Study on efficacy of hepatitis b immunization in vaccinated beta-thalassemia children in Tehran

In thalassemic children, HBV infection is common, thus immunization against will reduce and prevent the rate of infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of HBV immunization and the prevalence of HBV infection in beta-thalassemic children in Tehran. To assess the efficacy of immunization and determine the immune response of children with beta-thalassemia, sera of 99 children who had received three doses [10/20 micro g] of recombinant HBV vaccine in months 0, 1, 6, were selected and tested for HBsAg, HBsAb and anti-HBc by ELISA method. Also, these sera were tested for HBV DNA using nested-PCR method. In 99 beta-thalassemic children, 89 [89.9%] were anti-HBs positive [responders] and 10 [10.1%] anti-HBs negative [non-responders]. 3 [3.03%] were anti-HBc positive and 1[1.01%] was HBsAg positive. HBV DNA was not detected in any of them. Our results have revealed that hepatitis B vaccine is highly immunogenic for thalassemic children and particularly well tolerated

Relation of factor VIII and IX inhibitors with ABO blood groups in 150 patients with haemophilia A and B

Many investigations have proved relations between ABO blood groups with some diseases and factor VIII and von willebrand level in plasma. In this study we investigated a relation between ABO blood groups and factor VIII and IX inhibitors in 102 patients with haemophilia A and 48 patients with haemophilia B. The assay of inhibitor was done by Bethesda method. There were no relation between ABO blood groups and factor VIII and IX inhibitors

In vitro evaluation of cell-mediated immunity to Epstein Barr virus

This study was conducted to measure cell-mediated immune response in healthy Epstein Barr virus [EBV]-seropositive individuals using a tissue culture "growth inhibition" assay [regression assay] where peripheral blood lymphocytes [PBLs] were tested for their ability to inhibit the outgrowth of the autologous lymphoblastoid cell lines [LCLs]. Inhibition of the outgrowth of the autologous LCLs was seen after 4 weeks by the addition of PBLs from healthy EBV seropositive donors. The regression phenomenon was never seen when the donors of peripheral blood lymphocytes were EBV- seronegative. Regression assay showed that EBV- specific memory T cells were stable in healthy EBV seropositive over many years, which indicates the persistent nature of EBV infection

Vaccination of tamarin with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing Epstein Barr Virus [EBV] latent proteins

The aim of this work was to see whether tamarin immunisation with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing Epstein Barr Virus latent proteins could prime T cells which were, on activation, able to inhibit the outgrowth of Epstein Barr virus transformed cells in vitro. The vaccination appeared to be successful as all vaccinated tamarins developed vaccinia lesions. However, the vaccination protocol did not elicit a cell-mediated response capable of inhibiting the outgrowth of autologous Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines [LCLs] as seen in the tamarin infected with whole EBV, even though the recombinant vaccinia viruses used expressed the antigens commonly recognised by sero positive humans