Wenjing Liu; Yiyao Zhang; Xia Chen
Abstract
Background: Pulmonary neutrophils may play a crucial role in the development of bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) following measles virus infection. IL-27 could potentially have a negative regulatory effect on the release of reactive oxygen species and cytotoxic granules in neutrophils.Objective: To investigate ...
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Background: Pulmonary neutrophils may play a crucial role in the development of bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) following measles virus infection. IL-27 could potentially have a negative regulatory effect on the release of reactive oxygen species and cytotoxic granules in neutrophils.Objective: To investigate the levels of IL-27 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of children with post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) and analyze the relationship between IL-27 levels and neutrophil proportions.Methods: A total of 24 children with PIBO were recruited for the experimental group, while 23 children with bronchial foreign bodies were included in the control group. Bronchoscopic alveolar lavage was performed in both groups. The levels of IL-27 in BALF were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The proportions of neutrophils in BALF were determined by smear staining. The relationship between the levels of IL-27 in BALF and the neutrophil proportions was analyzed by the Pearson test.Results: The levels of IL-27 in BALF were significantly lower in children with PIBO compared to children with bronchial foreign bodies (p<0.05). Additionally, the proportions of neutrophils in BALF were significantly higher in children with PIBO compared to children with bronchial foreign bodies (p<0.05). The levels of IL-27 were negatively correlated with the neutrophil proportions in BALF in children with PIBO (p<0.05), but not in children with bronchial foreign bodies (p>0.05).Conclusion: The present study suggests that a decrease in IL-27 may be associated with an increase in neutrophils in BALF and may contribute to the pathogenesis of PIBO.
Soheila Alyasin; Marzieh Adab; Asieh Hosseinpour; Reza Amin; Maryam Babaei
Volume 13, Issue 3 , September 2016, , Pages 204-219
Abstract
Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease which is characterized by B-cell abnormality and auto-antibody generation. Since bacterial infections are the most important causes of mortality in these patients, pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for children with ...
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Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease which is characterized by B-cell abnormality and auto-antibody generation. Since bacterial infections are the most important causes of mortality in these patients, pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for children with SLE. Objective: To investigate humoral immunity and specific-antibody formation in response to a 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccination in SLE children and asthmatic control group. Method: The case and control groups consisted of 30 children with the mean age of 13 years who were matched by sex and age. Anti-pneumococcal antibody titers were determined using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) before the vaccination with the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine and 3 weeks later in both groups. Also the correlation between anti-pneumococcal antibody titer and different factors including age, sex, lupus activity, disease duration, medications, history of recurrent infections, and laboratory data were investigated. Results: Both groups showed significant increases in anti-pneumococcal antibody level after vaccination (p≤0.001). The increase in antibody level were almost the same in both groups (p≥0.05) such that 77.7% of SLE children and 86.2% of control children showed at least 2-fold increase in anti-pneumococcal antibody titer following immunization. Significant correlations were seen between the level of post-immunization anti-pneumococcal antibody with the age of children with SLE (p=0.02) and their age of disease onset (p=0.02). Conclusion: It is concluded that pneumococcal vaccination is generally immunogenic in children with SLE. However, a small group of patients show impaired response to the vaccine.
Eman Farid; Hasan M Isa; Mohamed Al Nasef; Rawia Mohamed; Huda Jamsheer
Volume 12, Issue 2 , June 2015, , Pages 141-148
Abstract
Background: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in childhood has variable modes of presentation, and the disease should be suspected and excluded in all children presenting with symptoms and signs of prolonged or severe acute liver disease. In AIH, the liver biopsy histopathology shows inflammation in addition ...
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Background: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in childhood has variable modes of presentation, and the disease should be suspected and excluded in all children presenting with symptoms and signs of prolonged or severe acute liver disease. In AIH, the liver biopsy histopathology shows inflammation in addition to presence of serum autoimmune antibodies and increased levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG). Objectives: To investigate the situation of childhood autoimmune hepatitis in Bahrain and to compare it with other studies worldwide. Methods: A retrospective study describing the AIH pediatric cases diagnosed during the period of Jan 2005 to Dec 2009. We report the clinical, biochemical, histopathological, and immunological findings, mainly autoimmune profile, in addition to response to treatment, of Bahraini children with autoimmune hepatitis. Results: Five Bahraini children, three females and two males were diagnosed as autoimmune hepatitis during the study period. Their ages at presentation ranged from 9 to 15 (median 10.6) years. One of our patients had a fulminating type. Two had other autoimmune related conditions, namely autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis and ulcerative colitis. All were AIH type 1. Variable response to conventional immunosuppressive therapy was found, from an excellent response with good prognosis, to cirrhosis, hepatic failure and liver transplantation. Conclusion: Childhood AIH is a rare medical problem in Bahrain, with both sexes affected and a variable response to immunosuppressive therapy.
Mohammad Motamedifar; Farhad Handijani; Nahal Hadi; Mohammad Kazem Shahkarami; Davoud Mehrabani
Volume 3, Issue 1 , March 2006, , Pages 43-46
Abstract
Background: Varicella–zoster virus (VZV) causes herpes zoster and varicella (Chicken-pox), usually a mild disease which is diagnosed clinically with few complications. However, in neonates and healthy adults it can have a severe presentation. Herpes zoster results from VZV reactivation later in ...
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Background: Varicella–zoster virus (VZV) causes herpes zoster and varicella (Chicken-pox), usually a mild disease which is diagnosed clinically with few complications. However, in neonates and healthy adults it can have a severe presentation. Herpes zoster results from VZV reactivation later in life. Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of VZV in elementary school children aged 6-10 years in Shiraz, Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional seroprevalence survey was conducted on 270 healthy subjects. All serum samples were investigated for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody against VZV using a commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Among the studied population, 175 (64.8%) had no detectable antibody levels. The overall seroprevalence rate was 35.2%. A breakdown of seropositivity to VZV according to age was as follows; 10 years old, 50%, 9 years old, 48.2%, 8 years old, 27.3%, 7 years old, 32.1%, and 6 years old, 13.2%. Conclusion: As VZV susceptibility in the studied age groups was higher than the expected rate, therefore childhood VZV vaccination is recommended in our region.
