Search

Aim: This study investigated the application of phospholipid-PEGylated single-walled carbon nanotubes (PL-PEG-SWCNTs) as a safe co-adjuvant for the commercial recombinant hepatitis B virus vaccine to enhance induction of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) differentiation and activation in vitro as an immune response initiator cell to prompt a long-term immune response after a single dose injection. Methods: Immature MDDCs were exposed to PL-PEG-SWCNTs alone and in combination with hepatitis B vaccine. Results & conclusion: Study results confirm the enhanced expression of maturation markers in human immature MDDCs after PL-PEG-SWCNT exposure. The results suggest that PL-PEG-SWCNT is an efficient co-adjuvant for the commercial recombinant hepatitis B virus vaccine to enhance dendritic cell response stimulation in vitro.

Background Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a ubiquitous protozoan parasite which causes a serious disease called toxoplasmosis. The high prevalence of T. gondii infection has attracted a great deal of interest in its diagnosis and treatment. The use of pure antigens shows high sensitivity and specificity, but challenges such as cross-reactivity remain diagnostic difficulties. Objectives The aim of this study was to use 3 surface antigens (SAGs) of T. gondii to design gene-encoding a multi-epitope and immunogenic protein as a serodiagnostic marker. Material and methods The multi-epitope antigen was expressed using Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells and purified using affinity chromatography. To evaluate acute toxoplasmosis, 95 human sera with anti-T. gondii IgG, 25 human sera without anti-T. gondii IgG and 6 serum samples with nosocomial infections were collected and submitted to an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. The potential of purified protein as a diagnostic marker of T. gondii infection was also investigated using ELISA analysis. Results The western blot analysis for both protein expression and purification confirmed that the protein was expressed and purified successfully. The results of validation showed a sensitivity of 72.6% and a specificity of 90.3% for recombinant ELISA. Conclusions Although this protein showed potential for detecting T. gondii, the sensitivity and specificity were lower than in tests that use the whole body of the parasite.

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a strong toxic agent that causes acute and chronic health effects on a myriad of organs following exposure. Although the primary targets of inhaled mustard gas are the epithelia of the upper respiratory tract, the lower respiratory tract is the focus of the current study, and upper tract complications remain obscure. To our knowledge there is no study addressing the secretory IgA (S-IgA), C5a, alpha 1 antitrypsin (A1AT) in the saliva of SM-exposed victims. In this study, as many as 500 volunteers, including 372 SM-exposed cases and 128 control volunteers were recruited. A 3 ml sample of saliva was collected from each volunteer, and the level of secretory IgA, C5a, and alpha 1 antitrypsin in the samples were compared between the two groups. The SM-exposed group showed a significantly higher amount of salivary alpha 1 antitrypsin and secretary IgA compared to the control group (p

Background: Obesity is the main cause of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Diet therapy is the cornerstone in the management of obesity and T2DM. Objectives: We evaluated the effects of calorie-restricted diet therapy on the circulating level of the serum lipid profile, glucose, insulin, and adiponectin in obese women with T2DM. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical controlled trial was performed for 10 weeks on 30 eligible obese T2DM women distributed to control (n = 15) and diet therapy (n = 15) groups. Demographic, nutritional, anthropometric, and laboratory data were obtained before and after the study. Data were analyzed by SPSS vs.15 and Nutritionist IV. Results: In addition to anthropometric measurements, diet therapy independently improved fasting blood sugar (P = 0.024, -69.37 to -5.57 mg/dL), 2-h postprandial blood sugar (P = 0.007, -123.34 to -22.3 mg/dL), serum total cholesterol (P = 0.005, -46.48 to -9.72 mg/dL), serum alanine transaminase (P = 0.001, -8.91 to -3.18 U/L), and increased circulating adiponectin (P = 0.038, 0.01 to 0.47 μg/mL). Conclusions: Improvement of biomarkers of insulin sensitivity, including adiponectin and lipid metabolism, is an important therapeutic effect of medical nutrition therapy in obese patients with T2DM.

Sulfur mustard (SM) is highly toxic for various organs. The eyes, skin, respiratory tract, as well hematopoietic and immune systems are the main organs affected by SM. Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a potent cytokine that plays an important role in the hematopoietic and immune system. The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of GM-CSF and its relation to blood cell count and other inflammatory cytokines 20 years after SM exposure. The association of GM-CSF with the clinical severity of pulmonary, ophthalmic and dermatologic complications has also been studied. In this historical cohort study named as Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study (SICS), 369 SM exposed male participants and 125 unexposed volunteers were studied. The serum concentrations of cytokines were measured by ELISA technique. The severity of clinical complications was graded according to the criteria verified by the Medical Committee of the Foundation of Martyr and Veterans Affairs. The serum levels of GM-CSF in the SM exposed group did not display any significant differences with the control group. Median of GM-CSF was 7.33 and 9.39 pg/ml in the SM exposed group and the controls respectively. There was a positive correlation between the serum levels of GM-CSF and the percent of eosinophils only in the exposed group. Moreover, positive correlations were found between circulating levels of GM-CSF with IL-1α, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6. This correlation was not observed between GM-CSF and IL-8 in both study groups. The serum levels of GM-CSF did not show any significant association with clinical complications.

Article history:Received 26 May 2009Received in revised form 27 August 2009Accepted 27 August 2009Keywords:Fas ligandNitric oxideInflammationPulmonaryMustard gasIran Sulfur mustard (SM) has short- and long-term toxicity against various organs including the respiratorysystem. However, the basic and molecular mechanisms of SM long-term toxicity have not clearly beendefined. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) as well asnitric oxide (NO) serum levels with long-term pulmonary complications in a SM exposed population20 years after SM exposure. In this historical cohort study 372 male SM exposed subjects and 128 age-matched unexposed controls were studied. Clinical evaluation and pulmonary function tests were carried outfor all participants and serum concentrations of sFasL and NO measured. According to our results, the serumlevels of sFasL and NO were not significantly different between the exposed and control groups. However,the serum levels of sFasL in the exposed group with pulmonary problems were significantly higher than theircorresponding in the control group (116.711±81.166 vs 86.027±30.199 and p=0.028). Furthermore asignificant elevation in sFasL levels was found in the exposed subjects with pulmonary problems comparedto those exposed participants without pulmonary problems (116.711±81.166 vs 90.692±57.853 andp=0.004). Based on Global Initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification analysis apositive correlation was observed between sFasL levels and pulmonary problems. There was also asignificant negative correlation between sFasL and the white blood cell (WBC) count in the SM exposedcohort, but not in the control group. No significant association was shown between NO and pulmonaryimpairment in the SM exposed subjects. Thus, our results indicate that elevated serum levels of sFasL may beassociated with progression of pulmonary diseases in the SM exposed subjects.© 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Objective Until recently, the only tool for detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) was the tuberculin skin test (TST). QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT) is a promising in vitro diagnostic test for LTBI that has potential advantages over the TST. In this study we aimed to compare QFT with TST for diagnosis of LTBI. Patients and methods A total of 186 BCG-vaccinated subjects enrolled in study. They underwent TST and QFT assay. They divided in two groups. Group 1 includes individuals who were at low risk for exposure to M. tuberculosis (LRG) and Group 2 includes individuals who were likely to have been exposed to M. tuberculosis infections (HRG). Results Overall agreement between QFT and TST was 89.3% (kappa = 0.052). In LRG, agreement between the two tests was 52.6% (95% confidence interval, 44‐60%) with k-values of 0.019. In HRG agreement between the two tests was 63.2% (95% confidence interval, 42‐84%) with k-values of 0.28. Conclusion In conclusion, the QFT assay showed acceptable results for determining latent M. tuberculosis infection in vaccinated population. The decision to select QFT over TST will depend on the population, purpose of testing and resource availability.