Hadi Bazzazi, Yaghoub Yazdani, Nasser Behnampour, Hadi Hossein-Nataj, Ali Memarian, Mehrdad Aghaei,
Volume 13, Issue 6 (11-2019)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: T helper (Th) lymphocytes play a key role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. As a new subset of lymphocytes, Th9 is thought to be involved in a wide range of disorders including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we evaluated frequency of Th9 and Th2 cells and its correlation with disease activity in patients with different stages of RA.
Methods: The frequency of circulating interleukin 9- and/or interleukin 4-producing CD3+CD8-T cells was determined among 41 patients with established RA, 14 patients with very early RA (VERA) and 23 healthy controls by flow cytometry analysis. Then, correlation of cell frequencies with disease activity score 28 (DAS-28) was assessed. Serum levels of interleukin 6 and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Frequency of Th9 cells was significantly higher in RA patients compared to healthy controls (P=0.009). Moreover, mean percentage of circulating Th9 cells in patients with inactive VERA was significantly higher than that in those with active disease (P=0.046). In addition, mean percentage of Th9 cells had a negative correlation with the DAS-28 (r=-0.568, P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between the mean serum level of interleukin 6 and percentage of Th2 and Th9 cells (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Our results suggest that Th9 cells may have a potential role in RA initiation. Thus, targeting Th9 cells could be a promising strategy for advanced RA therapies.
Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Th2 cells, Th9 cells.
Muragendraswami Astagimath, Suman Doddamani, Vishwanath Patil, Raviraja Aryapu,
Volume 16, Issue 6 (11-2022)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Pandemics have serious adverse impacts on public health, economy, social structure, and overall growth and development of a nation. Such impacts can be mitigated by timely introduction of effective vaccination programs. This was successfully achieved in India. This study was performed to compare the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses after first and second dose of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 60 people who were vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine at Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubballi, India. The subjects were divided into two groups. Group I included 30 people who had received a single dose of the vaccine, and group II included 30 people who had received two doses of the vaccine. Exclusion criteria included having a history of influenza like illness/severe acute respiratory infection/proven COVID-19 infection in past 6 months. The antibody response was measured by the Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG test using the VITROS Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Reagent Pack.
Results: We observed that 97% of the subjects had reactive IgG antibodies after receiving two doses of the vaccine, whereas only 83% of the subjects developed antibodies after a single dose of the vaccine. A positive correlation was observed between the development of reactive antibodies and the duration between the first dose and the second dose (r=0.24).
Conclusion: Based on the results, the two-dose vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine is beneficial over the single-dose vaccination for protection against COVID-19. Moreover, increasing the duration between doses might improve the antibody response.
Mohammad Sadegh Naghizadeh, Mohsen Naseri, Gholamreza Anani Sarab, Afshin Derakhshani, Mohammad Fereidouni,
Volume 17, Issue 6 (11-2023)
Abstract
Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common allergic disorder. Detection of responsible pathogenic allergens in AD patients by reliable methods has a fundamental role in the prevention, management, and treatment of AD. This study was conducted to determine the most common allergens by the skin prick test (SPT) and immunoblotting among AD patients referring to an allergy clinic in Birjand City, Iran.
Methods: The presence of AD was confirmed by an expert allergist. Serum levels of total and specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) against 30 food and inhalant allergens were evaluated by a commercial immunoblotting kit (AlleisaScreen).
Results: The skin prick test was performed by a battery of 17 allergens. In total, 34 AD patients (mean age, 28.76 ± 17.36 years; range, 1-60 years; F/M ratio: 0.88) were enrolled in this study. The sensitization rates to at least 1 fungus, pollen, food, or indoor allergen by the immunoblotting method were 32.35%, 61.76%, 52.94%, and 47.05%, respectively. The most prevalent allergens were ragweed (52.94), Olive tree (41.16), Eucalyptus (35.29), date palm (35.29), and grass mix (32.28).
Conclusion: The study found that 85.29% of the studied population were sensitized to at least 1 allergen. Pollens and date palms were the most common allergens among AD patients, but the pattern of sensitization in SPT and immunoblotting was not exactly similar. Detection of allergens to which patients are sensitized and avoidance can help in the management of the disease and its symptoms.
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Sowmya Gayatri C, Swati Suravaram, Bharat Kumar Reddy, Dhanalakshmi A,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background: ‘M’ proteins or paraproteins refer to immunoglobulins that are produced by clonal plasma cells and are a characteristic feature of monoclonal gammopathies. Routine electrophoresis on agarose gel and immunofixation can be used to detect immunoglobulin paraprotein (M-protein). We aimed to evaluate the performance of agarose gel electrophoresis alone and in combination with immunofixation for detecting serum M-proteins.
Methods: One hundred and twenty-three patients suspected of paraproteinemia were evaluated. Routine serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) and immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) protocols were performed. Data from SPE, and SPE-IFE (gel images and electrophoretograms) were collected and reviewed.
Results: 21% cases were confirmed using the SPE-IFE combination, and among them, 33% had positive light chain (λ) only on IFE. Similarly, nine cases with biclonal gammopathy on SPE were characterized by IFE.
Conclusion: IFE can be a confirmatory test in cases where SPE results are not reliable and it can be a complementary test when characterization of the M protein detected on SPE is required.
Seyed Sadegh Baniaghil, Fardin Balochi , Alireza Ahmadi,
Volume 18, Issue 3 (5-2024)
Abstract
Background: The understanding of blood group phenotypes is currently limited to the ABO and Rh blood group systems. This study aimed to determine the frequency of Rh system antigens (D, C, c, E, e) and the phenotypes of the system in blood donors. Identifying the blood group phenotypes of donors in any population is important for improving healthcare services and better serving patients.
Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 575 donors (Turkmen and Fars) in blood transfusion centers in Golestan Province, Iran. A cell suspension (3-5%) from each sample was prepared in normal saline and exposed to Rh system antisera using the haemagglutination technique. The Rh phenotype was then determined based on the most common genotype.
Results: For the Rh system, the antigen frequencies of D, C, c, E, and e were 87.76%, 73.6%, 72.1%, 30.83%, and 93.59%, respectively. The most common phenotypes among the Turkmen and Fars donors were R1R1, R1r, and rr, respectively, while the least common phenotypes were R2Rz and ryry. The phenotypes r'r' and ryry were not detected in the Turkmen donors, and the phenotype r''r' was not identified in the Fars donors.
Conclusion: Identifying the prevalence of blood group antigens in donors from each region is crucial for organizing negative antigen blood units, preparing compatible blood for multitransfused patients, and preventing the development of alloantibodies in these patients.
