parisa ebrahimisadr

Thalassemia is associated with a genetic decline in the rate of synthesis of one or more types of natural hemoglobin polypeptide chains. One of the major complications in thalassemia patients is alloimmunization, which is antibody production by the patient against transfused red blood cells (RBCs). These RBCs are unknown by the recipient and the formed antibodies against them are called alloantibodies. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of alloantibodies against RBCs in betathalassemia patients referred to Tehran Regional Blood Transfusion Center.

In this study, antibody screening tests (Dia-cell I, II, and III) were performed on 184 thalassemia patients. An identification test by the Dia panel consisting of 11 different O RBCs groups to examine sera with Dia cells (I, II, or III) was performed.

In our study, males and females patients comprised 66 (35.87%) and 118 (64.13%), respectively, of whom 116 (63%) had alloimmunization. In addition, 68 thalassemia subjects (37%) lacked alloantibodies. Among 184 patients with beta-thalassemia major, anti-K (Kell system), anti-D, and anti-E (Rhesus system) had the most abundant alloantibody variants with an incidence of 24 (13%), 11 (5.98%), and 10 (5.4%), respectively.

Before RBC transfusion, regular RBC antigen phenotypes, as well as problem-solving of alloantibody production by receiving compatible blood for Kell and RH subgroups, are suggested for all cases of transfusion-derived thalassemia.

  Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) are the cause of phagocytosis activation and destruction of the infection agents. In addition, new evidences support the idea that TLRs play a vital role in starting the acquired immunity reactions. In this study, it has been attempted to infect the BALB/c mice with Leishmania major (L. major) and treat them using morphine and imiquimod; then the expressions of TLR2,4 from treated lesion were studied by using Real-Time PCR method. Treatment with morphine 1 mg/kg, imiquimod 5% and nalmefene 1 mg/kg began four weeks after the challenge. After treatment period, half of the mice of each group were killed and their lesions were isolated for RNA extraction and making cDNA. For the rest of mice, lesion size was measured weekly. The results showed increase of expression of TLR2 gene among all treated groups relative to the control, and the difference was significant (p<0.05). The expression of TLR4 gene only was reduced in groups under treatment with morphine and morphine plus nalmefene relative to the control group and in the other groups increased. The highest expression of TLR2 was seen in the group treated by glucantime (p<0.0001). However, in this study it was found that despite decreasing the size of lesion in all treated groups, expression of TLR4 in the morphine, nalmefene, morphine plus nalmefene treated groups compared to the control group was decreased. Therefore, morphine may have a different function mechanism in treatment of the Leishmaniasis with the L. major.

The parasites of genus Leishmania are the causative agents of one of the most widespread and devastating diseases. According to follow-up data, these medications may provoke adverse drug reactions, drug resistance, relapse as well as financial burden. The mechanism of action of opioid drugs are primarily exerted via transmembrane G-protein coupled receptors. One of the potent synthetic immunomodulator agents is imiquimod with low molecular weight and unknown mechanism of action. Monocyte and macrophage are the primary site of action for imiquimod. Nalmefene is a well-known opioid antagonist agent which simultaneously inhibits these receptors and augments intracellular pathogenicity, hence providing opportunities to investigate their function. The aim of present work was evaluating the effect of morphine, imiquimod and nalmephen on the Leishmania major and investigating cytotoxic effect this drug on the uninfected macrophage and infected macrophage for detected early apoptosis, necrosis and secondry apoptosis by flowcytometry method. In this study we used morphine, imiquimod, nalmefene and Glucantime. We treated promastigotes, macrophages and infected macrophages with above drugs, and the apoptosis evaluated by flow cytometry. The results showed that in all concentration of morphine more than 98% of promastigotes remained alive that it is deduced that morphine lacks any lethal effect on L. major after 24 h, whereas in groups treated with Glucantime alone or in combination with Nalmephene and Imiquimod, 84.13%, 88.96% and86.72% of promastigotes were alive, respectively. The results of macrophage treatment with morphine, imiquimod and nalmefene demonstrated that most necrosis has occurred in nalmefene group (6.54%).

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is one of the well-known polymers, which has been used in numerous biomedical applications because of its good biocompatibility. Due to problems made by the therapeutics already used for leishmaniasis, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PVA containing artemether in treating cutaneous leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice. Aqueous solution of PVA was prepared by mixing with Double Distilled Water. After preparation of PVA, 4.33 mg of each drug (main drug artemether and control drug 14% glucantime) was added to 100 g of prepared PVA-honey solution. The solution was incubated at 37°C and the release of artemether was evaluated by measuring absorbance at 260 nm wave length. In this study for treatment of mice lesion, we used PVA containing artemether and glucantime and this method was compared with ointment treatment. Mean diameters of lesions in mice treated with artemether were smaller than the control group and the differences were significant (P < 0.05). The mean lesion size of mice treated with PVA containing artemether in comparison with the group treated with ointment of artemether were smaller and the differences were significant (P < 0.05). PVA containing artemether is a new method for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis and according to the obtained results, artemether is an appropriate and effective drug, especially when used with PVA as a lesion dressing; thus we suggest that this method can be applied for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Artemisinin and its derivatives are very important new class of antimalarial drugs. One of the most important artemisinin derivatives is artemether. The antiparasitic activity of artemether as a derivative of artemisinin is related to endoperoxide bridge in its structure. The aim of this study was the evaluation of antileishmanial effect of artemether, with more focus on its apoptotic effect. In this study we used artemether in concentration of 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 μg/ml for promastigote assay, promastigote proliferation measurements by MTT assay, detection of apoptotic cells by Flow cytometry analysis and DNA ladder assay. The application of artemether, promastigote IC50 was measured as 25 μg/ml. The percentage of apoptotic promastigotes by using 25 μg/ml of artemether was 42.28. The results of present study showed that artemether has inhibition effect on intracellular and extracellular growth of Leishmania major. Promastigotes of Leishmania major undergo apoptosis after exposure to artemether.

Leishmaniasis is an important health problem in Iran. Considering the importance of the disease and its resistance to the chemical drugs، this study aimed to examine the effect of artemether on the recovery of lesions caused by Leishmania major. This experimental study was performed on 25 Balb/c mice in 5 groups: two groups were treated with artemether (ointment and injection)، one group with glucantime and the two control groups. The mice infected with Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) were treated for two weeks. Finally، the lesion diameter was evaluated. Mean diameter of lesion in the infected group treated with ointment of artemether decreased from 1. 294 to 0. 214 cm; five days after the start of treatment until the end of treatment، a significant difference was seen in the mean diameter of lesions between the infected group treated with artemether and the untreated group (P<0. 05). Mean diameter of lesion in the infected group treated with artemether injection decreased from 0. 913 to 0. 256 cm; four days after the start of treatment until the end of treatment، a significant difference was seen in the mean diameter of lesions between the infected group treated with artemether and untreated group (P<0. 05). Moreover، five days after the start of treatment until the end of treatment، a significant difference was seen in the mean diameter of lesions between the group treated with glucantime and untreated group (P<0. 05). Administration of artemether ointment، as a painless and easy method، is effective in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis is one of the significant causes of morbidity and mortality in several countries. It is an important problem in endemic areas such as Iran. The goal in treatment of leishmaniasis is to reduce the disease period and leave no evidence of any remaining scars or lesions. A derivative of artemisinin is artemether. Scientists believe that the strong action of artemether against parasites is due to the presence of an endoperoxide bridge. Due to problems in the treatment of Leishmania major، in this research we have studied the effect of artemether on Leishmania major under in vitro conditions. Parasites were cultured in NNN and RPMI، after which artemether at concentrations of 5، 10، 25، 50 and 100 μg/ml were used for the promastigote assay. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and DNA ladder assay. The inhibitory concentration (IC50) of artemether was determined to be 25 μg/ml. The percentage of apoptotic promastigotes at 25 μg/ml of artemether was 42. 28. The results of DNA fragmentation show that exposure of Leishmania major promastigote cells to 25 μg/ml of artemether lead to DNA fragmentation. We have proven the effect of artemether on apoptosis of Leishmania major by flow cytometry and the DNA ladder assay.