Vitamin D3 Controls TLR4- A nd TLR2-Mediated Inflammatory Responses of Endometrial Cells

Objectives: Vitamin D has potent immunoregulatory features and modulates innate and adaptive immune responses. There is a significant association between intrauterine infection-associated inflammatory responses and pregnancy complications such as abortion and preterm labor. Here, we investigated how 1,25 (OH)2 D3 could modulate inflammatory responses of endometrial cells. Design: This is an in vitro experimental study. Endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) and whole endometrial cells (WECs) were collected from 15 apparently normal women, and the immunomodulatory effects of 1,25 (OH)2 D3 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-or lipoteichoic acid (LTA)-treated ESCs and WECs were investigated. Participants/Materials, Setting, and Methods: Women with no history of abortion, infertility, endometriosis, or sign of vaginal infection were enrolled in this study. Endometrial samples were collected by gynecologists using a Pipelle pipette in the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. WECs and ESCs were collected and treated with either LPS or LTA. The levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in culture supernatants were quantified using the ELISA technique. TLR2, TLR4, and MyD88 expressions were assessed by RT-qPCR. TLR4 expression at the protein level was studied by the Western blot technique. Results: 1,25 Dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25 (OH)2 D3) significantly reduced TNF-α production in LPS-activated ESCs and TNF-α and IL-6 production by LTA-stimulated WECs. In contrast, 1,25 (OH)2 D3 pretreatment increased the production of IL-8 by LPS- A nd LTA-stimulated endometrial cells. 1,25 (OH)2 D3 pretreatment markedly reduced LPS-induced TLR4 protein expression by ESCs. LPS treatment of ESCs significantly induced MyD88 gene expression. This effect was reversed when these cells were pretreated with 1,25 (OH)2 D3 before stimulation with LPS. Limitations: Because of the small size of samples, doing experiments all together on some samples was not feasible. Confirmation of the results obtained here needs well-designed in vivo studies. Conclusions: 1,25 (OH)2 D3 is an immunomodulatory molecule essential for maintaining endometrial immune homeostasis by controlling potentially harmful inflammatory responses associated with female reproductive tract infections. © 202

IgD Myeloma

IgD myeloma is very rate. It differs from multiple myeloma of other classes in several aspects and its laboratory diagnosis may be difficult, as total plasma protein concentration is often normal, and a paraprotein peak may not be easily demonstrable by the conventional electrophoretic techniques. We report here two cases of IgD myeloma investigated in this laboratory. Immunochemical, biochemical, and hematological studies were carried out: Serum total protein values were within normal range. Quatitation of serum immunoglobulins revealed a decrease in the level of IgG, IgA, and IgM. Bence Jones proteinuria of l type was present in both patients. Serum immunoelectrophoresis, using specific antisera, showed the presence of IgD l paraprotein; the diagnosis of IgD myeloma was made after further investigations. Our findings indicate that all patients who have been suspected to have multiple myeloma should be investigated for IgD and IgE myelom

A study of serum ?2-microglobulin (S?2M) in hemodialysis patients with cellulosis membrane1

?2 microglobulin (?2M) fibril has been recognized as the major factor of dialysis-related amyloidosis. Elevated serum levels are thought to be the basis for tissue deposition. In order to evaluate the effect of cellulosis membrane (FB 110) and treatment duration on S?2M levels, we determined serum levels in 23 hemodialyzed patients with end-stage renal failure. S?2M levels were markedly elevated in all patients with a mean of 74.71 (SD=21.2 mg/l, range: 46 mg/l after 2 years hemodialysis-123.8 mg/l after 10 years treatment) that statistically is higher than healthy subjects (P<0.0001). Serum ?2M in 19 healthy subjects was 2.36 (SD=0.4 mg/l, rang: 1.58-3.3 mg/l). Although in hemodialysis group, no significant correlation was found between S?2M and age or sex but increased serum levels of ?2M had significant correlation with duration of hemodialysis treatment (r=0.53, P<0.01). Since the dialysis membrane has a very effective role in clearance of S?2M, we suggest that the particular effort should be made towards improvement of dialysis membranes

Influence of gastric bypass surgery on resting energy expenditure, body composition, physical activity, and thyroid hormones in morbidly obese patients

Mehri Mirahmadian,1 Motahareh Hasani,2 Ehsaneh Taheri,3 Mostafa Qorbani,4 Saeed Hosseini5 1Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, School of Nutrition Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 2School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, 3Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular and Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 4Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 5School of Nutrition, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Introduction: One way to lose weight is bariatric surgery. Various studies have shown that after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), resting energy expenditure (REE) decreased may be a result of changes in fat-free mass (FFM) and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. The aim of our study was to assess changes in body composition, REE, and thyroid hormones in patients undergoing RYGB.Methods: A total of 42 patients participated (21 undergoing RYGB and 21 age- and weight-matched subjects as controls) in our study. Weight, body-mass index, body composition, resting metabolic rate, physical activity, and thyroid hormones were measured at baseline in cases and 3 months after surgery in case and control groups.Results: At 3 months after surgery, patients lost an average of 21.7±1.4 kg weight, and fat mass, FFM, and REE decreased significantly. REE was higher in cases compared to controls. T4, T3, and thyroid-stimulating hormone at 3 months after RYGB decreased, but the decrease was significant only in T4 compared to controls. FFM was higher and fat mass lower in cases compared to controls.Conclusion: We detected a meaningful difference in REE before and after surgery, but we did not detect any meaningful difference in REE between controls and cases. Keywords: gastric bypass surgery, resting energy expenditure, body compositio

The Role of Peripheral Natural Killer Cells in Recurrent Spontaneous Abortions

Introduction: Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is defined as three or more consecutive miscarriages, which affects 0.8 to 1% of pregnant women. Despite several well-established etiologic factors, the cause of RSA cannot be determined in almost 60% of the cases. It has been postulated that a part of these repeated pregnancy losses might be due to immune causes. Material and Methods: In the present case control study using flowcytometry, peripheral NK cytotoxicity was compared in three different groups. 21 women with history of RSA at the time of 3rd or higher abortion (Group I), 32 women with history of three or more previous abortions and at least three months had lapsed since the last abortion (Group II) and 32 pregnant women with no history of abortion and at least one successful pregnancy (Group III) were studied. Results: Group I and Group II showed significantly higher NK cytotoxicity than Group III in all of the effect to target (E: T) ratios (P≤0.045 and P≤0.002 respectively). NK cytotoxicity was similar in groups I and II. There were no significant correlation between the number of abortions, age and NK cytotoxicity. Conclusion: The results indicate an increased peripheral NK cell cytotoxicity in RSA groups as compared to pregnant control. NK cell cytotoxicity may be considered as a risk factor for RSA and for maintaining normal pregnancy, NK cell cytotoxicity may be down-regulated. Peripheral NK cytotoxicity is not elevated during first trimester in RSA women. It is suggested that detection of NK cytotoxicity in RSA women should be performed as a routine