Association of vitamin D receptor TaqI and ApaI genetic polymorphisms with nephrolithiasis and end stage renal disease: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The deficiency of vitamin D receptor (VDR) or its ligand, vitamin D3, is linked to the development of renal diseases. The TaqI (rs731236) and ApaI (rs7975232) polymorphisms of VDR gene are widely studied for their association with renal disease risk. However, studies have largely been ambiguous. METHODS: Meta-analysis was carried out to clarify the association of TaqI (2777 cases and 3522 controls) and ApaI (2440 cases and 3279 controls) polymorphisms with nephrolithiasis (NL), diabetic nephropathy (DN) and end stage renal disease (ESRD). RESULTS: The VDR TaqI C-allele under allele contrast was significantly associated with ESRD in both fixed effect and random effect models, and ApaI C-allele with ESRD only under fixed effect model. Cochrane Q-test showed no evidence of heterogeneity for TaqI polymorphism and a significant heterogeneity for Apa I polymorphism. No publication bias was observed for both the polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis identifies TaqI and ApaI polymorphisms of VDR gene as risk factors for renal diseases.

Incense smoke exposure augments systemic oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in male albino rats.

Incense smoke is reported to increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in exposed individuals. However, the mechanism underlying the toxic effect of incense smoke on cardiovascular system is unclear. To test this, we chronically exposed male albino rats to two different types of Arabian incense smoke and studied their effects on oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial function. Rats exposed to either of incense smoke showed a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and a significant decline in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Endothelial functional marker, nitric oxide (NO) was significantly decreased while endothelin-1 was significantly increased in rats exposed to both the incense types. Incense smoke exposure also led to a significant increase in chemokines and inflammatory mediators including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), interleukin-4 (IL-4), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Besides, incense smoke-exposed rats demonstrated a significant increase in the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecules-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. Importantly, cessation of incense smoke exposure for 30 days led to a significant reversal in the levels of all the studied markers. Collectively, this study describes oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation as possible underlying mechanisms in the toxic effects of incense smoke on increased CVD risk in exposed individuals. Findings also underscore that avoiding incense smoke exposure may have beneficial health effects.

Induction of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP1B1, increased oxidative stress and inflammation in the lung and liver tissues of rats exposed to incense smoke.

Incense smoke is increasingly being recognized as a potential environmental contaminant and is linked to malignant and non-malignant respiratory diseases. The detoxification of environmental contaminants including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) involves the induction of cytochrome P-450 family enzymes (CYPs) by PAHs. However, the detoxification of PAHs also results in the generation of reactive and unstable intermediary metabolites which are implicated in the oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation. It is unclear whether CYPs are similarly induced by incense smoke, which incidentally contains substantial amounts of PAHs. Here, we examined the impact of long-term incense smoke exposure on the induction of CYPs in male Wister Albino rats. Incense smoke exposure significantly induced the expression of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1 mRNAs in both lung and liver tissues. The extent of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 induction was significantly higher in the liver compared to that in the lung, while that of CYP1A2 was greater in the lung than in liver. Incense smoke exposure also increased malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione levels in lung and liver tissues, and the catalase activity in the liver tissues to significant levels. Furthermore incense smoke exposure led to a marked increase in TNF-α and IL-4 levels. The data demonstrate for the first time the capacity of incense smoke to induce CYP1 family enzymes in the target and non-target tissues. Induction of CYPs increased oxidative stress and inflammation appear to be intimately linked to promote the carcinogenesis and health complications in people chronically exposed to incense smoke.

Evaluation of sugarcane promising clones based on the morphophysiological traits developed from fuzz.

Sugarcane is one of the critical commercial crops and principal sources of ethanol and sugar worldwide. Unfavorable conditions and poor seed setting rates hinder variety development in sugarcane. Countries like Pakistan directly import fuzz (true seed) and other propagation material from the USA, China, Brazil, etc. In this study, we imported fuzz from China, developed 29 genotypes germinating in the glasshouse, and evaluated at field conditions along with two local checks (CPF-251 and HSF-240). Morphophysiological data were recorded, including plant height (PH), cane length (CL), internodal length (IL), tiller number (TN), brix percentage (B), cane diameter (CD), chlorophyll a (Chl. a), chlorophyll b (Chl. b), and total chlorophyll (T. Chl). Results showed highly significant (p < 0.001) differences among the sugarcane accessions for all the studied traits. High broad-sense heritability (81.89% to 99.91%) was recorded for all the studied parameters. Genetic Advance (GA) ranges from 4.6% to 65.32%. The highest GA was observed for PH (65.32%), followed by CL (63.28%). Chlorophyll leaching assay was also performed at different time points (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 min). All the genotypes showed the same leaching trend at all times, and better performing genotypes showed less leaching compared to poor performing, indicating the high amount of cutin and wax on the leaf surface. Correlation analysis showed that PH, CL, IL, and TN had significant associations. Principal components analysis (PCA) further confirms these results. Based on PCA and correlation results, PH, CL, IL, and TN can be utilized as a selection criterion for sugarcane improvement. Genotypes such as NS-4a, NS-5, NS-6, NS-8, NS-9, and NS-15 are recommended for future breeding programs related to sugarcane variety development.

Molecular detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pulmonary and extrapulmonary samples in a hospital-based study.

OBJECTIVE: Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains a deadly infectious disease. India contributes to one-third of the global TB burden. However, no studies have been carried out in the Telangana (Hyderabad) population using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Therefore, the current study evaluated the role of RT-PCR as a rapid and non-invasive test to diagnose TB by testing for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This hospital-based study examined 1670 samples (900 EPTB; 770 PTB) comprising tissue (n = 537), peritoneal fluid (n = 420), sputum (n = 166), bronchial fluid (n = 126), cerebrospinal fluid (n = 145), ascetic fluid (n = 76), sputum pus (n = 78), urine (n = 79), and bronchoalveolar fluid (n = 43) samples. DNA from samples was separated using specific isolation kits and subjected to RT-PCR. RESULTS: In this study, we enrolled 1670 subjects and categorized 54.4% as females and 45.6% as males. The collected samples were categorized as 48.5% of fluid samples, followed by tissue (32.2%), sputum (9.9%), urine (4.7%), and pus-swab (4.6%). RT-PCR analysis revealed that 4.7% patients were positive for Mtb. Our results revealed that 61% of the affected patients were male and 39% were female. Among the specimen types, tissue samples gave the highest proportion of positive results (36.3%). CONCLUSION: The results showed that RT-PCR should be implemented and given top priority in TB diagnosis to save time and facilitate a definitive diagnosis. Tissue samples are highly recommended to screen the Mtb through the technique RTPCR. Future studies should extend the technique to the global population and exome sequencing analysis should be performed to identify TB risk markers.

Biochemical and molecular characterization of non-host resistance keys in food crops.

Generally, under normal conditions plants are resistant to many of the incompatible pathogens (viral, fungal and bacterial), and this is named "non-host resistance phenomenon". To understand this phenomenon, different types of food crops (faba bean, squash, barley and wheat) were inoculated with compatible and incompatible pathogens. Strong resistance symptoms were observed in the non-host/incompatible pathogen combinations as compared with host/compatible pathogen combinations, which showed severe infection (susceptibility). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) mostly hydrogen peroxide and superoxide were significantly increased early 24 and 48 h after inoculation (hai) in the non-host plants comparing to the host. Antioxidant enzymes activity (catalase, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase) were not increased at the same early time 24, 48 hai in the non-host resistant and host resistant plants, however, it increased later at 72 and 168 hai. Electrolyte leakage decreased significantly in non-host resistant and host resistant/pathogen combinations. Catalase and peroxidase genes were significantly expressed in non-host resistant and in host resistant plants as compared to the host susceptible one, which did not show expression using RT-PCR technique. Furthermore, Yr5, Yr18 and Yr26 resistant genes were identified positively using PCR in all treatments either host susceptible or non-host resistant plants in which prove that no clear role of these resistant genes in resistance. Early accumulation of ROS could have a dual roles, first role is preventing the growth or killing the pathogens early in the non-host, second, stimulating the gene appearance of related genes in addition the activition of antioxidant enzymes later on which thereby, neutralize the harmful effect of ROS and consequently suppressing disease symptoms. The new finding from this study supporting the plant breeders with new source of resistance to develop new resistant cultivars and/or stop the breakdown of resistance in resistant cultivars.

Increased CD5+ B-cells are associated with autoimmune phenomena in lepromatous leprosy patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Leprosy is a chronic slowly progressive infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae that primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Lepromatous leprosy is characterized by absence of T-cell responses to M. leprae and advanced clinical disease. It is frequently associated with the presence of autoantibodies, which might be related to CD19+CD5+ and CD19+CD5- B lymphocyte percentages. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the percentages of CD19+CD5+ and CD19+CD5- B cell subsets as well as the total B cells in lepromatous leprosy patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty lepromatous leprosy patients and ten healthy subjects served as control were included in this study. Venous blood samples were analyzed by flow cytometry to determine the B cell subsets and total B cell percentages. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, the percentages of CD19+CD5+ B cell subset and total B cells were found to be significantly higher in the patient group. While, the percentage of CD19+CD5- B cell subset was found to be higher in the patient group than the control without any significantly difference. Regarding the eye affection, the percentage of total B cells was observed to be significantly higher in affected patients compared to the non-affected group. CONCLUSION: The observed significant increases in CD19+CD5+ and total B cell percentages in patients with lepromatous leprosy suggests a possible role of these cells in the disorganized protective immune response as well as the development of eye complications in these patients.

Integrated control of white rot disease on beans caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum using Contans® and reduced fungicides application.

This study was conducted to determine the compatibility of Contans® (Coniothyrium minitans) with fungicides against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Results showed that both Contans® and Topsin® significantly reduced the disease incidence caused by S. sclerotiorum by 90% and 95% survival plants, respectively when they were individually applied and compared to control. While, soil application of Contans® and Sumisclex mixture was the most effective in suppressing the white rot disease incidence that produced 100% survival plants, application of C. minitans combined with the reduced doses of fungicides would be advantageous in saving labor cost, thus increasing production efficiency of bean.

Insertion and deletion polymorphism in the alpha-2B adrenoceptor gene in pregnant women ripens gestational diabetes mellitus.

There are no earlier studies that reported the association of the 12Glu9 polymorphism in the alpha-2B adrenoceptor (ADRA2B) gene with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We examined the potential association between the ADRA2B gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the Saudi population with GDM. Pregnant women with GDM have been reported to exhibit the same susceptibility as that observed in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We have selected I/D polymorphism of the ADRA2B gene located in chromosome 2q11.1 that has been extensively related to T2DM and cardiovascular diseases. This case-control study was conducted with 200 GDM and 300 non-GDM pregnant women. Genotyping of I/D polymorphism was performed by conventional PCR method. Biochemical analyses were found to be significantly different between GDM and non-GDM subjects (p < 0.05). Genotype (ID + DD vs II, p = 0.0002) and allele (D vs I, p = 0.0002) frequencies of the 12Glu9 polymorphism were found to be statistically significant. However, a significant difference was found between allele and genotypes of I/D polymorphism of the ADRA2B gene or the clinical characteristics of the subjects. Our results obtained in this study indicate the ADRA2B gene in the Saudi women was associated with the development of GDM.

Ultrastructural changes, increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and altered cardiac hypertrophic gene expressions in heart tissues of rats exposed to incense smoke.

Incense smoke exposure has recently been linked to cardiovascular disease risk, heart rate variability, and endothelial dysfunction. To test the possible underlying mechanisms, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers, gene expressions of cardiac hypertrophic and xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and ultrastructural changes were measured, respectively, using standard, ELISA-based, real-time PCR, and transmission electron microscope procedures in heart tissues of Wistar rats after chronically exposing to Arabian incense. Malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis alpha (TNF)-α, and IL-4 levels were significantly increased, while catalase and glutathione levels were significantly declined in incense smoke-exposed rats. Incense smoke exposure also resulted in a significant increase in atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, ß-myosin heavy chain, CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Rats exposed to incense smoke displayed marked ultrastructural changes in heart muscle with distinct cardiac hypertrophy, which correlated with the augmented hypertrophic gene expression as well as markers of cardiac damage including creatine kinase-myocardial bound (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Increased oxidative stress, inflammation, altered cardiac hypertrophic gene expression, tissue damage, and architectural changes in the heart may collectively contribute to increased cardiovascular disease risk in individuals exposed to incense smoke. Increased gene expressions of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 may be instrumental in the incense smoke-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Thus, incense smoke can be considered as a potential environmental pollutant and its long-term exposure may negatively impact human health.

Apolipoprotein C3 Gene Variants and Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes in Saudi Subjects.

BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein C3 (ApoC3) is a major constituent of VLDL and is a modulator of triglyceride metabolism. Recent genetic studies have implicated several ApoC3 gene polymorphisms in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Considering the high prevalence of T2DM in Saudi Arabia, we sought to examine the possible association of ApoC3 gene variants with diabetes risk in Saudi population. METHODS: The 3238C>G and -482C>T polymorphisms of ApoC3 gene were studied in 268 T2DM patients and 255 healthy controls by TaqMan probe based real time polymerase chain reaction assays. RESULTS: Diabetic patients displayed significantly increased systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia compared to control. Patients also had markedly elevated plasma VLDL levels. Genotype distribution of 3238C>G polymorphism was significantly different between patients and control. Consistently, this variant was found to be significantly associated with T2DM risk. Contrastingly, no significant relationship was found between -482C>T polymorphism and T2DM risk. Association of disease risk with 3238C>G polymorphism remained significant even after accounting for the established risk factors. Genotype-based stratification revealed a significant correlation of GG genotype of 3238C>G with elevated plasma triglycerides, insulin resistance, and VLDL, whereas the TT genotype of -482C>T correlated with elevated triglyceride and VLDL levels. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, 3238C>G polymorphism of ApoC3 gene appears to augment the propensity to develop T2DM, while -482C>T to negatively affect lipid metabolism in Saudi subjects.