Novel mutation in alpha-spectrin gene in Saudi patients with hereditary spherocytosis

Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is the most common hereditary hemolytic disorder induced by red blood cell (RBC) membrane defect. This study was undertaken to determine mutations in genes associated with RBC membrane defect in patients with HS such as α-spectrin gene (SPTA1), β-spectrin gene (SPTB), ankyrin gene (ANK1), band 3 anion transport gene (SLC4A1) and erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1 gene (EPB41). Blood samples were collected from 23 unrelated patients with HS. Patients were diagnosed according to the guidelines from the British Society for Hematology. All hematological examinations for the determination of RBC abnormalities and osmotic fragility tests were conducted. Genomic DNA were extracted from peripheral blood cells and coding exons of known genes for hereditary spherocytosis were enriched using Roche/KAPA sequence capture technology and sequenced on an Illumina system via next-generation sequencing (NGS). The data showed that most of the HS patients confirmed splenomegaly and showed elevated reticulocytes and abnormal bilirubin values. NGS analysis identified the heterozygous variant c.5501G > A in the exon 39 of SPTA1 gene, resulted in a Trp1834*, which leads to a premature stop codon and subsequent mRNA degradation (nonsense- mediated decay) or truncation in α spectrin. Moreover, our data also revealed conventional mutations in genes SPTB, ANK, SLC4A1 and EBP41 in severe patients of HS. In short, this is the first report that determined a novel mutation c.5501G > A in SPTA1 gene in the Saudi population. To the best of our knowledge, this variant c.5501G > A has not been described in global literature so far. This novel mutation in SPTA1 gene is unique in the Saudi population.

Mucormycosis co-infection in COVID-19 patients: An update

Mucormycosis (MCM) is a rare fungal disorder that has recently been increased in parallel with novel COVID-19 infection. MCM with COVID-19 is extremely lethal, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The collection of available scientific information helps in the management of this co-infection, but still, the main question on COVID-19, whether it is occasional, participatory, concurrent, or coincidental needs to be addressed. Several case reports of these co-infections have been explained as causal associations, but the direct contribution in immunocompromised individuals remains to be explored completely. This review aims to provide an update that serves as a guide for the diagnosis and treatment of MCM patients' co-infection with COVID-19. The initial report has suggested that COVID-19 patients might be susceptible to developing invasive fungal infections by different species, including MCM as a co-infection. In spite of this, co-infection has been explored only in severe cases with common triangles: diabetes, diabetes ketoacidosis, and corticosteroids. Pathogenic mechanisms in the aggressiveness of MCM infection involves the reduction of phagocytic activity, attainable quantities of ferritin attributed with transferrin in diabetic ketoacidosis, and fungal heme oxygenase, which enhances iron absorption for its metabolism. Therefore, severe COVID-19 cases are associated with increased risk factors of invasive fungal co-infections. In addition, COVID-19 infection leads to reduction in cluster of differentiation, especially CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts, which may be highly implicated in fungal co-infections. Thus, the progress in MCM management is dependent on a different strategy, including reduction or stopping of implicit predisposing factors, early intake of active antifungal drugs at appropriate doses, and complete elimination via surgical debridement of infected tissues.

Association of genetic polymorphisms in DNA repair genes ERCC2 Asp312Asn (rs1799793), ERCC2 Lys 751 Gln (rs13181), XRCC1 Arg399 Gln (rs25487) and XRCC3 Thr 241Met (rs861539) with the susceptibility of lung cancer in Saudi population

This study demonstrated the association of polymorphisms in ERCC2 (Asp312Asn) rs1799793, ERCC2 (Lys751Gln) rs13181, XRCC1 (Arg399Gln) rs25487 and XRCC3(Thr241Met) rs861539 polymorphisms with a susceptibility of lung cancer (LC) onset in the Saudi population. The study was performed on 134 LC patients and 270 controls. The data revealed that there was no significant association of LC with subtype squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and adenocarcinoma with the ERCC2 rs1799793 polymorphism. The data showed that the CC genotype for ERCC2 rs13181, the AA genotype for XRCC1 rs25487, and the genotype TT for XRCC3 rs861539 were significantly associated with SCC susceptibility (p < 0.05). Similarly, the CC genotype for ERCC2 rs13181 and the AA genotype for XRCC1 rs25487 were significantly associated with adenocarcinoma susceptibility (p < 0.05). Whereas, the TT genotype for XRCC3 rs861539 was significantly associated with SCLC susceptibility (p = 0.005). In total, significant association of LC susceptibility was found in the following combination models of recessive genotypes: AC heterozygous for ERCC2 rs13181 + AA homozygous for XRCC1 rs25487, CC homozygous for ERCC2 rs13181 + GA heterozygous for rs25487, CC homozygous for rs13181 + AA homozygous for XRCC1 rs25487, CC homozygous for ERCC2 rs13181 + TT homozygous for XRCC3 rs861539, GA heterozygous for XRCC1 rs25487 + CT heterozygous for XRCC3 rs861539, GA heterozygous for XRCC1 rs25487 + TT homozygous for XRCC3 rs861539, AA homozygous for XRCC1 rs25487 + CT heterozygous for XRCC3 rs861539, AA homozygous for XRCC1 rs25487+ TT homozygous for XRCC3 rs861539. These data clearly demonstrated that the combination of recessive genotypes may be associated with susceptibility of LC onset (p < 0.05). In short, the data indicated that DNA repair genes increase LC risk via gene-gene interaction rather than independent variants.

An Updated Analysis on the Risk Factors Associated with COVID-19 Transmission

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global public health disaster and knowledge of its associated risk factors provides protection/slowdown against its transmission. AIM: This study was undertaken to investigate all major risk factors associated with transmission of the COVID-19 infection. METHODS: The data on the risk associated factors for the COVID-19 transmission were collected from the Texas Medical Association, Center for Disease Prevention and Control, World Health Organization, and Health and Safety Executive. The collected data were combined, analyzed, and presented as percentage mean ± SD. RESULTS: The collective data showed that among games such as playing football and basketball are highly risky followed by swimming in public pool and playing at the beach. Whereas, playing golf and tennis are not risky (p < 0.05). Moreover, the carryout food from the restaurants is much safer as compared with eating at buffet, in restaurants (p < 0.01). The data on social gathering showed that religious places, sports stadium, music concert, cinema halls, amusement parks, attending funerals, and wedding showed a higher risk of spreading COVID-19. The data on general outing showed that going to gymnasium, traveling by bus or plane, and visiting in salon are highly risky (p < 0.01) for COVID-19 infection. Moreover, hugging, shaking hands, and kissing are also highly risky for the COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the collective information on the risk factors associated with the COVID-19 transmission. The findings can contribute to the concerned authorities to formulate the preventive measures to limit spread of the COVID-19 infection.

ATP2B1 genotypes rs2070759 and rs2681472 polymorphisms and risk of hypertension in Saudi population

This study examined an association of ATP2B1 gene polymorphism and hypertension in the Saudi population. The 246 hypertensive cases and 300 healthy human controls were genotyped. The results showed that genotypes rs.207075 (CA + AA) [p = 0.05; OR: 95% CI, 1.5:(1.0 to 2.4) and p = 0.001, OR: 95% CI, 2.4: (1.5 to 4.0) and rs2681472 (CT + TT) [p = 0.05; OR: 95% CI, 1.5 (1.0 to 2.4) and p = 0.006 OR: 95% CI, 2.0 (1.2 to 3.1) respectively] associated with the risk of hypertension. Cases carrying the recessive models: [(CA + AA)/(CT + TT)] and [(AA)/(TT)] genotypes confer a strong susceptibility risk of hypertension [p = 0.002; OR: (95%CI) 1.8 (1.2 to 2.6) and p = 0.001; OR: (95%CI) 2.6 (1.5 to 4.7) respectively]. However, cases with body-mass-index (BMI)<25, carrying homozygous mutant genotypes [AA, rs2070759, p = 0.007; OR: (95%CI) 2.75(1.37 to 5.5) and (TT, rs2681472, p = 0.05; OR: (95%CI) 1.96 (1.03 to 3.72)] as well as A allele of rs2070759 [p = 0.006; OR: (95%CI) 1.62 (1.16 to 2.25)] and T allele of rs2681472, p = 0.04, 1.43(1.03 to 1.98)] showed a significant association with high risk of hypertension. In short, a significant association between ATP2B1 gene polymorphism and risk of hypertension was noticed. In addition, individuals carrying recessive genotypes have greater risk in developing hypertension than those carrying dominant genotypes. Moreover, cases with high-risk BMI associated with ATP2B1 variants may play a critical role in developing hypertension.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15257770.2021.1973034 .