Reviewing EKGs in Thalassemia Patients to Evaluate Their Cardiac Function

Introduction: There are more than 18000 thalassemia patients in Iran. In a current study, a high rate of mortality in these patients due to heart failure, is shown. Main factors for evaluating this disorder in thalassemia patients were their electrocardiograms (EKGs) and Serum Ferritin Levels (SFLs).Methods: We studied the cardiac function in 91 patients (73 major and 18 intermediate thalassemia patients) treated in Zafar Thalassemia Center, of whom 35 (38.45%) were male and 56 (61.55%) were female. The Factors in this study contains: EKGs, mean annual serum ferritin (at least, three SFL had been recorded in each patient treatment file in 2009), mean annual hemoglobin (Hb) levels and mean annual hematocrit (Hct) levels (average, 12 recorded hematocrit levels during 2009).Results: Our findings have shown that Q-T interval did not correlate with ferritin (r = 0.05, P > 0.05). In both patients with LVH and without LVH, there was no significant difference in SFL (P > 0.05). Although, the mean rate among the thalassemia patients was 85.34 ± 12.91, it did not correlate significantly with QRS duration and P-R Interval (r = -0.08, P > 0.05). In addition, ferritin did not correlate significantly with QRS duration and P-R Interval (r = 0.1, r = 0.05 and P > 0.05, P > 0.05). Furthermore, there was no difference in SFL in patients with normal cardiac axis and those with cardiac axis deviation.Conclusion: There is no correlation between SFL and variations in EKG. Although EKG is an available method for checking cardiac function in thalassemic patients, especially in developing countries, physicians cannot rely on it for diagnosis or prognosis of cardiac failure in thalassemia patients. Therefore, other methods such as MRIT2* and Echocardiography are suggested to be used periodically in order to check the cardiac function in thalassemia patients

The role of Th1 and Th17 cells in glomerulonephritis.

CONTEXT T helper (Th) cells as an important part of the immune is responsible for elimination of invading pathogens. But, if Th cell responses are not regulated effectively, the autoimmune diseases might develop. The Th17 subset usually produces interleukin-17A which in experimental models of organ-specific autoimmune inflammation is very important. EVIDENCE ACQUISITIONS Directory of open access journals (DOAJ), Google Scholar, Embase, Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science have been searched. RESULTS Fifty-six articles were found and searched. In the present review article, we tried to summarize the recently published data about characteristics and role of Th1 and Th17 cells and discuss in detail, the potential role of these T helpers immune responses in renal inflammation and renal injury, focusing on glomerulonephritis. Published papers in animal and human studies indicated that autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, classically believed to be Th1-mediated, are mainly derived from a Th17 immune response. Identification of the Th17 subgroup has explained seemingly paradoxical observations and improved our understanding of immune-mediated inflammatory responses. CONCLUSIONS Secretion of IL-17A, as well as IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, suggests that Th17 subset may play a crucial role as a pleiotropic pro-inflammatory Th subset. There is experimental evidence to support the notion that Th1 and Th17 cells contribute to kidney injury in renal inflammatory diseases like glomerulonephritis

Inhibition of Th1 and Th17 Cells by Medicinal Plants and Their Derivatives: A Systematic Review.

Searching for new natural drugs that are capable of targeting Th1 and Th17 may lead to development of more effective treatments for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Most of the natural drugs can be derived from plants that are used in traditional medicine and folk medicine. The aim of this systematic review is to identify and introduce plants or plant derivatives that are effective on inflammatory diseases by inhibiting Th1 and Th17 responses. To achieve this purpose, the search terms herb, herbal medicine, herbal drug, medicinal plant, phytochemical, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, natural compound, inflammation, inflammatory diseases, Th1, Th17, T helper 1 or T helper 17 were used separately in Title/Keywords/Abstract in Web of Science and PubMed databases. In articles investigating the effect of the medicinal plants and their derivatives in inhibiting Th1 and Th17 cells, the effects of eight extracts of the medicinal plants, 21 plant-based compounds and some of their derivatives, and eight drugs derived from the medicinal plants' compounds in inhibiting Th1 and Th17 cells were reviewed. The results showed that medicinal plants and their derivates are able to suppress Th17 and Th1 T cell functions as well as cytokine secretion and differentiation. The results can be used to produce herbal drugs that suppress Th, especially Th17, responses. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

The effect of probiotics mixture on learning and spatial memory in kindled rats

Background: Repeated seizure attacks lead to extensive neuronal damage and cognitive impairment such as memory loss and learning. Probiotics are shown to have some protective actions against neurological disorders. The present study aimed to examine the effect of probiotics on learning, memory and the nitric oxide level in kindled rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, kindled with penthylenetetrazole (PTZ), kindled and valproic acid (VPA), kindled after probiotic treatment (probiotic + PTZ), and kindled before probiotic treatment (PTZ + probiotic). The animals were treated by a mixture of probiotics for 4 weeks. Chemical kindling was induced by intraperitoneal injection of PTZ (35 mg/kg) every 48 hours for 24 days. The learning and spatial memory were evaluated by the Morris water maze. The serum nitric oxide level was assessed by the Miranda method. Results: No significant difference was observed between the control and VPA groups in terms of memory, learning and serum levels of nitric oxide. Learning (P<0.001) and spatial memory (P<0.05) phenomena were improved in the probiotic supplemented groups compared to the PTZ group. Also, serum nitric oxide levels were reduced in the probiotic supplemented groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: Probiotic supplementation reduces the level of nitric oxide and improves the learning and memory process

Role of Regulatory T-cells in Different Clinical Expressions of Helicobacter pylori Infection

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonization induces vigorous innate and specific immune responses; however, the infection does not disappear and a chronic active gastritis continues if left untreated. It has been shown that the topographical pattern and immune response of gastritis are the main reasons for the bacteria persistence and the clinical outcome. Gastritis due to H. pylori is caused by a complicated interaction among a variety of T cell subsets. Regulatory T (Treg) cells suppressing the immune response of antigen-specific T-cells have recently been demonstrated to play a key role in chronic inflammation by immunologic tolerance. Treg cells have been identified as the major regulatory component of the adaptive immune response and being involved in H. pylori-related inflammation and bacterial persistence. There have been many controversies over the role of Treg cells in H. pylori infection. Many studies have shown that the local Treg response protects the gastric mucosa from intensified inflammation and tissue damage, and the risk of H. pylori-associated diseases has an inverse correlation with Treg accumulation, even if the decrease in the inflammatory response is recognized by Treg it causes increase in bacterial density. This paper reviews the role of Treg in different clinical expressions of H. pylori infection. © 2016 IMS

Udjel solasonina i ekspresija gena SGT1 u različitim tkivima dvaju genotipova patlidžana (Solanum melongena L.), porijeklom iz Irana

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is one of the most consumed vegetables in the world. The eggplant glycoalkaloids (GAs) are toxic secondary metabolites that may have detrimental effects on human health, particularly if the magnitudes of GAs are higher than the recommended food safety level (200 mg per kg of fresh mass). In this study, the content of solasonine compound and the expression patterns of solasodine galactosyltransferase (SGT1) gene were assessed in different tissues (mature leaves, flower buds, young, mature, and physiologically ripe fruits) of two Iranian eggplant genotypes (D1 and J10) under field conditions. The maximum mass fraction of solasonine in D1 was detected in flower buds (135.63 µg/g), followed by leaf (113.29 µg/g), physiologically ripe fruit (74.74 µg/g), young fruit (61.33 µg/g), and mature fruit (21.55 µg/g). Comparing both genotypes, the genotype of bitter fruits (J10) contained higher mass fraction of solasonine, as one of the main factors for producing bitter flavour of the plant. Regarding the expression profiles of SGT1, in both genotypes, the activity of the gene was increased nearly parallel with the concentration of solasonine. In the J10 genotype, transcript level of the gene was significantly higher than the genotype of sweet fruits (D1). Although both D1 and J10 genotypes are possibly recommendable for human food consumption, D1 is more suitable for daily diet.Patlidžan (Solanum melongena L.) je jedna od najčešće konzumiranih vrsta povrća u svijetu. Glikoalkaloidi nastaju u patlidžanu kao toksični sekundarni metaboliti, a mogu štetno djelovati na zdravlje čovjeka, osobito ako je njihov udjel veći od preporučene maksimalne doze od 200 miligrama po kilogramu svježe mase. U ovom su radu ispitani udjel solasonina i ekspresija gena koji kodira za solasodin galaktoziltransferazu (SGT1) u različitim tkivima (zreli list, pupoljak, te nezreli, tehnološki zreli i fiziološki zreli plod) dvaju genotipova patlidžana (D1 i J10) uzgojenih na polju u Iranu. Najveći maseni udjel solasonina pronađen je u genotipu D1 i to u pupoljcima (135,63 μg/g), zatim u lišću (113,29 μg/g), fiziološki zrelom plodu (74,74 μg/g), nezrelom plodu (61,33 μg/g) i tehnološki zrelom plodu (21,55 μg/g). Usporedbom je genotipova utvrđeno da je plod genotipa J10, koji ima izraženiju gorčinu, sadržavao veći maseni udjel solasonina, jednog od glavnih čimbenika razvoja gorkog okusa biljaka. Aktivnost se gena SGT1 povećala u oba genotipa gotovo usporedno s povećanjem koncentracije solasonina. Transkripcija gena bila je bitno veća u genotipu J10 nego u D1. Iako se oba genotipa mogu preporučiti za konzumaciju, genotip D1 se pokazao prikladnijim za svakodnevnu uporabu

The biological functions of IL-17 in different clinical expressions of Helicobacter pylori-infection

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is regarded as the major cause of various gastric diseases (gastritis, peptic ulcers and gastric cancer) and induces the production of several cytokines. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is recently recognized as an important player in the pathophysiology of infectious and immune-mediated gastrointestinal diseases. Helicobacter pylori infection increases IL-17 in the gastric mucosa of humans. IL-17 usually causes secretion of IL-8 through activation of ERK 1/2 MAP kinase pathway. The released IL-8 attracts neutrophils promoting inflammation. T regulatory cells (Tregs) suppress the inflammatory reaction driven by IL-17, there by favoring bacterial persistence in Helicobacter pylori-infection. The pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammation is not well understood. Inflammation is promoted by both host factors and Helicobacter pylori factors, such as the proteins cytotoxin associated gene A (cagA) and vacuolating cytotoxin A (vacA). IL-1 beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, TGF-beta 1, IL-17, IL-18, IL-21 and IL-22 have been reported to be involved in Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric mucosal inflammation, but the details and relation to different patterns of inflammation remain unclear. Numerous studies have demonstrated important functions of IL-17 in acute and chronic inflammatory processes. This paper reviews the role of IL-17 in gastritis, peptic ulcers and gastric cancer related to Helicobacter pylori. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Association of the virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori and gastric mucosal interleukin-17/23 mRNA expression in dyspeptic patients

The molecular pathways that control Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-associated inflammatory reaction are complex, but locally induced cytokines and virulence factors seem to have a major role in maintaining the ongoing inflammation. Therefore this study was aimed to evaluate the association of the virulence factors of Hp and gastric mucosal interleukin-17/23 mRNA expression in dyspeptic patients. Mucosal IL-17 and IL-23 mRNA expression in H. pylori infected and non-infected gastric biopsies were determined by real-time RT-PCR. Virulence factors, vac-A and cag-A were evaluated using PCR. There was no significant difference in mucosal IL-17 and IL-23 mRNA expression between H. pylori infected and non-infected patients. Their expression in mucosa did not correlate with chronic gastritis and chronic active gastritis. IL-17 and IL-23 mRNA expression in mucosa of patients with vacA m1 were significantly higher than those observed in patients with vacA m2. The severity of polymorphonuclear infiltration and chronic active gastritis was higher in cag-A positive than cag-A negative patients. H. pylori infections carrying the vacA m1 allele have higher IL-17 and IL-23 mRNA and the current study suggests that the virulence factor vacA allele’s m1 are important for the severe gastric inflammation

Clinical relevance of Helicobacter pylori virulence factors in Iranian patients with gastrointestinal diseases

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) usually colonizes the gastric mucosa of more than 50% of the human population, causing an infection that may appear in early childhood and can persist for life. H. pylori is suggested as the main cause of peptic ulcer and chronic gastritis. It is also associated with gastric cancer. Its severity and symptoms depend on environmental factors, host susceptibility and bacterial components, which allow H. pylori to switch between commensalism and pathogenicity. H. pylori is genetically highly variable, and the variability which affects H. pylori virulence factors might be useful in identifying the strains with different degrees of pathogenicity. The geographic distribution of distinct H. pylori genotypes is largely unknown and should be established. The prevalence of more pathogenic genotypes in certain areas may have important epidemiological consequences. It also might be associated with the severity of H. pylori related diseases in such regions. Given that Iran is located in the Middle East and Asian populations have revealed high levels of gastric cancer, it is of clinical interest to clarify the potential of H. pylori virulence markers in predicting the associated clinical outcomes. In this review, clinical relevance of adhesion molecules and significant virulence factors of H. pylori in Iranian patients with gastrointestinal diseases are discussed in comparison to other countries