Metabolism and gene polymorphisms of the folate pathway in Brazilian women with history of recurrent abortion.

Purpose: To investigate the association between polymorphisms in genes that encode enzymes involved in folate- and vitamin B12-dependent homocysteine metabolism and recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).

Methods: We investigated the C677T and A1298C polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofalate reductase gene (MTHFR), the A2756G polymorphism of the methionine synthase gene (MS) and the 844ins68 insertion of the cystathionine beta synthetase gene (CBS). The PCR technique followed by RFLP was used to assess the polymorphisms; the serum levels of homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate were investigated by chemiluminescence.

Increased concentrations of IL-18 and uric acid in sickle cell anemia: contribution of hemolysis, endothelial activation and the inflammasome.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a common, severe monogenetic disorder characterized by chronic hemolysis, frequent infections, a chronic inflammatory state and recurrent occlusions of the microcirculation, resulting in painful crises, organ damage and premature death. This study evaluated associations between serum levels of IL-18, uric acid, hemolytic markers, and inflammatory molecules in SCA patients. A cross-sectional study was performed including 45 SCA patients (median age of 20.

A C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism and G20210A mutation in the prothrombin gene of sickle cell anemia patients from Northeast Brazil.

The C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism and the G20210A mutation at the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of the prothrombin gene may be considered to be genetic risk factors that contribute to the clinical heterogeneity in sickle cell disease. The current study investigated a group of sickle cell (SS) patients from Salvador-Bahia, Northeast Brazil in order to determine the prevalence of these polymorphisms, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphim (RFLP) techniques. Out of 69 SS patients diagnosed with the C677T MTHFR gene polymorphism, 13 (18.