Effect of Acute Pain on Splenic NK Cell Activity,Lymphocyte Proliferation and Cytokine Production Activities

Various types of physical and physiological stress in animals have been shown to affect their humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. The present study was designed to investigate the possible influence of acute pain on the immune system. BALB/c mice were exposed to an increasing number of heat shocks using a Tail Flick apparatus; an equal number of control mice received no shock treatments. After each of the regimens was completed, the spleen of each mouse was recovered and various cell populations isolated to assess: the proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin by lymphocytes; cytotoxic activities of natural killer (NK) cells; and, the production of select important cytokines by splenic lymphocytes. The results indicated that NK cell activity and proliferation of lymphocytes were significantly (p < 0.001) increased due to the shock regimens after only a single day's rounds of stimulation (i.e., 3 rounds of ≈12 equally time-spaced shocks/hr with 30–45 min gap between rounds). After 2 and 3 days' rounds of stimulations, no significant changes were detected in the proliferative response of isolated lymphocytes; conversely, the activity of NK cells remained significantly elevated compared to the controls hosts' cells, even on the second day of stimulation but not on the third. Regarding effects on cytokines, no significant changes were detected in the amount of Interferon-γ (IFNγ) and Interlukin-10 (IL-10) produced by lymphocytes obtained from the spleens of any of the shocked mice. These results could suggest that certain acute stressors might actually strengthen a host's immunological reactivity and, possibly, result in an enhanced capacity to resist pathogens that might infect the body.     

Increased expression of PD-1 in CD8 + CD3 + T cells correlates with EBV viral load in MS patients

Journal of NeuroVirology - Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the common autoimmune diseases. The exact etiology of MS is still unclear, but recent studies have shown the possibility of infectious...     

Synthesis,Antileishmanial Activity and Molecular Docking Study of New 3,4-Dihydropyrimidinones/Thiones

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal - Appearance of drug-unresponsive strains of Leishmania genus and toxic side effects of current chemotherapies necessitate the search for novel antileishmanial...     

Effect of eugenol-containing and resin endodontic sealers on retention of prefabricated metal posts cemented with zinc phosphate and resin cements

PurposeThe aim of this study was to compare the effects of two endodontic sealers on the retention of posts cemented with zinc phosphate or resin cement.Materials and methodsCrowns of 72 mandibular premolars were removed at the cementoenamel junction. Root canals were prepared and specimens were randomly divided into two groups of 36. In each group, 12 specimens were obturated with gutta percha only; 12 specimens with gutta percha/ZOE sealer and 12 specimens with gutta percha/AH26. In the first group, 10 mm Post spaces were prepared with Peeso reamers size 4 and, size 5 stainless steel Paraposts were cemented in with zinc phosphate. In the second group, 10 mm Post spaces were prepared with Fiber Lux size 5.5 drills and size 5 Paraposts were cemented with Panavia F_2.0. After mounting in resin blocks, posts were pulled out by universal testing machine at 1 mm/min and results were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Dunnett test.ResultsMean forces (in Newtons) required to remove posts cemented with zinc phosphate in canals obturated without sealer, with ZOE, and with AH26 sealers were 270 ± 83, 281 ± 128 and 266 ± 67, respectively; and for posts cemented with Panavia F_2.0 were 520 ± 290, 464 ± 212 and 229 ± 108, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that AH26 significantly reduced retention of posts cemented with Panavia F_2.0 (p < 0.05).ConclusionDifferent sealers had no significant effect on retention of posts cemented with zinc phosphate. However posts cemented with Panavia F_2.0 showed reduced retention in canals obturated with AH26.     

Clopidogrel Pharmacogenetics in Iranian Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Clopidogrel is used in patients with coronary syndromes and at risk of thrombotic events or receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for reducing heart attack and stroke. Here we present genotype and phenotype study of Iranian patients undergoing PCI treated with clopidogrel during a 6-month period of follow-up; common variants of CYP2C19, CYP3A5, CYP3A4, and ABCB1 genes were determined as well as the patients’ cardiovascular outcomes to find out the effect of these variants individually and in combination. 388 individuals receiving PCI were enrolled in this study. Different pretreatment doses of clopidogrel were prescribed under the interventional cardiologists’ guidance. The patients were followed for a duration of 1 month, and 6 months. Six SNPs were selected for genotyping including CYP2C19*2 (c.681G?>?A), CYP2C19*3 (c.636G?>?A), CYP2C19*17 allele (c.?806C?>?T), ABCB1 (c.3435C?>?T), CYP3A5 (c.6986A?>?G), and CYP3A4 (c.1026?+?12G?>?A). The mean loading dose was 600 mg/day in 267 (68.8%) individuals, 300 mg/day in 121 (31.2%). 8 patients had cardiovascular events such as thrombosis, unstable angina, and non-STEMI. The studied alleles and genotypes were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. None of the SNPs individually were significantly associated with outcome events. Our results indicate that combinations of different alleles of genes are involved in pharmacokinetic variability and joint factors are important; this means that genotyping and analysis of an individual variant may not be as straightforward in risk assessment and pharmacogenetics. This highlights the importance of personalized medicine in risk assessment and treatment.     

Treatment strategies for patients with stage IV rectal cancer: a report from the Swedish Rectal Cancer Registry

BackgroundThe optimal treatment strategy for patients with stage IV rectal cancer is unclear. The aim of the present study was to describe trends and compare the different treatment strategies for this group of patients at a national level and over time.MethodsData from 2758 rectal cancer patients with (stage IV) and 13,420 without metastases (stage I–III) were available from the Swedish Rectal Cancer Registry between January 1995 and December 2006.ResultsPatients with stage IV disease increased from 15% to 19% between 1995 and 2006 (p < 0.001) and the frequency of patients not operated on increased from 13% to 26% (p < 0.001). Postoperative 30 day mortality after bowel resection was 2% and after exploratory laparotomy 9%. Median survival for stage IV patients after bowel resection was 16.3 months, exploratory laparotomy 6.1 months and for patients having no surgery 4.6 months. Over time survival was improved for patients aged 60–69 years, irrespective of the treatment given. An increased risk of death was associated with: age >80 years, operation at a local hospital, treatment in earlier time periods, not receiving preoperative radio- or chemotherapy and not having a bowel resection.ConclusionsIn the latest time period survival was improved for rectal cancer patients in stage IV despite the great increase in non-operated patients. Patients aged >80 years should be carefully assessed and staged before surgery. The survival advantage for stage IV rectal cancer patients who underwent primary tumour resection is probably due to selection to more favourable cases.     

Dual lentivirus infection potentiates neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration: viral copassage enhances neurovirulence

Infection by multiple lentiviral strains is recognized as a major driving force in the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic, but the neuropathogenic consequences of multivirus infections remain uncertain. Herein, we investigated the neurovirulence and underlying mechanisms of dual lentivirus infections with distinct viral strains. Experimental feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infections were performed using cultured cells and an in vivo model of AIDS neuropathogenesis. Dual infections were comprised of two FIV strains (FIV-Ch and FIV-PPR) as copassaged or superinfected viruses, with subsequent outcome analyses of host immune responses, viral load, neuropathological features, and neurobehavioral performance. Dual infections of feline macrophages resulted in greater IL-1β (interleukin-1b), TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor α), and IDO (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase) expression and associated neurotoxic properties. FIV coinfection and sequential superinfection in vivo also induced greater IL-1β, TNF-α, and IDO expression in the basal ganglia (BG) and cortex (CTX), compared to the monovirus- and mock-infected groups, although viral loads were similar in single virus and dual virusinfected animals. Immunoblot analyses disclosed lower synaptophysin immunoreactivity in the CTX resulting from FIV super- and coinfections. Cholinergic and GABAergic neuronal injury was evident in the CTX of animals with dual FIV infections. With increased glial activation and neuronal loss in dual FIV infected brains, immunohistochemical analysis also revealed elevated detection of cleaved caspase-3 in dysmorphic neurons, which was associated with worsened neurobehavioral abnormalities among animals infected with the copassaged viruses. Dual lentivirus infections caused an escalation in neuroinflammation and ensuing neurodegeneration, underscoring the contribution of infection by multiple viruses to neuropathogenesis.     

Evaluation of the antifungal activity of Zataria multiflora, Geranium herbarium, and Eucalyptus camaldolensis essential oils on Saprolegnia parasitica-infected rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate and assess the capability of Zataria multiflora, Geranium herbarium, and Eucalyptus camaldolensis essential oils in treating Saprolegnia parasitica-infected rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss) trout eggs. A total of 150 infected eggs were collected and plated on glucose-pepton agar at 24°C for 2 weeks. The antifungal assay of essential oils against S. parasitica was determined by a macrodilution broth technique. The eggs were treated with essential oils at concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ppm daily with three repetitions until the eyed eggs stage. Of 150 eggs examined, S. parasitica (54.3%), Saprolegnia spp. (45%), and Fusarium solani (0.7%) were isolated. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of Z. multiflora, E. camaldolensis, and G. herbarium essential oils against S. parasitica were 0.9, 2.3, and 4.8 ppm, respectively. Zataria multiflora and E. camaldolensis at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 ppm, and G. herbarium at concentration of 100 ppm had significant differences in comparison with negative control (p<0.05). The results revealed that malachite green, followed by Z. multiflora, E. camaldolensis, and G. herbarium treated eggs had remained the most number of final eyed eggs after treatment. The highest final larvae rates belonged to malachite green, E. camaldolensis, Z. multiflora, and G. herbarium, respectively. The most hatching rates were recorded with malachite green (22%), and then Z. multiflora (11%), E. camaldolensis (7%), G. herbarium (3%), and negative control (1%). Zataria multiflora and E. camaldolensis were more effective than G. herbarium for the treatment of S. parasitica-infected rainbow trout eggs in aquaculture environment.