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There is debate as to whether community genetic screening for the mutation(s) causing hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) should be implemented, due to issues including disease penetrance, health economic outcomes, and concerns about community acceptance. Hemochromatosis is a common preventable iron overload disease, due in over 90% of cases to C282Y homozygosity in the HFE gene. We are, therefore, piloting C282Y screening to assess understanding of genetic information and screening acceptability in the workplace setting. In this program, HaemScreen, education was by oral or video presentation in a group setting. C282Y status was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and melt-curve analysis on DNA obtained by cheek-brush sampling. Of eligible participants, 5.8% (1.5-15.8%) attended information and screening sessions, of whom 97.7% (5571 individuals) chose to be tested. Twenty-two C282Y (1:253) homozygotes were identified and offered clinical follow-up. There were 638 heterozygotes (1:8.7). The determinants for participation have been analyzed in terms of the principles outlined in the Health Belief Model. Widespread screening for HH is readily accepted in a workplace setting, and a one-to-many education program is effective. The level of participation varies greatly and the advertising and session logistics should be adapted to the specific features of each workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juvenile hemochromatosis (JH) is an autosomal recessive condition that leads to significant morbidity due to early onset systemic iron overload. The majority of families with JH link to chromosome lq and were recently found to have mutations in the HFE2 gene encoding hemojuvelin; however, several JH families have been reported to have mutations in the HAMP gene encoding hepcidin. Here, we report a multiply consanguineous family with a father and daughter showing iron overload consistent with JH. Sequence analysis of HAMP revealed homozygosity for amino acid substitution C78T due to a c.233G > A mutation. This mutation disrupts one of eight highly conserved cysteines that are believed to be critical for the function of the active enzyme. This finding adds support to the importance of the role of these conserved cysteines in the activity of hepcidin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents letters to the editor on medical topics and research. Oral contraceptives and cervical cancer; Community postnatal care and women's health; Asthma in exercising children exposed to ozone; Clinical hemochromatosis in HFE mutation carriers; In-vitro fertilization and risk of multiple pregnancy; The Helskinki Declaration; Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Croatia; HIV-1 infection in foreign nationals working in East Timor; Ethical analysis in public health.