An introduction to the role of immunology in medical anthropology and molecular epidemiology

Medical anthropology is a multi-disciplinary approach to the medical sciences and humanities. Immunology is of the basic medical sciences dealing with anthropology as a science which involves in recognition of self and non-self. We performed this review paper to introduce the role of immunology in medical anthropology and molecular epidemiology. This narrative review was based on the authors� original experience and current literature. We discussed about human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and their disease associations. Bioinformatics and biostatistics help us to use this topic in evidence-based medicine. Immunogenetics is an important part of the molecular anthropology being a part of medical anthropology in turn. There were different notions of the integration of immunology and medical anthropology including environmental, ecological and cultural effects, historical and philosophical approaches, immunological biomarkers in different patients, and immunogenetics. Such studies can be used in pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine especially for immunotherapy. © 2018 The Author

Association of vitamin D level and vitamin D deficiency with risk of preeclampsia: A systematic review and updated meta-analysis

Objectives: Because of the immune modulatory effects of vitamin D3 in preeclampsia, we intend to have a systematic review and meta-analysis on association of both 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) level (parametric approach) and 25-OHD deficiency (non-parametric approach) with preeclampsia. As well, for the parametric part, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve model. Materials and methods: We used Web of Science, PubMed and Science Direct data bases through searching in titles. Google Scholar search engine was used in order to find missing papers. Finally 23 studies were imported. Both random and fixed models were reported. Results: Based on the forest plot, lower levels of 25-OHD were significantly associated with risk of preeclampsia (fixed and random P < 0.001). Based on the forest plot, vitamin D deficiency (25-OHD < 20 ng/ml) was significantly associated with risk of preeclampsia (fixed P < 0.0001; random P = 0.0029; fixed OR = 1.33; random OR = 1.54). Based on ROC curve results, we found 2 cutoffs of 10.60 and 20.05 ng/ml. Conclusion: Women with vitamin D deficiency at cutoff 20 ng/ml are more at risk of preeclampsia. This association can be specific up to 90 at 10.60 ng/ml cutoff. Treatment of vitamin D deficiency is necessary before pregnancy. © 201

Association of vitamin D level and vitamin D deficiency with risk of preeclampsia: A systematic review and updated meta-analysis

Objectives: Because of the immune modulatory effects of vitamin D3 in preeclampsia, we intend to have a systematic review and meta-analysis on association of both 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) level (parametric approach) and 25-OHD deficiency (non-parametric approach) with preeclampsia. As well, for the parametric part, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve model. Materials and methods: We used Web of Science, PubMed and Science Direct data bases through searching in titles. Google Scholar search engine was used in order to find missing papers. Finally 23 studies were imported. Both random and fixed models were reported. Results: Based on the forest plot, lower levels of 25-OHD were significantly associated with risk of preeclampsia (fixed and random P < 0.001). Based on the forest plot, vitamin D deficiency (25-OHD < 20 ng/ml) was significantly associated with risk of preeclampsia (fixed P < 0.0001; random P = 0.0029; fixed OR = 1.33; random OR = 1.54). Based on ROC curve results, we found 2 cutoffs of 10.60 and 20.05 ng/ml. Conclusion: Women with vitamin D deficiency at cutoff 20 ng/ml are more at risk of preeclampsia. This association can be specific up to 90 at 10.60 ng/ml cutoff. Treatment of vitamin D deficiency is necessary before pregnancy. © 201

KIR2DS3 is associated with protection against acute myeloid leukemia

Background: Interaction between killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules is important for regulation of natural killer (NK) cell function. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of compound KIR-HLA genotype on susceptibility to acute leukemia. Methods: Cohorts of Iranian patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML; n=40) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL; n=38) were genotyped for seventeen KIR genes and their three major HLA class I ligand groups (C1, C2, Bw4) by a combined polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) assay. The results were compared with those of 200 healthy control individuals. Results: We found a significantly decreased frequency of KIR2DS3 in AML patients compared to control group (12.5 vs. 38, odds ratio=0.23, p=0.0018). Also, the KIR3DS1 was less common in AML group than controls (27.5 vs. 44.5, p=0.0465, not significant after correction). Other analyses including KIR genotypes, distribution and balance of inhibitory and activating KIR+HLA combinations, and coinheritance of activating KIR genes with inhibitory KIR+HLA pairs were not significantly different between leukemia patients and the control group. However, in AML patients a trend toward less activating and more inhibitory KIR-HLA state was observed. Interestingly, this situation was not found in ALL patients and inhibition enhancement through increase of HLA ligands and inhibitory combinations was the main feature in this group. Conclusion: Our findings may suggest a mechanism for escape of leukemic cells from NK cell immunity

Inhibitory killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor KIR3DL1 in combination with HLA-B Bw4iso protect against Ankylosing spondylitis

Background: The HLA class I molecules serve as ligands for both T cell receptors and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs). Objective: We investigated the HLA- C and HLA-Bw4 alleles as well as KIRs expression on CD56 positive lymphocytes to evaluate whether these genes and molecules could influence Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) susceptibility, alone or in combination. Methods: We typed 40 AS patients and 40 normal controls for HLA-C asn80 (group 1) and HLA-C lys80 (group 2), HLA-B Bw4thero, HLA-B Bw4iso and HLA-A Bw4 alleles by PCR-SSP method. We also as- sessed the expression of KIR2DL1/2DS1, KIR2DL2/2DL3, KIR3DL1 and KIR2DS4 by flow cytometry. The Pearson chi-square or Fisher exact test was performed for statisti- cal analysis. Results: The frequency of HLA-B Bw4iso but not HLA-B Bw4thero and HLA-A Bw4, ligand for the inhibitory KIR3DL1, was significantly reduced in AS pa- tients as compared with controls (p&lt;0.01). No significant differences were observed in gene carrier frequencies of HLA-C group 1 and 2 between AS and controls. Although no differences were found in the expression of KIR receptors between AS and normal subjects, we found that expression of KIR3DL1 in the presence of HLA Bw4-Biso gene was reduced in patients with AS compared to healthy controls (p&lt;0.009). Conclusion: We conclude that HLA-B Bw4iso, the ligand of inhibitory KIR3DL1, with and without the expression of KIR3DL1 might be involved in protection against AS. Our results suggest that besides the HLA and KIR genotype, expression levels of KIRs may be in- volved in the pathogenesis of AS disease

Vibration analysis of viscoelastic single-walled carbon nanotubes resting on a viscoelastic foundation

Vibration responses were investigated for a viscoelastic Single-walled carbon nanotube (visco-SWCNT) resting on a viscoelastic foundation. Based on the nonlocal Euler-Bernoulli beam model, velocity-dependent external damping and Kelvin viscoelastic foundation model, the governing equations were derived. The Transfer function method (TFM) was then used to compute the natural frequencies for general boundary conditions and foundations. In particular, the exact analytical expressions of both complex natural frequencies and critical viscoelastic parameters were obtained for the Kelvin-Voigt visco-SWCNTs with full foundations and certain boundary conditions, and several physically intuitive special cases were discussed. Substantial nonlocal effects, the influence of geometric and physical parameters of the SWCNT and the viscoelastic foundation were observed for the natural frequencies of the supported SWCNTs. The study demonstrates the efficiency and robustness of the developed model for the vibration of the visco-SWCNT-viscoelastic foundation coupling system

Antisperm Antibody and the Risk Factors of Its Formation in Infertile Men

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background and objectives&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;Several studies have demonstrated that antisperm antibody (ASA) can interfere with fertilization. ASA can be detected in the serum or semen by different tests. In this study, the percentage of ASA-IgG was determined by the direct mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) test in men from infertile couples in Khorramabad city. Furthermore, the risk factors of formation of ASA were evaluated to determine the correlation between these factors and presence of ASA.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;200 men were tested for ASA as a part of the infertility evaluation. Patients were grouped according to percentage of ASA of &amp;lt; 10% or ≥ 10%. Risk factors for ASA (varicocele, hernia, and genitourinary infections) were considered for each group. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher’s exact test.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; ASA was detected in 18.5% of the studied cases. Prior varicocele was significantly associated with presence of ASA detected by direct MAR. Prior hernia was not associated with presence of ASA detected by direct MAR. Prior genitourinary infections were significantly associated with presence of ASA detected by direct MAR.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;These findings suggest that manipulation of cord structures including vas deferens is not associated with formation of ASA; however, varicocele and prior genitourinary infections are significant risk factors for the development of AS

Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptors and their Ligands

The Natural killer (NK) cells are a subset of lymphocytes comprising around 10% of total lymphocytes in peripheral blood. Due to their role in the innate response, NK cells provide a ‘first line of defense’ against infectious agents and cancer and are also thought to play a role in autoimmunity. The killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) are regulatory surface molecules, found on NK cells and on a subset of T lymphocytes. The genes for KIR are present on chromosome 19 in the leukocyte receptor complex and show a major difference for both the type and number of KIR genes present among different ethnic groups. They have been divided into two groups of 2D or 3D, depending on the number of external immunoglobulin domains. The presence of a long cytoplasmic tail with two immune tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIM) allows the transduction of inhibitory signals and characterizes the inhibitory KIRs (2DL and 3DL), whereas the presence of short cytoplasmic tails corresponds to the activating KIR receptors (2DS and 3DS).These polymorphic receptors interact with specific motifs on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules, modulate NK cytolytic activity. Some KIRs are known to interact with HLA-C molecules of target cells, HLA-Bw4 molecules and HLA-A3/11. For some KIRs the corresponding ligands are still unknown