Parisa Yavari Kia; Behzad Baradaran; Mahnaz Shahnazi; Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi; Vahid Khaze; Shakiba Pourasad Shahrak
Volume 13, Issue 3 , September 2016, , Pages 229-236
Abstract
Background: Preterm birth is a common problem in obstetrics. Objective: To measure maternal serum interlukin-6 in mothers with preterm uterine contractions and compare it with cervicovaginal interlukin-6 in the same women. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we measured interlukin-6 in the sera and ...
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Background: Preterm birth is a common problem in obstetrics. Objective: To measure maternal serum interlukin-6 in mothers with preterm uterine contractions and compare it with cervicovaginal interlukin-6 in the same women. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we measured interlukin-6 in the sera and cervicovaginal fluids of 86 women with preterm uterine contractions. All participants had an intact membrane. Interlukin-6 was measured by using ELISA method. Statistical analysis was done using U-Mann Whitney, Chi-Square and Kendall’s tests. Results: The mean and median (Quartile25, Quartile75) of interlukin-6 in cervicovaginal fluid was higher than maternal serum interlukin-6. There was a statically significant difference in the median of interlukin-6 in sera and cervicovaginal fluid (P<0.0001). There was no significant correlation between serum and cervicovaginal interlukin-6 (r=0.048, p=0.548). Conclusion: There was no significant correlation between serum and cervicovaginal interlukin-6 (r=0.048, p=0.548). Conclusion: We found no relationship between serum interlukin-6 and preterm labor and the maternal serum Interlukin-6 does not seem to be a suitable biomarker for predicting preterm delivery.
Ghader Khalili; Faramarz Dobakhti; Hamid Mahmoudzadeh Niknam; Vahid Khaze; Fatemeh Partovi
Volume 8, Issue 1 , March 2011, , Pages 45-51
Abstract
Background: Leishmaniasis is a complex disease which presents as visceral, cutaneous and mucocutaneous forms. The current treatment options for this infection are very limited and the immunological state of the host appears to play an important role in the efficacy of the treatment. Immunostimulation ...
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Background: Leishmaniasis is a complex disease which presents as visceral, cutaneous and mucocutaneous forms. The current treatment options for this infection are very limited and the immunological state of the host appears to play an important role in the efficacy of the treatment. Immunostimulation through immune response activating agents such as Imiquimod is another rational approach for this purpose. Objective: We assessed the efficacy of immunotherapy with Imiquimod alone or combined with Glucantime for treatment of Leishmania major infection in BALB/c mice. Methods: Treatment efficacy was monitored by determination of thickness and parasite load of infected footpad of mice. Results: The footpad thickness revealed that treatment with Imiquimod plus Glucantime has the highest efficacy. The results were confirmed by parasite load of infected footpad. Our data shows that treatment of Leishmania major infection in BALB/c mice by the combined Imiquimod and Glucantime is more efficient than each drug alone. Conclusion: The combination of Imiquimod with chemotherapy may offer a way for more efficient treatment of leishmaniasis.
