HLA profile of the donors in the Macedonian Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

The importance of HLA alleles in the process of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, especially the process of unrelated donor search, is enormous. Macedonian Bone Marrow Donor Registry was established in 2010 and has registered volunteer donors from different nationalities that live in the Republic of Macedonia. The aim of this study was to determine the HLA allele and haplotype frequencies of the volunteer donors from the Macedonian Bone Marrow Donor Registry and to compare this results with the Macedonians from a family study.

Latent Tuberculosis Infection - Diagnosis and Treatment.

Introduction: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is defined as a state of persistent immune response to stimulation by Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens without evidence of clinically manifested active tuberculosis (TB). Diagnosis and treatment for LTBI are important for TB, especially in high-risk populations. Tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) are used to diagnose LTBI.

Relationship between Vitamin D, Inflammation and Lung Function In Patients with Severe Uncontrolled Asthma.

Background: Recently epidemiological studies showed that low vitamin D is linked to airway hyperresponsiveness, decreased lung function, poor asthma control, and steroid-resistant asthma.

Aim: We investigated the relationship between Vitamin D, inflammation with circulating IL-33 and lung function in 30 patients with severe uncontrolled asthma.

Materials And Methods: The study included 30 patients with severe uncontrolled asthma.

Total IgE Distribution in Food Allergy Suspected Patients in Republic of Macedonia (2001-2011).

Background: IgE may be considered the hallmark of allergic disorders. It is easily detected in serum and can be measured as total IgE and as allergen-specific IgE. In fact, the serum IgE assay is used to diagnose an allergy.

Distribution of 22 cytokine gene polymorphisms in Roma from the Republic of Macedonia.

The aim of this study was to analyze 22 cytokine polymorphisms in the Roma population from the Republic of Macedonia. The Roma population consists of 77 healthy unrelated individuals, residents of different geographical regions of the Republic of Macedonia (Skopje, Gostivar, and Kochani). Blood samples were collected after obtaining written consent.

IL10 -1082, IL10 -819 and IL10 -592 polymorphisms are associated with chronic periodontitis in a Macedonian population.

Genetic polymorphisms in the interleukin 10 (IL10) gene have been reported to influence the host response to microbial challenge by altering levels of cytokine expression. We analyzed nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of the IL10 gene and its relation with periodontal disease in a Macedonian population. The study population consisted of 111 unrelated subjects with chronic periodontitis and 299 healthy controls.

Gene polymorphisms of 22 cytokines in Macedonian children with atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronically relapsing skin disease associated with abnormal cytokine production, and activation of T-helper 2 cells. The aim if this study was to determine whether cytokine gene polymorphisms might influence the development of AD. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the genes for I-L1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-1R, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, TGF beta, TNF and IFNgamma were investigated by PCR and sequence specific primers in Macedonian patients with AD (67 children, age of 6 months to 5 years) and 301 normal unrelated individuals.

IL4 gene polymorphisms and their relation to periodontal disease in a Macedonian population.

Genetic polymorphisms in the interleukin-4 (IL4) gene have been reported to influence the host response to microbial challenge by altering levels of cytokine expression. We analyzed nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of the IL4 gene and its relation with periodontal disease in a Macedonian population. The study population consisted of 92 unrelated subjects with chronic periodontitis and 286 healthy controls.

Association of 22 cytokine gene polymorphisms with tuberculosis in Macedonians.

Objective: To examine the possible role of 22 cytokine gene polymorphisms in host susceptibility to or protection against tuberculosis (TB) in Macedonians.

Method: 301 healthy unrelated individuals and 75 patients with pulmonary TB were studied. Cytokine genotyping was performed by PCR with sequence-specific priming (PCR-SSP) (Heidelberg kit).

Association between 22 cytokine gene polymorphisms and dilated cardiomyopathy in Macedonian patients.

Background: Inflammation is an important component in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases and one of the commonest mechanisms in cardiomyopathy. There have been several studies on the cytokine polymorphism and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), but the results obtained were contradictory.

Aim: To examine a possible role of 22 cytokine gene polymorphisms in host susceptibility to or protection against DCM in Macedonians.

Investigation of SERPINE1 genetic polymorphism in Macedonian patients with occlusive artery disease and deep vein thrombosis.

Background: Raised SERPINE1 plasma levels are related to a 1-bp guanine deletion/insertion (4G5G) polymorphism in the promoter of the SERPINE1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 - PAI1) gene. Evidence suggested that the plasma levels of SERPINE1 modulate the risk of coronary artery disease; furthermore, that the 4G5G polymorphism affects the expression of the SERPINE1 gene.

Aim: To analyse association of SERPINE1 polymorphism with occlusive artery disease (OAD) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in Macedonians in order to investigate its role as a part of candidate genes in different vascular diseases in Macedonians.

Distribution of killer cell immunoglobulinlike receptors in the Macedonian population.

The aim of this study was to analyze killer immunoglobulinlike receptor (KIR) gene polymorphism in the Macedonian population. The study sample consists of 214 healthy unrelated individuals, aged 20-35 years. All individuals are of Macedonian origin and nationality, and residents of different geographic regions.

Family analysis of immunoglobulin classes and subclasses in children with autistic disorder.

Autistic disorder is a severe neurodevelopment disorder characterized by a triad of impairments in reciprocal social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and a pattern of repetitive stereotyped activities, behaviours and interests. There are strong lines of evidence to suggest that the immune system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of autistic disorder. The aim of this study was to analyze quantitative plasma concentration of immunoglobulin classes, and subclasses in autistic patients and their families.

Association of 22 cytokine gene polymorphisms with rheumatoid arthritis in population of ethnic Macedonians.

To examine the possible role of 22 cytokine gene polymorphisms in host susceptibility to or protection against RA in Macedonians. In this study, 301 healthy unrelated individuals and 85 patients with RA were studied. Cytokine genotyping was performed by PCR with sequence-specific priming (PCR-SSP) (Heidelberg kit).

Association of cytokine gene polymorphisms with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Macedonians.

The aim of this study was to examine the association of 22 cytokine gene polymorphism in Macedonians with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The sample of the population comprised of 301 normal respondents and 62 patients with COPD. Cytokine genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific priming (PCR-SSP).

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR-677 and MTHFR-1298) genotypes and haplotypes and plasma homocysteine levels in patients with occlusive artery disease and deep venous thrombosis.

The aim was to investigate different genotypes and haplotypes of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR-677, -1298) and plasma concentration of total homocysteine (tHcy) in Macedonian patients with occlusive artery disease (OAD) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Investigated groups consists of 80 healthy, 74 patients with OAD, and 63 patients with DVT. Plasma tHcy was measured with Microplate Enzyme Immunoassay.

Association of cytokine gene polymorphisms with bronchial asthma in Macedonians.

Bronchial asthma is a multifactorial disease whereby both environmental and genetic factors contribute to its aetiology and/or clinical severity. The aim of this study was to examine the association of 22 cytokine gene polymorphism in the Macedonian population with bronchial asthma (BA). The sample of the population comprised of 301 normal unrelated individuals and 74 patients with BA.

Ambiguous allele combinations at group level of HLA-A, -C, and -B genes in Macedonian population using reverse line strip typing method.

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of ambiguous allele combinations at the allele group level of HLA-A, -C and -B loci in the Macedonian population. The DNA samples of 214 healthy unrelated Macedonian volunteers were obtained from our DNA Bank. HLA typing was performed using the IHWG-RLS method (Reverse Line Strip, Roche Molecular Systems, USA) consisting of PCR amplification of exon 2 and 3 of HLA-A, -B and -C genes, followed by hybridization.

Association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR-677 and MTHFR-1298) genetic polymorphisms with occlusive artery disease and deep venous thrombosis in Macedonians.

Aim: To analyze the association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms (MTHFR-677 and MTHFR-1298) with occlusive artery disease and deep venous thrombosis in Macedonians.

Methods: We examined 83 healthy respondents, 76 patients with occlusive artery disease, and 67 patients with deep venous thrombosis. Blood samples were collected and DNA was isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes.

Cytokine gene polymorphisms in population of ethnic Macedonians.

Aim: To genotype cytokine polymorphisms in the Macedonian population as a part of the international project Cytokine Polymorphism Component (CPC).

Methods: The sample consisted of 125 healthy unrelated individuals, 46 men and 79 women, aged 20-35 years. All individuals were of Macedonian origin and nationality, Christian Orthodox religion, and residents of different regions of the Republic of Macedonia.

Influence of the elevated ambient temperature on immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin G subclasses in sera of Wistar rats.

The aim of our research was to examine changes in the immune system of the rats influenced by the elevated ambient temperature. Male Wistar rats were divided, into 2 groups and housed at 20 +/- 2 degrees C (n = 64, control group) and 35 +/- 1 degrees C (n = 74, experimental group), during precise timing of 1, 4, 7, 14, 21, and 30 days. All the animals were given food and water ad libitum, and were lighted during 12 hours per day.