Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 11 3 2012 09 15 203 216 EN Monireh Mohsenzadegan Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Abbas Mirshafiey Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2015 10 16 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in many normal and abnormal processes in humans, including atheroma, asthma, joint diseases, cancer, and aging. Basal levels of ROS production  in  cells  could  be  related  to  several  physiological functions  including  cell proliferation, apoptosis and homeostasis. However, excessive ROS production above basal levels would impair and oxidize DNA, lipids, sugars and proteins and consequently result in dysfunction of these molecules within cells and finally cell death. A leading theory of the cause of aging indicates that free radical damage and oxidative stress play a major role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD). Because the brain utilizes 20% more oxygen than other tissues that also undergo mitochondrial respiration, the potential for ROS exposure increases. In fact, AD has been demonstrated to be highly associated with cellular oxidative stress, including augmentation of  protein  oxidation, protein  nitration, glycoloxidation and  lipid peroxidation as well as accumulation of Amyloid β (Aβ). The treatment with anti-oxidant compounds can provide protection against oxidative stress and Aβ toxicity. In this review, our aim was to clarify the role of ROS in pathogenesis of AD and will discuss therapeutic efficacy of some antioxidants studies in recent years in this disease. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/561 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/561/493

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 11 3 2012 09 15 217 223 EN Azadeh Mottaghi Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Eisa Salehi Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hashem Sezavar Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Seyed Ali Keshavarz Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Reza Eshraghian Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Nima Rezaei Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND  Department of Immunology, Molecular Immunology Research Center; School of Medicine,Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Leili Rejali Cellular and Molecular Biology, Medical Branch, Tehran Azad University, Tehran, Iran Ali-Akbar Saboor-Yaraghi Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2015 10 16 Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the arterial wall. Oxidized low- density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) seems to have an important role in atherosclerotic plaque formation. This study was performed to investigate the effects of ox-LDL as well as PHA on proliferation and gene expression of  peripheral blood  mononuclear  cells (PBMCs) in patients with atherosclerosis compared  to  healthy controls. Proliferation of  PBMCs was assessed by BrdU assay, while gene expression was assessed by real-time PCR. Both PHA and ox-LDL significantly induced proliferation of PBMCs of patients and controls. PBMCs  from  controls  showed  significantly higher  proliferation  when  stimulated  with  ox-LDL compared to patients. Expression of TGF-β was significantly lower in PBMCs from patients compared to healthy controls (p<0.001). Following simulation with PHA, TGF-β and Foxp3 gene expression levels in patients and controls were significantly decreased (p<0.001). Expression of Foxp3 in PBMCs treated with ox-LDL was significantly decreased in patients and controls. Decreased expression of TGF-β and Foxp3 genes after ox-LDL stimulation may be due to more sensitivity of Treg cells than effector T cells to ox-LDL. Presence of ox-LDL within atheroma could be associated with the diminished population of Treg cells in the atherosclerotic patients. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/560 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/560/481

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 11 3 2012 09 15 224 229 EN Farnaz Mohajertehran Department of Genetics, Ghaem Hospital, University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Jalil Tavakkol Afshari Department of Immunogenetic &amp; Tissue Culture, Immunology Research Center, Bu Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Zahra Rezaieyazdi Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Nayereh Ghomian Women Health Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 2015 10 16 Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy-specific syndrome that may be dangerous especially to the fetus. Different cytokines have been found to be elevated in women with pre-eclampsia and may have possible roles in the development of this disorder. Alleles of the interleukin-l-beta (IL-lβ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) genes are associated with pr-eeclampsia in several studies in different populations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between IL-lβ (C+3954T) and TNF-α (G-308A) gene polymorphisms with preeclampsia in north east of Iran (Khorasan province).  This study included 54 diagnosed patients with pre-eclampsia and 50 normal pregnant women as control group. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and the polymorphisms were determined by PCR-RFLP method. Data was analyzed using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. There was significant association between TNF-α (G-308A) genotype and pre-eclampsia (p=0.001) but we did not find any significant association between IL-lβ (C+3954T) genotype and pre-eclampsia (p=0.39). The present study might suggest a role for TNF-α in the development of pre-eclampsia; however, IL-lβ (C+3954T) polymorphism could not be considered as a marker of susceptibility to preeclampsia in our population. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/559 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/559/482

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 11 3 2012 09 15 230 235 EN Kam Lun Hon Department of Paediatrics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China. Heike Lui Department of Pediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China Shuxin Susan Wang Department of Pediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China Hugh Simon Lam Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China Ting Fan Leung Department of Pediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China 2015 10 16 Due to increasing worldwide water pollution, fish might be a source of excessive zinc, mercury, arsenic or  manganese  intake. The  aim  of  this  study  was  to  evaluate if  fish atopy/sensitization and fish consumption behavior are associated with eczema severity and blood levels of the 4 heavy metals. One-hundred and nineteen patients with eczema and 43 patients with miscellaneous non-eczema  skin  diseases were  studied.  There  were  no  differences  in  average weekly fish consumption  and blood  levels of  the  4 heavy metals between eczema and  non-eczema groups. Blood levels of these metals were generally within the upper limits of local reference ranges in all these patients. In eczema patients, freshwater fish consumption  behavior in days-per-week was correlated with blood arsenic and mercury levels (rho=0.17, p<0.01 for both  metals), but not  with zinc or manganese. Levels of arsenic and mercury were also correlated with days of seawater fish consumption per week (arsenic: 0.38, mercury: 0.24, p <0.05). Fish  sensitization was present  in  25%  of  patients  with eczema. Nevertheless,  there was no  difference in  terms  of  fish  consumption  behavior, eczema severity, quality of life, and  heavy metal levels between eczema patients  with or  without  fish sensitization. We  conclude  that   without   exceeding  local  normal  reference  ranges,  blood   arsenic and  mercury  levels correlated  with  fish  consumption  behavior.  There  is  no  evidence to   suggest  that   fish  sensitization  is  associated  with  more  severe  eczema  (bad  for eczema), or that patients have milder eczema with more days of fish consumption (good for eczema). https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/558 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/558/484

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 11 3 2012 09 15 236 240 EN Fakhrozaman Pezeshkpoor Research Center for Skin Diseases and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Ghaem Hospital, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Reza Farid Hosseini Immunology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Houshang Rafatpanah Inflammation Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Behzad Shakerian Immunology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Farahzad Jabbari Allergy Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mohammad Reza Zandkarimi Immunology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Hadis Yousefzadeh PhD Student of Immunology, Student Research Assembly of MUMS, Mashhad, Iran Homa Sadri Allergy Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Abdolazim Bahrami Immunology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mohammad Ali Zamani Inflammation Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 2015 10 16 Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria is defined as recurrent hives occurring for at least 6 weeks. In  the  majority of  cases, there  is no  identifiable underlying etiology despite  extensive evaluation. A subset of these patients is classified as having autoimmune urticaria defined by the presence of a functional IgG antibody to the α subunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FceRIa) or to IgE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the drug atorvastatin in patients with chronic urticaria compared to the placebo. In this single-blind study, 50 patients suffering from chronic urticaria (15-45 years old) were selected and divided into two groups by simple randomization method. The first group was treated with atorvastatin and antihistamines and the second group (control group) was treated with placebo and antihistamines for 3 months. Urticaria severity was measured by score index, before and after the treatment course: ASST (Autologous serum skin test) was performed for all patients and sera were collected to measure cytokines. In cases, IL-5 decreased and IL-10 increased after treatment compared to the time point before  treatment  (p<0.05). All patients with severe utricaria according our  scoring, had positive ASST. The patients with severe urticaria identified by urticaria score and ASST positivity had chronic idiopathic urticaria. By prescribing the Atorvastatin plus antihistamines in severe and resistant forms of urticaria, the use of more toxic medications like cytotoxic drugs may be avoided. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/557 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/557/485

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 11 3 2012 09 15 241 245 EN Mitra Samareh Fekri Physiology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Mostafa Shokoohi Research Center for Modeling in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Mohammad-Hossein Gozashti Physiology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Saeed Esmailian Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Nasrollah Jamshidian Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Malihe Shadkam-Farokhi Physiology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Mohammad-Reza Lashkarizadeh Department of Thoracic Surgery; Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Reza Malekpour Afshar Physiology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran 2015 10 16 About 8% of the general population suffers from autoimmune diseases, from which 78% are women. One of the most important causes of thyroid diseases is autoimmunity in origin, and it seems that people with thyroid diseases present more signs of asthma. This study was therefore designed to investigate the frequency of autoimmune thyroid diseases in women sufferiR (maximum heart rate) for evaluating EIA. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) were measured before (baseline), immediately, 5 minutes and 15 minutes after exercise. The prevalence of asthma symptoms among the studied students was 12.54%. There was not  significant difference in any of PFT  values between asymptomatic and symptomatic students. The results of exercise test showed that totally 61.22% of symptomatic students responded to exercise test (their post-exercise PFT values decline more than 15%) while only 16.82% of asymptomatic students were responders to exercise (p<0.001). However, in both asymptomatic and symptomatic responder  students,  all PFT  values declined significantly after exercise compared  to  baseline values (p<0.05 to  p<0.001) and  there  was not  any significant difference between two groups. The results showed that although higher number of symptomatic students showed EIA, some asymptomatic students also sowed EIA. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/320 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/320/320

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 10 4 2011 12 15 281 288 EN Mehri Ghafourian Boroujerdnia Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Mohammad Ebrahim Azemi Medicinal Plant Research Center, Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Ali Asghar Hemmati Department of Parmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Amin Taghian School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Abbas Azadmehr Immunology Division, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran 2015 10 01 Several studies have demonstrated that herbal extracts possess various biological effects including anti-inflammatory and  anti-cancer  activities. The  present  study  was aimed to investigate the protective effects of the Astragalus gypsicolus  (AG) hydroalcoholic extract in early allergic sensitized mice induced by ovalbumin. Phytochemical assay was used  to  recognize the  main active constituents  in the  AG hydroalcoholic extract. Mice were immunized with subcutaneous injection of ovalbumin and aluminum hydroxide. Efficiency of  sensitization was assessed by serum  IgE  levels and eosinophil count. After sensitization, two doses of extract (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) were injected intrapritoneally. On  day 14, mice were challenged with intrapritoneal injection of ovalbumin. IL-4 and IFNγ  levels in  broncoalveolar  lavage fluid, which had  been  collected on  day 15, were assessed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit. Our results indicate two main active constituents including flavonoids and terpenoids are present in the AG hydroalcoholic extract. Intrapritoneal injection of the AG hydroalcoholic extract was able to decrease IL-4 and increase IFNγ. It seems the AG hydroalcoholic extract has the potential to modulate the balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines in allergy. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/321 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/321/321

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 10 4 2011 12 15 289 293 EN Ghasem Meighani Department of Pediatrics Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Asghar Aghamohammadi Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Honarmand Javanbakht Department of Pediatrics Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hassan Abolhassani Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Sina Nikayin Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Seyed Mehryar Jafari Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehdi Ghandehari Motlagh Department of Pediatrics Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ahmad Reza Shamshiri Faculty of public Health and Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Nima Rezaei Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Molecular Immunology Research Center; and Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2015 10 01 Primary antibody deficiencies (PAD) are a group of immune system disorders, associated with decreased levels of secretory and protective immunoglobulins. Because of the important role of immunoglobulins in the protection  of oral cavity, patients with PADs  are more susceptible to dental caries or oral manifestations. This study was performed  to investigate the oral and dental manifestations of PADs patients. In this study, 33 patients with PADs (21 common variable immunodeficiency, 8 X- linked agammaglobulinemia and 4 hyper IgM syndrome) and 66 controls were examined; the number of decayed, missed and filled teeth (DMFT) were investigated. Aphthous  was the most frequent manifestation in PADs patients (38.7%), which wassignificantly16.7% higher than  the  controls  (p=0.03). The  patients  with  PADs  showed significantly higher presentation of other oral and dental manifestations, including herpes sores, candidiasis tonsillitis, gingivitis, calculus, enamel hypoplasia and other ulcerations. The mean DMFT scores were 6.15±3.6 and 1.93±0.4 in PADs patients and controls, respectively (p<0.001). Although the patients with common variable immunodeficiency had higher means of DMFT in comparison with other groups of PADs, this difference was not statistically significant. This study showed significantly higher frequency of oral and dental manifestations in the patients with PADs  compared to controls. Therefore, regular examination of oral cavity could be suggested in this group of immunodeficient patients. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/322 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/322/322

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 10 4 2011 12 15 295 298 EN Raheleh Shokouhi Shoormasti Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Anahita Azimdoost Department of Immunology and Allergy, Children Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Shiva Saghafi Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Masood Movahhedi Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Taghi Haghi Ashtiani Clinical and Anatomical Pathology, Children Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Zahra Pourpak Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Immunology and Allergy, Children Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Bagher Eslami Department of Immunology, Public Health Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2015 10 01 Immunophenotyping of lymphocytes is very essential for evaluation of immune system. Due  to  the  effect  of  environmental  factors  and  ethnical diversity on  immune  system, establishment of an internal normal range of lymphocyte subsets is a necessity for each population.  The  aim  of  this  study  was  to  determine  the  normal  range  of  T  and  B lymphocytes, and NK cells in normal Iranian adults. Two hundred and thirty three Iranian normal adult volunteers took part in this study. Complete Blood Count (CBC) was performed for them with Sysmex (KX21) and cells with CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19 and CD16/56  surface markers were simultaneously detected by flow cytometry method  with FACstar system. Their percentile and absolute count  were determined. The  volunteers  were  150  male  and  83  female.  Mean  percentages  of  lymphocyte subpopulation were: CD3 (67.66 ±7.76), CD19 (14.41±5.09), CD4 (39.22±6.7), CD8 (25.42±5.4) and CD16/56 (10.14±6.42). Also, their mean absolute count of lymphocyte bearing CD3, CD19, CD4 and CD8 were 1,504±505/µl, 332±186/µl, 827±313/µl and 522±185/µl, respectively. Our results are comparable with similar Asian results from other Asian population, but are different from European population, we therefore conclude that it is necessary for each laboratory to establish an internal normal range for the lymphocytes bearing above- mentioned markers. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/323 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/323/323