RESUMO
Background: Osteoporosis is the commonest systemic disease leading to increased bone fragility and fracture. Vitamin D receptor Polymorphism is thought to have the most genetic influence on BMD
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between vitamin D receptor Apa1 and Taq1 genes polymorphism and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
Methods: This was a case/control study in which 80 patients with osteoporosis [case group], referred to rheumatology ward at Boalisina Hospital during 2010 were investigated. The control group included an equal number of patients who visited other wards of the hospital for a variety of reasons. We obtained the bone mass densitometry [grams per centimeter square] results of case and control groups at the lumbar spine, wrist and hip by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The distribution of Apa1 and Taq1 polymorphism in the VDR gene was determined by PCR-RFLP. Data were statistically analyzed by SPSS software using chi-square and ANOVA tests
Findings: There was no relationship between the Apa1, Taq1 VDR polymorphism and BMD results. We found that patients with Taq1 genotype [tt] had lower bone mass in the femur and wrist compared with Tt
Conclusion: Based on our findings, a relationship between the VDR polymorphism and osteoporosis remains unclear requiring further in-depth studies. Our results showed that other secondary factors may influence the bone mass density
RESUMO
Background: Regarding the increasing number of acanthamoebiasis cases in recent decades, investigating the environmental pollution of this amoeba is now a focus of more attention. Surface stagnant water is considered as one of the important sources of human infections
Objective: The aim of this study was isolation and molecular identification of Acanthamoeba spp in surface stagnant waters of Qazvin
Methods: This was a descriptive study carried out in the autumn of 2010. A total of 40 samples of surface stagnant waters from the city parks and squares in Qazvin were collected. Samples were initially filtered using 0.45 micro nitrocellulose membrane filters and later the residual components left on filter membrane cultured on non-nutrient agar. The cultures media were microscopically examined for the presence of trophozoites and cysts of free-living amoebae. Positive cultures for amoebae were examined by PCR [polymerase chain reaction] method using specific primers for the genus of Acanthamoeba
Findings: Free-living amoebae were identified in 32 [80%] samples by culture method. In addition, Acanthamoeba was identified by PCR method in 14 [43.8%] cases of positive cultures showing a nearly 500bp band
Conclusion: considering the prevalent of Acanthamoeba in surface stagnant waters of Qazvin, more attention to the potential role of such waters in transmission of infection by the regional clinicians and health practitioners is necessary