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Innate immunity refers to defense mechanisms that are always present, ready to combat microbes and other offending agents. Innate immunity acts as a first-line defense and activates the conventional immune responses; however, it has been speculated that the importance of innate immunity in initiation and development of some disorders is more than just the "first line of defense". Autoimmune diseases, caused by immune system overactivation, are among the most challenging scientific and clinical problems, and there is still much to be learned about their pathogenesis. We aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of available documents about the role of innate immunity in systemic autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, polymyositis, and systemic sclerosis. This study highlights the innate immunity pathways or molecules that are under investigation for therapy of these diseases.

Background: Given the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the community and the use of metformin as one of its most common therapies as well as presence of some evidences on a link between the use of this medicine and vitamin B12 levels, we decided to measure and compare serum level of vitamin B12 among the diabetic patients under treatment by metformin and compare with its natural content. Decreased Vitamin B12 levels leads to some clinical problems including anemia, gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhea, constipation, decreased appetite, etc.,), neurological disorders (tingle, numbness, muscle weakness, etc.,) and mental disorders (memory impairment, depression, behavioral problems, etc.,). Therefore, we would determine if the duration of metformin use and dosage may be effective on serum levels of vitamin B12 among metformin-treated diabetic patients. Methods: Serum vitamin B12 level in metformin-treated type 2 diabetic patients referred to Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital and Specialist Clinic of Taban in Tehran in 2016 (306 subjects selected by convenience sampling) was determined and then compared to its normal level. Results: Of the 306 participants in the study, 120 ones were females (39.2%) and 186 ones were males (60.8%). Also, 150 ones (49%) were healthy and 156 ones (51%) were suffering from diabetes Miletus. There was a significant difference between the type 2 diabetes mellitus and healthy individuals with quantitative variables such as age, height, weight, BMI, serum cholesterol (Chol) level, LDL serum level, HDL serum level, triglyceride (TG) level. The mean blood level of Vitamin B12 level was 448.92±156.75pg/mL among all participants. A Vitamin B12 deficiency frequency of above 6% was seen among diabetic patients. In regression analysis, a model was defined based on which age, gender, diabetes and Metformin used had a significant effect on serum levels of vitamin B-12. Also, none of the variables gender, age, duration of treatment, metformin quantity, weight and BMI was associated with a deficiency of vitamin B12. Conclusion: In the diabetic group, the prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency was more than6%. It was also seen that age, gender, diabetes mellitus, metformin intake and metformin content had a significant effect on serum B12 levels. Therefore, measurement of serum levels of vitamin B12 in metformin-treated subjects is recommended.

Background: Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a considerable problem of global health, and finding new therapies for treating the disease continues. Recently, attention has been focused on vitamin D as a potential lowering agent of T2DM’s risk factors and its complications. The present work was conducted to determine the effect of vitamin D supplements on serum lipids, uric acid, C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and also Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Materials and Methods: Sixty patients with T2DM as well as deficiency of vitamin D and referred to Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital in 2017 were selected by convenience sampling method. To begin the study, patients’ demographic information was required, so a questionnaire including age, waist circumference, sex, height, blood pressure and weight was provided. Patients with vitamin D3 0.05. Conclusions: Deficiency of vitamin D should be treated and prevented, but administration of this high-dose vitamin D supplements for prevention or improvement of T2DM has not been recommended yet. Our study showed a correlation between the vitamin D intake and decreased level of FBS and Uric Acid in diabetic patients.

The present study aimed to determine the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this cross-sectional analytical study, 150 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were assessed. The eye fundus examination was performed using fundoscopy to confirm or rule out retinopathy. Thyroid hormones were also measured by special kits to diagnose subclinical hypothyroidism. The criteria for diagnosis of this disorder include the high serum thyrotropin concentration (� 4mIU/L) plus normal serum free thyroxin levels. Statistical analyses were done using IBM-SPSS. In the study, 34.66 suffered retinopathy. A total of 24.0 suffered subclinical hypothyroidism with higher prevalence rate in those with retinopathy as compared with the group without retinopathy (p = 0.001). Those with diabetic retinopathy also experienced longer duration of diabetes than those without this event. (p = 0.006). Analysis show a significant role for type 2 diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.121, P = 0.003), and high TSH level (OR = 1.342, P = 0.006) to predict diabetic retinopathy.This study showed an association between hypothyroidism, diabetes and increased TSH with retinopathy. Retinopathy is significantly predicable with the presence of subclinical hypothyroidism and longer duration of diabetes. © 2021, Institute of Medico-Legal Publications. All rights reserved.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease caused by established chronic inflammation. Neopterin levels have extensively been considered as a marker of immune activation during inflammation. In this study, we performed a systematic evaluation and meta-analysis to elucidate the overall relationship between neopterin concentration and RA disease activity. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, a systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus from 2000 to August 2020. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of eligible studies. The effect size (ES) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate this association. A total of 15 studies out of 98 met our inclusion criteria. The pooled analysis found that patients with RA had high level of neopterin; however, no statistically significant association was found between neopterin levels with high, intermediate, and low diseases activity score (DAS)-28 (ES =11.18, 95% CI: 6.02 to 16.34, and I2 = 91.8%; and ES = 8.57, 95% CI: 6.41 to 10.37, and I2 = 99.5%; and ES =12.45, 95% CI: -1.68 to 26.58, and I2 = 99.0%, respectively). Our results indicated that the neopterin concentration does not seem to have any substantial impact on the RA disease activity.

Cell-derived exosomes are identified as carriers of lipids, proteins, and genetic materials that participate in cell-cell signal communication, biological process, and cell signaling. Also, their involvement has been reported in a vast array of disorders and inflammatory conditions such as autoimmune diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a common cause of joint disorder, is an inflammation-based disease in which the precise understanding of its pathogenesis needs to be further investigated. Also, there is only a palliative care approach for the alleviation of RA symptoms. This paper discusses the recent advances in the biology of exosomes in autoimmune disorders especially in RA, and also provides a new line of research for arthritis therapy using exosomes.

Background: Hydatid disease is characterized by long-term growth of hydatid cysts in the human. The glycan antigens have an important role in the immunology of hydatid cyst. In this study immunological reaction of host sera to different glycan antigens of the cyst, has been investigated. Methods: The antibody responses were tested to glycoprotein and glycolipid of the laminated layer (LL), cyst fluid (CF) and protoscolex (PS) antigens of E. Granulosus using ELISA and western immunoblotting tests. Thin-layer chromatography and ß-elimination were used for glycan purification. Results: Both hydatid cyst and normal human sera reacted with hydatid cyst fluid, protoscolices, laminated layer, glycoprotein and glycolipid antigens. The most antigen-antibody reaction was related to CF and PS antigens, and LL antigens had the minimal reaction with the sera. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) of the antigens showed presence of many glycan bands in the laminated layer. Conclusion: The parasite may elaborate different glycan antigens in LL to evade host immune response.

Viruses are non-living organisms that annually cause many problems for human societies. The spread of some of the most dangerous viruses causing acute pneumonia, including novel Corona virus has led to the largest death toll in the world. With a long incubation period, Corona virus causes many problems for the immune system. Studies have shown that antioxidant enzymes play an important role in reducing infection and boosting the immune system. The immune system of people with chronic infections is often weak. Specific immunity is one of the most important responses to the virus. The present study therefore investigates association of Coronavirus pathogenicity with the level of antioxidants and immune system.

Introduction: Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is one of the most common causes of Emergency Room (ER) visits all around the world. Previous studies proved the relationship between ABO blood group and the bleeding diathesis. Distribution of ABO blood type antigens is various among the different races. This study aimed to assess the role of ABO blood group system in the development of GI bleeding in Iranian population. Method and Material: Patients with acute upper and/or lower non-traumatic GI bleeding who admitted in ER of Rasoul-e-Akram hospital and the healthy blood donor between 2014 and 2016, were enrolled in this prospective case-control study. Demographic criteria, clinical presentation, laboratory data, endoscopic findings and GI bleeding outcome during the first 72 hours of admission were recorded. All variables were analyzed by SPSS software version 22. Results: Overall, 513 case and 520 control groups completed the study. The risk of bleeding originated from esophageal, gastric and duodenal ulcers were significantly higher among patients with O blood group (P value=0.032, 0.021 and 0.009, respectively). Need for blood transfusion was significantly higher among patients with O blood group (P value=0.032). Older males had higher risk of developing GI bleeding (P value is 0.001and 0.003, respectively) in this study. Conclusion: O blood type is significantly more common in Iranian patients with GI bleeding in comparison to the healthy blood donors. It seems that it is a prognostic genetic and individual risk factor for bleeding tendency in these patients, especially in those with upper GI bleeding.

Introduction: Low testosterone level has strongly been correlated with body fat accumulation and abdominal obesity in men. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate testosterone level in men with and without metabolic syndrome to determine the relationship between testosterone and metabolic syndrome. Patients and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 172 cases of metabolic syndrome and 172 participants as a control group in Rasoul Akram hospital, Tehran, Iran. Demographic characteristics, fasting blood sugar (FBS), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and testosterone levels were recorded. SPSS version 21.0 and SAS version 9.1 were used for statistical analysis. Level of significance was considered 0.05. Results: The mean age of the two groups were 45.1±9.3 years and 41.5 ±11.2 years, respectively. There was a significant difference in serum testosterone levels between both groups and low testosterone levels were associated with metabolic syndrome (PConclusion: According to the results, low level of testosterone was related to the presence of metabolic syndrome in adult males. Future studies can investigate diagnostic value of testosterone level in this syndrome.