Assessment of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in atmospheric dry deposition of Hamedan Metropolis, west of Iran: pollution status, spatiotemporal variation, health risk implications, and source identification.

The present study was designed to assess concentrations, contamination levels, spatiotemporal variations, health hazards and source apportionment of potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and V) of atmospheric dry deposition (ADD) in Hamedan Metropolis. In so doing, a total of 144 atmospheric dry deposition samples were collected from 12 sites during four seasons in 2023. The concentrations of the analyzed PTEs in dry deposition samples were determined using ICP-OES after samples were digested with acid. The results illustrated that the average contents of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn with 4.52, 0.591, 4.01, 36.5, 42.5, 10.9, 84.6, 69.6, 178, and 3.91 mg/kg, respectively, were higher than those in the background samples reported for Iran, which could indicate the anthropogenic origin of these PTEs. The highest quantities of the tested PTEs in various seasons were observed in summer and/or fall samples and their highest amount in various functional regions pertained to the samples collected from the commercial or industrial regions, showing the effect of seasonal changes on emission sources and human inputs. Values of average contamination factor (CF), geo-accumulation index (I-geo), and enrichment factor (EF) ranged from 0.013 to 4.45, - 7.07 to 1.56, and 0.120 to 41.3, respectively, showing 'slight to high' pollution, 'unpolluted to moderately polluted', and 'no enrichment to very severe enrichment' levels, respectively. The pollution load index (PLI) with an average value of 0.680 reflected slight pollution levels in the entire study area. The average hazard index (HI) values of the tested PTEs for the residents were all within the safe limit (< 1). Additionally, the total carcinogenic risk (TCR) values showed that the carcinogenic risk of As, Cr and Ni for both target groups were at an acceptable level. Based on the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, non-exhaust emissions and natural sources, fossil fuel combustion and industrial emissions, and traffic sources were identified as the primary contributors to ADD pollution, accounting for 26%, 38%, and 36%, of the total pollution respectively. In conclusion, further research is recommended to investigate the source-oriented ecological and health risks associated with atmospheric dry deposition pollution.

Evaluation of PD-1 Gene Expression Profile and Methylation of the Regulatory Regions in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by the fusion of vertebral joints and axial arthritis. The programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitory receptor has a pivotal role in controlling T cell function and may have a significant impact on the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as AS pathogenesis. Objective: To investigate PD-1 gene expression and its epigenetic regulation by detecting methylated CpG islands in the regulatory sites of the gene. This will provide insight into the mechanisms involved in the disease. Methods: 30 AS patients and 30 healthy individuals were examined to detect the 16 CpG islands in intron 1 using bisulfite conversion and methylation-specific PCR technique. In addition, RNA samples were isolated from fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and after complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis, the expression level of the PD-1 gene was evaluated using Real-Time PCR. Results: The CpG islands located in the intronic zone of the PD-1 gene were hyper-methylated in both the patients with AS and the healthy controls. The gene expression of PD-1 was significantly downregulated in AS patients compared with the controls (p=0.017). A negative correlation between the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and PD-1 gene expression was also revealed. Conclusion: The low level of PD-1 gene expression is implicated in the pathogenesis of AS. However, in both groups, the methylation level of the intron 1 CpG islands of the PD-1 gene suggests that other regulatory mechanisms are more relevant to PD-1 gene expression than methylation in the intron.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor gene expression in ankylosing spondylitis and its correlation with interleukin-17, RAR-related orphan receptor gamma t expression, and disease activity indices.

Objectives: Considering the role of T helper (Th)17 cells in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), the aim of this study was to determine the correlation between aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) gene expression and the expression of Th17-related genes including interleukin (IL)-17 and RAR-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt) transcription factor. Patients and methods: Thirty patients with AS (26 males, 4 females; mean age: 36.1±8.1 years) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals (26 males, 4 females; mean age: 36.2±14.6 years) were recruited for the case-control study between June 2021 and January 2022. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted from peripheral blood cells and expression levels of AHR, IL-17, RORγt, and AHR repressor (AHRR) genes were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. The serum level of IL-17 was evaluated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The results showed a nonsignificant elevation of AHR, IL-17, and RORγt gene expression in the patient group compared to the control. There was a direct correlation between AHR gene expression and IL-17 and RORγt genes and a negative correlation between AHR and AHRR expression. Moreover, AHR gene expression showed a weak correlation with disease activity indices, including Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Global Score, and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life. Moreover, the serum level of IL-17 was higher in AS patients compared to the healthy group (p=0.02). Conclusion: Upregulated expression of the AHR gene in ankylosing spondylitis and its correlation with IL-17 and ROR-γ t gene expression suggests that it could be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for AS.

Removal of fluorouracil from aqueous environment using magnetite graphene oxide modified with γ-cyclodextrin.

Fluorouracil (FU) is a widely utilized antineoplastic medication in the pharmaceutical industry for combating gastrointestinal cancers. However, its presence in wastewater originating from pharmaceutical facilities and hospital effluents has a potential effect on DNA, and cannot be efficiently eliminated through conventional treatment methods. Consequently, the adoption of advanced technologies becomes crucial for effectively treating such wastewater. Accordingly, this study investigated the efficiency of magnetite graphene oxide nanocomposite functionalized with γ-cyclodextrin for removing fluorouracil from aqueous solutions. The magnetite graphene oxide nanocomposite functionalized with γ-cyclodextrin was synthesized via the hydrothermal method. Next, the effect of pH, temperature, adsorbent content, and contact time on the fluorouracil removal efficiency was explored. Ultimately, the experimental data were matched against Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms and Kinetic models. Accordingly, the efficiency of the absorbent used was dependent on the pH, contact time, temperature, and initial concentration of the adsorbent. The results indicated that the maximum removal efficiency for fluorouracil was achieved within the contact time of 45 min and adsorbent content of 0.020 g. In addition, the optimal pH for removing the medicine was 7. The conditions of the adsorption process followed Langmuir isotherm with correlation coefficients of 0.992 and a quasi-second kinetic model with a correlation coefficient of 0.999, with the maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent synthesized for the evaluated medicine estimated as 190.9 mg/g. The results showed that the magnetite graphene oxide nanocomposite functionalized with γ-cyclodextrin could be used as an effective and available adsorbent for removing fluorouracil from pharmaceutical wastewater.

Circulating Exosomes and Ambient Air Pollution Exposure in COPD.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive obstruction of airways due to chronic inflammation. Both genetic and environmental components are risk factors for COPD. The most common cause of COPD is smoking. However, evidence suggests that 17% to 38% of COPD patients are nonsmokers, so other factors like air pollution may also play a role. Objective: The relationship between serum exosomes and exposure to particulate matter (PM) <2.5 and 10 micrometers (µm) in the residing environment of COPD patients and healthy groups was investigated. The correlation between inflammatory cytokine levels with exosome count was also studied. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were taken from 20 COPD patients without a smoking history or a family history of COPD, along with 20 nonsmoker healthy controls. The serum exosomes were counted by flow cytometry using a CD81 marker. The exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 was measured in daily, weekly, and monthly intervals based on the longitudinal measurements of the monitoring stations, and the correlation between exosome count and air pollutants was analyzed. Results: The serum CD81+ exosome count in COPD patients was significantly elevated compared to the healthy controls and this was correlated with daily PM10 (P-value=0.02) and monthly PM2.5 (P-value=0.02) exposure. Although interferon-gamma levels of COPD patients were higher than healthy controls, there was no correlation between exosome count and cytokine level. Conclusions: Considering the significant relationship between air pollutants and the count of serum exosomes demonstrated in the present study, air pollution might be a considerable risk factor in the progression of airway inflammation.

Feasibility Study on Phytoremediation of Potentially Toxic Elements (Cd, Ni and Pb) in Aquatic Environments Using Suaeda maritima Plant Species, a Case Study: Khorkhoran International Wetland, Persian Gulf.

The current study was designed to assess the phytoremediation potential of Suaeda maritima has been assessed for cleanup of contaminated sediments with Cd, Ni and Pb. In so doing, totally, 20 sampling sites were selected in the Khorkhoran International Wetland. The contents of elements in sediments, plant organs and water samples were determined using ICP-OES. The mean contents of Cd, Ni and Pb (mg/kg) in the sediment samples were found to be 0.096, 38.1 and 1.78, respectively. Moreover, the mean levels of Cd, Ni and Pb (mg/kg) in root samples of S. maritime were 0.160, 2.72 and 1.22 respectively; whereas, in leaf samples they were found to be 0.157, 3.34 and 2.23 mg/kg, respectively. Furthermore, the mean contents of Cd, Ni and Pb (µg/L) in water samples were 243, 1440 and 3010, respectively. The values of BCF for Cd, BAF for Cd and Pb, and TF for Ni and Pb were higher than 1, which would indicate that S. maritima could possibly be a suitable candidate for the phytostabilization of Cd and the phytoextraction of Ni and Pb.

Percentage of Th1 and Th17 cells and serum level of IL-17 and IFN-γ cytokines in COVID-19-associated mucormycosis.

The considerable number of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients who developed mucormycosis infections in West and Central Asia urged a need to investigate the underlying causes of this fatal complication. It was hypothesized that an immunocompromised state secondary to the excessive administration of anti-inflammatory drugs was responsible for the outburst of mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients. Therefore, we aimed to study the implication of two major subsets of adaptive immunity T helper (Th)-1 and Th17 cells in disease development. Thirty patients with COVID-19-associated mucormycosis, 38 with COVID-19 without any sign or symptom of mucormycosis, and 26 healthy individuals were included. The percentage of Th1 and Th17 cells in peripheral blood, as well as the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-17 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), were evaluated using flow cytometry and ELISA techniques, respectively. Th17 cell percentage in patients with COVID-19-associated mucormycosis was significantly lower than in COVID-19 patients (P-value: <0.001) and healthy subjects (P-value: 0.01). In addition, the serum level of IL-17 in COVID-19 patients was significantly higher than that of healthy individuals (P-value: 0.01). However, neither the frequency of Th1 cells nor the serum level of IFN-γ was different between the study groups. Given the critical role of Th17 cells in the defense against mucosal fungal infections, these findings suggest that low numbers of Th17 and insufficient levels of IL-17 might be a predisposing factor for the development of mucormycosis during or after COVID-19 infection.

Considering the critical role of Th17 cells in defense against mucosal fungal infections, the low numbers of Th17 and insufficient amounts of IL-17 might be a predisposing factor to develop mucormycosis during or after COVID-19 infection.

Efficiency evaluation of titanium oxide nanocomposite membrane in adsorption of chromium from oil effluents.

Reverse osmosis and nanofiltration (NF) are the essential physical separation technologies used to remove contaminants from liquid streams. A hybrid of nanofiltration and forward osmosis (FO) was used to increase the removal efficiency of heavy metals in synthesized oil effluents. Thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes were synthesized by applying surface polymerization on a polysulfone substrate to use in the forward osmosis process. The impact of different membrane fabrication conditions such as time, temperature, and pressure on effluent flux, the effect of different concentrations of the heavy metal solution on adsorption rate and sedimentation rate, the impact of TiO2 nanoparticles on the performance and structure of forward osmosis membranes were investigated. The morphology, composition, and properties of TiO2 nanocomposites made by the infrared spectrometer and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were studied. Kinetic modeling and Langmuir, Freundlich, and Tamkin relationships were used to draw adsorption isotherms and evaluate adsorption equilibrium data. The results indicated that pressure and temperature directly affect water outlet flux, and time affects it indirectly. Evaluating the isothermal relationships revealed that chromium adsorption from the TFN 0.05 ppm membrane and thin-film composite (TFC) membrane follows the Langmuir model with correlation coefficients of 0.996 and 0.995, respectively. The significant removal of heavy metals and the acceptable amount of water flux demonstrated the appropriate potential of the titanium oxide nanocomposite membrane, which can be used as an effective adsorbent to remove chromium from aqueous solutions.

MGMT Gene rs1625649 Polymorphism in Iranian Patients with Brain Glioblastoma: A Case Control Study.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary malignant brain tumor with poor prognosis and high potential of dispersion to other brain tissues in adult. Effective and modern choices of treatment including chemotherapy with alkylating agents marginally extend survival of GBM. However, alkylating agents can lead to highly harmful mismatch during DNA replication causing apoptosis and cell death. Accordingly, O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) removes alkyl adducts, thereby causing resistance to alkylating drugs. Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in MGMT promoter region may play a role in the regulation of MGMT expression and prediction of glioma development risk. In order to evaluate the clinical significance of rs1625649 SNP in the MGMT promoter region of glioblastoma, genomic DNA from a series of 54 patients with GBM and 50 healthy individuals in Iranian population were collected for tetra ARMS PCR amplification. None of the "A" or "C" alleles were associated with tumor occurrence, the "AA" genotype was more frequent in healthy subjects, and the "AC" genotype was 4.6 times more common in patients with GBM. The longest survival time was observed in the "CC" genotype; however, this difference was not statistically significant. On the other hand, homozygous rs1625649 (AA genotype) was significantly associated with a better survival than the cases with heterozygous rs1625649 (CA genotype) or wild type rs1625649 (CC genotype), predicting better response to temozolomide-based chemotherapy.

VEGF gene polymorphisms in Iranian patients with intracranial glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma is one of the most common malignant brain tumors in adults with poor prognosis. Neovascularization is one of the characteristics of these tumors, which is associated with overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Accordingly, single nucleotide polymorphisms of this gene could play an important role in structural and functional alterations leading to overexpression of this gene in GBM. METHODS: A total number of 49 patients with GBM and 50 healthy controls were included in the current study. The Genomic DNA was extracted from brain tumor/tissue samples, and after purification assessment, the alleles, and genotypes of rs3025039 and rs2010963 polymorphisms of the VEGF gene were investigated using T-ARMS-PCR. RESULTS: The "T" allele of rs3025039 was 2.79 times more frequent in GBM patients compared to controls (P=0.01). Moreover, the "CT" genotype was 2.83 times more common among patients (P=0.015), while the "CC" was more frequent in controls (P=0.009). The mean overall survival was significantly different between three genotypes of rs3025039, with the longest survival time in "CT" genotype (15.10±5.21, P=0.041). Besides, rs2010963, was significantly associated with GBM occurrence, with the "G" allele being 1.96 times more frequent in patients (P=0.01), as well as the "GG" genotype, which was 7.87 times more common in patients (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphisms of VEGF could potentially play a role in pathogenesis of GBM, as the allele and genotype distributions of rs3025039 and rs2010963 SNPs were significantly associated with GBM occurrence.

Effect of Ramadan fasting on salivary IgA, serum IgA, IL-17, and IL-22 levels.

Background: nutritional factors might affect the number and function of immune cells for instance the production of cytokines and immunoglobulins. Ramadan fasting is intermittent abstinence from eating and drinking for almost four weeks. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the influence of intermittent fasting on serum IgA, salivary IgA (sIgA), interleukin (IL)-17, and IL-22 levels. Methods: 40 healthy men aged 19-29 years were evaluated before and during the fourth week of Ramadan fasting for IgA levels by the nephelometric method as well as salivary IgA (sIgA), IL-17, and IL-22 amounts using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: serum IgA levels reduced significantly at the end of Ramadan fasting (225.8 ± 87 vs. 196 ± 70 mg/dl) (p-value<0.001); however, sIgA amounts did not differ between before and the last week of Ramadan. Serum IL-17 reduced significantly (2.93 ± 1.51 vs. 2.17 ± 1.33 pg/ml) (p-value = 0.006) whereas IL-22 levels remained approximately unchanged. Summary: four weeks of intermittent fasting during Ramadan reduced the serum levels of IgA and IL-17 but did not affect the production of sIgA and IL-22. These findings indicate a limited impact of intermittent fasting on mucosal immunity.

Magnetite graphene oxide modified with ß-cyclodextrin as an effective adsorbent for the removal of methotrexate and doxorubicin hydrochloride from water.

The purpose of this investigation was to analyze the performance of magnetite graphene oxide modified with ß-cyclodextrin (GO@Fe3O4@ß-CD) for adsorption of methotrexate (MTX) and doxorubicin (DOX) from aqueous solutions. Characterization of GO@Fe3O4@ß-CD was carried out using some methods. The perfect conditions for the adsorption of MTX and DOX were 7.0, 45 min, 20 mg, and 25 °C for solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, and temperature, respectively, with removal efficiency values of 97.8% and 98.5% for MTX and DOX, respectively. The adsorption kinetic of MTX and DOX via GO@Fe3O4@ß-CD followed pseudo second-order (PSO) model, while the adsorption isotherm obeyed Langmuir model by monolayer adsorption with maximum adsorption capacities of 198.5 and 204.5 mg g-1 for MTX and DOX, respectively. Therefore, it could be argued that HCl and 0.1 mol L-1 NaOH would reflect adequate elution properties for GO@Fe3O4@ß-CD recovery.

Th17/Treg cell balance in stable liver transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Immune monitoring of transplanted patients may provide a reliable basis for the individualization of immunosuppressive therapy. In addition, it might be applied for realizing the early and non-invasive diagnosis of acute allograft rejection. METHODS: Percentages of TCD4 + IL-17+ (Th17) and TCD4 + CD25 + CD127dim/- (Treg) cells, as well as serum levels of interleukin (IL)-17 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1, were evaluated in 30 stable patients using flow cytometry and ELISA techniques before and six months after liver transplantation. Besides, the same cells and cytokines were quantified in 10 recipients with acute allograft rejection. RESULTS: Six months post-transplant, the percentage of Th17 and Treg cells in the peripheral blood of stable liver transplant recipients reduced significantly, but the Th17/Treg ratios were comparable to the pre-transplant period (1.24 vs. 1.56); however, Th17/Treg ratios in the rejection group was significantly higher than in the stable recipients (4.06 vs. 1.56, P-value = 0.001). Stable patients showed decreased amounts of serum IL-17 which was remarkably lower than in the rejection group (P-value = 0.01). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the serum level of IL-17 and the percentage of Th17 cells (P-value <0.001). Th17 frequency was negatively associated with the liver allograft function. Notably, TGF-ß1 levels differed neither between pre-and post-transplant samplings nor between stable and rejection groups. CONCLUSION: Six months after liver transplantation, the mean Th17/Treg ratio in stable recipients remained comparable to the pre-transplant values; however, it was significantly elevated in patients with acute allograft rejection, suggesting the Th17/Treg ratio as a probable predictor of acute rejection.

Expression of Programmed Cell Death 1 and Helios Genes Correlates With rs872071A>G and rs12203592C>T Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms of InterferonRegulatory Factor 4 in Patients with T-Cell-Mediated Rejection of Renal Allograft.

OBJECTIVES: Acute T-cell-mediated rejection of the renal allograft is a serious posttransplant challenge that requires administration of high-dose immunosuppressive drugs with considerable side effects; therefore, specific targeting of T-cell responses may improve both prevention and treatment of T-cell-mediated rejection. A potential candidate for this purpose is interferon regulatory factor 4 because of its implication in differentiation and function of T cells. Our aim was to evaluate the frequency of the rs872071A>G and rs12203592C>T single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the interferon regulatory factor 4 gene and association of these 2 polymorphisms with the gene expression of programmed cell death 1 and Helios in patients with T-cell-mediated rejection versus stable recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty recipients with T-cell- mediated rejection and 60 age-matched and sex-matched stable recipients were recruited. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms of interferon regulatory factor 4 gene, as well as the expression of programmed cell death 1 and Helios genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, were investigated with real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Programmed cell death 1 gene expression was reduced in patients with T-cell-mediated rejection versus stable recipients (P = .03). The frequency of rs872071A>G and rs12203592C>T single-nucleotide polymorphisms showed no significant difference between groups. Presence of the rs12203592C>T single-nucleotide polymorphism was directly correlated with the expression of programmed cell death 1 gene (P = .049), and rs872071A>G positivity was directly correlated with Helios gene expression (P = .008), which suggests an inhibitory role for interferon regulatory factor 4 on programmed cell death 1 and Helios molecules. CONCLUSIONS: Programmed cell death 1 gene expression was lower in patients with T-cell-mediated rejection versus stable recipients. Low-expressing singlenucleotide polymorphisms of interferon regulatory factor 4 could enhance the downstream gene expression of programmed cell death 1 and Helios immunoregulatory molecules. Therefore, specific inhibition of interferon regulatory factor 4 may promote tolerance induction in the allograft.

DNA Methylation of CD70 Promoter in Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

INTRODUCTION: Epigenetic alterations in pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have gained more attention recently in adults. We assessed the methylation of CD70 promoter, a costimulatory molecule on T cells, in juvenile SLE (JSLE), and compared this to that found in controls and the literature of adult SLE patients. METHODS: DNA methylation status was evaluated on peripheral blood from JSLE patients and healthy controls. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients with JSLE and 24 healthy controls were compared. JSLE patients had lower unmethylated CpG islands compared to the control group (mean ± SD; 0.78 ± 0.42 vs 10503.80 ± 39796.95). However, the difference was not significant (P-value; 0.22). CONCLUSION: Despite hypomethylation of CD70 gene promoter in CD4+ T-cells from adult patients with SLE, no statistically significant differences observed in patients with JSLE compared with healthy controls. This may suggest a mechanism different in JSLE patients than in adults.

Evaluation of MicroRNA-125b-5p and Transcription Factors BLIMP1 and IRF4 Expression in Unsolved Common Variable Immunodeficiency Patients.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most prevalent form of symptomatic primary humoral immunodeficiencies characterized by failure in the final differentiation of B lymphocytes. The majority of CVID cases have no identified genetic defect, and epigenetic alteration could be involved in the pathogenesis of CVID. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the expression of hsa-miR-125b-5p -and, B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1(BLIMP-1) and interferon regulatory protein-4 (IRF-4) in a group of CVID patients with no definitive genetic diagnosis in comparison with healthy individuals. Ten CVID patients (all known genes excluded) and 10 age and sex-matched healthy controls participated in the study. B lymphocytes were isolated and expression of miR-125b-5p, IRF4, and BLIMP1 were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Moreover, B cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. The results showed that the relative expression of miR-125b-5p in CVID patients was increased while it was decreased for the BLIMP1 and IRF4 transcription factors compared with the healthy controls. Although a reduction was observed in switched and non-switched memory B cells among all high-miR patients, these subsets were decreased in patients with normal miR expression (71.0% and 85.0%, respectively). Our results suggest that overexpression of miR-125b-5p affects the terminal differentiation of B cells in a selected group of CVID patients by downregulating the BLIMP-1 gene and more intensively for the IRF-4 gene expressions.

Association of Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Gene Polymorphism with Meniere's Disease in an Iranian Sample.

Meniere's disease (MD) is known as a rare chronic disorder of the inner ear with elevated serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6. This study aims to evaluate genes polymorphism in some pro-inflammatory cytokines in a group of Iranian MD patients compared to the healthy controls. In this case-control study, 25 MD patients and 139 healthy controls were enrolled. DNA was extracted from blood samples, and single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers assay. MD patients and controls were examined in terms of allele, genotype, and haplotype frequency of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes. Only the frequencies of alleles A/G at position -238 in the promoter of the TNF-α gene differed significantly between MD patients and healthy controls. G to A allele ratio was 23 and 3.6 in MD and controls, respectively. In individuals with MD, genotype GG was found to be significantly more prevalent at position -238 of the TNF-α gene promoter sequence. In addition, the heterozygote AG variant of -238 A/G TNF-α gene polymorphism was lower in MD patients than controls. Compared to the control group, the haplotype TNF- (-308, -238) AG was higher in MD patients, although not statistically significant. This is the first study that we know of that evaluates the frequencies of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes in an Iranian MD sample. This study shows the association between TNF-α and susceptibility to MD.

Ecological and human health risks assessment of some polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in surface soils of central and southern parts of city of Tehran, Iran.

PURPOSE: The present study was conducted to evaluate the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic hazards of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in topsoil across business districts, public green space, cultural and educational areas, and roadside and residential areas in city of Tehran, in 2019. METHOD: A total of 30 surface urban soil specimens were collected and after preparing them in the laboratory, PCBs contents were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Based on the results of data analyses, the median concentrations of PCB18, PCB28, PCB 29, PCB 31, PCB 44, PCB 52, PCB 101, PCB 138, PCB 141, PCB 149, PCB 153, PCB 189 and PCB 194, were found to be 6.81, 0.759, 0.005, 1.75, 2.51, 0.059, 2.31, 3.76, 5.82, 0.599, 0.408, 0.008 and 0.008 µg/kg, respectively. Also, the overall daily PCBs intakes via soil ingestion, inhalation and skin contact were 5.48E-04, 1.19E + 00 and 1.62E-04 µg/kg, respectively. Thus it was decided that the inhalation of soil could be the main pathway of exposure to PCBs, and that, based on the carcinogenic risk outcomes, children would be more at risk of cancer than adults would. CONCLUSIONS: In general, considering that among the studied urban spaces, the contents of PCBs in public green spaces were more than their rates in other areas, and considering that children normally play in the green areas are, it is recommended that special attention be paid to these areas in controlling and removing pollution caused by PCBs in urban areas.

Interleukin 9 serum level and single nucleotide polymorphism in patients with asthma.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of airways which accounts for a huge economic, morbidity and mortality burden. There are different cytokines that contribute to asthma pathophysiology. Learning about these cytokines leads to attaining novel anti-inflammatory treatments for asthma control. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to investigate the association between interleukin-9 serum level and gene polymorphism with asthma susceptibility. METHODS: This was a case-control study of 70 asthmatic patients and 77 healthy control adults aged 18-60. Asthma diagnosis and severity were based on physician diagnosis, pulmonary function test (PFT) and 2016 guild line of Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Interleukin 9(IL -9) serum level was measured using sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.  IL9 promoter single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs2069882) was also assessed using Real-Time PCR System. RESULTS: There was no significant association between IL-9 SNP polymorphism and asthma. IL-9 serum level was significantly associated with asthma susceptibility (p value= 0.016) and absolute eosinophil count (AEC) (P value=0.033) however its corelation with atopic asthma type, asthma sivierity and Immunoglubin E serum level were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Although there was no association between IL-9 SNP and asthma, but IL-9 serum level was significantly correlated with asthma susceptibility and AEC.