UDP-glucuronosyltransferase genetic variation in North African populations: a comparison with African and European data

Background: Genetic variation in glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) is crucial in drug metabolism and risk of some diseases.

Aim: To examine genetic variation in UGT in North African populations.

Subjects and methods: Allele frequencies of SNPs UGT1A4^24Thr, UGT1A4^48Val, UGT2B15^85Tyr, UGT2B15^523Thr and UGT2B17 CNV deletion from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya were compared to European and Sub-Saharan populations.

Results: North Africans are the group with the highest genetic heterogeneity given by internal differences in the occurrence of UGT2B17 deletion, UGT1A4^48Val and UGT1A4 haplotypes. UGT2B15 SNPs differentiate Sub-Saharans from the rest of the populations.

Conclusion: North African populations show a high frequency of carriers of UGT2B15^523Thr, a variant linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer. High Atlas Moroccans and Algerians show low frequency of UGT2B17^del, a variant associated with high concentrations of testosterone and oestradiol.     

Nitric oxide and malondialdehyde levels in plasma and tissue of psoriasis patients

Background The pathogenesis of psoriasis has not been known exactly yet. Recently, it has been suggested that increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) may play a part in the pathogenesis of various skin diseases, including psoriasis. Objectives In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of ROS in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Methods A convenience sample of 23 patients with psoriasis and 23 healthy subjects consented to participate in the study. Plasma NO and MDA levels were measured in all participants. Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) and tissue levels of MDA on lesional and non‐lesional skin regions of psoriasis patients were measured. In addition, the correlation between age, gender with plasma NO, plasma MDA and tissue MDA was assessed. Results Plasma levels of NO and MDA in psoriasis patients (135.8 μmol/L, 4.33 μmol/L, respectively) were statistically significantly higher than those in controls (33.6 μmol/L, 2.03 μmol/L, respectively). Tissue levels of MDA in lesional tissues (49.18 nmol/gr) were significantly higher than those in non‐lesional tissues (28.41 nmol/gr). A significant correlation was not found between the PASI and levels of NO and MDA. In addition, a significant negative correlation was found between the plasma NO levels and age. Conclusion NO and MDA levels are elevated in psoriasis patients, which may indicate that oxidative stress plays an important role in the aetiopathogenesis of psoriasis.     

Labial Adhesion with Acute Urinary Retention Secondary to Bartholin's Abscess

Labial adhesions are usually seen in early childhood or in the postmenopausal years, but this clinical entity is rarely seen in the reproductive years. We report a case of labial adhesion with acute urinary retention secondary to Bartholin's abscess in a reproductive‐aged woman with normal menstrual periods. We emphasize the possible occurrence of labial adhesion following Bartholin's abscess in the reproductive years with normal estrogen levels.