The exon 1 polymorphism (49A/G) of ctla-4 gene corresponds to an amino acid exchange (threonine to alanine) in the leader peptide of the expressed protein. There are reports concerning the higher level of G allele in subjects with various autoimmune diseases, which has resulted in the hypothesis that CTLA-4 may play a role in regulating self-tolerance by the immune system and in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. This study was undertaken to investigate the correlation of exon 1 (49A/G) polymorphism in the ctla-4 gene and breast cancer. The ctla-4 49A/G polymorphism was studied in 197 women with primary breast cancer and 151 age/sex matched normal individuals. The results indicated a significant difference between frequency of ctla-4 genotypes in patients and controls. The frequency of GG genotype was significantly decreased in breast cancer patients compared to controls (4.6% v.s. 12.6%, P = 0.012). There was also a significant positive correlation between tumor size and the existence of AA genotype in patients (P = 0.016). In addition, a positive correlation between AA genotype and lymph node involvement was observed (P = 0.042). The observed decrease in the frequency of GG genotype in the breast cancer patients is contrary to the frequently reported increase of GG genotype in autoimmune diseases. In addition, the data implies that polymorphism of ctla-4 exon 1 contributes in tumor progression.

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Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is an important opportunistic pathogen responsible for nosocomial infections worldwide at recent decades. Biofilm formation by A. baumannii leads to antibiotic resistance and survives on abiotic and biotic surfaces. In the present study we aimed to assess the ability of biofilm formation in clinical and environmental isolates of A. baumannii by phenotypic methods and to detect the presence of genes involving in the biofilm development; bap, ompA, csuE, abaI, and blaPER-1by PCR method. Totally 120 A. baumanniin isolates, 98 clinical, and 22 environmental were evaluated for biofilm formation using the modified Microtiter plate method, Congo red agar methods, and the existence of genes related to biofilm by standard PCR. The phenotypic results showed that the biofilm formation rate was 10.8% isolates that in environmental A. baumannii isolates were higher than clinical isolates. The abaI, csuE, and ompA genes were detected in all isolates with biofilm formation and the bap and blaPER-1genes were positive in 14.2% and 13.3% of A. baumannii isolates, respectively. The sequence of genes were submitted in NCBI. Based on our results, the Congo red agar method was significantly better than the Microtiter plate technique for phenotypic evaluation of biofilm formation in the A. baumannii. Our study indicates that abaI, csuE, and ompA genes were detected in all isolates unlike the bap and blaPER-1genes.