Due to the unique affinity of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in patients, the foremost recent evidence indicated that ACE1 and ACE2 polymorphisms could affect the susceptibility of individuals to SARS-CoV-2 infection and also the disease outcome. Here, we aimed to assess the possible association between two polymorphisms and the severity of disease in patients. In the present study, 146 patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences hospitals between March 2020 and July 2020 were enrolled in this case–control study. The patients were divided into four groups based on clinical symptoms and severity of the diseases (mild, moderate, severe, and critical). After DNA extraction, the ACE gene I/D polymorphism (rs4646994) and ACE2 gene polymorphism (rs2285666) were genotyped using Gap-PCR and PCR–RFLP techniques, respectively. Then, five samples from each obtained genotype were confirmed by Sanger sequencing technique. Data were analyzed with SAS software version 9.1 using appropriate statistical procedures. The ACE gene I/D polymorphism (rs4646994) genotypes were classified into three types: I/I, I/D, and D/D. Our finding indicated that the prevalence of ACE1 D/D genotype was significantly higher in severe and critical COVID-19 patients (P = 0.0016). Additionally, the analysis revealed a remarkable association between rs4646994 SNP and the HB and ESRI levels in patients (P < 0.05). Although the ACE2 rs2285666 SNP was not related to the severity of disease, this variant was significantly associated with ALT, ESRI, and P. These results provide preliminary evidence of a genetic association between the ACE-D/D genotype and the D allele of ACE1 genotype and the disease severity. Therefore, our findings might be useful for identifying the susceptible population groups for COVID-19 therapy.

Background: There are more than 500 different mutations on phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene that is responsible for phenylketonuria (PKU) diseases and the spectrum of these mutations is varied in different populations. The main clinical manifestation of untreated patients is severe mental retardation. The PAH gene, that is 90 kb long, is consisted of 13 exons and 12 introns. The aim of the present study was to identify the frequency of five common mutations on PAH gene among patients with PKU in Mazandaran and Golestan provinces including c.1066-11G>A, p. R261Q, p. R252W, p. R261X, and c.1200 + 1G>C. Methods: Forty unrelated PKU patients, that 22 of them, were from Mazandaran and 18 of them from Golestan provinces were enrolled in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes using Qiagen DNA extraction kit and polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism method was applied to detect five common mutations. Results: Three out of the 5 investigate mutations were identified among the patients. The c.1066-11G>A mutation has the highest frequency (27.5%) among the patients and the frequency of p. R261Q and p. R261X mutations were 3.75 and 1.25%, respectively. In Golestan province, only c.1066-11G>A mutation was observed in investigated alleles. Conclusions: The high frequency of c.1066-11G>A mutation in Golestan province may be related to genetic drift, founder effect, and consanguinity.

Carrier frequency of the βS allele has been reported to be 0.19% in Mazandaran province, northern Iran. Haplotype analysis of the βS allele helps trace the origin of its encoded hemoglobin (Hb) variant, Hb S, in a region. The aim of this study was to investigate the haplotypes associated with βS alleles in Mazandaran province. Capillary electrophoresis was carried out to detect individuals suspected to have a βS allele(s). DNA analysis (PCR-RFLP) was used for final confirmation. To identify 5' to 3' β-globin gene cluster haplotypes associated with βS alleles, family linkage analysis was applied. Six polymorphic sites (HincII 5' to ε, XmnI 5' to Gγ, HindIII in Gγ, HindIII in Aγ, HincII 3' to ψβ and AvaII in β) were investigated using the PCR-RFLP method. Five different haplotypes were linked to βS alleles, while βA alleles were associated with nine haplotypes. Among the βS alleles, 53.9% were associated with the Benin (----++) haplotype, and the Arab-Indian (+++-++) haplotype had the second-highest frequency (23%). Unlike southern provinces, where the Arab-Indian haplotype is prominent, the Benin haplotype is the most frequent haplotype in northern Iran, and this may represent a founder effect. Since the Benin haplotype does not carry the XmnI polymorphism 5' to the Gγ gene, which is responsible for high expression of Hb F, a severe form of sickle cell disease can be anticipated in patients that are homozygous for the βS allele in the northern region.

The antibacterial activity of Glaucium grandiflorum. Boiss. & Huet, G. oxylobum. Boiss. & Buhse, and G. paucilobum. Freyn, native plants of Iran, was studied using the disk diffusion method and determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against Staphylococcus aureus. PTCC 1112, Streptococcus sanguis. PTCC 1449, Escherichia coli. PTCC 1330, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PTCC 1074, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. PTCC 1053. The methanol and chloroform extracts of the aerial parts of G. grandiflorum., G. oxylobum., and G. paucilobum. exhibited concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria. The methanol and chloroform extracts were more active against Gram-negative microorganisms (Escherichia coli., Pseudomonas aeruginosa., Klebsiella pneumoniae.). The chloroform extracts were found to be most effective against all tested strains.

Background. Beta thalassemia is one of the most common hereditary disorders worldwide. In Iran, it is frequently reported from northern and southern provinces. In order to prevent child birth to be affected by this complication, prenatal screening and diagnosis are carried out nationwide. However, in some instances, this program is unable to identify rare mutations leading to thalassemia.Case Presentation. A married couple, who took part in prenatal screening and diagnosis, gave birth to a child who is affected by thalassemia major. After several molecular examinations, a rare mutation [+22 5UTR (G>A)] in compound heterozygote state along with a common mutation [codon 8 (-AA)] was found.Conclusion. This case study suggests that more advanced molecular evaluations must be integrated in prenatal screening programs to identify rare mutations and antenatal diagnosis of thalassemia cases.