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Selenium-as a trace element-is nutritionally essential for humans. It prevents cancerous growth by inhibiting the telomerase activity but the mechanism involved in regulation of telomerase activity in normal telomerase-positive cells remains to be elucidated. Here, we find out whether the effect of sodium selenite and selenomethionine on telomerase activity in human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) is associated with different levels of c-Myc and p53 expression. The use of different staining methods including ethidium bromide/acridine orange and DAPI in addition to telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay and real-time PCR indicated that different forms of selenium have opposite impacts on c-Myc and p53 expressions in both hUCMSCs and AGS, a gastric adenocarcinoma cell line, as a positive control. Our findings suggest that the signaling pathways involved in the regulation of telomerase activity in malignant and normal telomerase-positive cell types are somewhat different, at least on the c-Myc and P53 expression levels.

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Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a hereditary autoinflammatory disease with autosomal recessive inheritance pattern often seen around the Mediterranean Sea. It is characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and polyserositis and rash. Recently, MEFV gene analysis determines the definitive diagnosis of FMF. In this study, we analyzed 12 MEFV gene mutations in more than 200 FMF patients, previously diagnosed by Tel-Hashomer clinical criteria, in northwest of Iran, located in the proximity of the Mediterranean Sea. In the northwest of Iran (Ardabil), 216 patients with FMF diagnosis, based on Tel-Hashomer criteria, referred to the genetic laboratory to be tested for the following mutations; P369S, F479L, M680I(G/C), M680I(G/A), I692del, M694V, M694I, K695R, V726A, A744S, R761H, E148Q. All patients were screened for MEFV gene mutations by a reverse hybridization assay (FMF Strip Assay, Vienna lab, Vienna, Austria) according to manufacturer's instructions. Among these FMF patients, no mutation was detected in 51 (23/62%) patients, but 165 (76/38%) patients had one or two mutations, 33 patients (15/28%) homozygous, 86 patients (39/81%) compound heterozygous and 46 patients (21/29%) were heterozygous. The most common mutations were M694V (23/61%), V726A (11/11%) and E148Q (9/95%) respectively. MEFV gene mutations showed similarities and dissimilarities in different ethnic groups, while it is common among Arabs and Armenians genotype. Since common 12 MEFV gene analysis could not detect up to 50% of our patients, who had FMF on the basis of clinical Tel-Hashomer criteria, clinical criteria is still the best way in the diagnosis of FMF in this area. The abstract of this article has been presented in the 7th Congress of International Society of Systemic Auto-Inflammatory Diseases in Lausanne, Switzerland, 22-26 May 2013.

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OBJECTIVE: Marshall Syndrome or PFAPA is an inflammatory periodic disease characterized by periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis. Although PFAPA is an auto inflammatory disease, it doesn't have genetic basis such as other periodic fevers. This study evaluates the 12 common MEFV gene mutations in patients with PFAPA syndrome. METHODS: 21 patients with PFAPA syndrome who had diagnostic criteria were enrolled in this study and 12 common MEFV gene mutations i.e. P369S, F479L, M680I (G/C), M680I (G/A), I692del, M694V, M694I, K695R, V726A, A744S, R761H, E148Q evaluated. All the patients were screened for MEFV gene mutations by a reverse hybridization assay (FMF Strip Assay, Vienna lab, Vienna, Austria) according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Findings : The age of patients was between 6 months to 14 years, and 15 were males. Seven patients had heterozygote and one had compound heterozygote (K695R, V725A) mutation. There were 4 alleles M694V, 3 alleles V726A, 1 allele E148Q and 1 allele K694R. No significant difference existed between mutated patients with non-mutated in symptoms like aphthous and stomatitis, duration of attacks, episodes of fever and response to treatment. Gaslini score test was not helpful to predict the probability of gene mutations. CONCLUSION: About 30 percent of patients had MEFV gene mutations but these mutations did not play a main role in presentation of PFAPA symptoms.