Decreased levels of interleukin 27 in the serum of vitiligo patients

Abstract Background: Vitiligo is a common skin disorder in which melanocytes are destroyed by auto-reactive immune responses. The loss of melanocytes results in the appearance of depigmented areas in different parts of the body. Cytokines have remarkable roles in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α; interleukin 27 (IL-27) is a new member of the IL-6/IL-12 family, mainly released by activated antigen-presenting cells. IL-27 has been suggested to function as a pro-inflammatory as well as an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Altered concentrations of IL-27 have been shown in various auto-immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. No studies have been conducted to determine the expression of this cytokine in vitiligo patients. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the serum concentration of IL-27 in vitiligo patients and compare it with normal individuals. Methods: The serum concentration of IL-27 in 79 vitiligo patients was evaluated in comparison to 45 healthy controls using ELISA assay. Results: Results showed decreased concentration of IL-27 in vitiligo patients as compared with healthy subjects (p = 0.026). Furthermore, no correlation between IL-27 concentrations and disease parameters such as vitiligo severity and the extension of the depigmented area was observed. Study limitation: A larger sample size would be more recommended for this study. Conclusion: The reduction in the serum levels of IL-27 in vitiligo patients compared to normal subjects suggested the possible anti-inflammatory role of this cytokine in vitiligo. Thus, IL-27 may be considered as a new target for the manipulation of the immune system in vitiligo patients.

[Study perception, knowledge and expectations from population and physicians points of view about implementation of family physician program: a case study in Shiraz]

Introduction: Health and security are two basic components of human rights in society. From the perspective of the World Health Organization, Family Medicine is the heart of global efforts to improve service quality, reduce costs, enhance effectiveness and equality of health care system. But without the participation of stakeholders and cultural changes in society it is not possible. The aim of this study was to investigate perceptions, knowledge and expectations of physicians and Shiraz people in Fars province about this project

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study in 2013. sample and data collection Was through semi-structured interviews that were conducted with 30 patients and their analysis was done using analysis framework

Results: From participants' physician point of view five original codes with titles: The lack of adequate infrastructure, payment system problems, weak cooperation, misunderstood viewpoint on family physicians and 17 sub-codes and From people's point of view two original codes with titles: Understanding and Awareness, and Expectations and 6 sub-codes were extracted

Conclusion: The results showed that many people do not have the appropriate knowledge about the family physician program, so Training tailored to the local culture is needed, and also motivation system is needed to improve referral system. In order to keep family physicians in this system, solving economic problems and increasing motivation of family Physicians is necessary

Prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis and other intestinal parasitic infections among mentally retarded residents in central institution of southern Iran

Objective: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among mentally retarded residents of rehabilitation center of Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province, southern Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in central rehabilitation institute of Hormozgan province in summer 2010. Fecal samples of all 133 residents (72 males, 61 females) aged 3-52, were collected in triplicate. Specimens were examined by direct smear, formalin-ether concentration techniques and stained by permanent Trichrome, Ziehl-Neelsen stains. Statistical analysis was conducted by SPSS 13.5. Results:Intestinal parasitic infections were seen in 48.5%(64 out of 133 subjects:53.4%in males and 46.6%in females). Strongyloides stercoralis with 17.3%showed the highest incidence followed by Entamoeba coli (9.8%), Blastocystis hominis (7.5%), Giardia lamblia (2.3%), Endolimax nana (2.3%), Hymenolepis nana (0.8%), Oxyuris vermicularis (0.8%), and Chilomasix mesnili (0.8%). Double infections were found to be as: Strongyloides stercoralis+Giardia lamblia (2.3%), Entamoeba coli+Giardia lamblia (1.5%), Entamoeba coli+Blastocystis hominis (1.5%), Oxyuris vermicularis+Entamoeba coli (0.8%), Strongyloides stercoralis+Entamoeba coli (0.8%), respectively. Conclusions:Our findings reveal that strongyloidiasis is a common disease among mentally retarded population in southern Iran.

Comparison of harris benedict and Mifflin-ST Jeor equations with indirect calorimetry in evaluating resting energy expenditure.

Background: An understanding of energy expenditure in hospitalized patients is necessary to determine optimal energy supply. The metabolic rate can be measured or estimated by equations, but estimation is by far the most common method. AIM: This study tests the degree of agreement between measured resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry and predicted resting energy expenditure by Harris Benedict and Mifflin-St Jeor equations. Patients were categorized according to sex and diagnosis. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: In 60 randomly selected patients, aged between 18 and 83 years, resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured by indirect calorimetry and compared with the predicted equations of Harris Benedict and Mifflin-St Jeor. Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis was performed by using the method of Bland-Altman, one sample t-test and Pearson's correlation. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between measured and predicted resting energy expenditure by both equations, in all cases as a whole and each group. The only statistically significant difference was seen between measured resting energy expenditure and its predicted equivalent by Mifflin-St equation when patients were categorized according to their sex. Limits of agreements were wide for both equations in all cases and each category so clinical significance was considerable. Conclusions: At a group level Harris-Benedict equation is suitable for predicting REE but at an individual level, both equations have wide limits of agreement and clinically important differences in REE would be obtained.