[Comparison of the accuracy of Root ZX and Novapex with radiography: an in vivo study]

Working length determination and remaining this length is of great importance in root canal therapy. Recently, electronic apex locators are being used to determine working length and decrease the number of radiographs. The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity of Root ZX and Novapex electronic apex locators with radiography in an in vivo condition. In this study, 73 single-canalled teeth of the patients referred to the endodontic department of the Yazd Dental School were evaluated. The access cavity was prepared and working length of the root canals were measured by using the apex locators: Root ZX and Novapex. The file was placed in the root canal and a periapical radiograph was taken using parallel technique. The working lengths obtained by apex locators were recorded and compared with those of radiographs. The data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient, Wilcoxon test and paired t-test. The exact measurement without any fault was 46.6% for Root ZX and 20.5% for Novapex compared to radiography. In the range of 0.5 mm fault, the results were 91.8% for Root ZX and 64.4% for Novapex compared to radiographic measurements. The difference between the average of the measured lengths by Root ZX and radiography was not significant [P=0.17]. On the other hand, the results showed significant difference between the average of the measured lengths by Novapex and radiography [P=0.017]. The difference between two apex locators was not significant [P=0.061]. Root ZX and Novapex with high accuracy are useful for determining working length of the root canals in pregnant patients with special anatomic conditions and patients with muscle disharmony. Therefore, the use of these apex locators combined with radiography is recommended in root canal treatments

Intermitted feeding attenuates clinical course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in C57BL/6 mice

Multiple Sclerosis [MS] is an automimmune inflammatory, demyelinating disease of human central nervous sytem. Experimantal Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis [EAE] is the commonly used animal model of MS. Calorie restriction has been found to reduce inflammation and autoimmune responses and promote neruoprotection. In this study we evaluated the effects of intermittent feeding protocol of the calorie restriction in a mouse model of EAE. Fifty four female mice [C57BL/6] were used in this study. The animals were divided into two dietary groups: ad libitum [AL] [n=25] with access to food on alternate days. After 8 weeks, EAE was induced in animals by immunization with MOG antigen [hooke labs, Lawrence, MA, USA] subcutaneously. AL and IF groups were then further divided into two groups each: AA [ad libitum until the end of study] [n=16] and Al [subjected to intermittent feeding regimen after immunization day] [n=13]. The IF group was divided into II [continued intermittent feeding regimen until the end of study] [n=13] and IA [changed to AL regimen after immunization day][n=12]. All the animals were behaviorally monitored for 35 days after immunization and observed daily for the signs and severity of disease with EAE scoring scale [0.5] and cumulative disease index [CDI] score. Intermittent feeding significantly reduced the incidence of EAE in IF groups [Al 0%, II 18.5%, IA 22.2%, p<0.05]. In addition, intermittent feeding significantly delayed the onset of EAE in Al group [p<0.05] and also, intermittent feeding significantly reduced the severity of disease in II and IA groups [AA vs. II, p<0.05 and AA vs. IA p<0.05] groups. The CDI was also significantly reduced in intermittent feeding fed groups [Al, II and to compared to AA group [p<0.05, <0.01, <0.05 respectively]]. Intermittent feeding regimen protocol of the calorie restriction significantly suppressed EAE incidence, induction, and severity. The results of this study suggest possible role of intermittent feeding in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis patients

Therapeutic effect of sodium alginate in experimental chronic ulcerative colitis

The aim of this study was to test the therapeutic efficacy of sodium alginate in a rat model of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid [TNBS]-induced inflammatory bowel disease. This experiment was carried out using 77 Sprague-Dawley rats which were divided into six groups; normal, control, prophylactic, therapeutic and two experimental groups. Rats were sacrificed 1, 2, 3 and 6 weeks after colitis induction. Severity of colitis was graded macroscopically and assessed using serum and colonic mucosal cytokines and eicosanoids. Intrarectal TNBS [30 mg] produced a significant chronic ulcerative colitis. The lesions were most severe on day seven after TNBS instillation, and then declined, but lesions were still observed after six weeks. TNBS administration also significantly enhanced the serum and colonic mucosal cytokines [TNF-alpha and IL-6] and eicosanoids [LTB4 and PGE2] levels, which paralleled with the severity of colitis. Low viscosity sodium alginate [LVA] solution as therapeutic agent was administered orally as drinking water at concentration of 0.5% [W/V] for six weeks. Results showed that pre-treatment [in prophylactic group] and treatment with LVA were significantly able to reduce colonic damage score, serum level and colonic mucosal production of TNF-alpha, IL-6, LTB4 and PGE2 in pre-treated and treated animals compared with non-treated controls. LVA therapy is able to suppress chronic ulcerative colitis in experimental model

Association of the expression of IL-4 and IL-13 genes, IL-4 and IgE serum levels with allergic asthma

Immune and inflammatory responses mediated by cytokines, play important roles in the pathophysiology of asthma. These responses are associated with overexpression of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13. These two cytokines use common receptors for signaling that lead to identical immunological effects and regulation of the Th1/Th2 balance. The aim of this study was to determine whether patients with allergic asthma display overexpression of IL-4 and IL-13 genes. Using RT-PCR, we examined the expression of IL-4 and IL-13 genes in twenty asthmatic cases and twenty normal individuals. Total levels of serum IgE and IL-4 were also determined by ELISA method. Expression of IL-13 gene in 70% of patients with allergic asthma was higher than controls [P=0.01]. There was no correlation between the expression of IL-13 gene and total level of serum IgE [P=0.07]. Expression of IL-4 gene was detected in 30% of the patients and none of the normal individuals as determined by RT-PCR [P=0.01]. Mean of serum IgE levels in patients and controls were 84.9 IU/ml and 62.2 IU/ml, respectively. Level of serum IgE was more than 100 IU/ml in 30% of patients [P=0.03]. Mean of serum IL-4 levels in patients and controls were 15.73 pg/ml and 13.07 pg/ml, respectively. There was a relation between levels of serum IgE and IL-4 in 73% of cases. The results showed that there was a correlation between the expression of IL-4 gene and the level of serum IL-4. Levels of serum IgE and IL-4 were considerably higher in asthmatics than nonasthmatic controls

Oligoclonal expression of T-cell receptor beta variable genes in normal human endometrium

In spite of their key role in various immunological processes occurring in the endometrium, T cells- especially alpha-beta+ subtype- residing in this mucosal tissue, have not been extensively explored. We present here the profile of expressed genes for variable region of ??chain of T cell receptor [TCR] in normal endometrium as compared to peripheral blood. Samples from endometrium were taken from normal fertile women during routine check-up by Pipelle pipette or after hysterectomy operation. Total RNA from both blood and endometrial samples was extracted and RT-PCR using BV gene specific primers was performed. After southern blotting, hybridization with radiolabelled specific probe and autoradiography, relative expression of each BV family was determined. Clonal expansions of the over-expressed genes were studied by determining their CDR3 length polymorphism. A total of 12 blood and 14 endometrial samples were collected. Only one TCRBV gene [TCRBV7] was expressed significantly more and 3 genes less frequently in the endometrium compared to blood. Also, two other genes [TCRBV10 and 12] were found marginally more frequent in the endometrium. As for their clonality, all 3 TCRBV genes examined here showed a rather restricted [oligoclonal] and in some cases, very restricted [probably monoclonal] pattern in the endometrium in contrast to polyclonal patterns in the blood. Our results indicate the similarities between T cells residing in different mucosal tissues and support their common recruitment and functional potentials. Moreover, our findings provide a basis for future investigations about endometrial T cell involvement and their antigen specificities in different gynecological problems

Descriptive study of 226 patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma

The prevalence of allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis is high in general population and aeroallergens are the most common allergens that cause air way inflammation. The aim of this study was an evaluation of clinical and laboratory findings in allergic patients and identification of the most common aeroallergen in these patients. A cross–sectional retrospective study was conducted on 226 allergic patients who were referred to allergic clinic of Karaj city, and skin prick test response to aeroallergens were studied. The most common risk factors in these patients were total IgE more than 100 IU/ml and a positive family history of atopy. Skin prick testing results showed that the most common aeroallergens were: herbacee II [62%], sycamore [57%], chenopodium [53%], tree mix [50%], herbacee III [47%], grass [43%], ash [40%], herbacee I [37%], cedar [27%], cockroach [25%], and mite D.P [19%], D.F [18%]. High prevalence of skin reactivity to weeds [chenopodium and herbacee] and sycamore indicates variation in the prevalence of aeroallergen reactivity in different regions with different climates

detection of dopamine gene receptors [DRD[1]-DRD[5]] expression on human peripheral blood lymphocytes by real time PCR

There is interrelationship between the immune and nervous systems that is accomplished by the molecular mediators. Dopamine is one of the most important neurotransmitters. Five different dopamine receptor genes [DRD1, DRD2, DRD3, DRD4, and DRD5] have been recognized and cloned. The expression of the dopamine receptors is well characterized in the brain but little work has been done to examine their expression in other organ tissues. In certain diseases of the immune and nervous systems, alterations in dopamine receptors gene expression in different cells have been reported. This suggests that dopamine and its receptors have important role in pathophysiology of above-mentioned diseases. In the present study, using Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR] technique, we investigated dopamine receptors genes expression in PBMC of normal individuals. The PBMC was separated from normal whole blood by Ficoll-hypaque; the total cellular RNA was then extracted and the cDNA was synthesized. This process followed by real time-PCR using primer pairs specific for five dopamine receptors mRNAs and beta-actin as internal control. The results showed the presence of all types of dopamine receptors in lymphocytes of normal individuals. The specificities of the obtained PCR products for the respective dopamine receptors fragments were confirmed by sequenced analysis capillary system. In conclusion, the present study has shown that human lymphocytes express five dopamine receptors DR1-DR5. However, the conclusive evidence on the possible function of these receptors in lymphocytes remains unknown. Because lymphocytes express all of the five neuronal dopamine receptors, it is quite reasonable to consider them as a model of dopaminergic neuron