Maria Ana Redal

Microorganisms associated particulate matter: A preliminary study

This study aims to determine the microbiological quality of particulate matter (PM) in an urban area in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during December 2012 to April 2013. This was achieved by the determination of airborne bacteria, fungi, and actinobacteria associated PM10 and PM2.5, as well as their relationships with gaseous pollutants, O3, SO2 and NO2, and meteorological factors (T°C, RH% and Ws). High volume samplers with PM10 and PM2.5 selective sizes, and glass fiber filters were used to collect PM10 and PM2.5, respectively. The filters were suspended in buffer phosphate and aliquots were spread plated onto the surfaces of trypticase soy agar, malt extract agar, and starch casein agar media for counting of bacteria, fungi and actinobacteria-associated PM, respectively. PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations averaged 159.9 μg/m(3) and 60 μg/m(3), respectively, with the ratio of PM2.5/PM10 averaged ~0.4. The concentrations of O3, SO2 and NO2 averaged 35.73 μg/m(3), 38.1μg/m(3) and 52.5 μg/m(3), respectively. Fungi and actinobacteria associated PM were found in lower concentrations than bacteria. The sum of microbial loads was higher in PM10 than PM2.5, however a significant correlation (r=0.57, P ≤ 0.05) was found between the sum of microbial loads associated PM10 and PM2.5. Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger were the common fungal types associated PM. Temperature significantly correlated with both PM10 (r=0.44), and PM2.5 (r=0.5). Significant negative correlations were found between O3 and PM2.5 (r=-0.47), and between SO2 with PM10 (r=-0.48). Wind speed positively correlated with airborne microorganisms associated PM. The regression model showed that the inverse PM2.5 concentration (1/PM2.5) was a significant determinant of fungal count associated PM. Chemical processes and environmental factors could affect properties of PM and in turn its biological quality.

Influence of CYP3A5 polymorphism on tacrolimus maintenance doses and serum levels after renal transplantation: age dependency and pharmacological interaction with steroids.

Ferraris JR, Argibay PF, Costa L, Jimenez G, Coccia PA, Ghezzi LFR, Ferraris V, Belloso WH, Redal MA, Larriba JM. Influence of CYP3A5 polymorphism on tacrolimus maintenance doses and serum levels after renal transplantation: Age dependency and pharmacological interaction with steroids. 
Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: 525–532.

HLA‐DRB1 and multiple sclerosis in Argentina

Background:  The association of multiple sclerosis (MS) with HLA DR subtypes, and particularly human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐DRB1*15 has been a consistent finding across nearly all Caucasian MS populations. In South America, scarce data exist about this issue. As the complete characterization of the HLA association range around the world is important to understand the role of this locus in MS susceptibility, we analyzed the frequency of HLA‐DRB1* allelic groups in an MS population in Argentina.

Diagnóstico genético prenatal no invasivo de factor Rh y sexo fetal a través del análisis de ADN fetal libre en plasma materno

INTRODUCTION The analysis of free fetal DNA in maternal plasma allows the assessment of fetal genetic material avoiding the necessity of invasive procedures during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility and the diagnostic performance of fetal sex and fetal RhD detection through the analysis of free fetal DNA in maternal plasma using standard reagents in molecular biology. MATERIAL AND METHODS A hundred and nine blood samples of pregnant women were obtained. Amplification by real time PCR a sequence from the RhD gene in Rh negative patients and a Y-chromosome sequence, for the diagnosis of fetal Rh and sex respectively, were performed. Results were compared with neonatal outcomes. RESULTS From the 109 samples, 26 are still ongoing, 4 ended in spontaneous abortions and in 3 were lost to follow up. From the remaining 76 samples with neonatal result, the determination of fetal Rh from the RhD gene was performed in 65 Rh negative women, whereas in 66 samples the fetal sex analysis was evaluated. Overall, 15 samples had not conclusive results and were excluded from the study. The predictive values for RhD positive and negative were 85% and 90%, respectively, while the prediction for male sex was 94.3% and for female sex 95%. CONCLUSION The non invasive determination of fetal RhD and sex in maternal plasma using standard reagents in molecular biology was feasible in the majority of the samples, with a diagnostic performance similar to the reported in the literature.

CD24 as a genetic modifier of disease progression in multiple sclerosis in Argentinean patients

INTRODUCTION Previous reports have shown that CD24 gene polymorphisms have an important role in the risk of development and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between P226 polymorphisms (T/C), P1056 (A/G), P1527 (TG/del) and P1626 (A/G) of the CD24 gene and MS, comparing allele and genotype frequencies of patients versus controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed DNA samples from 102 MS patients and from 205 unrelated healthy individuals. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and polymorphic regions were amplified by nested PCR. Genotyping was performed by restriction fragments length polymorphisms. Time from disease onset to reach EDSS 6 and time to conversion to secondary progressive phase (SP) were used as variables of survival as well as percentage of patients that reached those endpoints. We used the log Rank test for data comparison (significant p≤0.05). RESULTS We found no differences between cases and controls in frequency of polymorphisms at the CD24 gene. 44.6% of patients with the AA genotype (P1626) reached an EDSS 6 vs 16% of patients with other genotypes (p<0.001, HR 3.2, 95% CI 1.4 to 7.4). 45.8% of patients with the AA genotype reached SPMS vs 16.7% without this genotype (p<0.001, HR 3.4, 95% CI 1.5 to 7.8). CONCLUSIONS This study showed a strong association between the presence of AA genotype in the 1626 polymorphism of the CD24 gene and the risk of disease progression in MS patients.

Soluble HLA class I antigens in pediatric patients with renal transplants from related living donors without acute rejection and treated with triple therapy.

All HLA class I Ag-expressing cells may be the source of serum Ag sHLA I. T and B lymphocytes secrete considerable amounts of Ag sHLA I in a variety of in vitro and in vivo activation systems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of Ag sHLA I in serum of children with kidney transplants from related living donors without acute rejection and with triple therapy. We studied 25 patients (2-21 years) with first kidney transplant, 19 individuals (10-20 years) undergoing hemodialysis without transplant, and 25 normal children (4-21 years). The levels of Ag sHLA in transplant patients was 0.2-3.2 micrograms/ml (mean = 1.04). The hemodialyzed patients was 0.48-4.5 micrograms/ml (mean = 2.09), and the normal control was 0.30-4.38 micrograms/ml (mean = 2.04). A statistically significant reduction was observed in transplant patients compared to normal control and hemodialyzed patients (p < 0.05 in both cases), whereas between normal and hemodialyzed patients no significant difference was seen (p > 0.05). The reduced levels of Ag sHLA I in blood could be an expression of adequate immunosuppressive treatment.

Influence of 5-HTTLPR and 5-HTTVNTR polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) on major depressive disorder in a sample of Argentinean population.

Unidad de Medicina Molecular y Genómica, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas y Medicina Experimental (ICBME) and Servicio de Psiquiatrı́a, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Potosi, Caba, Argentina Correspondence to Andrea Romina Cajal, de Ciencias Básicas y Medicina Experimental, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Potosi 4240, Caba, C1199ACL Argentina Tel: + 541149590200 int 8919; fax: + 541149590200 int 5355; e-mail: andrea.cajal@hiba.org.ar

Pharmacogenomics in Gastroenterology

Maria Ana Redal1, Waldo Horacio Belloso2, Paula Scibona2, Leonardo Garfi2 and Santiago Isolabella2,3 1Molecular Medicine and Genomics Unit, Institute for Basic Sciences and Experimental Medicine, and Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires School of Medicine, Buenos Aires, 2Clinical Pharmacology Section, Internal Medicine Service, and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires School of Medicine 3Central Pharmacy Service, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires Argentina