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Aims: Thyroid hormones have been shown to influence the immune system and haematopoiesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate some immunological and hematological parameters in peripheral blood of hypo-or hyperthyroid women. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 50 women with hypothyroid disease, 50 women with hyperthyroid disease and a control group consisting of 50 sex -and age -matched euthyroid subjects. Thyroid function assesed according to measurent of T3, T4 and TSH levels. The complete blood count (CBC), total and differential counts of white blood cells (WBC), serum levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE) and C3 and C4 complement components determined in three groups by using standard immunological and hematological methods. Results: In hyperthyroid women the mean serum concentrations of IgG (2312.4±584 mg/dl), IgA (296± 87 mg/dl) and IgE ( 301± 264 IU/ml) were significantly higher than those found in the control group (1539± 974 mg/dl, P<0.0003; 234± 116 mg/dl, P<0.01; 109.8±115 IU/ml, P<0.0001, respectively) and the mean MCV was significantly lower in comparison with the euthyroid group (P<0.05). Hypothyroid patients had higher serum IgE concentrations in comparison with the euthyroid group (179.8± 218 IU/ml vs. 109.8± 115 IU/ml; P<0.047). The mean serum C3 concentration in hypothyroid patients was also significantly higher in comparison with the euthyroid group (138.7± 36.6 mg/ml vs. 117.8± 32.1 mg/dl; P<0.01). In the hypothyroid group the mean eosinophil count was markedly higher in comparison with the hyperthyroid group (P<0.06) and the mean count of RBC and the levels of some RBC-related indices, such as hematocrit and hemoglobin, were significantly lower in comparison with the euthyroid group (P<0.05). Conclusion:These results indicate hypergammablobulinemia and lower MVC in hyperythyroid patients, and higher IgE levels, C3 levels and eosinophil count as well as anemia in hypothyroid patients.

Hepatitis B (HB) vaccine induces protective levels of antibody response (anti-HBs 10 mIU/mL) in 90-99% of vaccinees. The levels of anti-HBs antibody decline after vaccination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the persistence of anti-HBs antibodies and immunologic memory in healthy adults at 20 years after primary vaccination with recombinant HB vaccine. Blood samples were collected from 300 adults at 20 years after primary HB vaccination and their sera were tested for anti-HBs antibody by ELISA technique. A single booster dose of HB vaccine was administered to a total of 138 subjects, whose anti-HBs antibody titer was <10 mIU/mL. The sera of subjects were retested for the anti-HBs antibody levels at 4 weeks after booster vaccination. At 20 years after primary vaccination 37.0% of participants had protective levels of antibody with geometric mean titer (GMT) of 55.44 § 77.01 mIU/mL. After booster vaccination, 97.1% of vaccinees developed protective levels of antibody and the GMT rose from 2.35 § 6.49 mIU/mL to 176.28 § 161.78 mIU/mL. 125/138 (90.6%) of re-vaccinated subjects also showed an anamnestic response to booster vaccination. At 20 years after primary vaccination with HB vaccine, low proportion of the subjects had protective levels of antibody. However, the majority of the re-vaccinated subjects developed protective levels of anti-HBs and showed an anamnestic response after booster vaccination. Additional follow-up studies are necessary to determine the duration of immunological memory.

AIM:To evaluate the serologic IgG response to H pylori and CagA across age groups and in healthy children and adults. METHODS:Totally, 386 children aged 1-15 years and 200 adults aged 20-60 years, were enrolled to study. The serum samples of participant were tested for presence of anti-H pylori and anti-CagA IgG by using ELISA method. RESULTS:The seroprevalence of H pylori in adults was significantly higher than that observed in children (67.5% vs 46.6%; P < 0.000003). In children, the seropositivity rate in males (51.9%) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that observed in females (41.7%). The prevalence of serum anti-CagA antibody was 72.8% and 67.4% in infected children and adults, respectively. The mean titer of serum anti-CagA antibodies was significantly higher among children in comparison to adults (64.1 Uarb/mL vs 30.7; P < 0.03). In infected children and adults the prevalence of serum anti-CagA antibody was higher in males compared to females (78.4% vs 66.3%; P = 0.07 and 75.6% vs 54.71%; P < 0.04, respectively). The age-specific prevalence of anti-H pylori and anti-CagA antibody (in infected subjects) was 37.6% and 59.57% at age 1-5 years, 46.9% and 75% at age 6-10 years, 54.9% and 79.45% at age 11-15, 59.01% and 83.33% at age 20-30 years, 66.6% and 60.52% at age 31-40 years, 73.46% and 63.88% at age 41-50 years and 75.75% and 60% at age 51-60 years with mean titer of anti-CagA antibody of 75.94, 63.32, 57.11, 52.06, 23.62, 21.52 and 21.80 Uarb/mL, respectively. There was significant difference between mean serum anti-CagA antibody in age subgroups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION:These results showed that anti-H pylori and anti-CagA antibodies were common in the children and adults. The H pylori -specific antibodies influenced by age and sex of subjects. Moreover, it seems that males are more susceptible to infection with CagA + strains compared to females. The seroprevalence of anti-CagA antibody was increased with age, up to 30 years and then decreased. It was also found that the magnitude of the IgG response to CagA decreased with advanced age.

OBJECTIVE:It has been reported that the cytotoxinassociated gene A (cagA+) H. pylori strains induce severe gastric mucosal inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the virulence factor CagA with IL-17 and IL-23 serum levels in duodenal ulcer (DU) patients and H. pylori-infected asymptomatic (AS) carriers. METHODS:In total, 45 H. pylori-infected DU patients were enrolled to study: 23 tested positive for the anti-CagA antibody (anti-CagA+) and 22 tested negative for the anti-CagA antibody (anti-CagA-), 30 were AS carriers (15 were anti-CagA+ and 15 were anti-CagA-) and 15 were healthy uninfected participants (as a control group). The IL-17 and IL-23 serum levels of participants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS:The mean IL-17 levels in DU patients were significantly higher than those in AS and control groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001 respectively). In the DU group, the mean IL-17 levels in participants testing positive for anti-CagA (10.84 ± 5.79 pg/mL) were significantly higher than those observed in participants testing negative for anti-CagA (7.65 ± 4.74 pg/mL; P < 0.05). The mean IL-23 levels in the DU and AS groups were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.02 and P < 0.03 respectively) but were not significantly different in participants testing positive and negative for anti-CagA. CONCLUSION:These results showed higher IL-17 and IL-23 serum levels in H. pylori-infected participants than in the control group. In the DU group the expression of IL-17 was influenced by the CagA factor.

Cytokines are the main factors involved in the normal functions of the placenta and delivery process. The aim of this project was to compare serum levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-6, tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in term and prolonged-pregnancy mothers and their neonates. This study was performed on 240 participants including 60 term and prolonged-pregnancy neonates and their corresponding mothers. Serum levels of IL-8, IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β were evaluated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The results revealed that IL-8 serum levels were significantly lower in the prolonged-pregnancy mothers and their neonates when compared with term mothers and their neonates. Data analysis also revealed a negative correlation between TGF-β and age of prolonged-pregnancy mothers. A poor positive correlation between IL-6 and head circumference of term neonates was also observed. IL-8 may play crucial roles in the process of on-time delivery and age may significantly affect TGF-β production in prolonged-pregnancy mothers. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, can also be considered as main factors involved in fetal growth.

Based on these and our previous results, it can be concluded that in vivo prepared T. gondii E/SA could be considered as a good candidate for animal vaccination.

CCR5 is an important chemokine receptor involved in the recruitment of specific anti-viral immune cells (e.g., NK cells and T cytotoxic cells) to the liver. Previous studies indicated that the Δ 32 mutation in CCR5 gene led to inactivation of CCR5. Several conflicting studies have suggested that this mutation may be associated with either recovery or persistence of HBV infection. The main purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of the Δ 32 mutation within the CCR5 gene in a group of patients infected chronically with HBV with healthy individuals from South-East of Iran. Sixty patients with chronic HBV infection as well as 300 age-, and sex-match healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. Gap-PCR was applied to determine the frequency of CCR5 Δ 32 mutation in both groups. The results demonstrated that none of the patients infected with HBV carried the CCR5 Δ 32 mutation while, 3 (1%) of the healthy individuals were found to be heterozygotic for this mutation. The CCR5 Δ 32 mutation is not a prevalent mutation in either the patients infected chronically with HBV or their health counterparts in the South-East region of Iran. This may be attributed to either different genetic settings of the investigated population or lack of any significant correlation between this mutation and HBV pathogenicity.