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OBJECTIVES@#The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis and other intestinal parasites in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs in northern Iran and to investigate related risk factors. @*METHODS@#This cross-sectional study was conducted among 494 patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (n=188) and those treated with prolonged corticosteroid administration (n=306). All fresh fecal samples were examined using the direct wet-mount, formalin ethyl acetate concentration, and agar plate culture techniques. @*RESULTS@#In total, 16.8% of patients were positive for at least 1 intestinal parasite; the helminthic and protozoan infection rates were 5.1% and 12.3%, respectively. The infection rate was significantly higher in corticosteroid-treated individuals (19.6%) than cancer patients (12.2%) (p<0.05). The prevalence rate of S. stercoralis among patients receiving chemotherapy and those treated with corticosteroids were 4.3% and 5.2%, respectively. The prevalence rate of S. stercoralis infection was significantly higher in older patients (p<0.05). @*CONCLUSIONS@#Strongyloidiasis is one of the most common parasites among patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs in northern Iran. Early diagnosis and proper treatment of these patients are necessary to minimize the complications of severe strongyloidiasis.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES@#The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis and other intestinal parasites in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs in northern Iran and to investigate related risk factors. @*METHODS@#This cross-sectional study was conducted among 494 patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (n=188) and those treated with prolonged corticosteroid administration (n=306). All fresh fecal samples were examined using the direct wet-mount, formalin ethyl acetate concentration, and agar plate culture techniques. @*RESULTS@#In total, 16.8% of patients were positive for at least 1 intestinal parasite; the helminthic and protozoan infection rates were 5.1% and 12.3%, respectively. The infection rate was significantly higher in corticosteroid-treated individuals (19.6%) than cancer patients (12.2%) (p<0.05). The prevalence rate of S. stercoralis among patients receiving chemotherapy and those treated with corticosteroids were 4.3% and 5.2%, respectively. The prevalence rate of S. stercoralis infection was significantly higher in older patients (p<0.05). @*CONCLUSIONS@#Strongyloidiasis is one of the most common parasites among patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs in northern Iran. Early diagnosis and proper treatment of these patients are necessary to minimize the complications of severe strongyloidiasis.
ABSTRACT
Cerebrovascular accidents rank first in the frequency and importance among all neurological disease. Although a number of studies had shown increased level of the high sensitive C-reactive protein [hs-CRP] in patients with ischemic stroke, the association of increased hs-CRP with various type of stroke especially the assessment hs-CRP level in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke have not been investigated. In the present study, we assessed the concentration of hs-CRP in patients with documented ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in the first 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. Thirty-two patients with Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke were evaluated at neurology department of Poursina Hospital. The presence of baseline vascular risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and smoking, was determined. The blood samples were then collected and routine hematology and biochemistry tests were done. hs-CRP levels were determined using a highly sensitive immunonephelometric method. In this cross sectional study, the age of patient varied from 45-85 years [Mean 70.9 +/- 9.4]. Serum level of hs-CRP in Ischemic patients were 18.92 +/- 11.28 and in hemorrhagic group was 2.65 +/- 1.7. This relationship was statistically significant [P<0.0001]. It might be concluded that hs-CRP might be considered as a usefully adjunct method for the initial diagnosis of the type of stroke
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Stroke , Hemorrhage , Ischemia , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
Recent reports have indicated different effects of immunostimulatory sequences containing CpG-Oligodeoxynucleotides [ODN] on various immune cells. However, the exact role of CpG-ODN in the human gut is unclear. In the present study, we assessed potential effects of CpG-ODN on non lymphoid cell [intestinal epithelial cell line HT-29] on a dose-response and time-course basis. Intestinal epithelial cell line HT-29 was treated with CpG-ODN [CpG 2006] and lipopolysaccharide [LPS] at 5, 10, 25, 50 micro g/ml and 1, 5, 10 micro g/ml concentrations, respectively. Following treatments, dose-response and time-course cytotoxicity using a colorimetric method, Metaloproteinase-2 [MMP-2] activity [using gelatin zymography] and apoptosis [using annexin-v flowcytometry method] assays were performed. Chloroquine treatment was also used for its inhibitory effect on endosomal acidification process to verify specific CpG-ODN and Toll Like Receptor 9 [TLR9] interactions. Cytotoxicity analysis of CpG-ODN showed that CpG-ODN increased significantly the proliferation of CpG-ODN treated cells, as compared to untreated cells, at concentrations of 10-25 micro g/ml [p<0.05]. Overall MMP-2 activity analysis showed significant differences between treated and untreated cells. However, minimal changes were observed when MMP-2 activity was assessed per cell. Moreover, CpG-ODN treated cells demonstrated an increasing apoptosis rate of 0.8%, 6.46% and 14.21% at concentrations of 5, 10, 25 micro g/ml, respectively. Collectively, our data indicated that intestinal epithelial cell line HT-29 is highly responsive to CpG effect in vitro and exhibits modified activities. The direct CpG-ODN and TLR-9 interactions in HT-29 cells could provide new approaches in malignant tumor therapeutic strategies
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Although pyrimethamine [Tindurin[TM]] appears to be effective in the prevention and treatment of some infectious diseases, very little information exists on its unpredictable properties. We design this study to evaluate its anti-tumoral effect on a model of cell line. The cytotoxic influence of Pyrimethamine on prostate cell line was investigated using an in vitro colometric assay. The potential modulatory effects on metastasis, apoptosis, and immortality characteristics of cells were assessed with gelatin zymography, terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling [TUNEL] assay and telomeric repeat amplification protocol, respectively. Cytotoxicity analysis of pyrimethamine revealed a dosedependent fashion. An apoptotic influence of pyrimethamine was also confirmed by data obtained from TUNEL assay. Dose-dependent inhibitory effect on matrix metalloproteinases [MMP] was seen in pyrimethamine. A potent inhibitory effect of pyrimethamine was also established by data achieved from TRAPeze telomerase detection kit. Collectively, as induction of apoptosis together with MMP and telomerase inhibition could be indicative of cancer treatment, pyrimethamine might be considered as a chemopreventative agent in cancer
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Controversial immunomodulatory properties of bee venom [BV] have provided an appropriate field for more investigation. The aim of present research was to verify the effects of honeybee venom on matrix metalloproteinase activity and interferon production as well as cell proliferation in monocyte and fibroblast cell lines. The monocyte and fibroblast cell lines [K562, HT-1080, WEHI-164] were used in order to assess proliferative response, interferon-1 production and matrix metalloproteinase-2 [MMP-2] activity. Australian BV [ABV] and Iranian BV [IBV] preparations at concentrations of 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, and 1microg/ml were added to each overnight cultured cells. In time course study, cells were treated each with ABV and IBV. In all cases supernatants were collected 24 hours after treatment. A sample of the each medium was used for zymography and interferons assay. Nontreated cells were used as controls. The production of IFN-alpha and IFN-beta in supernatant of cell cultures was assessed using enzyme linked immunoassay procedure. MMP-2 activity, as an inflammatory index, was evaluated using zymoanalysis method. The results of this study showed that, there were no significant difference between two sources of honey bee venoms when they were added to an identical cell line, whereas, the responses of various cell lines against bee venom were different. The increasing amounts of bee venom to human monocyte cell line [K562] revealed a significant increase in proliferative response. Our findings showed that the bee venom had no influence on IFN-alpha production in cell culture media, whereas, adding the BV to K562 cell line could significantly increase the production level of IFN-beta only on day 8 post-treatment. In addition the effect of bee venom on MMP-2 activity in both cell culture media, WEHI-164 and K562 was similar. The stimulatory effect of bee venom on MMP-2 activity occurred at low doses. In contrast, its inhibitory effect was seen at high concentrations. It is concluded that, honeybee venom affects on MMP-2 activity and interferon beta production as well as cell proliferation in a time and dose-dependent manner
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This study was conducted to examine if allergic contact dermatitis [ACD] alters the expression ofMMPs in human dermal fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are the primary source for MMP and matrix production in skin. MMPs are known to involve in a number of physiological and pathological processes. Some published data indicated a gelatinaselike activity in acute and chronic phases of allergic contact dermatitis. However, no exact source of gelatinase activity was demonstrated. Moreover, little is known about the role of MMPs in immune responses. To study and predict the pathophysiological effects of [MMP-2] in allergic contact dermatitic [ACD] patients, we established an in vitro tissue culture survey based on fibroblast explanted from ACD wounds and normal tissues respectively. We also employed a precise proliferation assay [i.e. MTT; 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide] to analyze and compare three ACD vs. three normal cell strains Parallel to MTT assay, we assessed the activity as well as the kinetics of gelatinase [MMP-2] in conditioned media using a zymogeraphy analysis. There was a significant difference in proliferation capacity between mean ACD fibroblast strains vs. mean normal cells, particularly in days 6 to 8 post explantation, 492.5 +/- 6.6 vs. 361.75 +/- 8.25 respectively. Zymoanalyses indicated significant differences betweenACD cells and normal fibroblasts both in time-course and MMP-2 activity per cell fashions, 163.7 +/- 16.21 for meanACD fibroblasts vs. 130 +/- 9.09 for normal cells respectively. These data suggest that fibroblasts overproliferated in the process ofACD. Moreover, simultaneous overexpression of MMPs observed inACD fibroblasts vs. normal strains, is indicative of altered fibroblast functionality in the process of allergic contact dermatitis. The activity per cell analysis showed that MMP-2 expression in ACD fibroblasts is independent of cell number, suggesting that either intra- or inter-cellular control signals are also altered and that ACD fibroblasts exhibit hyper-responsiveness to mitogenic or fibrogenic stimulants. Altogether, these data address the chronocity and non-healing tendency of ACD wounds. However, more studies are required to examine possible MMPs inhibition and differential expression of mytogenic, fibrogenic and antifibrogenic cytokines in ACD wound beds. In particular, MMP-2 is postulated to be an aim for further gene therapy protocols
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To find out the probable effects of Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] in the preventation and treatment of cancer. Design: The influence of NSAIDs on Fibrosarcoma cell line was investigated by using an in vitro cytotoxicity assay, Terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling [TUNEL] assay and gelatin zymography. Setting: Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Cytotoxicity analysis of Diclofenac revealed much higher cell death than other examined agents. A potenet apoptotic influence of Diclofenac was also confirmed by data obtained from TUNEL assay. Dose-dependent inhibitory effects on Matrix metalloproteinases [MMPs] was seen in higher degree in Diclofenac compared with other examined NSAID[Piroxicam] and a synthetic glucocorticoid [Dexamethasone]. based on our data, the induction of apoptosis together with MMPs inhibition could be indicative of cancer treatment, thus Diclofenac might be considered as a chemopreventative agent in cancer