Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in microRNAs with susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection and HBV-related liver complications: A study in a Saudi Arabian population.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of 10 SNPs in different microRNAs (miRNAs) with susceptibility to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, HBV clearance, persistence of chronic HBV infection, and progression to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients were categorized into the following groups: inactive HBV carrier, active HBV carrier, HBV-cleared subject and cirrhosis+HCC. Samples were analysed for 10 SNPs in microRNAs using either PCR-based genotyping or the TaqMan assay. We found that rs1358379 was associated with susceptibility to HBV infection, HBV clearance, persistent chronic HBV infection and liver cirrhosis+HCC. In addition, we found that rs2292832 and rs11614913 were associated with risk of HBV infection, viral clearance and cirrhosis+HCC, whereas rs2910164 was associated with proneness to HBV infection, and ability to clear the virus. There was evidence of associations between rs6505162 and HBV clearance and the development of liver disease, whereas a single association was found between rs2289030 and HBV clearance. Similarly, rs7372209 and rs4919510 were specifically associated with the development of HBV-induced liver complications. SNPs in miRNAs affect the susceptibility, clearance and progression of HBV infection in Saudi Arabian patients. We found, using Gene Ontology or pathway analyses, that these genes may contribute to the pathophysiology of HBV infection and related liver complications. However, differences in the association of examined SNPs with various clinical stages indicate variations in the respective functional roles of these polymorphisms and their miRNAs, and thus, further investigation to fully explore their therapeutic potential is warranted.

RANTES gene polymorphisms (-403G>A and -28C>G) associated with hepatitis B virus infection in a Saudi population.

Besides the host immune response, genetic and environmental factors play crucial roles in the manifestation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. "Regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted" factor (RANTES) plays a vital role in CD4(+), CD8(+) T-lymphocyte and dendritic cell activation and proliferation in inflammation. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the RANTES gene are associated with several viral and non-viral diseases. Association studies have invariably indicated a lack of association between RANTES gene SNPs and HBV infection in ethnic populations, even though RANTES gene SNPs exhibit distinct ethnic distributions. Despite the high prevalence of HBV infections in Saudi Arabia, no studies have been made concerning a possible relationship between RANTES gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to and progression of HBV infection. We examined -403G>A and -28C>G RANTES gene variants in 473 healthy controls and 484 HBV patients in ethnic Saudi populations. Significant differences were found in the genotype and allele distributions of the SNPs between the controls and the HBV patients. Both SNPs were significantly linked to viral clearance in these subjects. Our data demonstrate for the first time in a Saudi population, a relationship between the RANTES gene polymorphisms and the clinical course of HBV infection and underscore the importance of evaluating the genetic background of the affected individual to determine how it may affect disease progression.

Excimer laser-facilitated angioplasty for undilatable coronary narrowings.

Calcified and fibrotic coronary artery lesions cannot always be dilated with conventional balloon angioplasty even at high pressures. This study examines the success of excimer laser facilitated angioplasty in 38 lesions in 37 patients with lesions that failed balloon angioplasty alone.

Pan-valvular annular calcification in Takayasu's arteritis: report of 3 cases.

Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic inflammatory arteriopathy. It mainly affects the aortic arch and its main branches. The aortic valve annulus and coronary and pulmonary arteries are rarely affected. Mitral and tricuspid annular calcification were not reported previously. We identified mitral annular calcification by using transthoracic echocardiography in 3 patients with Takayasu's arteritis, in whom none had any of the reported causes of mitral annular calcification. Two of them had concomitant tricuspid and aortic annular calcification.