role of inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease [AD], a neurodegenerative disorder associated with advanced age, is the most common cause of dementia globally. AD is characterised by cognitive dysfunction, deposition of amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and neuro-inflammation. Inflammation of the brain is a key pathological hallmark of AD. Thus, clinical and immunopathological evidence of AD could be potentially supported by inflammatory mediators, including cytokines, chemokines, the complement system, acute phase proteins and oxidative mediators. In particular, oxidative mediators may actively contribute to the progression of AD and on-going inflammation in the brain. This review provides an overview of the functions and activities of inflammatory mediators in AD. An improved understanding of in?ammatory processes and their role in AD is needed to improve therapeutic research aims in the field of AD and similar diseases

Innate lymphoid cells and cytokines of the novel subtypes of helper T cells in asthma

BACKGROUND: In this study, the expression of interleukin-9 (IL-9), IL-17, IL-22, and IL-25 genes that might be the potential predisposing factors for asthma as well as count of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) as another source of inflammatory cytokines have been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of newly identified helper T cells signature cytokines and amount of ILCs. METHODS: Blood and sputum samples from 23 patients with moderate to severe asthma and 23 healthy volunteers were collected. The types of allergens to which our patients were sensitive were defined using immunoblotting method. Gene expression of studied cytokines was evaluated using quantitative transcription-polymerase chain reaction and ILCs were counted by the flow cytometry method. RESULTS: In this research, the gene expressions of IL-9, IL-17, IL-22, and IL-25 were significantly higher in asthmatics, especially in the severe form of the disease. This increase was even higher in serum samples compared with sputum samples. Counting ILCs revealed their increase in comparison with normal people. CONCLUSION: We showed the importance of IL-25, IL-22, IL-17, and IL-9 cytokines in patients with asthma as their expression levels are increased and these increase are correlated with the severity of the disease. We also showed that the increased amount of ILCs in asthmatics could confirm their potential role in the immunopathogenesis of asthma as another source of inflammatory cytokines.

[Frequency of iatrogenic damage to adjacent tooth during class II cavity preparation among dental students at Tehran university of medical sciences in 2010]

Iatrogenic damage to adjacent tooth during proximal cavity preparation is one of the most common side effects in operative dentistry. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of iatrogenic damages to adjacent tooth during the preparation of proximal Class II cavities among undergraduate students at dental faculty of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2010. 106 posterior permanent teeth which had Class II decay with sound proximal surfaces of adjacent teeth were selected and restored by dental students awarding the aims of the present study. After finishing restoration, proximal surfaces were completely dried by air and evaluated with dental chair light. In doubtful cases, surfaces were evaluated with x 3 magnification. Damages were classified into 2 groups; abrasion and groove. Data were analyzed using Fishers exact and Pearson chi square tests. The frequency of adjacent surfaces damage were 57.5%, with 31.1% damages as abrasion and 26.4% as groove. Students who used matrix band and wedge in proximal area as preventive instruments showed 53.4% damages and other students showed 57.3% damages [P>0.05]. A significantly higher number of females and students at restorative course level [3] used wedge and matrix band than males and students at restorative course level [4] for protecting adjacent teeth [P<0.05]. According to the high percentage of iatrogenic damages on adjacent sound teeth in class II cavity preparation, teaching of preventive methods and using proper techniques is necessary for dental students as future dentists

[Knowledge and attitude of a group of dentists towards the topics of a course on principles of successful dental practice management]

The aim of the present study was to investigate self-perceived need to learn practice management and self reported knowledge in this regard among dentists. A group of five academic staff members of Community Oral Health Department [Tehran Dental School] and four dentists formed an expert panel to develop the content of the course. This group developed a list of topics related to principles of successful dental practice. To investigate the necessity of educating the topics and self-assessed knowledge of the topics, a questionnaire was designed and administered to 55 volunteer dentists. Forty six dentists completed the questionnaire. T-test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analyses. Totally more than two-third of the dentists believed that a huge need exists for education of all the topics The corresponded figure for such topics as ergonomics and medical emergencies was about 90%. About 80% of the dentists felt that they had a vast knowledge of safety and infection control. On the other hand, 54.3% of them reported weak knowledge regarding professional rules and regulations. Self-reported educational need and knowledge of the dentists did not show significant association with their age, gender, and work experience [P>0.05]. The dentists believed in the necessity of educating such topics and evaluated their knowledge as deficient in these areas. This shows the necessity of developing courses on these topics

Hepatitis D virus infection in Isfahan, central Iran: prevalence and risk factors among chronic HBV infection cases

Hepatitis D virus [HDV] is dependent on hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection. Acute infection with HDV can occur simultaneously with acute HBV infection of be superimposed onto a chronic HBV infection. This study aimed to identify cases of HCV and determine its prevalence in patients with chronic HBV infection for the first time study in Isfahan, central Iran. In a cross-sectional study in 2009, 346 who had been diagnosed for at least 6 months with chronic HBV were enrolled consecutively. Anti-HDV was measured by ELISA in the serum of these patients. The study included 245 males [70.8%] and 101 [29.2%] females with a mean age of 39 +/- 12.4 years. Anti-HDV was present in 8 [3.5%] HBe antibody-positive patients [p= 0.36] and in 2 [2.3%] HBe antigen-positive cases [p = 0.68]. No association was found between hepatitis D and probable risk factors. This study demonstrates that the prevalence of HDV infection is higher in patients who are positive for HBeAb compared those who are HBeAg-positive. Therefore, most HDV antibody-positive cases in Isfahan are HBV/HDV superinfections but not coinfections