Evaluating the association of common UBE2Z variants with coronary artery disease in an Iranian population.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality worldwide. Genome-wide association studies have discovered several variants associated with CAD. Notably, a recent study has identified UBE2Z rs46522 at 17q21.32 as a CAD-susceptibility variant in Europeans. However, association of this locus with CAD in non-Europeans has not been investigated. Herein, we evaluated the contribution of rs46522 and a variant in high linkage disequilibrium in UBE2Z 3'-UTR (rs1057897) to the CAD susceptibility by performing association study in an Iranian population. This study recruited 300 angiographically-confirmed CAD patients and 300 asymptomatic controls. Genotypes were determined by TaqMan genotyping assay. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that rs46522 was associated with the susceptibility to CAD assuming codominant [TT vs. CC: 2.68 (1.36-5.31), P: 1.1717e-2], dominant [CT+TT vs. CC: 1.74 (1.12-2.69), P: 1.2675e-2], recessive [TT vs. CC+CT: 2.12 (1.13-3.98), P: 1.9369e-2] and log-additive [1.61 (1.17-2.21), P: 2.967e-3] models. However, no association was observed for rs1057897 under any genetic models. In conclusion, we provide the first evidence for association of rs46522 with the susceptibility to CAD in an Iranian population and discussed about regulatory potential and functional role of the studied variants to provide clues for its association with CAD and promote further research.

Nickel and other metal uptake and accumulation by species of Alyssum (Brassicaceae) from the ultramafics of Iran.

Some plants growing on serpentine (ultramafic) soils are able to hyperaccumulate nickel in their above-ground parts. The genus Alyssum L. contains the greatest number of Ni-hyperaccumulator plants so far reported. There are substantial areas of serpentine soils at many locations in Iran. This paper presents the analyses for Ni, Cr, Mn, Fe, Mg and Ca in soils and Alyssum species from the ultramafics of west and northwest Iran. Soil analysis for total elements in these areas indicates that typical concentrations of Ni, Cr, Mn, Fe, Mg and Ca are up to about 1240, 365, 800, 51,150, 152,390 and 11,790 microg g(-1), respectively. During this study, seven Alyssum species were collected. Analysis of leaf dry matter shows that Alyssum bracteatum can contain up to 2300 microg Nig(-1), while the other species contain much lower concentrations of Ni and other elements. A. bracteatum is endemic to Iran and the first Ni hyperaccumulator reported from this species.

cagA and vacA status and influence of Helicobacter pylori infection on serum oxidative DNA damage in Iranian patients with peptic ulcer disease.

BACKGROUND: Infection with Helicobacter pylori strains may result in different pathological manifestations and increased oxidative stress leading to a strong inflammatory response in gastric mucosa. AIMS: The prevalence of cagA and vacA genes, proteins and the association of serum levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) with oxidative DNA damage were determined. METHODS: The presence of cagA gene and vacA alleles and IgG antibodies against CagA and VacA proteins were determined. Oxidative DNA damage status was determined using serum levels of 8-OHdG. RESULTS: Helicobacter pylori-positive, cagA-positive, and vacA alleles (s1 and m2) were predominant in all clinical outcomes. There was no significant association between prevalence of CagA and VacA status and clinical outcomes. The serum levels of 8-OHdG was at a higher level in H. pylori-positive patients. CONCLUSIONS: These virulence factors are not associated with the development of PUD in Iranian patients. H. pylori infection may be associated with increased serum 8-OHdG.

Cellular and subcellular compartmentation of Ni in the Eurasian serpentine plants Alyssum bracteatum, Alyssum murale (Brassicaceae) and Cleome heratensis (Capparaceae).

This study investigated the cellular and subcellular compartmentation of Ni in the Eurasian serpentine species Alyssum murale, Alyssum bracteatum and Cleome heratensis and a non-serpentine population of A. murale (as a control) grown in hydroponic culture. Plant growth responses and Ni uptake clearly revealed the higher Ni tolerance of serpentine plants than the non-serpentine plants. Serpentine A. murale and A. bracteatum grew better at elevated (0.01 mM) Ni in the nutrient solution, supporting the view that the Ni hyperaccumulators have a higher requirement for Ni than normal plants. Low shoot Ni content of C. heratensis in response to the high Ni treatments indicated that this species employs an avoidance strategy for Ni tolerance. Energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis showed that Ni was highly concentrated in the cell walls and cell lumen, most likely the vacuoles, of leaf epidermis of A. murale and A. bracteatum rather than in the mesophyll cells. EDX spectra from leaves of the non-serpentine A. murale suggested that Ni accumulated in both epidermal and mesophyll cells but not in the epidermal cell walls. Growth reduction and Ni toxicity in plants of the non-serpentine A. murale could be due to accumulation of Ni in the lumen of leaf mesophyll cells. Our data suggest that cellular and subcellular compartmentation are both possible mechanisms for Ni tolerance employed by the serpentine A. murale and A. bracteatum.