Zaima Azira Zainal Abidin

Association of MMP-9 gene polymorphisms with nephrolithiasis patients

Nephrolithiasis is one of the causes which lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases degrading extracellular matrix which correlate with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The current study was designed to analyze the association of (R279Q, C1562T) polymorphism of MMP‐9 with nephrolithiasis patients.

Determination of alpha-2-MRAP gene polymorphisms in nephrolithiasis patients

BACKGROUND The intron 5 insertion/deletion polymorphism of Alpha-2-macroglobulin receptor-associated protein gene (Alpha-2-MRAP) has been implicated in numerous diseases. The current study was designed to analyze the association of intron 5 insertion/deletion polymorphism of Alpha-2-MRAP with nephrolithiasis patients. METHODS PCR was conducted on genomic DNA of patients and control to look for Alpha-2-MRAP insertion/deletion polymorphism. Besides that, serum level of Alpha-2-MRAP, oxidative stress marker myeloperoxidase, Malondialdehyde (MDA), Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), and uric acid were determined. RESULTS The D and I allele frequencies were 57.50% and 42.50% in patients, 77.50% and 22.50% in control, individually. The result showed that II genotype was associated with nephrolithiasis patients group. A significant decrease was observed in serum Alpha-2-MRAP,myeloperoxidase and TAS,while TOS,OSI,MDA,AOPP and uric acid were substantially increased in II and ID when compared to DD genotype in patients with nephrolithiasis. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate for the first time that patients with II genotype had an increased risk of stones. Also, the results demonstrate that I allele of the 5 insertion/deletion polymorphism in the Alpha-2-MRAP gene is related with an increase of oxidative stress in nephrolithiasis patients and may possibly impose a risk for cardiovascular diseases in patients with II genotype of Alpha-2-MRAP.

Genetic polymorphisms of human transcription factor-7 like 2 (TCF7L2), β-defensin (DEFB1) and CD14 genes in nephrolithiasis patients

BACKGROUND It is assumed that genetic factors play crucial role in nephrolithiasis. The present study was conducted to explore the role of Human Transcription Factor-7 like-2 (TCF7L2) β-defensin (DEFB1) and CD14 gene polymorphism in development and progression of nephrolithiasis. METHODS The genotypes of TCF7L2, DEFB1 and CD14 polymorphism were determined in 240 nephrolithiasis patients and 240 healthy controls by restriction digestion method of PCR. The levels of serum TCF7L2, DEFB1, CD14, uric acid and other biochemical parameters were measured both in nephrolithiasis patients and healthy control. RESULTS The patients and control groups showed 30% and 50% 1654 AA DEFB1 genotype respectively. The Allele frequency in case of patients group was 63.67% while in control group it was 36.33%. The mean serum DEFB1 levels of the patients and control groups attained were 115.66 and 239.43 pg/mL respectively. The allele frequency of TCF7L2 in patients and controls were 44.17% and 70.0% for C-allele, 55.83% and 30.00% for T-allele respectively. The mean of serum TCF7L2 levels were significantly decreased in patients compared to control group. CONCLUSIONS The present findings are first of its class that validates a considerable connection of DEFB1 and TCF7L2 gene polymorphisms with nephrolithiasis and could probably act as indicators to estimate the risk associated to nephrolithiasis.

Selective isolation and antagonistic activity of actinomycetes from mangrove forest of Pahang, Malaysia

This study aimed to isolate and evaluate the antagonistic potential of actinomycetes from mangrove forest of Pahang, Malaysia. Sediment samples from seven different sites were pretreated using wet heat and dry heat methods followed by dilution plating on eight isolation media. In total, 4850 isolates were successfully recovered, with inorganic salt–starch agar displaying the highest percentage of recovery (31.7%), followed by actinomycete isolation agar (24.1%). The wet heat pretreatment was found to be more effective in the enumeration of actinomycetes, since 81.4% of total isolates were yielded using this technique, whereas dry heat treatment was better in the enumeration of spore-forming actinomycetes. After both pretreatments, Streptomyces-like and Micromonospora-like isolates were the most predominant. The antagonistic activities of the representative isolates were evaluated using the cross-streak method. In total, 78 isolates were active against at least one of the test organisms. Among them, 28.2% exhibited antibacterial activity, 23.1% exhibited antifungal activity and 48.7% displayed both. Nine isolates demonstrated broad antagonism by inhibiting the growth of all test organisms. The presence of a relatively large number of bioactive isolates suggests that Pahang mangrove forest is a potential source of actinomycetes with biosynthetic capabilities.