hematopoiesis and the pathogenesis of several hematological malignancies. Genetic variations or mutations occurring in the miR gene region may affect the property of miRs through altering miR expression and/or maturation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible relationship between two miRs polymorphisms, hsa-miR-146a (rs2910164 G>C) and hsa-miR-499 (rs3746444 T>C), and the susceptibility to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in a sample of Iranian population. This case–control study was performed on 75 children diagnosed with ALL and 115 age- and sex-matched children with no history of cancer of any type (as the control group). Tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction was applied for genotyping the variants. We found that the rs2910164 G>C variant of hsa-miR-146a significantly increased the risk of ALL (CC vs. GG, OR?=?4.24, 95 %CI?=?1.52–11.87, P?=?0.006; GC vs. GG, OR?=?3.55, 95 % CI?=?1.41–8.93, P?=?0.007; C vs. T, OR?=?1.73, 95 % CI?=?1.13–2.67, P?=?0.012). With respect to hsa-miR-499 rs3746444 T/C, no significant difference in allele and genotype frequencies of the rs3746444 variant between ALL patients and controls was observed. Our results for the first time demonstrated that the miR-146a rs2910164, but not miR-499 rs3746444 variant, was associated with increased risk for developing pediatrics ALL in an Iranian population.     

Association of functional polymorphism at the miR-502-binding site in the 3′ untranslated region of the SETD8 gene with risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia,a preliminary report

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs, bind to the 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs, where they interfere with translation of genes and are implicated in the pathogenesis of diverse diseases. In the present study, we evaluate the impact of rs16917496 polymorphism within the miR-502 miRNA seed region at the 3′UTR of SEDT8 on childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This case-control study was done on 75 ALL and 115 healthy children. Genotyping of rs16917496 C/T polymorphism was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The results showed that CT as well as CT?+?TT decreased the risk of ALL in comparison with CC genotype (odds ratio (OR)?=?0.29, 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI)?=?0.11–0.78, P?=?0.014 and OR?=?0.31, 95 % CI?=?0.12–0.82, P?=?0.016, respectively). Our results demonstrated that SETD8 rs16917496 C/T polymorphism was associated with decreased risk of developing pediatric ALL in Zahedan, southeast Iran. Larger studies with different ethnicities are desired to validate our findings.