Forecasting Ambient Air Pollutants in Tehran, Iran

Breathing healthy air is one of the most basic rights of human societies. Air pollution is currently one of the main global environmental health and justice concerns, because it is imposing its burden more severely on low socioeconomic regions and countries. Understanding the time pattern of these pollutants can help in better management and control. The aim of this study was to forecast ambient air pollutants by time series models in Tehran, Iran. This study was an ecological study about six ambient air pollutants (ozone O, carbon monoxide CO, nitrogen dioxide NO2, sulfur dioxide SO2, particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5) measured in Tehran during 2005-2018. Monthly mean values were calculated for each pollutant, and Holt-Winters models were used to predict values for the next 3 years (2019-2021). O3, CO, NO2, and SO2 had a decreasing trend from 2005 until 2018, but PM10 had an increasing trend. All pollutants showed a seasonal pattern. Higher concentrations of O3 and PM10 occurred in the warm months; and for CO and SO2 higher concentrations occurred in the cool months. The forecasting models showed that PM10 will increase, whereas other pollutants will decrease in the future. It can be concluded that in the next years (2019-2021), PM10 could be a huge environmental problem for Tehran. Other pollutants have had a decreasing trend, but they still need surveillance. © Copyright 2020, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers 2020

Effects of guluronic acid, as a new NSAID with immunomodulatory properties on IL-17, RORγt, IL-4 and GATA-3 gene expression in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent inflammatory, autoimmune diseases characterized by inflammation and destruction of joints. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biological drugs can have modulatory interference in disease process. In this study, the effect of Guluronic Acid (G2013) as a novel non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with immunomodulatory effects was evaluated on IL-17, RORγt, IL-4 and GATA-3 gene expression in RA patients. Methods: Fourteen patients with RA who had an inadequate response to conventional treatments were included in this clinical trial. During this trial, patients were permitted to continue the conventional therapy excluding NSAIDs. G2013 was administered orally at dose of 500 mg twice daily for 12 weeks. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected before and after treatment to evaluate the gene expression levels of IL-4, GATA-3, IL-17 and RORγt. Results: Primary and secondary efficacy endpoints and Disease Activity Score (DAS) 28 showed an improvement after 12 weeks of treatment. G2013 has a potent efficacy on gene expression of these molecules, so that it could decrease IL-17 and RORγt levels and increase IL-4 and GATA-3 levels after 12 weeks of treatment. Reduction of IL-17 was statistically non-significant whereas for its transcription factor (RORγt) was statistically significant. Moreover, the gene expression results were in accordance with the clinical and preclinical assessments. Conclusion: G2013 as a natural novel drug showed a significant increase on IL-4 and GATA-3 and a significant decrease on RORγt gene expression after 12 weeks oral administration of this drug in RA patients. (Clinical trial identifier: IRCT2016092813739N5). © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Evaluation of cell adhesion molecules (LFA-1 and L-selectin) in ankylosing spondylitis patients after treatment with β-D-mannuronic acid (M2000)

Background & objectives: To examine β-D-mannuronic acid (M2000) effects on L-selectin shedding and leucocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) expression as mechanisms of action of this drug in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: To investigate the molecular consequences of β-D-mannuronic acid on L-selectin shedding, flow cytometry method was used. Furthermore, the effect of it on LFA-1 gene expression was analyzed by using quantitative real time (qRT)-PCR technique. Results: The LFA-1 expression in patients with AS was higher than controls (P=0.046). The LFA-1 expression after 12 wk therapy with β-D-mannuronic acid was meaningfully decreased (P=0.01). After 12 wk treatment with β-D-mannuronic acid, the frequency of CD62L-expressing CD4+ T cells in patients with AS, was not considerably altered, compared to the patients before therapy (P=0.5). Furthermore, after 12 wk therapy with β-D-mannuronic acid, L-selectin expression levels on CD4+ T-cells in patients with AS, were not remarkably changed, compared to the expression levels of these in patients before treatment (P=0.2). Interpretation & conclusions: The results of this study for the first time showed that β-D-mannuronic acid can affect events of adhesion cascade in patients with AS. Moreover, β-D-mannuronic acid presented as an acceptable benefit to AS patients and could aid in the process of disease management