Sex-Biased Expression of Genes Allocated in the Autosomal Chromosomes: Blood LC-MS/MS Protein Profiling in Healthy Subjects.

Background: Sex and gender have a large impact in human health and disease prediction. According to genomic/genetics, men differ from women by a limited number of genes in Y chromosome, while the phenotypes of the 2 sexes differ markedly. Methods: In this study, serum samples from six healthy Bahraini men and women were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Bioinformatics databases and tools were used for protein/peptide (PPs) identification and gene localization. The PPs that differed significantly (p < 0.05, ANOVA) in abundance with a fold change (FC) of ≥1.5 were identified. Results: Revealed 20 PPs, 11 were upregulated in women with very high FC (up to 8 folds), and 9 were upregulated in men but with much lower FC. The PPs are encoded by genes located in autosomal chromosomes, indicative of sex-biased gene expression. The only PP related to sex, the sex hormone-binding globulin, was upregulated in women. The remaining PPs were involved in immunity, lipid metabolism, gene expression, connective tissue, and others, with some overlap in function. Conclusions: The upregulated PPs in men or women are mostly reflecting the functon or risk/protection provided by the PPs to the specific sex, e.g., Apo-B100 of LDLC. Finally, the basis of sex-biased gene expression and sex phenotypic differences needs further investigation.

Toxoplasma Lymphadenopathy: A Comparative Diagnostic Assessment of Clinical, Serological and Histopathological Findings.

Introduction: Toxoplasma Gondii (TG) is a zoonotic protozoan with extensive symptomatology. Toxoplasmic lymphadenopathy is considered an affirmative sign and is proved by a biopsy of the enlarged nodule. This study was conducted to compare the clinical, serological, and histopathological findings for the diagnosis of toxoplasmic lymphadenopathy. Materials and Methods: This study involved biopsy examinations from twelve cases with TG lymphadenopathy. ELISA serological tests were performed for TG specific IgM and IgG immunoglobulins. PCR was done to ratify the results obtained by ELISA. Results: The ages of the patients ranged from 15 to 48 years (mean=27.8). Most of the cases are male n=8(66.7%), while female n=4(33.3%). The asthenia was not only the most frequent clinical presentation (83.3%), but it also last longer. All cases had a positive biopsy. Eight (67.7%) cases revealed seropositivity. Two of them had positive PCR in those who were positive IgM, suggesting that the infection was acute. Six (50%) cases revealed positive IgG tests, while those with negative serology were 4(33.3%). The site of lymph nodes involvement had been assessed and mostly cervical (91.6%). Conclusion: The histopathological results yielded 100% positive findings, thus biopsy was very important in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of lymph nodes enlargement. The chronic phase of toxoplasmosis does not show the protozoa in the blood causing an absent DNA band for amplification of the PCR cycles, which could explain the lack of bands particular for TG. A negative serological test does not exclude toxoplasmic lymphadenitis, especially in immune-compromised patients.