Archives of Medical Laboratory Sciences

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of deaths in Iran and other developing countries. The risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are divided into two categories; the variable risk factors and the non-variable risk factors. Many recent studies evaluated the relationship between higher eosinophilia and allergy levels with the incidence, progress and severity of cardiovascular diseases, but the exact correlation between these two still remains  unknown. The current study was designed to assess the relationship between allergic responses and eosinophilia amongst patients with cardiovascular diseases in Ilam province, in comparison with healthy individuals.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, we enrolled 59 cardiovascular patients and 55 healthy individuals without any history of allergy and parasitic infections. A questionnaire including questions about demographic data, family history of heart disease, history of diabetes, hyperlipidemia, physical activity, smoking, stress, dietary fat consumption, salt intake, allergies to certain substances, history of parasitic disease and history of hypertension was completed. The blood was taken from each participant and CBC and IgE titer were measured.

Results: There was a significant relationship for the variables such as the family history of cardiovascular disease (P<0.001), diabetes (P<0.003), hyperlipidemia (P<0.0001), high blood pressure (P<0.0001) and physical activity (P<0.0001) between the case and the control groups. The mean IgE titer in case group was 95.3±71 and 62.44±49 in control group. The mean eosinophilia level in peripheral blood was 3.95±1.057 in case and 1.53±0.57 in control group. The difference between the IgE and eosinophilia levels in the case and the control groups was statistically significant (P<0.0001).

Conclusion: Based on our results, it can be concluded the increase in levels of IgE and eosinophilia can be considered by cardiologists as a reliable diagnostic tool for predicting cardiovascular diseases.

Background: Recent studies have shown the immunomodulatory effect of vitamin D3 through down-regulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression in human monocytes. In this study, the effects of vitamin D treatment on TLR2 and TLR4 expression on monocytes derived from type 2 diabetes was investigated.

Materials and Methods: To assess the influence of vitamin D3 on expression of TLR2 and TLR4 on monocytes from patients with type II diabetes, peripheral blood sample was taken of 30 patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated by density gradient centrifuge and then monocytes were isolated from these cells with using the magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS). To investigate the effect of vitamin D3 on the expression of TLR2 and TLR4, monocytes were cultured in the presence of vitamin D3 (10^-9 M) for 48 hours. Then the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 was determined by Real-time PCR.

Results: We found that vitamin D3 suppresses the mRNA expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in patients with type II diabetes. TLR2 and TLR4 expression in the patients exposed to vitamin D3 were significantly decreased in comparison with patients who were not treated with vitamin D3.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that vitamin D3 supplements may be further analyzed as a therapeutic option by reducing TLR2 and TLR4 expression in patients with type II diabetes.

Background: It is evident that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). Dysregulation of antioxidant enzymes have been implicated in demylination and neuronal loss in MS. The aim of this study was to evaluate mRNA expression and activity of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and catalase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and healthy controls.

Materials and Methods: We recruited 20 RRMS patients and 20 age-and sex-matched healthy subjects. PBMCs were isolated, RNA was extracted and real time-PCR was used to evaluate mRNA expression of MnSOD and catalase. Enzyme activity of MnSOD and catalase were measured using colorimetric assays.

Results: We found a significant increase in mRNA expression and activity of catalase in PBMCs from patients compared with controls, which was accompanied by reduced activity and expression of MnSOD in MS patients.

Conclusion: It appears that impaired antioxidant enzymes in term of high activity of catalase and decreased activity of MnSOD are involved in MS pathogenesis, however further studies are needed to establish this concept.

Background: Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) plays a causative role in diabetes. Garlic (Allium sativum) belongs to compounds with anti-glycation activity that can be considered as probable therapeutic approaches in delaying or preventing the onset of diabetes complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of garlic on the RAGE expression and proinflammatory cytokines secretion in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials and Methods: The PBMCs were isolated from 20 patients with fasting blood sugar level above 126 mg/dl and treated with R10 fraction and whole garlic extract in presence or absence of glycated albumin. The expression of RAGE was detected using flow cytometry and the proinflammatory cytokines secretion was evaluated by ELISA.

Results: Glycated albumin increased RAGE expression and proinflammatory cytokines secretion. Treatment with whole garlic extract significantly reduced TNF-α and IL-1β secretion and RAGE expression by PBMCs but R10 fraction augmented the proinflammatory cytokines and RAGE expression in absence or presence of glycated albumin.

Conclusion: Downregulation of RAGE expression was associated with decreased secretion of IL-1β and TNF-α from PBMCs after treatment with whole garlic, while R10 fraction of garlic significantly augmented RAGE expression and proinflammatory cytokines secretion. These data indicates that modulation of RAGE expression may be one plausible reason for the garlic effects on proinflammatory cytokines secretion.

Background: Multiple sclerosis is considered as an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that is the main cause of disability in young adults around the world. The purpose of this study was to determine changes in antibodies in the prognosis of multiple sclerosis, and the use of antibody against aquaporin 4 for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Materials and Methods: In this case - control study, 21 patients with a definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and 21 healthy subjects were selected as the study population.  Blood and urine samples were collected, and nephelometry technique was used to assess the presence or absence of IgG, IgM and IgA in serum and urine samples. ELISA method for measuring of antibodies against aquaporin 4 was used.

Results: There was no major difference in  the mean of the total IgM  in the case and control groups , but the mean IgA and IgG levels in the control group were  evidently higher than in the case group.  It was releaved that IgA, RBC and Hb mean differences between the two groups are statistically significant.  Parallel with an increase in IgG, the probability of disease exacerbation was increased by 0.22, whereas with increasing ages, the probability of disease exacerbation was 15.0. There was also a positive and significant relationship between the average level of antibodies, IgG and IgM with the degree of illness However, the relationship between the mean serum IgA level and the degree of illness was inverse. It also became clear that antibodies against AQP-4 in serum and urine of patients with different degrees of illness showed no significant difference.  The difference between the mean of antibodies against AQP in the serum of patients with mild and moderate MS was 54.1, but in mild and severe MS   it was 53.3.

Conclusion: The findings of this research suggest that serum antibody levels are directly related to the disease levels and can be used as a prognostic factor. Accordingly, it appears that the use of antibodies against aquaporin-4 in serum and urine for the diagnosis of this disease   can be considered as a reliable approach.

Background: Dirofilariasis is a common helminthic parasitic disease in both domestic and wild animals around the world, with canines as the principal reservoir host and mosquitoes as the vector.  Human dirofilariasis has been reported from many parts of the world, including Africa, Australia, the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Case Report: A 40 year old woman from Abadan city Southwest of Iran referred to surgeon with a nodule on her right breast. Ultrasound and mammography revealed a nodule diagnosed as parasitic lesion. After resection of the nodule, tissue was placed in 10% formaldehyde and sent to pathology laboratory. In histopathological examination, cross section of a worm surrounded with necrotic tissue, associated with infiltration of Neutrophils, Eosinophils, and foreign body giant cells observed which was morphologically compatible with Dirofilaria repens.

Conclusion: Human dirofilariasis should be considered in endemic regions.

Lots of viruses, in particular RNA viruses, have high mutation rates and relatively short generation times. Particle stability during infection in nature or in laboratory triggers the evolutionary event toward different mechanisms such as genome segmentation, point mutation and  recombination. The frequency of mutant genomes increase and modify  the previous distribution, which, consequently, lead to emergence of a new infectious particle. Mutation and selection are the most fundamental processes in evolution. High mutation rate of RNA viruses has an important role in viral fitness. Therefore, it increase our understanding about molecular biology of viral infections and their evolution by selection, mutation could reliably  determine our ability to challenge destructive viruses. This review focuses on existing impressions of genetic organization and mechanisms of RNA viruses evolution.