amir asnaashari

Tuberculosis is one of the most important infectious diseases with high mortality rates worldwide, especially in developing countries. Interleukin17 (IL-17) is an important acquired immunity cytokine, which is mainly produced by CD4䱽 cells. It can recruit neutrophils and macrophages to the infected site in the lungs. IL-23 is one of the most important inducers of IL-17. In the present study, the expressions of IL-23 and IL-17 were examined in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from subjects with latent tuberculosis infection (LTB) and newly diagnosed active tuberculosis patients (ATB).
PBMCs were activated with purified protein derivative (PPD) for 72 hr. Activated cells were harvested, RNA was extracted, and cDNA was synthesized. IL-17 and IL-23 mRNA expressions were evaluated by real-time PCR. The frequency of Th17 cells was examined by flowcytometry.
The expressions of IL-17 and IL-23 mRNA were lower in patients than subjects with LTB (P The results of the present study might suggest that IL-17 and IL-23 play critical roles in the immune response against TB.

Limited data are available on the relationship between nutritional status and tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the body mass index (BMI) and serum albumin level in patients with active tuberculosis (ATB) and latent tuberculosis (LTB).
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 17 patients newly diagnosed with pulmonary TB who were referred in Iran, during September 2011 to March 2012 and 17 latent tuberculosis infection individuals. Standard method was performed to collect an early morning fasting blood sample for albumin (by the bromocresolgreen method). Also (BMI) was calculated as body weight divided by height squared (kg/m2).
One-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to check normal distribution data The mean ± Standard deviation(SD) for albumin in the patients and controls were 3.62±0/56 and 4.68±0.25, respectively. BMI in the patients and controls were 19.46±2.79 and 25.4±3.46, respectively. The serum albumin level was significantly lower in the patient group, compared to the control group (P Our findings demonstrated that BMI and serum Albumin were significantly lower in the active tuberculosis patients than latent tuberculosis groups.

The measurement of exercise capacity through Peak Oxygen Uptake is an important factor in predicting mortality and survival in patients after transplantation. In this study 31 renal transplant candidates aged 17 to 58 years were evaluated through spirometery and Exercise test and results were registered according to the assumed inclusion criteria including age, hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrite and the results were analyzed through statistical and analytical measures. Among these 31 patients there were 5 women and 26 men, that the averages of hemoglobin were 12±1 (maximum 13. 5 and minimum 10. 6) and 11. 8 ±2 (maximum 15. 6 and minimum 7. 4) respectively. According to the degree of anemia، patients were divided into three categories. Mild anemia (Hb between 6 to 9)، moderate anemia (Hb between 9 to 12) and normal (Hb 12 and more). After dividing of VO2 max in to 2 groups including normal (≥20) and abnormal (20˃) and analysis via independents T test, we found that there was a correlation between hemoglobin and hematocrite and VO2 max, and the P values were 0. 015 and 0. 005 respectively. we can help patients with an effort to correct anemia leading to more survival and less mortality in those with end stage renal disease expecting renal transplantation.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the world''s second most common infectious disease after Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AID) and the most frequent cause of mortality especially in developing countries. T regulatory (Treg) cells, which have suppressive activity and express forkhead winged-helix family transcriptional repressor p3 (FoxP3), suppress the immune responses against pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There are controversial results regarding the role of FoxP3 expressing cells in the blood of patients with TB.. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells, and FoxP3 and Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene expressions in peripheral blood of patients with tuberculosis and patients with positive tuberculin skin test before and after Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) activation with Purified Protein Derivative (PPD)..Patients and In this cross-sectional study, Peripheral Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) were isolated from peripheral blood of 29 patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary TB and 19 patients with positive tuberculin skin test. The PBMCs were activated with PPD for 72 hours. Activated cells were harvested, RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized. A real-time Taqman method was designed and optimized for evaluation of Foxp3 gene expression and SYBR Green method was used and optimized for evaluation of CTLA-4 gene expression. A flow cytometry analysis was used to evaluate the frequency of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in both groups.. There was no significant difference in the frequency of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ regulatory T cells between the two groups. Expression of FoxP3 and CTLA-4 in peripheral blood of patients with newly diagnosed TB was significantly lower than the control group after and before activation with PPD.. The expression of FoxP3 and CTLA-4 in PBMCs of patients with newly diagnosed TB was low, which might suggest that Treg cells may be sequestered in the lungs..

This study aimed to identify the most important new radiological presentations of anthracosis and anthracofibrosis and evaluate the risk ratio for accurate diagnosis of these conditions using computed tomography instead of bronchoscopy. This prospective, case-control study evaluated three groups of 70 patients with a bronchoscopic diagnosis of simple anthracosis and anthracofibrosis and 40 patients with a non-anthracotic diagnosis (control group). Bronchoscopy, chest radiographs and computed tomography (CT) (parenchymal and mediastinal windows) were reviewed. Special attention was given to mass lesions, calcified lymph nodes, bronchi and bronchial stenosis. Abnormal chest x-rays were observed in 93% of patients with bronchial anthracofibrosis; patchy consolidation was the most prevalent finding. The most significant CT finding was lymph node calcification (80%, odds ratio = 22.9), followed by bronchial calcification and bronchial stenosis (odds ratio = 6 and 2.91, respectively). Other significant findings were mass-like lesions (14%) and collapse (20%). CT findings were unremarkable in less than 1/6 of subjects. Lymph node and bronchial calcification can serve as accurate signs in diagnosing anthracosis of the lung. In addition, mass lesions, collapse and infiltration may be associated with a benign course.

IntroductionDifferential diagnosis between Tuberculosis pleurisy and Non Tuberculoses pleural effusion can be sometimes difficult and needs invasive diagnostic methods. In recent years, several biological markers have been found to be diagnostic markers of Tuberculosis pleurisy. The aim of this study was assessment of the value of Gamma-Interferon in the diagnosis of TB pleurisy.Materials and Methods We studied 70 patients with pleural effusion who had been admitted to Ghaem hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Interferon gama level was measured by "ELISA" method. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was based on microbiologic study of pleural fluid plus pleural biopsy.Result Altogether Twenty patients had tuberculosis pleurisy (44.44%), 21 patients had malignant pleural effusion (46.67%) and 4 patients had pleural effusion with various non TB non malignant etiologies (8.9%). The sensitivity, specificity of Gamma-Interferon in TB pleurisy were 60% and 96% respectively.ConclusionINFγ is a valuable indicative marker for diagnosis of tuberculosis pleurisies’ but we should consider situations with high level of INFγ without any evidence of TB and also Tuberculsis Pleurisy patients with INFγ level lower than diagnostic threshold.