Sabah Nima Mohammed; Khalida M. Mousawy; Ayden Kamel Muhammed AL Bayati; Hilal B. Shawki; Nahla Ghanim
Volume 5, Issue 1 , March 2008, , Pages 68-69
Reza Farid; Farahzad Jabbari Azad; Javad Gaffari; Alireza Rangbar; Zahra Nikjoy
Volume 1, Issue 1 , June 2004, , Pages 71-75
Abstract
Background: Allergic diseases have increased during the past decade worldwide. Th2 type lymphocyte response is known to play an important role in the process of allergic inflammation. IL-4, a mediator of type II cytokine response increases IgE synthesis and Interferon gamma, a cytokine of type I response ...
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Background: Allergic diseases have increased during the past decade worldwide. Th2 type lymphocyte response is known to play an important role in the process of allergic inflammation. IL-4, a mediator of type II cytokine response increases IgE synthesis and Interferon gamma, a cytokine of type I response interferes with IL-4 and inhibits IgE production. Selenium is an essential component of glutathione peroxides and changes in its plasma level has been proposed to be associated with allergic diseases. Materials and Methods: This study comprised of 21 cases of allergic asthma (AA), 33 cases of allergic rhinitis (AR) whose age and sex were matched with 28 healthy controls. IL-4, IL-10, IFN-g levels were tested by ELISA assay, and serum selenium was measured by atomic absorption spectorphotometery method. Results: Mean serum selenium level of AA and AR groups were lower than controls. Mean serum IL-4 level of AA was higher than the AR group. Mean serum IL-4 level of AA and AR group were higher than controls. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that low selenium level may have a role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases.
Marco Di Tola; Mariacatia Marino; Rossella Casale; Marta Puzzono; Caterina Urciuoli; Antonio Picarelli
Volume 12, Issue 1 , March 2015, , Pages 74-80
Abstract
Background: Celiac disease is a common autoimmune disorder that is diagnosed based on clinical case identification, serological screening, and duodenal histology. However, the existence of mild clinical forms, such as seronegative cases with patchy atrophy and potential celiac disease, can make it difficult ...
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Background: Celiac disease is a common autoimmune disorder that is diagnosed based on clinical case identification, serological screening, and duodenal histology. However, the existence of mild clinical forms, such as seronegative cases with patchy atrophy and potential celiac disease, can make it difficult to determine a definitive diagnosis. The seronegative patients with celiac disease can include those with discordant antibody results and false-negative results, due to unknown origins or selective IgA deficiency. Case presentation: We present two cases with discordant antibody results in order to evaluate if the simultaneous detection of specific antibodies can improve the serodiagnosis of celiac disease. In both patients, the simultaneous detection of IgA/IgG anti-tissue transglutaminase/deamidated gliadin peptides gave discordant positive results by the same antibodies assayed individually. Conclusion: Although further studies are needed to confirm and extend our findings, the simultaneous detection of specific antibodies seems to improve the serodiagnosis of celiac disease in patients with discordant antibody results.
Hossein Esmaeilzadeh; Elmira Esmaeilzadeh; Mohammad Faramarzi; Mohammad Nabavi; Mohammad Farhadi
Volume 14, Issue 1 , March 2017, , Pages 81-88
Abstract
Background: A clear association between allergy and nasal polyposis (NP) is not
determined and the role of food intolerance in patients with NP is not investigated by
oral food challenge (OFC). Objective: To investigate the relation of salicylate food
intolerance and atopy in patients with NP according ...
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Background: A clear association between allergy and nasal polyposis (NP) is not
determined and the role of food intolerance in patients with NP is not investigated by
oral food challenge (OFC). Objective: To investigate the relation of salicylate food
intolerance and atopy in patients with NP according to recurrence and aspirin
sensitivity. Methods: A cross sectional multicenter study was done in two tertiary
centers for allergy in Iran. Adult patients with NP were selected for the study that had
been referred to allergy clinics. The oral aspirin challenge (OAC) test was performed to
identify aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) and the OFC test was used to
investigate food intolerance. Atopic evaluation was performed by skin-prick tests, nasal
smear and blood eosinophil count as well as serum total IgE. Results: One hundred and
nineteen Iranian patients (female to male ratio 1.05) with NP were enrolled (mean age,
38 ± 11 years). Recurrence of nasal polyposis was 64.7%. OAC was performed in all
cases; 43.79% cases had aspirin hypersensitivity. In addition, OFC tests determined that
69.9% of patients had salicylate food allergy. Salicylate food intolerance was
significantly higher in NP cases with AERD than in aspirin tolerant patients (p<0.05).
Yet, positive skin prick test was not associated with NP recurrence and AERD.
Conclusion: Atopy and NSAID exacerbated respiratory disease; therefore, they can
both be considered as predictors of NP recurrence. Our study also showed that salicylate
food intolerance was associated with AERD in nasal polyposis.
Huimin Yan; Xinyu Zhang; Ying Lv
Marina Nayeli Medina-Rosales; Susana Godina-Gonzalez; Mariana Haydee Garcia-Hernandez
Abstract
Background: Drugs used in cancer treatment specifically kill T regulatory cells. Objective: To determine different phenotypes of T regulatory cells during the maintenance phase chemotherapy for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Materials: We evaluated the percentages of regulatory T cells ...
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Background: Drugs used in cancer treatment specifically kill T regulatory cells. Objective: To determine different phenotypes of T regulatory cells during the maintenance phase chemotherapy for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Materials: We evaluated the percentages of regulatory T cells by flow cytometry. Soluble CTLA-4 (sCTLA-4) in plasma was evaluated by ELISA assay. Results: Increased percentages of CD4+CD25+ T cells, CD4+CD39+ T cells, CD4+Foxp3+ T cells, and CD4+CD25High T cells were observed in children with ALL in comparison to healthy controls. In addition, the ALL patients with >12 months of therapy showed increased CD4+CD39+ T cells compared to the ALL patients with ≤12 months and healthy controls. Similarly, the CD4+CD25+ T cells and CD4+Foxp3+ T cells increased according to maintenance therapy time. Conclusion: Our results showed increased percentages of regulatory T cells in pediatric ALL patients despite chemotherapy, which might be compromising the anti-leukemic cellular immune response.
Andisheh Ghashghaie Mansour; Seyyed Hamidollah Ghaffari; Kamran Ali-moghadam; Ardeshir Ghavamzadeh
Volume 3, Issue 2 , June 2006, , Pages 95-98
Abstract
Background: HLA compatibility between transplant donor and recipient is one of the major determinants of transplant outcome. Objective: To determine HLA class I by PCR- Sequence-Specific Oligonucleotide Probe (PCR-SSOP) in cord blood donors. Methods: Genomic DNA of 142 cord blood samples registered ...
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Background: HLA compatibility between transplant donor and recipient is one of the major determinants of transplant outcome. Objective: To determine HLA class I by PCR- Sequence-Specific Oligonucleotide Probe (PCR-SSOP) in cord blood donors. Methods: Genomic DNA of 142 cord blood samples registered at the Cord Blood Bank of Iran at Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation Research Center, was prepared and HLA class I was determined by the PCR-SSOP. Results: A total of 284 HLA-A alleles was identified of which A*02 and A*24 were the most common. Among 284 HLA-B and HLA-C alleles, B*35, B*51, Cw*4 and Cw*12 were the most frequent alleles in the studied population. Conclusion: Amplification of HLA loci with PCR-SSOP has proved to be a reliable method for HLA-A, -B and -C genotyping.
Dawar Amani; Zohair Mohammad Hassan; Fatemeh Ravangard; Susan Frazmand; Mojtaba Karim Zadeh
Volume 2, Issue 2 , June 2005, , Pages 117-122
Abstract
Background: Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer in Iran. Impaired immune responses occur frequently in cancer patients, but the mechanisms of the induced immune defects remain poorly understood. It is believed that infiltrated immune cells, especially macrophages, may provide ...
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Background: Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer in Iran. Impaired immune responses occur frequently in cancer patients, but the mechanisms of the induced immune defects remain poorly understood. It is believed that infiltrated immune cells, especially macrophages, may provide help for tumor cell growth and metastasis. Objective: To analyze the status of tumor associated macrophages (TAM) by immunophenotyping method. Methods: Twenty-three women suffering from breast cancer were examined; nineteen of them were confirmed histologically to have invasive ductal carcinoma. Tumor cell suspensions from biopsy specimens and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients and matched controls were processed for analysis by flow cytometry. Results: No significant changes in the percentages of intra-tumor leukocytes and macrophages in the different stages of tumor were observed. There were no significant differences in the percentages of leukocytes (CD45 +), monocytes (CD45 +/CD14+) and activated monocytes (CD14+/HLA-DR+ and CD14+/CD16+) in the peripheral blood of patients and controls. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that human breast cancer contain substantial, although variable numbers of macrophages, however, the activation status of these macrophages remain to be elucidated.
Fatemeh Hajighasemi
Volume 8, Issue 2 , June 2011, , Pages 120-126
Abstract
Background: Leukemia is a malignant proliferative disorder of the hematopoietic cells. The important role of angiogenesis in leukemia has been reported by several studies. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a large group of endopeptidases which degredate the extracellular matrix and play an important ...
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Background: Leukemia is a malignant proliferative disorder of the hematopoietic cells. The important role of angiogenesis in leukemia has been reported by several studies. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a large group of endopeptidases which degredate the extracellular matrix and play an important role in angiogenesis. Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the patterns of MMP-2 activity in three leukemic cell lines. Methods: Human leukemic monocyte (U937) and T cells (Molt-4 and Jurkat) were cultured in complete RPMI-1640 medium. The cells were then seeded at a density of 106 cells/ml and were incubated with different concentrations of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) (1-25 ng/ml) or phytoheamagglutinin (PHA) (2-10 μg/ml) for 24 hours. The MMP-2 activity in cell-conditioned media was then evaluated by gelatin zymography. Statistical comparisons between groups were made by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: PHA/PMA significantly and dose-dependently increased MMP-2 activity in U937 cells after 24 hours of incubation compared with untreated control cells. Moreover, PHA/PMA significantly induced MMP-2 activity in Molt-4 and Jurkat cells after 24 hours of incubation in a dose-dependent manner compared with untreated control cells. Conclusion: We conclude that human leukemic Jurkat, U937 and Molt-4 cells could potentially display MMP-2 activity with different degrees. Thus, these cell lines could provide an appropriate system to study the mechanisms regulating MMPs production in leukemia patients.
Hamid Galehdari; Ebrahim Mohammadi; Behnaz Andashti; Ali Naderi; Mohammad Ali Molavi
Volume 4, Issue 2 , June 2007, , Pages 122-126
Abstract
Perforin gene (PRF1) mutations have been reported in 20-30% of patients with familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL), an immune disorder of infancy and early childhood. Cytotoxic T and natural killer (NK) cell activities are remarkably reduced or ab-sent in FHL patients. We report the first ...
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Perforin gene (PRF1) mutations have been reported in 20-30% of patients with familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL), an immune disorder of infancy and early childhood. Cytotoxic T and natural killer (NK) cell activities are remarkably reduced or ab-sent in FHL patients. We report the first cases of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocy-tosis in an Iranian family with two siblings. Exons 2 and 3 of the PRF1 gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and direct sequencing. Perforin gene mu-tation(s) were detected in none of the cases. The result of our study indicates that not much evidence is present concerning a correlation between perforin gene defects and familial he-mophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis etiology in these cases.
Masoud Al-Maskari; Ahmed Al-Shukaili; Ali Al-Mammari
Volume 7, Issue 2 , June 2010, , Pages 124-129
Abstract
Background: The relationship of inflammatory cytokines with anxiety and depression has been reported, but their role in diabetic patients has not been fully elucidated. Objective: We examined whether an association between prevalence of anxiety and depression in Omani type-2 diabetic patients (n=30) ...
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Background: The relationship of inflammatory cytokines with anxiety and depression has been reported, but their role in diabetic patients has not been fully elucidated. Objective: We examined whether an association between prevalence of anxiety and depression in Omani type-2 diabetic patients (n=30) and the levels of inflammatory markers such as IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ and C-reactive protein (CRP) exists. Methods: Symptoms of anxiety and depression were screened using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) through self-rated questionnaires. IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, CRP, anti-TPO and anti-GAD65 antibodies were measured in patients' sera using commercially available ELISA assays. Results: In Omani type 2 diabetic patients, high prevalence of anxiety and depression along with high levels of inflammatory markers were detected. However, no correlation was observed between inflammatory markers and anxiety or depression. Conclusion: These results indicate that Omani type 2 diabetic patients are at great risk for developing anxiety and depression. Therefore, these complications need more care and attention. There was no association between scores of anxiety and depression with the levels of inflammatory cytokines. This may need to be elucidated in a larger cohort of patients.
Hedaiat Akbari; Reza Farid-Hosseini; Sara Miri; Reza Amin
Volume 1, Issue 2 , September 2004, , Pages 133-137
Abstract
Background: Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common forms of allergic disorders affecting children. The prevalence rate of allergic rhinitis differs among countries and even among regions within the same country. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of childhood allergic rhinitis and the ...
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Background: Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common forms of allergic disorders affecting children. The prevalence rate of allergic rhinitis differs among countries and even among regions within the same country. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of childhood allergic rhinitis and the presence and significance of eosinophilia in nasal secretions. Method: 4584 children aged 11-15 years-old of both sexes with allergic rhinitis were studied. The study was done during a four-season period. After physical examination of the nose, smear was taken from nasal secretions and it was stained. The results compared with nasal smears related to 340 healthy children controls. Results: 445 cases (9.7%) were diagnosed as having allergic rhinitis, on the basis of clinical criteria. Significant nasal eosinophilia was present in 274 (62%) of children with allergic rhinitis. 226 students (5.8%) of Shiraz school children had proven or classic allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: Allergic rhinitis is one of the major health problems among children in Shiraz. Eosinophilia of nasal secretions had a diagnostic specificity of 96% and sensitivity of 62% and seems to be having a moderate value as screening test for nasal allergy.
Vahid Shaygannejad; Saeed Montazeri; Azam Jamshidian; Soheil Tahani; Marjan Gharagozloo; Fereshteh Ashtari; Sahar Vesal; Seyed Javad Hasheminia; Leila Dehghani
Volume 11, Issue 2 , June 2014, , Pages 134-138
Abstract
Background: Midkine (MK) is a heparin-binding growth factor with promoting effects in inflammatory responses through enhancing leukocytes migration. Objective: To study the correlation between MK serum levels and concentration of inflammatory cytokines in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. Methods: We ...
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Background: Midkine (MK) is a heparin-binding growth factor with promoting effects in inflammatory responses through enhancing leukocytes migration. Objective: To study the correlation between MK serum levels and concentration of inflammatory cytokines in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. Methods: We evaluated the MK level and its relationship with inflammatory cytokines (IL-17 and IL-23) and antiinflammatory ones (IL-10 and TGF-β) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The serum concentrations of MK and cytokines were assessed by ELISA in 32 MS patients in comparison with 32 healthy subjects. Results: Our data showed that the MK concentration in MS patients is lower than healthy controls (341.15 ± 40.71 Pg/ml vs. 620.15 ± 98.61 Pg/ml, respectively, p=0.015). We also observed a significant decrease in IL-10, IL-23, and TGF-β cytokine levels in MS patients. There was a significant correlation between MK and IL-23 concentrations in our study (r = +0.829, p≤0.001). Conclusion: These results confirm a role for MK in inflammatory reactions in MS.
Shokrollah Farrokhi; Iraj Nabapour; Majid Assadi
Volume 9, Issue 2 , June 2012, , Pages 145-148
Seyed Mahmood Ghoraishian; Seyed Hossein Hekmati Moghaddam; Mohammad Afkhami-Ardekani
Volume 3, Issue 3 , September 2006, , Pages 146-149
Abstract
Background: Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO antibody) is a member of thyroid autoantibodies which are important in inducing and also diagnosing autoimmune thyroid diseases. Thyroid autoimmunity can cause several forms of thyroiditis and abnormal thyroid functions, ranging from hypothyroidism ...
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Background: Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO antibody) is a member of thyroid autoantibodies which are important in inducing and also diagnosing autoimmune thyroid diseases. Thyroid autoimmunity can cause several forms of thyroiditis and abnormal thyroid functions, ranging from hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between serum levels of anti-TPO antibody and thyroid function test parameters (T3, T4, and TSH) in patients with thyroid disease. Methods: In 2425 subjects suspected of having thyroid disease referred to Yazd central medical laboratory by physicians during a 2 year period, the concentrations of serum anti-TPO antibody (ELISA) and T3, T4, and TSH (RIA) were measured. Results: 53.53% of the patients were 20 to 39 years old. 2135 patients (88.04%) were female and 290 (11.96%) were male. The levels of T3, T4, and TSH in individuals with normal and raised anti-TPO antibody titers was significantly different (P<0.0001). A correlation between TSH and T4 levels and abnormal anti-TPO antibody was detected (P=0.002). Conclusion: Our results confirm the correlation between thyroid function test and anti-TPO antibody values, indicating the clinical significance of this antibody and suggesting a through clinical examination and follow up of individuals with high anti-TPO antibody titer.
Mohammad Hasan Bemanian; Sima Bahrami; Saba Arshi; Afshin Rezaeifar; Mohammad Nabavi; Morteza Fallahpour; Sima Shokri
Abstract
Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic fibro-inflammatory disease that has been proposed as a separate entity since thebeginning of this century. The disease is often manifested by increasedserum IgG4 levels and certain histopathological manifestations. The patientmentioned in this ...
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Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic fibro-inflammatory disease that has been proposed as a separate entity since thebeginning of this century. The disease is often manifested by increasedserum IgG4 levels and certain histopathological manifestations. The patientmentioned in this article is a 29-year-old man from Tajikistan, who has had achronic cough since the beginning of 2018 without a previous history of thedisease. At first, he was diagnosed with pneumonia for a long time and thenunderwent a lung biopsy due to exacerbation of symptoms and the spreadof lung lesions in radiology but no abnormalities were found in theseevaluations. The patient traveled to Iran to continue his treatment. He wasre-evaluated and then the previous samples taken from the patient's lungtissue were re-examined. There were key findings in favor of diagnosingIgG4 RD. Evaluations did not confirm the involvement of other organs. Hewas first treated with steroids and due to recurrence of symptoms, he wastreated with rituximab once which was significantly effective in improving thepatient's clinical symptoms. In general, it can be concluded that thediagnosis of IgG4-RD is very challenging and if it has not been diagnosedand treated in time, it can lead to irreversible fibrosis and permanent loss offunction of the involved organ.
Weidong Xu; Zheng Chen; Xiaodong Shen; Chiheng Pi
Abstract
Background: Realgar, an arsenic tetrasulfide compound, is a highly recognized traditional Chinese medicinal prescription that has been widely used to treat various diseases such as inflammatory diseases. However, there are still some problems in the clinical treatment of Realgar, such as large oral dose ...
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Background: Realgar, an arsenic tetrasulfide compound, is a highly recognized traditional Chinese medicinal prescription that has been widely used to treat various diseases such as inflammatory diseases. However, there are still some problems in the clinical treatment of Realgar, such as large oral dose and high potential toxicity. Objective: To evaluate effects of Realgar nanoparticles on lupus nephritis (LN) in vivo in MRL/lpr mice. Methods: Ten-week mice were orally administered every day for eight consecutive weeks except the mice of normal model groups. The serum levels of anti-ds-DNA antibody IgG, IgM, IFN-γ, Creatinine (Cr), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were determined, and 24-hour urine protein was also measured. Renal inflammatory pathology analysis was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. The expression of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (p-STAT 1) and Janus Kinase 1 (JAK 1) in kidney tissue was determined by direct reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: The mice treated with Realgar nanoparticle in the high dose-treated (Realgar HD, 0.03 g/kg/d) group exhibited significantly reduced serum levels of anti-dsDNA (p<0.01), IgG (p<0.01), IgM (p<0.01), BUN (p<0.01), Cr (p<0.01), and inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ (p<0.01) as well as proteinuria (p<0.01) compared to the untreated model MRL/lpr mice. Additionally, high doses of Realgar nanoparticles significantly suppressed the phosphorylations of STAT 1 (p<0.01) and the renal pathological changes. Conclusions: The study indicates that Realgar nanoparticles may be a potential agent to treat LN, and the down-regulated p-STAT1 expression suggests that it may be one of the LN treatment targets for Realgar nanoparticles.
Tahereh Poordast; Fateme Sadat Najib; Rasoul Baharlou; Atena Bijani; Shaghayegh Moradi Alamdarloo; Alieh Poordast
Volume 14, Issue 2 , June 2017, , Pages 172-179
Abstract
Background: Preeclampsia is a common pregnancy-specific disorder associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. It has been proposed that the imbalance between two CD4+ T cell subtypes, regulatory T cells (Treg) and T-helper 17 cells (Th17), is involved in the pathophysiology ...
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Background: Preeclampsia is a common pregnancy-specific disorder associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. It has been proposed that the imbalance between two CD4+ T cell subtypes, regulatory T cells (Treg) and T-helper 17 cells (Th17), is involved in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Objectives: To determine the serum levels of IL-17, IL-21, IL-23 and TGF-β in patients with preeclampsia. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 30 preeclampsia patients, 30 normotensive pregnant women and 30 healthy individuals with no history of malignancies or autoimmune disorders based on simple sampling. The serum levels of IL-17, IL-21, IL-23 and TGF-β were measured by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The serum levels of IL-17 and TGF-β were significantly higher in preeclampsia patients compared to normal pregnant group and healthy individuals (p>0.0001) but interestingly, the opposite was the case for IL-23 (p=0.005). However, there were no significant differences in IL-21 between preeclampsia and normal pregnant group. Conclusions: Our results conclude that contrary to IL-21, serum levels of IL-17 and TGF-β significantly increased in preeclampsia compared to normal pregnant women, supporting an imbalance of cytokine profile in preeclamtic patients.
Sultan Aydin Koker; Nesrin Gulez; Frederic Rieux-Laucat; Ferah Genel; Canan Vergin; Capucine Picard
Abstract
Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare inherited disorder of apoptosis, most commonly due to mutations in the FAS (TNFRSF6) gene. ALPS caused by defective lymphocyte homeostasis is characterized by non-malignant lymphoproliferation that often improves with age and is an autoimmune disease, ...
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Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare inherited disorder of apoptosis, most commonly due to mutations in the FAS (TNFRSF6) gene. ALPS caused by defective lymphocyte homeostasis is characterized by non-malignant lymphoproliferation that often improves with age and is an autoimmune disease, mostly directed toward blood cells. This report describes a 17-year-old female with ALPS who developed skin rashes and aphthous stomatitis after using colchicine therapy owing to Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) with V726A heterozygous mutation in MEFV gene, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and pancytopenia, elevated vitamin B 12 and IL-10, elevated double-negative T cells (DNTs) and elevated immunoglobulin (Ig) G, consistent with a heterozygous germline FAS mutation [p.E261K (c.781G>A)]. In our country where genetic diseases are common due to consanguineous marriages, diseases with serious morbidity such as ALPS should be kept in mind. We should not forget that autoinflammatory diseases and familial Mediterranean fever can coexist owing to very high carrier rate in our country.
Gholamreza Hatam; Azra Shamseddin; Farhoud Nikouee
Volume 2, Issue 3 , September 2005, , Pages 177-181
Abstract
Background: Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. Infections of human are common and are usually asymptomatic. The infection may be serious if is transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy. Prophylactic measures, early detection of the infection and treatment can ...
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Background: Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. Infections of human are common and are usually asymptomatic. The infection may be serious if is transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy. Prophylactic measures, early detection of the infection and treatment can avoid congenital toxoplasmosis and many long term effects. Objective: Seroepidemiological study in young girls is useful to determine the prevalence of infection and to design prevention policies for them after marriage and during their pregnancy. This study was carried out in the years 2000-2001 in the region of Fasa of Fars province in the South of Iran, as a descriptive, analytic and cross sectional study. Methods: Serum Samples of 947 students were collected from high school girls of Fasa and studied by enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). The positive and negative controls were also used. Results: The seroprevalance rate of toxoplasmosis ranged from 1 to 21 Percent in different parts of Fasa and 10% in all groups. Some variables including age, nutritional habits and contact with domestic cats were studied. Conclusion: The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in girls of various high schools of Fasa is different and it may be related to the level of hygiene in different parts of Fasa. Water and food contamination with cat stool in regions with high contact with domestic cats can play an important role in infection rates. People of such areas should eat well-cooked meat to reduce infection.
Khalid Huseein Bakheit; Neda Kamal Bayoumi; Ishagh Adam
Volume 5, Issue 3 , September 2008, , Pages 185-188
Abstract
Background: Cesarean section delivery can lead to much maternal morbidity. Different cytokines have been reported to be influenced by the mode of delivery. Objective: To investigate the influence of mode of delivery on maternal, placental and cord sera of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 ...
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Background: Cesarean section delivery can lead to much maternal morbidity. Different cytokines have been reported to be influenced by the mode of delivery. Objective: To investigate the influence of mode of delivery on maternal, placental and cord sera of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels. Methods: These three cytokines were measured using ELISA in peripheral, placental and cord sera of two groups of women (38 in each group), either delivering vaginally or by elective cesarean section. Results: Concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 in the peripheral and placental sera were higher in vaginal delivery, while cord cytokines were not significantly different in the two groups. Cord sera contained significantly less con-centrations of these cytokines than the peripheral and placental sera. Conclusion: It ap-pears that the levels of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 are influenced by the mode of delivery.
Nadereh Naderi; Seyed Mohammad Moazzeni; Ali Akbar Pourfathollah; Kamran Alimoghaddam
Volume 10, Issue 3 , September 2013, , Pages 190-192
Christos Zavos; Jannis Kountouras
Volume 3, Issue 4 , December 2006, , Pages 192-193
Abstract
We read the paper written by Razeghinejad et al. (1), who conducted a study on anti- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) IgG antibody levels in an Iranian glaucoma cohort, with considerable interest and based on our original concept (2-5). The authors concluded that a relation between H. pylori infection ...
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We read the paper written by Razeghinejad et al. (1), who conducted a study on anti- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) IgG antibody levels in an Iranian glaucoma cohort, with considerable interest and based on our original concept (2-5). The authors concluded that a relation between H. pylori infection and primary open-angle glaucoma is not supported by their results, because the aqueous anti- H. pylori IgG antibody concentration did not differ significantly from the cataract control population. However, in the discussion there is little attention to the limitations of their work. Specifically, there is no discussion of: (a) the relatively small sample size, (b) the limited power of the study, (c) the possibility that the control group represents a selected group resulting in bias, (d) the absence of normalization of aqueous antibody titers to another serum protein to serve as control, such as IgG or albumin, and (e) the limited accuracy of using the commercial ELISA technique in the aqueous humor, originally manufactured for serum samples. It has been reported that the prevalence of H. pylori infection in the city of Shiraz, where the study by Razeghinejad et al. was conducted, is very high (6,7) regardless of the socioeconomic status, an already established significant factor affecting H. pylori prevalence in the European countries. This means that to prove a difference in H. pylori prevalence between any two groups in Shiraz, several hundreds or even a few thousands of participants are required. Instead, Razeghinejad et al. presented their results based on a small number of patients, and therefore the power of their study was too low. The authors failed to comment on the prevalence of H. pylori infection they found in their study groups, which should be very high in both groups according to previous reports and increase with increasing age (6,7).
Ezzatallah Basiri; Sadreddin Mohseni Ardehali; Mehrnoosh Doroudchi; Fereidoun Mahboodi; Arsalan Kharazmi; Abbas Ghaderi
Volume 1, Issue 3 , December 2004, , Pages 194-199
Abstract
Background : Production of monoclonal antibodies to Leishmania antigens assists the identification and characterization of these organisms. Objective: Production of monoclonal antibodies against epitopes on the gp63. Methods: Two murine monoclonal antibodies to gp63 were produced and characterized. The ...
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Background : Production of monoclonal antibodies to Leishmania antigens assists the identification and characterization of these organisms. Objective: Production of monoclonal antibodies against epitopes on the gp63. Methods: Two murine monoclonal antibodies to gp63 were produced and characterized. The reactions of both antibodies with soluble leishmanial antigens, purified gp63 and truncated recombinant gp63 molecules were studied by an ELISA assay. These two antibodies reacted with the crude soluble antigens prepared from 4 reference strains of Leishmania, 10 isolates from the patients, purified gp63 and recombinant gp63 molecules. However, no reaction with several non-leishmanial antigens was observed. Reaction of both antibodies with the intact recombinant gp63 and truncated molecules were compared. Results: The results indicated that the two antibodies specifically recognize two different epitopes on the gp63 molecule. Conclusion: Possible applications of such antibodies in searching for immunogenic epitopes are discussed.
Hong-Liang Zhang; Su-Jie Gao; Yi Yang; Jiang Wu
Volume 7, Issue 3 , September 2010, , Pages 198-201
