The New Perceptions on Life of Iranian Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Qualitative Study

Various studies suggest that ankylosing spondylitis (AS) as a chronic inflammatory disease with many disabilities can have impacts on different aspects of patients’ life. Despite many quantitative studies, only few qualitative studies have thus far been published on this subject. For the first time, the present study aims at gaining insight into the life experience of Iranian AS patients. We performed a content analysis through semi-structured interviews with twenty-eight patients diagnosed with AS, including three females and twenty-five males with an average age of 38.5 years, to gain insight into their experiences. Whatever the patients expressed was written and transcribed verbatim. Then, we did analysis of the results after each interview. The detailed information completely extracted from the interviews was classified as sub-themes and main themes. Three main themes were identified by the analysis: (i) “Always with pain” describing the effects were found in regard to pain on patients’ life, (ii) “The perceived limitation” describing many difficulties that people may face in the society as a result of their disease, and (iii) “Fearing the unknown future” which implies to both patients and their families have concerns about the future and what will happen. Our research findings in line with other qualitative studies showed that AS disease puts a heavy and intolerable burden on patients and their family. It seems that the experiences of people living with AS can be useful to meet challenges caused by the disease and it can enhance their coping with the disease

In Vitro Fertilized Embryos do not Secrete Detectable HLA-G on Day Two

ABSTRACT Background: Pregnancy is a successful transplantation. The factors evading rejection of the fetus are poorly understood. Recently an interest has grown, in HLA-G molecules as one of these factors. Since these antigens are mainly expressed on the surface of cytotrophoblasts that are in direct contact with maternal tissues, it has been suggested that these molecules may have a role in induction of immune tolerance in mothers. Objective: to find the association of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) and the success of pregnancy with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure. Methods: In this study, the supernatant of 287 individually cultured embryos corresponding to 96 women under ICSI procedure were assayed for soluble HLA-G1 and G5 by a sandwich ELISA. Results: Clinical pregnancy successfully occurred in 30 of candidates. No differences in clinical parameters (age, infertility duration, stimulation regimen) were observed between pregnant and nonpregnant women under ICSI procedure. None of the embryo supernatants in either group showed any detectable sHLA-G molecules. Conclusion: Our results showed that detectable level of sHLA-G is not produced by day 2 embryos and such a measurement may not provide reliable information for embryo selection and estimation of pregnancy success

Effect of Lamium Album on Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by the presence of hyperglycemia. It has been documented that oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production have a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications. Neutrophils as a part of immune system produce ROS, neutrophils function might be altered in diabetes. Lamium album is known to have antioxidant, and free radical scavenging actions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential effect of L. album on mitochondrial ROS production from circulating neutrophils in diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control rats receiving daily saline; diabetic control rats receiving daily saline; and diabetic rats treated daily with hydroalcoholic extract of L. album (100 mg/kg) for 28 days. On the 28thday of treatment, whole blood samples were obtained and mitochondrial ROS of neutrophils were measured by dihydrorhodamine (DHR) flow cytometric method. Also, fasting blood sugar (FBS) was measured. Results: Mitochondrial ROS didn’t show any significant differences among diabetic rats treated with L. album extract, diabetic control rats, and normal control rats (P=0.8). Serum glucose in diabetic control was significantly higher than normal control rats (P=0.0001). However, L. album caused a remarkable decrease in serum glucose of diabetic rats (P=0.03). Conclusion: According to the present findings, it seems that L. album at a dose of 100 mg/kg could not decrease mitochondrial ROS production from neutrophils in diabetic rats. Further studies considering higher concentrations of L. album are appreciated to evaluate its impact on the production of mitochondrial ROS along with extracellular ROS in diabetes condition

Allergic Rhinitis in Adults with Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

Introduction: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is considered one of the most common causes of acquired hearing impairment in developing countries. CSOM is a multifactorial persistent inflammatory disease of the middle ear. A distinct pathophysiologic mechanism linking allergic rhinitis (AR) and CSOM remains to evolve. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between AR and CSOM in adults.This was a case-control study.   Materials and Methods: The subjects were 62 adults (23 male, 39 female) with established CSOM and 61 healthy controls.CSOM was diagnosed when there was a history of chronic (persisting for at least 3 months) otorrhea, accumulation of mucopurulent exudates in the external auditory canal or middle ear and/or perforated tympanic membrane on otoscopy. All participants were evaluated for the presence of AR by clinical evaluation of allergic symptoms, and underwent a skin-prick test for 23 common regional allergens. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.   Results: The prevalence of clinical rhinitis (allergic and non-allergic) was significantly higher among the cases compared with controls (62.5% vs. 37.5%, P=0.02). The prevalence of AR (proven by positive skin-prick test) was also significantly higher among affected adults than controls (24.6% and 13.8%, respectively). Adjusting for age, a logistic regression model showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups. Patients with AR and non-AR were at 3.27- (95% CI=1.15–9.29; P=0.036) and 2.57-(95% CI=1.01–6.57; P=0.048) fold increased risk of developing CSOM, respectively, compared with healthy individuals.   Conclusion:  The study showed a higher prevalence of AR in CSOM patients than in controls. It may be valuable to evaluate and control this factor in these patients