Specific IgE to propolis extracts among pollen allergic patients

International audienc

Conjugated Alpha-Alumina nanoparticle with vasoactive intestinal peptide as a Nano-drug in treatment of allergic asthma in mice

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, airway hyperresponsiveness and recurring attacks of impaired breathing. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has been proposed as a novel anti-asthma drug due to its effects on airway smooth muscle relaxation, bronchodilation and vasodilation along with its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. In the current study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of VIP when conjugated with α-alumina nanoparticle (α-AN) to prevent enzymatic degradation of VIP in the respiratory tract. VIP was conjugated with α-AN. Balb/c mice were sensitized and challenges with ovalbumin (OVA) or PBS and were divided in four groups; VIP-treated, α-AN-treated, α-AN-VIP-treated and beclomethasone-treated as a positive control group. Specific and total IgE level, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), bronchial cytokine expression and lung histology were measured. α-AN-VIP significantly reduced the number of eosinophils (Eos), serum IgE level, Th2 cytokines and AHR. These effects of α-AN-VIP were more pronounced than that seen with beclomethasone or VIP alone (P<0.05). The current data indicate that α-AN-VIP can be considered as an effective nano-drug for the treatment of asthma

Pulmonary complications in primary hypogammaglobulinemia: a survey by high resolution CT scan

Background. Primary hypogammaglobulinemia disorders are a group of heterogeneous immunodeficiency syndromes with an increased susceptibility to pulmonary complications. Methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of lung abnormalities in primary hypogammaglobulinaemic patients by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan and pulmonary function test (PFT). HRCT and PFT were performed in 22 Iranian patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia. Results. Pathological bronchial findings were observed in thirteen patients: three patients showed only peribronchial thickening and the remaining ten patients suffered from both bronchiectasis and peribronchial wall thickening. Mild type of bronchiectasis and peribronchial wall thickening were the most common type, predominantly observed in the right middle and both right and left lower lobe segments of lungs. Although bullae were not found, emphysema, air-trapping, and collapse/consolidation were observed in two patients. Bronchial involvement was mostly limited to 1 up to 5 bronchopulmonary segments; only one HRCT indicated bronchial involvement in more than nine bronchopulmonary segments. Pathological bronchial findings mostly observed in the proximal bronchi; meanwhile the involvement of the distal bronchi was less common. Decreasing FEV1 and FVC were observed in 65% and 55% of patients, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the HRCT score and the predicted values by PFT. The delay of diagnosis in patients with bronchiectasis was significantly higher than those without bronchiectasis. Conclusions. It seems that the majority of hypogammaglobulinaemic patients suffer from the mild type of bronchiectasis, which is mostly observed in the proximal bronchi of the lower lobe segments. The delay of diagnosis plays an important role in the occurrence of this complication in these patients

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Morphine on Carrageenan Iinduced Hind Paw Edema in Mice Model of Aacute Inflammation

Background: Using the systemic opioids in pain relief has been known during the history. Several evidences indicate that exogenous opioids such as morphine can produce anti-nociceptive effects by interacting with local opioid receptors in peripheral inflamed tissues; in addition to analgesic effects of morphine, less clear is potential anti-inflammatory effects of it. Materials and Methods: In the present study we examined effects of intra-peritoneal (i.p.) injection of morphine (7 mg/kg) on carrageenan (0.05 ml, 3% W/V in saline) induced paw edema in mice. Results: Carrageenan induced paw edema were measured by mercury plethysmometer and was maximal at hour 3 and pretreatment with morphine could reduce the edema significantly. At the same time the serum levels of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1&#945;) were increased. Pretreatment with naloxone (2&10 mg/kg, i.p.) at 45 min before and 165 min after carrageenan, respectively, blocked the effects of morphine sulfate on edema in each groups. Pretreatment with naloxone abolished morphine anti-inflammatory while decreased IL-1&#945; serum levels, significantly. Although, administration of anti mouse IL-1&#945; (7, 14 & 28 µg/mice, i.p.) abolished morphine anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusion: These findings showed that increase in serum levels of IL-1&#945; play important roles in anti-inflammatory effect of morphine. The results indicated that morphine exert significant anti-inflammatory activity. Presumably, the anti-inflammatory action of morphine may be due to change on the cytokine production and/or release by host immune system