LONG-TERM USE OF GLUCOCORTICOID MODULATED PARATHYROID HORMONE LEVELS IN OSTEOPOROSIS PATIENTS.

Glucocorticoids are drugs that are often used in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Their anti-inflammatory action is often utilized to treat a variety of diseases. A range of undesirable outcomes might occur with long-term glucocorticoid use, particularly long-term high-dose applications. This study designs as a case-control study, which was conducted in the Joint Enology Clinic/Al-Hilla Teaching Hospital, Al-Imam Al-Sadiq Hospital, and Merjan Teaching Hospital in Hilla City, Babylon Governorate of Iraq. This study was carried out between December 2022 to March 2023. In this study, the total number of subjects was 100; the patient group consisted of 50 with osteoporosis (19 males and 31 females). Patients and control group's ages were (41-50 years). They were selected as matched in terms of gender and age. The results referred to the increased levels, of parathyroid hormone in osteoporosis patients with highly significant differences (P≤0.0001) when compared with the control group, while there was a significant decrease in calcium in the patient group (P≤0.0001) when compared with the control group. In conclusion, the parathyroid hormone has a beneficial association to indicate bone mineralization status. Parathyroid hormone could be used as a prognostic marker in individuals with long-term use of glucocorticoid to predict the development of bone mineral disease.

Refining quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction for prenatal detection of X chromosomal anomalies in the major Southeast Asian populations.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to refine the current quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) screen to detect X chromosome anomalies for prenatal diagnosis in the major Southeast-Asian populations. METHODS: 100 amniotic fluid samples from Chinese, Malay and Indian origins were subjected to QF-PCR using the X chromosome markers, HPRT, X22 and AMXY, along with the autosomal marker D21S1411. RESULTS: Out of the 100 samples tested by markers X22 and HPRT, eight samples were homozygous for both markers, of which seven were resolved by comparison with the autosomal marker D21S1411. CONCLUSION: 99 percent of samples could be tested for X chromosome copy numbers, increasing the stringency for detection of X chromosome anomalies by QF-PCR. All results were confirmed by cytogenetics.

What is true community-acquired urinary tract infection? Comparison of pathogens identified in urine from routine outpatient specimens and from community clinics in a prospective study.

In order to identify the true nature of community-acquired urinary tract infections, the uropathogens isolated from 100 patients with urinary tract infection included in a prospective study conducted in community clinics were compared to 244 isolates from outpatient urine specimens routinely submitted to the laboratory. Significant differences in both the spectrum of bacteria and their antibiograms were found between the two groups. Laboratory data analysis of uropathogens from outpatient urine specimens may not reflect the true bacteriology of urinary tract infections acquired in the community. Hence, surveys based on laboratory data alone may overestimate resistance rates, leading to misinformed choices being made when treatment is empirical.

Distinct pattern of TP53 mutations in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus in Iran.

Extremely high rates of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE) are observed in Iran, reflecting unknown, genetic and/or epidemiological risk factors. Among genetic alterations in SCCE, TP53 mutations are the most frequent, vary among populations, and may provide clues on etiological mechanisms. We have analysed mutations in TP53 (exons 5-8) in 98 SCCE from Iran by temporal temperature gel electrophoresis and direct sequencing. We found 58 mutations in 49 patients (50%), with a high prevalence of C to T transitions at CpG dinucleotides (29.3%). The TP53 mutation pattern in Iran was significantly different from that observed in SCCEs from high incidence areas of China and Western Europe (P=0.007). Moreover, the prevalence of mutations at A : T base pairs (transitions and transversions) was higher in men than in women (38.7% vs 11.1%, P=0.033). COX-2 overexpression was detected in 69% of the cases evaluated (24/35), without significant association with TP53 mutation. Accumulation of nitrotyrosine, a marker of protein damage by excess levels of nitric oxide, was observed in tumor cells in six of 18 [corrected] cases analysed. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that several factors are involved in TP53 mutagenesis in Iran. These factors include a baseline of chronic inflammatory stress, which may have a multiplicative impact on the sensitivity of esophageal cells to exogenous factors of risk.

Genotoxic risk assessment of drinking water consumed in the city of Tehran, Iran.

Two hundred liters of drinking water of the city of Tehran were collected as tap water in a glass container and passed through a XAD-2 resin column at a flow rate of 60-100 ml/minute. The adsorbed materials were eluted with acetone, dried and dissolved in 2 ml dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Doses up to 10 microliters did not elevate sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in CHO fibroblasts, while 20 microliters caused a significant increase in SCE. However, this dose did not show any chromosomal aberration (CA) in V79 fibroblasts. Doses up to 50 microliters of the extract did not increase his+ spontaneous revertant colonies in Salmonella typhimurium tester strain TA98, TA100 and TA102 in the absence of S9 metabolizing mixture, neither induced DNA alkaline labile sites in V79 fibroblasts.