Polymorphisms in the promoter regions of RHD and RHCE genes in the Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Rh blood group system is the most polymorphic human blood group system. Previous studies have investigated variants in the RHD and RHCE promoter. The relevance of these variants to the Chinese Han population is further clarified in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 317 donors (223 Rh D-positive [D+], including 20 Del and 94 Rh D-negative [D-]) were randomly selected. The promoter regions and exon 1 of RHD and RHCE were amplified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) whose products were directly sequenced using forward and reverse primers. RESULTS: Expected PCR products of the RHD promoter and exon 1 were amplified in 223 D+ individuals, including 20 Del individuals, and were absent in 81 of 94 D- individuals. Expected PCR products of RHCE were observed in all donors. Two single nucleotide variants (SNVs) were observed in the RHD promoter region. Moreover, 11 SNVs were observed in the promoter and exon 1 of RHCE. rs4649082, rs2375313, rs2281179, rs2072933, rs2072932, rs2072931 and rs586178 with strong linkage disequilibria were significantly different between the D+ and D- groups. [A;C] was the most common haplotype in the RHD promoter (NC_000001.11:g.[-1033A>G;-831C>T]). [G;T;T;A;T;A;C;G;A;C;G] was the most predominant haplotype in both total and D- groups. In D+ individuals, [A;C;T;G;C;G;C;G;C;C;C] was the most frequent haplotype in the RHCE promoter (NC_000001.11:g.[-1080A>G;-958C>T;-390T>C;-378G>A;-369C>T;-296G>A;-144C>G;-132G>A;-122C>A;28C>T;48C>G]). CONCLUSION: We speculate that the SNVs/haplotypes found in this article cannot significantly affect gene expression. The present study findings should help elucidate the molecular basis of the polymorphic expression of RHD and RHCE promoter regions.

Platelet indices significantly correlate with liver fibrosis in HCV-infected patients.

AIM: A total of 241 patients with chronic HCV infection were recruited to investigate the association between liver fibrosis and PLT counts, as well as with MPV, PDW and P-LCR indices. METHODS: The determination of PLT indices was carried out using a Sysmex XT-1800i automated hematology analyzer. Serological tests for HA, LN, C-IV and PIIINP were performed in 210 patients. The liver stiffness was measured in 69 patients by transient elastography (FibroScan). RESULTS: The analysis showed that the four serum fibrosis markers were negatively correlated with PLT counts, but positively correlated with the MPV, PDW and P-LCR values. Moreover, a similar pattern was found after analyzing the FibroScan measurements, which were negatively correlated with PLT counts, but positively correlated with MPV, PDW and P-LCR values. We subdivided the HCV-infected patients into mild and advanced fibrosis groups. The PLT counts were significantly decreased and the MPV, PDW and P-LCR values were significantly increased in the advanced fibrosis group when compared with the mild fibrosis group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that not only the PLT counts but also the MPV, PDW and P-LCR indices significantly correlate with liver fibrosis in HCV-infected patients. Therefore, these indices may be useful laboratory measures for evaluating liver fibrosis progression.

Hamilton rating scale for depression-24 (HAM-D24) as a novel predictor for diabetic microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

The study was designed to investigate whether the hamilton rating scale for depression (24-items) (HAM-D24) can be used to predict the diabetic microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. 288 hospitalized patients with T2DM were enrolled. Their diabetic microvascular complications including diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy and diabetic foot as well as demographic, clinical data, blood samples and echocardiography were documented. All the enrolled patients received HAM-D24 evaluation. The HAM-D24 score and incidence of depression in T2DM patients with each diabetic microvascular complication were significantly higher than those in T2DM patients without each diabetic microvascular complication. After the adjustment of use of insulin and hypoglycemic drug, duration of T2DM, mean platelet volume, creatinine, albumin, fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin type A1C, left ventricular ejection fraction, respectively, HAM-D24 score was still significantly associated with diabetic microvascular complications (OR = 1.188-1.281, all P < 0.001). The AUC of HAM-D24 score for the prediction of diabetic microvascular complication was 0.832 (0.761-0.902). 15 points of HAM-D24 score was considered as the optimal cutoff with the sensitivity of 0.778 and specificity of 0.785. In summary, HAM-D24 score may be used as a novel predictor of diabetic microvascular complications in T2DM patients.

Atypical Chemokine Receptor 1 Polymorphism can not Affect Susceptibility to Hepatitis C Virus.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus has infected 130 to 150 million individuals globally. Atypical chemokine receptor 1 has become a focus of research because of its diverse roles in different diseases. However, little is known regarding the association of atypical chemokine receptor 1 polymorphism with susceptibility to hepatitis C virus. AIMS: To determine the association of an atypical chemokine receptor 1 polymorphism (rs12075) with hepatitis C virus susceptibility. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study. METHODS: We collected blood samples from 231 patients infected with hepatitis C virus and 239 blood donors as control subjects. Genotyping of atypical chemokine receptor 1 was performed using a 5'-nuclease assay with TaqMan-minor groove binding probes. Comparisons between hepatitis C virus-infected patients and control subjects were assessed using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies of FY*A/FY*A, FY*A/FY*B and FY*B/FY*B were 86.1%, 13.9% and 0% in the patient group, and 86.2%, 13.4% and 0.4% in the control group, respectively. The difference in atypical chemokine receptor 1 genotype frequencies between hepatitis C virus-infected patients and control group was not significant (p=1.00, OR=1.004, 95% CI=0.594-1.695). FY*A and FY*B allele frequencies were 93.1% and 6.9% in the patient group, and 92.9% and 7.1% in the control group, respectively. The difference in atypical chemokine receptor 1 allele frequencies between hepatitis C virus-infected patients and the control group was not significant (p=1.00, OR=0.972, 95% CI=0.589-1.603). CONCLUSION: Our result indicates that atypical chemokine receptor 1 polymorphism (rs12075) does not affect susceptibility to hepatitis C virus.

Association between neutrophilic granulocyte percentage and depression in hospitalized patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Previous researches reveal that depression is associated with increased inflammatory markers. As a simple and cheap inflammatory marker, we hypothesize that neutrophilic granulocyte percentage is associated with depression in hospitalized heart failure patients, whose prevalence of depression is at a very high level. METHODS: Three hundred sixty-six cases of hospitalized heart failure patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤45% and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV were enrolled. All the enrolled patients received Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (24-items) (HAM-D24). The demographic, clinical data, blood samples and echocardiography were documented. The Pearson simple linear correlation was performed to evaluate the confounding factors correlated with HAM-D24 depression index. The significantly correlated factors were enrolled as independent variables in Logistic regression to determine the risk or protective factors for depression, which was taken as dependent variable. RESULTS: Two hundred ten cases of hospitalized heart failure patients (57.4%) had depression. Among them, 134 patients (63.8%) had mild depression, 58 patients (27.6%) had moderate depression and 18 patients (8.6%) had severe depression. Pearson simple linear correlation revealed that in hospitalized patients with heart failure, the neutrophils granulocyte percentage was positively correlated with the HAM-D24 depression index (r = .435, p < .001). After the adjustment of age, BMI, number of members of the household, smoking index, New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, hemoglobin, TC, LDL-C, creatinine, cystatin-C, TBIL and albumin, the neutrophils granulocyte percentage is still significantly associated with depression in hospitalized heart failure patients (OR = 1.046, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The neutrophils granulocyte percentage may be used as a new marker for depression in hospitalized heart failure patients.