Influence of sexually transmitted infections on the cervical cytological abnormalities among Iranian women: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are one of the world's most severe health challenges. The existence of STIs such as human papillomavirus (HPV) might cause cervical cell changes leading to cervical cancer. Objective: This study aims to assess the association of STIs with cervical cytological abnormalities and genital warts among women in northeastern Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 190 women referred to the central laboratory of Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research, Mashhad, Iran from March to July 2022. The presence of genital infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Herpes simplex viruses (1 and 2) were assessed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction method. HPV genital infection was detected based on the principles of reverse hybridization, and cellular changes in the cervix were examined by the liquid-based cytology technique. Results: The mean age of participants was 35.33 ± 8.9 yr. 34 different HPV genotypes were detected in all HPV-positive cases, and the most common genotype was low-risk HPV6. No significant association was found between STIs and cervical cytology abnormalities. The prevalence rates of sexually transmitted pathogens among HPV-positive and HPV-negative individuals were 10.9 and 1.6%, respectively. The frequency of genital warts was significantly higher in cases with multiple infections of high- and low-risk HPV genotypes. Conclusion: High percentages of the participants with non-HPV STIs and HPV infection had normal cervical cytology. It is advised to use STIs and HPV diagnostic tests along with cytology examinations for cervical cancer screening.

Associação do Genótipo e Fenótipo da Paraoxonase-1 com Angiografia Positiva para Doença Arterial Coronariana / Association of Paraoxonase-1 Genotype and Phenotype with Angiogram Positive Coronary Artery Disease

Resumo Fundamento Tem sido demonstrado que um aumento dos níveis séricos de PON1 é protetor contra vários distúrbios. Foi relatado que vários polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (SNPs, single nucleotide polymorphisms ) do gene PON1 estão associados a níveis e atividade de proteínas enzimáticas séricas. Objetivos Investigar a associação de SNPs do PON1 e atividade da paraoxonase sérica com a doença arterial coronariana (DAC). Métodos Foram estudados 601 pacientes não relacionados submetidos à angiografia coronária, incluindo aqueles com estenose >50% (N=266) e aqueles com estenose <30% (N=335). Os SNPs rs662 e rs840560 do gene da paraoxonase foram determinados utilizando o método ARMS-PCR e o SNP rs705379 foi genotipado utilizando análise de PCR-RFLP. A atividade da paraoxonase sérica foi medida utilizando paraoxon como substrato. O valor de p<0,05 foi considerado significante. Resultados A atividade da paraoxonase sérica não foi significativamente diferente entre os grupos de estudo. Após ajuste para idade, sexo, hipertensão, diabetes mellitus e dislipidemia, o genótipo GG e o modelo codominante de rs662 foram positivamente associados a uma angiografia positiva (respectivamente, OR = 2,424, IC 95% [1,123-5,233], p <0,05, OR = 1,663, IC 95% [1,086-2,547]). A atividade da paraoxonase sérica foi significativamente maior no alelo G e variante GG do polimorfismo rs662, alelo A e variante AA de rs854560 e alelo C e variante CC de rs705379. A análise de haplótipos mostrou que o haplótipo ATC foi significativamente mais prevalente no grupo com angiografia negativa. A análise entre os grupos indicou que o alelo A de rs662 foi significativamente associado à menor atividade da paraoxonase no grupo com angiografia positiva (p=0,019). Conclusões A presença do alelo G do polimorfismo de nucleotídeo único rs662 está independentemente associada ao aumento do risco de DAC.

Abstract Background It has been shown that increased serum PON1 levels are protective against several disorders. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the PON1 gene have been reported to be associated with serum enzyme protein levels and activity. Objective To investigate the association of SNPs of PON1 and serum paraoxonase activity with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods A total of 601 unrelated patients who underwent coronary angiography including those who had >50% stenosis (N=266) and those with <30% stenosis (N=335) were studied. The Paraoxonase gene rs662 and rs840560 SNPs were determined using the ARMS-PCR method and the rs705379 SNP was genotyped using PCR-RFLP analysis. Serum paraoxonase activity was measured using paraoxon as a substrate. A p value of p<0.05 was considered as significant. Results Serum paraoxonase activity was not significantly different between the study groups. After adjustment for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, the GG genotype and co-dominant model of rs662 was positively associated with a positive angiogram (respectively, OR=2.424, 95%CI [1.123-5.233], p<0.05, OR=1.663, 95%CI [1.086-2.547]). Serum paraoxonase activity was significantly higher in the G allele and GG variant of rs662, A allele and AA variant of rs854560 and C allele and CC variant of rs705379. The haplotype analysis has shown that the ATC haplotype was significantly more prevalent among the angiogram negative group. The analysis between groups indicated that the A allele of rs662 was significantly associated with lower paraoxonase activity in the positive angiogram group (p=0.019). Conclusions The presence of the G allele of the rs662 single nucleotide polymorphism is independently associated to increased risk of CAD.

Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease risk among the MASHAD study population.

INTRODUCTION: Dyslipidemia may be defined as increased levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), or a decreased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration. Dyslipidemia is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to investigate the association of dyslipidemia and CVD events among a population sample from Mashhad, in northeastern Iran. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study comprised a population of 8698 men and women aged 35-65 years who were recruited from the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorder (MASHAD) study. Socioeconomic and demographic status, anthropometric parameters, laboratory evaluations, lifestyle factors, and medical history were gathered through a comprehensive questionnaire and laboratory and clinical assessment for all participants. Cox regression model and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to evaluate the association of dyslipidemia and its components with CVD incidence. RESULTS: After 6 years of follow-up, 233 cases of CVD (including 119 cases of unstable angina [US], 74 cases of stable angina [SA], and 40 cases of myocardial infarction [MI]) were identified in the study population. Unadjusted baseline serum LDL-C, TC, and TG levels were positively associated with the risk of total CVD events among the entire population (HR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.19-2; P-value< 0.01; HR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.18-1.98; P < 0.01; HR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.27-2.03; P < 0.01, respectively). However, after adjusting for confounding factors (age, body mass index [BMI], family history of CVD, smoking status [non-smoker, ex-smoker and current smoker], lipid lowering drug treatment, anti-hypertensive drug treatment, hypertension, healthy eating index [HEI], total energy intake, and presence of diabetes mellitus), a significant direct association only remained between TC and MI risk in men (HR: 2.71; 95%CI: 1.12-6.57; P-value< 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the present study, TC baseline level was significantly associated with the risk of MI among men.

Association of the IL6 Gene Polymorphism with Component Features of Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Subjects.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Obesity is a component of the metabolic syndrome. Several genetic variants are reported to be associated with obesity and hypo adiponectinemia, including ars1800796 polymorphism of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene. Since obesity is associated with inflammatory factors, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between this polymorphism and MetS and its related features. Obese patients with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 (n = 182) were recruited into this study and divided into two groups; 110 patients with MetS, based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria, and 72 subjects without MetS. The anthropometric and biochemical data for the groups were compared. Genotyping was carried out using RT-PCR. The association of the genetic polymorphism with MetS and its components were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyzes. There was an association between the presence of the rs1800796polymorphism of the IL-6 gene, with BMI (P = 0.031), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (P = 0.010) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (P = 0.037), while this genetic variant did not show any significant association with the presence of MetS as defined by the IDF. We demonstrate an association between the rs1800796 genetic variant of the IL-6 gene with components of MetS including BMI, and HDL-cholesterol, but not the MetS itself. Therefore, supporting further studies are warranted to investigate this point in a larger population.

Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 and risk of cardiovascular disease: High-density lipoprotein dysfunction versus serum HDL-C concentrations.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is thought to be protective against cardiovascular disease (CVD), and HDL dysfunction is considered to be a risk factor for CVD. It is unclear whether there is an association between Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV1) infection and CVD risk. We have assessed HDL lipid peroxidation (HDLox) as a marker of HDL dysfunction and CVD risk in a subgroup of the MASHAD cohort study. One hundred and sixty two individuals including 50 subjects positive for HTLV1 infection and 112 individuals negative for HTLV1 infection were recruited. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters including serum hs-CRP, fasted lipid profile (HDL-C, LDL, triglycerides, and cholesterol), and fasting blood glucose were determined. Serum HDLox was also measured in the study participants. Multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the association between serum HDLox and HTLV1 infection. None of the traditional CVD risk factors were associated with HTLV1 infection, including serum HDL-C. However, serum HDLox was independently associated with the presence of HTLV1 infection. Logistic regression analysis showed that subjects who were positive for HTLV1 infection were also significantly more likely than uninfected individuals to have higher HDLox (odds ratio 9.35, 95%CI: 3.5-24.7; P < 0.001). HDLox was increased approximately 20% (P < 0.001) in infected subjects compared to the uninfected group. Serum HDLox is a marker of CVD risk factor and increased in individuals affected by HTLV1 infection compared to healthy subjects. © 2019 BioFactors, 45(3):374-380, 2019.

Interaction between a variant of CDKN2A/B-gene with lifestyle factors in determining dyslipidemia and estimated cardiovascular risk: A step toward personalized nutrition.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Several genome-wide-association-studies have identified genetic variants in a region on chromosome 9p21 that are associated with an increased risk of Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. Here we have explored the interaction of a genetic variant of the CDKN2A/B-rs10811661 gene locus with cardiovascular risk factors and environmental-exposures (e.g., diet and physical activity) in 1165 individuals recruited from the Mashhad-Stroke and Heart-Atherosclerotic-Disorders cohort. METHODS: Genotyping was carried out using TaqMan-real-time-PCR based method. The association of CDKN2A/B-rs10811661 locus and its interaction with dietary intake in association with the main determinants of dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular-risk-factors were assessed in 2 cohorts. RESULTS: Our data showed that obese subjects with a TT genotype had a higher level of TG, TG/HDL ratio and Hs-CRP, compared to the subjects with the wild type genotype, or individuals with a normal BMI. Moreover, the presence of a TT genotype was associated with increased risk of hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance and CVD. These effects were more pronounced in the sub-group with low physical activity and a high dietary energy intake (e.g., the interaction between TT genotype and total energy intake on serum cholesterol was positive (RERI: 0.2, 95%CI (-0.96-1.3), AP: 0.1, 95%CI (-0.5-0.7) and SI: 1.2, 95%CI (0.3-5.1))). CONCLUSIONS: We have found a significant association between the CDKN2A-rs10811661 polymorphism with cardiovascular risk factors and dyslipidemia in a non-diabetic population. It is possible that a low energy diet and high physical activity could ameliorate the unfavorable effects of T allele of CDKN2A/B locus. Functional analysis is warranted to investigate the value of this genetic biomarker of CVD risk in obese people.