Evaluation of the efficacy of isopathic immunotherapy in the treatment of allergic asthma in BALB/C mice.

Introduction: Homeopathy is a therapeutic method based on the fundamental principle of "like cures like." Homeopathic remedies are extremely dilute but involve vigorous shaking at each dilution. Isopathy is one approach of homeopathy, in which the causative agents or products of a disease are used to treat the same disease. Allergen immunotherapy is the only potential disease-modifying treatment for allergic patients. Subcutaneous immunotherapy is more effective than sublingual immunotherapy. However, subcutaneous immunotherapy is ineffective at a low dose, whereas at high doses it can result in an unacceptably high frequency of systemic reactions. In the current study, we evaluated the efficacy of isopathic immunotherapy with highly diluted ovalbumin (HD OVA) in the treatment of OVA-induced allergic asthma in BALB/c mice.Methods: BALB/c mice were sensitized with OVA and alum. Two weeks later, the mice received HD OVA on days 21, 22, 32 and 41 (8 h after the last challenge) of the treatment. The mice were challenged with OVA (5%) aerosols on days 35, 38 and 41 for 20 minutes using an ultrasonic nebulizer and sacrificed the next day.Results: Isopathic immunotherapy significantly reduced lung tissue inflammation, the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar fluid, allergen-specific IgE and interleukin-4 production. It also insignificantly increased the production of transforming growth factor-beta and proliferation of regulatory T cells against the allergen.Conclusion: Isopathic immunotherapy may be a good candidate treatment for allergic asthma.

Nicotine, as a novel tolerogenic adjuvant, enhances the efficacy of immunotherapy in a mouse model of allergic asthma.

An increasing trend in the incidence of allergic diseases including asthma and related morbidity and mortality is observed worldwide during the last decades. Allergen-specific immunotherapy is suggested for the treatment of some allergic diseases; nevertheless, there is always a menace of uncommon, but life-treating reactions due to increasing the administration of allergen extract doses. Hence, improving its efficacy may reduce the required doses as well as the risk of such reactions. The current study aimed at examining the effects of nicotine (NIC), as a tolerogenic adjuvant, on the improvement of immunotherapy efficacy in a mouse model of allergic asthma. BALB/c mice were sensitized using alum and ovalbumin (OVA) on the days 0 and 7. Mice received OVA either alone or together with NIC (1 or 10 mg/kg) on the days 21, 23, and 25. Then, the mice were challenged with OVA 5% using a nebulizer on the days 35, 38, and 41 and sacrificed the next day. Co-administration of OVA and NIC decreased the inflammation of the lung tissue, eosinophils count in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, the serum level of OVA-specific immunoglobulin E, as well as interleukin (IL)-4 production, while increasing the population of antigen-specific regulatory T-cells (Treg cells) and transforming growth factor-ß/IL-4 (TGF-ß/IL-4) ratio compared to the OVA and control groups in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, the findings suggest that administration of NIC plus the allergen increased immunotherapy efficacy through decreasing allergic inflammation and allergic responses intensity, and increasing Treg cells population.

Evaluation of the efficacy of nicotine in treatment of allergic asthma in BALB/c mice.

Nicotine, an nAChR agonist, shows prominent anti-inflammatory properties, and some studies have illustrated its suppressive effects on inflammation. Here, we have examined whether nicotine as a medicine may have beneficial effects on the treatment of asthma in a mouse model of allergic asthma. BALB/c mice were sensitized with OVA and alum. Two weeks later, the mice received nicotine with concentrations of 1 and 10 mg/kg three times every other day. After 10 days, the mice were challenged with OVA (5%) using an ultrasonic nebulizer and died the next day. Our results showed that the administration of nicotine reduced lung-tissue inflammation, the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar fluid, allergen-specific IgE and IL-4 production, while it increased the TGF-ß/IL-4 ratio and the number of Treg cells. Our results showed that nicotine applies its suppressive effects in a dose-dependent manner: administration of 10 mg/kg of nicotine showed more suppressive effects than 1 mg/kg. Such data suggested that nicotine might be a good candidate to be used as a medicine in the treatment of allergic asthma by decreasing allergic inflammation severity and potentiating Treg cells proliferation against the allergen.

Mast cells improve functional recovery of transected peripheral nerve: A novel preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Employment of regenerative properties of cells at the service of nerve repair has been initiated during recent decades. Effects of local transplantation of bone marrow-derived mast cells on peripheral nerve regeneration were studied using a rat sciatic nerve transection model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 10-mm sciatic nerve defect was bridged using a conduit chitosan-based hybrid conduit filled with BMMCs in BMMC group. In positive control group (Pos), the conduit was filled with phosphate-buffered saline alone. The regenerated nerve fibers were studied within 12 weeks after surgery. In sham-operated group, the sciatic nerve was only exposed and manipulated. In negative control (Neg) a 10-mm sciatic nerve defect was created and the nerve stumps were sutured to the adjacent muscles. The regenerated nerve fibers were studied functionally, biomechanically, histologically and immunohiscochemically. RESULTS: Functional and biomechanical studies confirmed faster recovery of regenerated axons in BMMCs transplanted animals compared to Pos group (p<0.05). Morphometric indices of the regenerated fibers showed that the number and diameter of the myelinated fibers were significantly higher in BMMCs transplanted animals than in Pos group (p<0.05). In immunohistochemistry, location of reactions to S-100 in BMMCs transplanted animals was clearly more positive than that in Pos group. CONCLUSIONS: BMMCs transplantation could be considered as a readily accessible source of cells that could improve functional recovery of transected sciatic nerve.

Effect of prenatal stress on density of NMDA receptors in rat brain.

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are important excitatory receptors which contribute to many brain functions. Altered NMDA receptor levels cause maldevelopment of corticostriatal and corticolimbic pathways, which is a neurobiological predisposing factor for development of epilepsy, schizophrenia and other idiopathic psychotic disorders. It was hypothesized that prenatal stress could play a role in pathophysiology of these disorders by affecting expression of the receptors through releasing corticosterone. Sixty-eight virgin female Wistar rats were selected and mated with male rats with the same genotype. Then, the pregnant rats were subjected to restraint or predator stress on 15th, 16th and 17th gestation days. Prenatal stress consisted of restraint or predator stresses of the dams under normal room conditions. After parturition, the pups were studied in terms of density of NMDA receptors in brain at different time points. Meanwhile, blood sample was obtained and corticosterone blood level (CBL) was measured. The pups were then compared with the pups born to unstressed dams. Stress induced significant rise in CBL and NMDA receptors in brain of the offspring. CBL was significantly higher among the stressed rats compared to the control ones; there was significant difference between the two stresses and between the two sexes. The male pups were affected more severely. Stressful events during gestation had important effects on NMDA receptors of the offspring. It can be concluded that stress-induced elevation of NMDA receptors and corticosterone might mediate altered susceptibility to epilepsy and decrease ability of learning and memory and other stress-induced neurologic disorders.

Mandibular plasmocytoma with sun-ray periosteal reaction: A unique presentation.

INTRODUCTION: Solitary plasmocytoma is a rare plasmacytic cell tumor, which occurs in the head and neck region and rarely involves the mandible. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present a unique radiographic presentation of solitary bone plasmocytoma (SBP) occurring in the Jaw. A 63-year-old male presented with the left mandibular swelling and on the conventional radiograph we noticed a lytic lesion with a sunray periosteal reaction. Clinical diagnosis was osteosarcoma but histopathology revealed sheets of plasma cells with cartwheel appearance and expansile bony trabecula suggestive for solitary bone plasmocytoma. 5years after complentary treatment by local radiotherapy he developed malaise, weakness and generalized bone pain and bone marrow aspiration revealed more than 90% plasma cell in the marrow and diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma was confirmed. DISCUSSION: SBP is radiographically seen as a well-defined radiolucent expansile lytic lesion with cortical thinning and no periosteal reaction. The imaging appearance of periosteal reaction is determined by the intensity, aggressiveness, and duration of the underlying pathology. Osteosarcoma, Metastasis (especially from sigmoid colon and rectum), Ewing s sarcoma, Haemangioma, meningioma and Tuberculosis are the main differential diagnosis of Sunburst periosteal reaction. CONCLUSION: Sunray periosteal reaction should be included in the differential diagnosis of lytic bone lesion in the mandible.

Periosteal osteosarcoma of the fifth metatarsal: a rare pedal tumor.

Periosteal osteosarcoma is a rare pedal chondroblastic osteosarcoma that rarely involves the medullary bone. In the present report, we describe the case of a woman who presented with a periosteal osteosarcoma localized to her left foot.

Extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma confined to liver in a kidney transplant recipient.

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a well-documented complication that arises as a result of immunosuppression in the setting of solid organ or bone marrow transplantation. The disorder may be subtle and/or extranodal. We report a patient with extranodal lymphoma following kidney transplantation who had successful treatment with surgery and chemotherapy.

Effect of active vitamin D on expression of co-stimulatory molecules and HLA-DR in renal transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVES: Full activation of T cells requires 2 distinct but synergistic signals. The first is the T-cell antigen receptor, which is antigen specific, and the second is activation of co-stimulatory signals. Active vitamin D (1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) decreases T-cell activation and proliferation, inhibits differentiation and maturation of dendritic cells, and induces tolerogenic dendritic cells. These immunoregulatory effects may be due, at least in part, to changes in cytokine secretion and expression of co-stimulatory molecules. The use of active vitamin D has been reported to improve allograft survival, decelerate loss of allograft function, and prevent acute rejection. This study was conducted to assess the effect of active vitamin D on the expression of co-stimulatory molecules and HLA-DR in renal transplant recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, we enrolled 24 renal transplant recipients who had undergone a transplant 6 to 18 months earlier, had stable allograft function, and were without episodes of allograft dysfunction or febrile illness in the previous 2 months. Participants were administered oral calcitriol 0.5 micrograms daily for 4 weeks. Expression of HLA-DR, CD28, CD86, and CD40 in peripheral blood leukocytes was assessed by flow cytometry before and after calcitriol administration. RESULTS: Compared to baseline levels, expression of HLA-DR decreased by 16.8%; expression of CD28, by 30%; of CD40, by 31.2%; and of CD86, by 36.7%. CONCLUSIONS: In renal transplant recipients, decreased expression of co-stimulatory and HLA-DR molecules occurred after treatment with active vitamin D. Such changes may be involved in increasing allograft survival.