Salivary Interferon Gamma and Interleukin-4 Levels in patients suffering from Oral Lichen Planus

Objective: Oral lichen planus [OLP] is a chronic inflammatory disease. Immunological factor may act as etiological factor. The cellular immune cells such as T cells are important in pathogenesis. Interferon gamma [IFN-Gamma] and interleukin 4 [IL-4] are secreted by T-helper 1 [Th1] and Th2, respectively. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between salivary levels of IFN-Gamma and IL-4 with OLP

Materials and Methods: This case control study included sixty three Iranian OLP patients who were selected from the Department of Oral Medicine of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences from January to July 2013. An equal number of healthy volunteers were also selected as a control group. The OLP patients were then divided into two following sub-groups: reticular [n=30] and erythematous/ulcerative [n=33]. All patients had no systemic disease and received no medication. IFN-Gamma and IL-4 levels in whole unstimulated saliva [WUS] were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] test. Data analysis was done using t test, ANOVA, least significant difference [LSD] test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test

Results: Reticular OLP patients showed higher salivary IFN-Gamma [7.74 +/- 0.09 pg/ml] and IL-4 [3.876 +/- 0.05 pg/ml] levels compared with the control group, indicating that difference was significant. Salivary IFN-Gamma/IL-4 ratio significantly increased compared with control group [P=0.042]. Salivary IFN-Gamma and IL-4 levels between sub-groups [reticular and erythematous/ulcerative] were not significantly different [2.6 +/- 0.06 and 2.3 +/- 0.05, respectively, P<0.05]

Conclusion: Salivary IFN-Gamma and IL-4 levels were increased in OLP patients. An increase of salivary IFN-Gamma/IL-4 ratio in OLP patients showed that Th1 might have a dominant role in the OLP pathogenesis

Investigation of the association between Salivary Procalcitonin concentration and chronic periodontitis

Objective: Chronic periodontitis is the most common form of periodontal disease. Changes in biomarkers seem to be associated with the disease progression. Procalcitonin [PCT] is one of these biomarkers that are altered during infection. This study was established to investigate the relationship between periodontitis as an infectious disease and salivary PCT

Materials and Methods: This case-control study was performed on 30 patients with generalized chronic periodontitis and 30 health individuals as control group who were referred to Dental School, Jundishapur University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran at Feb to Apr 2014. The saliva samples were collected and analyzed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] method. Data analysis was performed using t test with the SPSS [SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA] version 13

Results: In both groups, age and sex distribution values were not significantly different. The concentrations of salivary PCT in controls and patients ranged from 0.081 pg/ mL to 0.109pg/mL and from 0.078pg/mL to 0.114pg/mL, respectively. The statistically significant differences between the two groups were not observed [P=0.17]

Conclusion: It seems that salivary PCT concentration is not affected by disease progression. Therefore, PCT is not a valuable marker for the existence of periodontal disease

Concomitant increase of OX40 and FOXP3 transcripts in peripheral blood of patients with breast cancer

Regulatory T cells [T-regs] have an important role in cancer by suppression of protective antitumor immune responses. Regulatory T cells express the forkhead/ winged helix transcription factor [FOXP3] and OX40 molecules which have important regulatory roles in the immune system. To evaluate FOXP3 and OX40 transcripts in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of women with breast cancer. Blood samples from 40 women with histologically-confirmed infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast and 40 healthy volunteer women without a history of malignancy or autoimmune disorders were collected. The abundance of FOXP3 and OX40 gene transcripts were determined by quantitative real-time PCR [qRT-PCR]. There was a significant positive correlation between FOXP3 and OX40 gene expression in women with breast cancer in a stage dependent manner. This finding emphasizes the importance of T-regs as predominant targets for breast cancer immunotherapy

Relationship between cell compatibility and elastic modulus of silicone rubber/organoclay nanobiocomposites

Substrates in medical science are hydrophilic polymers undergoing volume expansion when exposed to culture medium that influenced on cell attachment. Although crosslinking by chemical agents could reduce water uptake and promote mechanical properties, these networks would release crosslinking agents. In order to overcome this weakness, silicone rubber is used and reinforced by nanoclay. Attempts have been made to prepare nanocomposites based on medical grade HTV silicone rubber [SR] and organo-modified montmorillonite [OMMT] nanoclay with varying amounts of clay compositions. Incorporation of nanocilica platelets into SR matrix was carried out via melt mixing process taking advantage of a Brabender internal mixer. The tensile elastic modulus of nanocomposites was measured by performing tensile tests on the samples. Produced polydimetylsiloxane [PDMS] composites with different flexibilities and crosslink densities were employed as substrates to investigate biocompatibility, cell compaction, and differential behaviors. The results presented here revealed successful nanocomposite formation with SRand OMMT, resulting in strong PDMS-based materials. The results showed that viability, proliferation, and spreading of cells are governed by elastic modulus and stiffness of samples. Furthermore, adipose derived stem cells [ADSCs] cultured on PDMS and corresponding nanocomposites could retain differentiation potential of osteocytes in response to soluble factors, indicating that inclusion of OMMT would not prevent osteogenic differentiation. Moreover, better spread out and proliferation of cells was observed in nanocomposite samples. Considering cell behavior and mechanical properties of nanobiocomposites it could be concluded that silicone rubber substrate filled by nanoclay are a good choice for further experiments in tissue engineering and medical regeneration due to its cell compatibility and differentiation capacity

Immunomodulatory effects of astragalus gypsicolus hydroalcoholic extract in ovalbumin-induced allergic mice model

Several studies have demonstrated that herbal extracts possess various biological effects including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. The present study was aimed to investigate the protective effects of the Astragalus gypsicolus [AG] hydroalcoholic extract in early allergic sensitized mice induced by ovalbumin. Phytochemical assay was used to recognize the main active constituents in the AG hydroalcoholic extract. Mice were immunized with subcutaneous injection of ovalbumin and aluminum hydroxide. Efficiency of sensitization was assessed by serum IgE levels and eosinophil count. After sensitization, two doses of extract [250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg] were injected intrapritoneally. On day 14, mice were challenged with intrapritoneal injection of ovalbumin. IL-4 and IFN gamma levels in broncoalveolar lavage fluid, which had been collected on day 15, were assessed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA] kit. Our results indicate two main active constituents including flavonoids and terpenoids are present in the AG.hydroalcoholic extract. Intrapritoneal injection of the AG hydroalcoholic extract was able to decrease IL-4 and increase IFN gamma. It seems the AG hydroalcoholic extract has the potential to modulate the balance of Thl/Th2 cytokines in allergy

[Effects of a single incremental exhausting exercise on circulating numbers of lymplocyes subsets in male athletes]

Intense exercise activity has been known as one of the immune system suppressor. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of a single incremental exhausting exercise on circulting numbers of T cell and NK cell subsets in healthy young male athletes. Twenty male subjects with mean age 22/4 +/- 1/8 [SD] yr, mean Vo2max 41/7 +/- 7/1 [SD] ml/kg/min and mean BMI 23 +/- 1/87 [SD] kg/m2 were divided randomly into two control group [n=10] and experimental group [n=10]. The experimental subjects performed a standard bicycle ergometer test whereas the control subjects did not participate in any exercise activity. Blood samples were collected pre-, immediately post-, and 2 hours post-exercise. The T and and NK lymphocyte subsets were analyzed with flow cytometry. There was a significant increase in the percentage of T [CD8] and NK [CD16/56] and a significant decrase in the percentage of T [CD4] and the ratio of CD4/CD8 from pre-, to immediately post-exercise [p<0.05]. Both changes returned to pre-exercise values at 2 hours post-exercise. Addtionally, no significant changes was found in the percentage of CD56 and CD16 [NK] cells following exercise Findings of this study indicate a single intense and short-term training session caused transient and temporary changes in circulating lymphocytes counts. Thus, it is reommonded that the interval between training designed in a way that the immune system reverts back to its original status

Detection of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-12 serum levels in generalized aggressive periodontitis

Periodontitis is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease characterized by destruction of tooth-supporting tissues. Environmental and genetic factors as well as the immune system participate in this process. Recent studies have attempted to elucidate the role of cytokine networks involved in periodontal diseases. To assess and compare the levels of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-12 in serum samples of patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis [GagP] and control individuals. A total of 50 subjects were included in the study of which 25 patients had generalized aggressive periodontitis and 25 were healthy unrelated age and gender matched patients undergoing extraction and surgical crown lengthening [control group]. Local blood samples of patients were collected from surgical sites of pocket reduction and from healthy individuals before tooth extraction or crown lengthening from non inflamed sites. The levels of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-12 were determined by an ELISA assay using serum samples separated from the whole blood of both groups. The level of IL-4 increased significantly in control group in comparison with the test group [p=0.002]. The amount of IL-6 in GagP patients increased strongly compared with control group [p<0.0001]. There was no significant difference between the two groups concerning the level of IL-12. There is an association between generalized aggressive periodontitis and low level of IL-4 as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, and high level of IL-6 as a proinflammatory cytokine. No correlation between IL-12 and generalized aggressive peridontitis was found

[ opinions of academic members of Ahvaz university of medical sciences about the effective factors on their evaluation score variations]

Considering the importance of educational processes in our universities, evaluation of academic members in order to improve their teaching quality is highly necessary. In Education Development Center of Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, evaluation of academic members by students is performed annually through questionnaires and the results are reflected to the teachers. To determine the opinions of teachers about the effective factors on variations of their evaluation score during the academic year of 2003-2004 in comparison to the previous year. In this descriptive study a researcher-made questionnaire was prepared and distributed among 130 non- clinical academic members of whom 72% filled and returned the questionnaires. Data were analyzed by computing frequency, percentage and Chi-square test. About half of the teachers [52.3%] gained a higher evaluation score in comparison to the previous year and they believed that the most important factors causing this increase have been respectively more proficiency in educational program content [46%], considering students' program level [26%], knowing the results of previous evaluation [23%], participating in medical education workshops [75%], improvement of educational facilities [71%] and alteration in social behavior [68%]. Among all teachers, 37.4% gained a lower score comparing to the previous year and according to them frequent holidays during the academic semester [49%], type of course and its nature [37%] and students dishonesty in evaluating teachers [34%] had been the most important factors affecting decrease in their evaluation score, while inappropriate class time [91%] had not been effective in this regard. In order to improve the quality of educational programs, considering academic members' suggestions and trying to resolve educational problems are highly recommended

Expression of VLA1, VLA2 and VLA3 integrin molecules in uterine endometrium of infertile women with unexplained aetiology in Ahwaz-Iran

Recent attention has focused on the expression of integrin molecules within the endometrium, and their relation to infertility. The present prospective study was undertaken to determine whether the endometrium of women with unexplained infertility differs in the expression of very late activation antigens [VLA] from the endometrium of normal fertile women. Thirty samples of endometrial biopsies from hysterectomies with non-endometrial pathology and 28 endometrial samples by uterine curetting from infertile women in secretary phase at implantation time were collected, stained with three monoclonal antibodies against a1 integrin subunits including VLA-1 to VLA-3 by immunohistochemical technique and then assessed semi-quantitatively by microscope. Chi-Square test was used to compare the expression of VLA antigens on epithelial cells, stromal cells, lymphocytes and vessels within endometrial tissues between two groups. The results showed that most VLA integrins were present in fertile and infertile endometrium tissues. There were similarities and differences in the expression of VLA molecules in different compartments. VLA-2, VLA-3 expression on endometrial compartments showed an unaltered pattern of staining during the putative window of implantation in either fertile or infertile women with no significant differences [Pvalue> 0.5]. VLA-1 expression on endometrial compartments changed in fertile and unexplained infertile women, the differences were related to the presence or lack of the molecules on epithelial and stromal cells respectively. Differences may explain causes of unexplained infertility, and suggests that certain integrins may participate in the cascade of molecular events leading to successful implantation and early placental development which requires more investigations

Endometrial granulated lymphocytes in women suffering spontaneous early pregnancy loss

Spontaneous abortion is the most common complication of pregnancy. Several lines of evidence indicate that immunologic effector cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic repetitive abortions. Leukocytes form a substantial proportion of stromal cells in decidua and the endometrial granulated lymphocytes [eGL] is the predominant decidual leukocyte population in the first trimester of normal human pregnancy. To investigate the involvement of eGL population in repetitive abortion of unknown etiology, a comparative analysis was performed on first-trimester decidual tissues obtained from thirty patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion and thirty samples at therapeutic abortion. The eGL in paraffin-embedded sections of all samples were demonstrated with phloxine-tartrazine staining. The results showed the presence of many eGL that scattered individually throughout the stroma and formed some aggregates around glands and some vessels. The number of positive cells was increased in the recurrent aborted decidua compared with normal pregnancy decidua, but the difference was not significant [p>0.05]