ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: The role of vitamin D in prevention of many diseases have been confirmed by many studies recently. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of oxidative and anti-oxidative markers after administration of vitamin D in asthmatic children. Methods: This randomized clinical trial study has been done on 60 asthmatic children who randomly divided into two groups. One group group received a single dose of vitamin D (5000 ng/ml) and another group received placebo with the same dose in the form of prescribed vitamin D. The levels of 25 (OH) D were measured at the baseline and also levels of vitamin D, glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) and Total Oxidative Capacity (TOC) were measured 10 days after prescription single dose of vitamin D. Results: The amount of Vitamin D at baseline in two drug and placebo groups were similar but at the end of 10 days in the drug group with 54.8±20.92 significantly higher than placebo group with 30.73±12.98. The GPx1 levels at the end of 10 days in the drug group with 44.2±30.9 significantly more than placebo group with 29.5±12.9. Overall TOC amount at the end of 10 days in the drug group with 15.29±3.38 IU was similar to placebo group with 15.06±3.53 IU. The levels of vitamin D in rural children was significantly more than urban children. Conclusion: The results showed that, vitamin D could significantly increase the amount of GPx1, hence it can be used as an appropriate drug in the treatment of asthmatic children.
ABSTRACT
Visceral leishmaniasis [VL] is caused by Leishmania infantum in Mediterranean basin and is an endemic disease in some parts of Iran. Canines are the main reservoirs of VL in most of the endemic areas. Different serological methods have been introduced for diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis [CVL]. In this survey a Fucose-Mannose Ligand [FML] ELISA, using native L. infantum antigen, was developed and its validity for detection of infected dogs in comparison with direct agglutination test [DAT] and PCR was evaluated. Blood samples of sixty ownership dogs [/= 1/320] in DAT while seven of the 60 [11.66%] samples were positive by FML-ELISA. Nine out of 60 [15%] buffy coat samples showed a band about 680 bp indicative of L. infantum in PCR. Three out of 60 dogs had Kala-azar symptoms and were positive by PCR and FML-ELISA, while two of these three dogs had antibody titers >/= 1/320 in their serum samples. The sensitivity and specificity of FML-ELISA for the detection of CVL in both symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs were found to be 77.8% and 100%, respectively. Considering the acceptable sensitivity and high specificity of FML-ELISA, use of this serological method can be recommended for epidemiological surveys of CVL