Increased number of regulatory T cells in esophageal tissue of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis in comparison to gastro esophageal reflux disease and control groups

BACKGROUND

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a primarily polygenic allergic disorder. Although most patients have IgE sensitization, it seems that non-IgE mediated responses mainly contribute to the pathogenesis of EoE. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) may have an important role in allergies. There are limited data on the association of Tregs and EoE. In this study, we enumerated and compared T lymphocytes and Tregs in esophageal tissue of patients with EoE, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and normal controls.

METHODS

Ten patients with EoE, ten patients with GERD and eight normal controls were included. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to enumerate T lymphocytes and Tregs. CD3+ cells were considered as T cells and FOXP3+, CD3+ cells were considered as Tregs. T cells and Tregs were counted in 10 high power fields (HPF) (×400) for each patient and the average of 10 HPFs was recorded.

RESULTS

The mean±SEM of Tregs in esophageal tissue of patients with EoE (10.90±2.14cells/HPF) was significantly higher than the GERD (2.77±0.66cells/HPF) and control groups (0.37±0.08cells/HPF) (P<0.001). Additionally, the mean±SEM of T lymphocytes in esophageal tissue of patients with EoE (24.39±3.86cells/HPF) were increased in comparison to the GERD (10.07±2.65cells/HPF) and control groups (3.17±0.93cells/HPF) (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

There is an increase in the number of esophageal T lymphocytes and regulatory T cells in patients with EoE compared to the GERD and control groups.

Obesity and metabolic syndrome among a representative sample of Iranian adolescents

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases the risk of developing many chronic diseases and originates early in life; its prevalence varies by population. The present study investigated the prevalence of MetS and the association between MetS and obesity in a population of adolescents in northern Iran. A total of 450 Iranian high school students (50% boys), aged 15-18 years, were enrolled in the study. Physical examination and biochemical analyses were conducted according to standard protocols; MetS was defined according to the modified NHANES III criteria. The prevalence of MetS among subjects was 3.3%. Eight percent of subjects had a body mass index (BMI) >75th percentile, and 10.5% had a BMI >85th percentile. Overall, 42.1% of students did not have any components of MetS. Waist circumferences (WC), Body Mass Index (BMI), serum level of triglycerides (TG) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were significantly higher among girls than boys. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) were significantly higher among boys than girls. The associations between a BMI > or = 85th percentile and MetS (OR 6.97; 95%CI 2.41-20.16) and between a BMI > or = 75th percentile and MetS (OR 6.74; 95%CI 2.10-21.57) were statistically significant. The association between an increased WC and MetS was also statistically significant (OR 21.64; 95%CI 6.7-69.81). This study confirms the high prevalence of components of MetS among apparently Iranian adolescents, even among those not overweight. The high prevalence of MetS among adolescents with generalized and abdominal obesity underscores the need for primary prevention of MetS in early life.

Effects of aminophyllinein preventing renal failure in premature neonates with asphyxia in Isfahan-Iran

OBJECTIVES

Considering the relation between prematurity andasphyxia and also renal failure in neonates, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of aminophyllinein urine and serum indices of renal failure and consequently its prevention, in Premature Infants with asphyxia in Esfahan-lran.

METHODS

In this descriptive clinical trial study, 22 preterm neonates diagnosed with perinatal asphyxia in neonatal ward of Shahid Beheshti hospital, during 2009.The participants were randomized in two intervention and placebo groups. They randomized to receive a single dose of aminophyiline (5 mg/kg) or placebo of 5% dextrose water for injection (5 cc/kg) during the first hour of life. Renal function was assessed by GFR, beta2-microglobulin (beta2M), N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) serum creatinine and electrolytes level measurement, during the 1st, 4th and 7th day of life, in two studied groups. The results compare between the two groups before and after intervention.

RESULTS

Mean of urine output, was significantly higher in neonates who received aminophylline (P < 0.05).Mean of 132M and NAG 24 hours after intervention was not significant in the two groups of asphyxiated preterm neonates (P > 0.05).GFR was significantly higher in neonates who received aminophylline on 4th day of life (P < 0.05) and it had trend to be significantly high on 7th day (P = 0.05) and was not significantly high on 1st day (P > 0.05) comparing with control group. The most common pathophysiology of renal failure was prerenal.

CONCLUSION

Aminophylline could prevent renal dysfunction in preterm neonates with asphyxia. Neonates who received aminophylin on the first day of life indicated a significant improvement in GFR and urine output.

Urine interlukein-8 as a diagnostic test for vesicoureteral reflux in children

BACKGROUND

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a common finding in children with urinary tract infection (UTI), mostly diagnosed by voiding retrograde cystogram (VCUG). Children with VUR are at higher risk of renal damage with recurrent infections. Detecting VUR and renal scarring currently depends on imaging modalities with interventional invasive diagnostic methods. Noninvasive methods would greatly facilitate diagnosis and also help in identifying VUR in siblings of index cases who should be screened. Various imaging and biochemical methods with different specificity and sensitivity have been presented as substitute diagnostic tool for VCUG to identify VUR. Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a chemokine produced by damaged epithelial cells of the renal tract in response to inflammation, has been shown to increase during acute UTI. We have scarce data considering the cut point of urine IL-8 as a diagnostic method of VUR in children. The objective of this study was to assess the urine levels of IL-8 as a noninvasive marker of VUR in infants in the absence of a recent UTI episode.

METHODS

This cross sectional study was conducted on28 patients with UTI and VUR (group 1), 28 patients with VUR and without UTI (group 2), and 28 healthy children/infants(control group)in St. Alzahra hospital, Esfahan, from January 2009 until March 2010.. Urine IL-8 level was measured for all children. The data was analyzed by SPSS soft ware version 17. The t-student test, ?2, and ANOVA were used as statistical method.

RESULTS

The mean age of group 1, group 2 and control group were 4.3 +/- 2.9, 4 +/- 2.6 and 4 +/- 2.1 years respectively, p > 0.05. The mean level of IL-8 in group 1 was significantly higher than group 2 and control group 10 +/- 14.8 versus 6.5 +/- 8.4, and 2.9 +/- 4.5 respectively (P = 0.039).

CONCLUSIONS

Although urinary IL-8 may be helpful in determining high grade VUR, but the results of this study showed that the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of this marker were not satisfactory in cutoff point of 5 pg/pmol and other variables must be controlled.

Effects of exercise in polluted air on the aerobic power, serum lactate level and cell blood count of active individuals

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of exercise on the aerobic power, serum lactate level, and cell blood count among active individuals in the environments with similar climatic characteristics differing in their level of air pollution.

METHODS

This trial comprised 20 volunteer students of Physical education in The University of Isfahan, Iran. Two places with the same climate (altitude, temperature, and humidity), but low and high level of air pollutants air were selected in Isfahan, Iran. Participants underwent a field Cooper test with a 12-minute run for fitness assessment. Then the aerobic power, serum lactate, and cell blood counts were measured and compared between the two areas.

RESULTS

The study participants had a mean (SD) age of 21.70 (2.10) years and body mass index (BMI) of 24.44 (2.32) Kg/m2. We found a significant decrease in mean Vo2 max, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin, as well as significant increase in mean lactate level, white blood cell count and mean corpuscular volume in the higher-polluted than in the lower-polluted area. No significant difference was documented for other parameters as platelet counts or maximum heart rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise in high-polluted air resulted in a significant reduction in the performance at submaximal levels of physical exertion. Therefore, the acute exposure to polluted air may cause a significant reduction in the performance of active individuals. The clinical importance of these findings should be assessed in longitudinal studies.