Evaluation of KIR genes in recurrent miscarriage

Purpose

Natural killer (NK) cells express killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) which recognize HLA class I molecules on trophoblasts. KIRs could either activate NK cells or inhibit them to produce soluble factors necessary for the maintenance of pregnancy, thus they are suspected of being involved in the causes of recurrent miscarriage. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is any possible association between KIR genes, genotypes and recurrent miscarriage.

Methods

The present study was carried out on 40 women who had unexplained recurrent miscarriage and 90 controls. Sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes analysis were used to investigate 16 KIR genes. All data were statistically analyzed by Fisher Exact Test.

Results

The rate of Bx genotypes that consists elevated number of activating KIR genes was significantly higher (p = 0.014) in women with recurrent miscarriage when compared with the control group. Additionally, the frequency of AA genotype (AA1) of the subjects in the study group was significantly lower than the frequency of the subjects in the control group (p = 0,014). Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences in the frequencies of the individual KIR genes between women with recurrent miscarriage and the control group.

Conclusions

Inclined balance of KIRs toward an activating state in NK cells may contribute to recurrent miscarriage.     

In vivo genotoxic effect of cadmium chloride in mice leukocytes using comet assay.

The alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) or "comet" assay under alkaline conditions was used to measure DNA damage in the leukocytes of Swiss Albino male mice exposed to cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)). The effect of CdCl(2) was studied after a single acute oral administration of a range of doses starting from 0.5 to 128.0 mg/kg b.wt of CdCl(2).The samples of whole blood were collected from each mouse at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h post-treatment to study single/double strand breaks in DNA. A significant increase in mean comet tail length indicating DNA damage was observed with CdCl(2) at 24 h post-treatment (P<0.05) with CdCl(2) when compared to controls. A gradual decrease in the mean tail length was observed at 48 h post-treatment indicating repair of the damaged DNA. The mean tail length showed a dose-related increase and time-dependent decrease after treatment with CdCl(2) when compared to controls. The study also confirms that the comet assay is a sensitive and rapid method to detect DNA damage caused by heavy metal like Cadmium (Cd).     

A new set of monoclonal antibodies directed to proline-rich and central regions of p53

The p53 protein can adopt several conformations in cells--"latent," "active," or mutant--depending on cellular stress or mutations of the TP53 gene. Today, only a few antibodies discriminating these conformations are available. We produced three new anti-p53 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against epitopes of human p53. The H53C1 MAb recognizes an epitope located at the N-terminal part of the central region of p53 and can discriminate mutant from wild-type conformation. The H53C2 and H53C3 MAbs are against different epitopes within the proline-rich region of p53. Moreover, the H53C2 epitope is located in the second negative regulatory domain of p53 between residues 80 and 93. These MAbs can be used as new tools to study and modulate the cellular functions of p53.     

Electrocardiographic changes in patients with ischaemic stroke and their prognostic importance

We investigated prognostic importance of electrocardiographic (ECG) changes in ischaemic stroke patients without primary heart disease because of the limited evidence. This study consisted of 162 patients (92 male, age 64 +/- 14 years) with first ischaemic stroke presenting to hospital during 18 months. One-month mortality was analysed by means of ischaemia-like ECG changes, long QT and arrhythmia. Ischaemia-like ECG changes were observed in 79% of stroke patients and long QTc in 26% and arrhythmias in 44%. Early mortality rate was 27% (n = 44). Age, ST-segment change and abnormal U wave were univariate predictors of early mortality (each p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, age > 65 years (OR = 1.4, p = 0.02) and presence of ST-segment change (OR = 2.6, p = 0.01) were only independent predictors. Although sensitivity and specificity of ST-segment change were relatively low to identify patients at risk of death, its negative predictive value was 82%. The ECG changes are frequently seen in selected patients with ischaemic stroke. Regardless of origin, ST-segment change can be a predictor of early mortality.     

Dimensional changes and water sorption of two acrylic polymer materials reinforced with glass fibres

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of glass fibre reinforcement on the dimensional changes and water sorption of a heat-polymerising denture acrylic polymer and a microwave-polymerising denture acrylic polymer. Fifteen specimens from each group were prepared with 2% by weight (18 mg) E-glass fibre and 15 without glass fibre. The dimensional change measurements were made at three different stages on the 60 specimens. The water sorption calculations were made on specimens immersed in distilled water at 37 degrees C +/- 1 degree C for 0, 1 and 7 days. Glass fibre reinforcement and processing method do not affect the dimensional change of test specimens, but as the time increased the dimensional change decreased. The glass fibre reinforcement decreased water sorption, but the two processing methods failed to show a significant difference.     

Comparison of various simple insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function indices in lean hyperandrogenemic and normoandrogenemic young hirsute women

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare various simple insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function indices in lean, hirsute, young women. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Departments of endocrinology and metabolism at a university and a state hospital. PATIENT(S): Seventy-one hirsute young women were classified as hyperandrogenemic or normoandrogenemic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function indices derived from a single sample and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). RESULT(S): Lean hyperandrogenemic hirsute women have insulin resistance and increased beta-cell function. The most sensitive indices of insulin resistance were total and 1-hour and 2-hour post-challenge insulin levels during OGTT. When a cut-off value of 3.2 or greater for homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was accepted, 46% of hyperandrogenemic women and 30% of normoandrogenemic women were insulin resistant. Fasting insulin level was best correlated with the fasting insulin resistance index, HOMA-IR, and Quicky index. The HOMA-IR was best correlated with fasting insulin level and the hepatic insulin sensitivity index (ISI(HOMA)). CONCLUSION(S): Insulin levels based on OGTT are the most useful index of insulin resistance and beta-cell function index in hirsute women. The HOMA-IR may be a proposed global test for insulin resistance; it correlated well with both OGTT-derived insulin resistance and beta-cell function indices and with global insulin resistance indices derived from a single sample (such as ISI (HOMA), Quicky index, FIRI(-1), fasting Belfiore index, and glucose/insulin ratio).