[ study of patients admitted with serum sickness in Mofid Children Hospital from [April 2005 to September 2007]]

Serum sickness is a type III hypersensitivity reaction mediated by immune complex deposition with subsequent complement activation, small vessel vasculitis, and tissue inflammation. Disease is caused by exposure to foreign proteins, equine diphtheria antitoxin. However, sporadic cases of serum sickness from non-protein antibiotics such as penicillins continue to occur. A retrospective chart review was conducted in 28 children who were admitted because of serum sickness in Mofid Children Hospital since April 2005 to September 2007. Of 28 cases included in our study, 17 were male and 11 female. 24 of the 28 cases [86%] aged less than five years old. In 25 of the 28 patients [89%], the onset of symptoms occurred 1-3 weeks after administration of the inciting antigen, in two patients less than one week, and in one patient more than three weeks. Associated symptoms included arthritis 36%, subjective fever 75%, arthralgia 85%, skin rash and angioedema 100% were observed during admission. Furazolidone was the most common cause of disease in this study. The incidence of serum sickness is decreasing as a result of public health vaccination programs that have decreased the need for specific antitoxins. However, currently, non-protein drugs such as furazolidone are the most common causes of serum sickness-like reactions

Sequencing and expression of elastase 11 gene in polymorphoneuclear leukocytes in healthy individuals for determination of single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] by RT-PCR

ELA2 gene responsible for coding human neutrophil elastase, a powerful serine protease carried by blood neutrophils and capable of destroying most connective tissue proteins. The NE gene consist of 5 exons and 4 introns. Peripheral blood obtained from healthy individuals. Total RNA was isolated using RNA standard techniques from fresh separated cells by polymorphoprep. RNA was analyzed by employing PCR amplification of reveres transcribed using a total of ten specific primers. We amplified five exon of ELA2 gene separately and sequenced each exon. Mutational analysis was performed by directed capillary sequencing method. We have found new single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] in exon II codon 44. It was a silent mutation G to A substitution but no changes in amino acid sequences were seen. The codon sequence was GCG that has changed to GCA. The purpose of SNP detection is mainly recognition of susceptible people to certain diseases and providing suitable drugs based on each person genetic information. SNP information in Iranian patients can be used for analysis of drug response to human diseases

study of cockroach allergy in Iranian children with asthma

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Exposure to allergens plays an important role in asthma. Recently, cockroach has attracted attentions as an important allergen. To evaluate cockroach allergy in Iranian children with asthma. 100 children with asthma were studied. After determination of asthma severity, serum total IgE and blood eosinophils were measured. The patients were then skin prick tested with cockroach [Blattella germanica] and some common aeroallergens and food allergens. According to cockroach skin prick test [SPT] results, the patients were divided into two groups [sensitive and non-sensitive] and compared. Positive SPT for cockroach was detected in 29% of patients. Cockroach sensitive group had a more severe asthma [p<0.02]. Asthmatic patients with cockroach allergy had perennial symptoms [p<0.05]. A remarkable number of sensitive patients were born in winter [p<0.05]. Eosinophilia was more common in sensitive group [p<0.02] and they had a higher level of serum total IgE [p<0.04]. The prevalence of cockroach allergy was near to other common aeroallergens. Cockroach sensitive group had perennial symptoms, which are compatible with other indoor allergens. Cockroach allergy was more prevalent in children born in winter. May be these children are kept at home during their first months of life and are more exposed to cockroaches. The higher prevalence of eosinophilia and higher IgE level in sensitive group may be the reasons of more severe asthma in this group