Granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor,a potent adjuvant for polarization to Th‐17 pattern: an experience on HIV‐1 vaccine model

Cytokines are mediators for polarization of immune response in vaccines. Studies show that co‐immunization of DNA vaccines with granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) can increase immune responses. Here, experimental mice were immunized with HIV‐1_{tat/pol/gag/env} DNA vaccine with GM‐CSF and boosted with recombinant vaccine. Lymphocyte proliferation with Brdu and CTL activity, IL‐4, IFN‐γ, IL‐17 cytokines, total antibody, and IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes were assessed with ELISA. Results show that GM‐CSF as adjuvant in DNA immunization significantly increased lymphocyte proliferation and IFN‐γ cytokines, but CTL response was tiny increased. Also GM‐CSF as adjuvant decreased IL‐4 cytokine vs mere vaccine group. IL‐17 in the group that immunized with mixture of DNA vaccine/GM‐CSF was significantly increased vs DNA vaccine group. Result of total antibody shows that GM‐CSF increased antibody response in which both IgG1 and IgG2a increased. Overall, results confirmed the beneficial effect of GM‐CSF as adjuvant to increase vaccine immunogenicity. The hallmark result of this study was to increase IL‐17 cytokine with DNA vaccine/GM‐CSF immunized group. This study for the first time provides the evidence of the potency of GM‐CSF in the induction of IL‐17 in response to a vaccine, which is important for control of infection such as HIV‐1.     

Reperfusion injury and inflammatory responses following acute lower limb revascularization surgery

After revascularization of an acute arterial occlusion the development of a serious ischaemic-reperfusion injury is a menacing challenge and a hard task in peripheral vascular surgery. A whale of evidences point to oxidative stress, as an important trigger, in the complex chain of events leading to reperfusion injury. In the present study authors aimed to examine oxidative stress parameters, antioxidant-prooxidant state and leukocyte adhesion molecules (CD11a and CD18) expression following acute revascularization surgery of lower limb.10 patients were examined in the prospective randomized study. Peripheral blood sample was collected in ischaemic period, and after reperfusion in the 2nd and 24th hours, and on 7th day. Superoxide-dismutase activity, reduced glutathion concentration and leukocytes free radical production were measured. The degree of lipidperoxidation was marked with the quantity of malondialdehyde. The expressions of adhesion molecules were measured with flowcytometry.The speed and rate of free radical production significantly increased in the early reperfusion (p<0.05). The level of antioxidant enzymes decreased after revascularization. The CD11a and CD18 expression of the granulocytes significantly (p<0.05) decreased right after the revascularization, but with a gradual elevation until the 7th day they exceed the ischaemic value.Our results showed a time specific turnover of the sensitive antioxidant-prooxidant balance after revascularization operation.     

Tropisetron ameliorates early diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats

It has been well established that oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. It has been shown that tropisetron exerts anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The current study was designed to investigate protective effects of tropisetron on early diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats. Rats were divided into six groups: (i) untreated diabetic (streptozotocin group); (ii) untreated control; (iii) diabetic rats treated with tropisetron (3 mg/kg); (iv) normal rats treated with tropisetron (3 mg/kg); (v) diabetic rats treated with granisetron (3 mg/kg); and (vi) normal rats treated with granisetron (3 mg/kg); rats began receiving treatment at the time of diabetes induction for 2 weeks. At the termination of the experiments, bodyweight, kidney index, urinary albumin excretion, and glomerular filtration rate were measured. The levels of oxidative stress markers and tumour necrosis factor‐α were also determined. Streptozotocin‐treated animals showed significant loss of bodyweight and renal enlargement and dysfunction. Diabetic rats also exhibited an increase in malondialdehyde along with a significant decrease in glutathione, superoxide dismutase activity, and catalase activity. Furthermore, the diabetic animals demonstrated a significant rise in renal cortical, urinary tumour necrosis factor‐α, and urinary albumin excretion. Both granisetron and tropisetron decreased blood glucose in diabetic animals, but this decrease was not significant for granisetron. Treatment with tropisetron, but not granisetron, prevented increases in oxidative stress and tumour necrosis factor‐α, decreased urinary cytokine excretion and albuminuria, and improved renal morphological damage. In conclusion, the present study suggests that tropisetron may be a protective agent in early diabetic nephropathy, and its action is mediated, at least in part, by anti‐oxidative and anti‐inflammatory mechanisms that appear to be independent of the 5‐HT₃ receptor.     

Effect of Er:YAG laser etching on topography,microstructure, compressive strength,and bond strength of a universal adhesive to calcium silicate cements

To evaluate the effect of Er:YAG etching on topography, microstructure, compressive strength, and shear bond strength (SBS) of All-Bond Universal adhesive     

Occult Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis

Background:

Occult hepatitis C virus infection (OCI) is recognized by finding hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in hepatocytes without detectable anti-HCV antibodies and viral RNA in plasma. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic and generally progressive disease without exactly-identified etiology.

Objectives:

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of OCI among patients with AIH and to evaluate the tests used to rule out HCV infection in diagnosing AIH.

Patients and Methods:

Between July 2012 to February 2013, 35 Iranian patients with AIH who attended Tehran Hepatitis Center were investigated. For identifying OCI, detection of HCV RNA in both ultracentrifuged serum samples and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was used. Data analysis was performed using SPSS.

Results:

Six males and 29 females with mean disease duration of 77.1 ± 39.5 month and mean age of 43.62 ± 12.67 years were investigated. All cases were negative for anti-HCV antibody and we could not find any HCV RNA in ultracentrifuged serum samples and PBMCs.

Conclusions:

With our laboratory diagnostic method, it seems that there are no cases of OCI in patients with AIH. However, we recommend further studies with more samples and more precise laboratory method.     

Development and Psychometric Properties of a Computer-Based Standardized Emotional Competence Inventory (MeKKi) for Preschoolers and School-Aged Children

Child Psychiatry & Human Development - A computer-based emotional competence inventory for preschoolers and school-aged children (MeKKi) was developed to assess five components of emotional...     

Effect of follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone on colony formation of bovine spermatogonial stem cell

The complex process of spermatogenesis is regulated by various factors. In this study, the in vitro effects of follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone on spermatogonial cell colony formation were investigated. Sertoli and spermatogonial cells were isolated from 3- to 5-month-old calves. Co-cultured Sertoli and spermatogonial cells were treated with follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone in treatment groups before colony assay. Results indicated that follicle-stimulating hormone is the best factor for in vitro colonization of spermatogonial cells. In conclusion, using follicle-stimulating hormone provided proper bovine spermatogonial stem cell culture medium for in vitro study of these cells.     

Glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1) and prostate cancer: a case-control study in Tehran, Iran

We evaluated the relationship between polymorphisms in the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 genes and prostate cancer (PCa). PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay was used to genotype the GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms in 168 PCa cases and 336 frequency matched controls. The GSTM1 null, and GSTT1 null genotypes were associated with an increased odds ratio (OR) for PCa (OR=3.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.47-5.64; P=0.005, and OR=3.21, 95% CI: 2.52-5.64; P=0.005, respectively) (Pcorrected=0.0062). The frequency of GSTP1 Val/Val genotype was 14.3% in cases compared with 2.4% in controls, this polymorphism thus being associated with a significantly increased risk of PCa (OR=3.72, 95% CI: 1.67-5.65; P=0.002). The risk associated with the concurrent absence of both of the genes (OR=4.8, 95% CI: 2.34-6.78) was greater than the product of risk in men with either null (OR=1.52, 95% CI: 0.82-2.31) genotype combinations (P=0.001, Pcorrected=0.0045). The combination of GSTP1 Ile/Val or Val/Val polymorphism with the GSTT1 null and GSTM1 null type resulted in an OR of 6.21 (95% CI: 4.83-16.87) (P=0.0001, Pcorrected=0.0062). A higher frequency of the GSTM1 null genotype and GSTT1 null genotype was observed in patients with Gleason score >7, with an OR for GSTM1 null 4.67 (95% CI: 3.64-7.62; P=0.001) and with an OR for GSTT1 null 3.62 (95% CI: 2.31-5.74; P=0.004). The results obtained demonstrated that simultaneous presence of three potentially risk alleles (GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null and GSTP1 Val) lead to a significant OR increase for PCa.