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Tuberculosis (TB) and tobacco use are two major alarming global health issues posing immense threats to human populations. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) by activation of macrophages could induce the sequences of cells activation and releases of inflammatory cytokines such as CXCL-8, Il-12 and TNF-α which in turn induces the immune system network. However no information is available on other activity of cells by MTB and smoking. In the current study we aimed to investigate the serum levels TNF-a, CXCL-8 and phagocytosis capacity in tuberculosis patients with and without smoking. 103 subjects entered the study including 61 new diagnosed pulmonary TB patients (23 smokers and 38 nonsmokers) and 42 control healthy subjects. The phagocytosis of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-dextran) in blood monocytes/macrophages through flowcytometry was assessed. Serum levels of TNF-a and CXCL-8 were analyzed by ELISA methods. A lower percentage of cells from TB patients who smoked [50.29% (43.4-57.2), p

Asthma and allergic diseases present a major health burden. Information on the prevalence of these diseases indicates that these diseases are increasing in various parts of the world. It was hoped that this study would be helpful to health system policy-makers in planning allergy prevention programs in the region.The prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases and relation between the various risk factors involved were assessed among schoolchildren in the city of Bushehr, Iran. The ISAAC Phase I and III questionnaires were completed by parents of 1280 children aged 6-7 years and self-completed by 1115 students aged 13-14 years.The prevalence of atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis and asthma among 6-7 year-old students were 12.1%, 11.8% and 6.7%, respectively. While, the prevalence of these diseases among 13-14 year-old students were found to be 19%, 30% and 7.6%, respectively. There was an association between asthma and allergic rhinitis as well as eczema (p

The immunopathology of sarcoidosis remains elusive despite years of research into this multiorgan disease.However, recent studies have provided new insights into the genetics and immune components involved in the clinical manifestation of the disease. Granulomatous inflammation is due to the host immune response to a persistent poorly degradable unknown antigen.Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is the major disease driver in many patients. The immune mechanisms that cause this disease start with the antigenic stimulus, followed by T-cell, macrophage and dendritic cell activation via a classic MHC II–mediated pathway. In addition, the profile of immune mediators reported in sarcoidosis indicates that the inflammasome pathway plays a critical role in disease pathogenesis. Increased understanding of the signal ransductions pathways involved in the induction of inflammatory processes in sarcoidosis could give rise to new therapeutic approaches in future.

The results of many studies suggested possible relationship between polymorphism at codons 16 and 27 and development of tolerance to beta-2 adrenoceptor agonist responses as well as disease severity in asthmatic patients. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of polymorphism of beta2 adrenoceptors on response to salmeterol and fluticasone (as inhaled Seretide). Sixty-four patients with either mild or moderate-severe asthma were evaluated in this study. A four-week therapy with Seretide was conducted in moderate-severe asthmatics. The respiratory parameters and asthma score (based on GINA guidelines) were measured before and after run in period. Blood samples were genotyped at codons 16 and 27. No significant difference was observed in genotypes neither at codon 16 nor at codon 27 between mild and moderate-severe asthma groups. However, Patients in Arg/Arg (n = 8) category showed significant improvement in asthma control parameters and lung function compared with Arg/Gly genotype (n =20). These results suggest that genotyping may be useful in some asthmatic patients in order to better tailor asthma treatment plan.

Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disease. Although the most affected patients are diagnosed in childhood, there are several reports of the disease presenting in adult patients. Here we present a 40 years old man who was admitted in hospital due to respiratory symptoms and ground glass pattern in high resolution computed tomography of lung. Open lung biopsy revealed lymphocytic bronchiolitis. Because of past medical history of granulomatous lesion in lung and recurrent abscesses of skin and soft tissue, NBT test was conducted which its result revealed that the disorder was compatible with CGD and then it was confirmed by fluorescent cytometry.

The tetrad of bronchial asthma, severe sinusitis, nasal polyp, eosinophilia, and systemic vasculitis is the main feature of allergic granulomatosis and angitis (Churg- Strauss Syndrome). This vasculitis is usually seen idiopathic in patients with a long history of asthma; oral steroids using steroid inhalers, vaccination and desensitization might be triggering factors. Drugs such as leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAS), penicillin, sulphonamides, anticonvulsants and thiazides have also been implicated. By presenting the cases in this article, the authors suggest that some cases of CSS may be partially or totally suppressed by corticosteroid therapy of asthma for long periods and replacing oral steroid by inhaler will reveal a pathologic condition of CSS, called frustes CSS forms. We report three subjects with asthma who had been receiving previously multiple corticosteroid courses for control, but when systemic corticosteroids were discontinued or switched over to steroid inhaler, the patients developed a similar syndrome.

This descriptive study was conducted to determine the prevalence of asthma and related symptoms among 6-7 and 13-14 year old school children in Tehran as a part of International study of Asthma and Allergies in childhood (ISAAC) phase III. The ISAAC written questionnaire was given to a total of 6127 students of 72 schools in urban area of Tehran. Simple random sampling was performed with a uniform distribution throughout 12 clusters of 2 divisions of the municipality. All 6-7 and 13-14 year old students were enrolled in this study. Results showed that 15% of the 6-7 year olds and 17% of the 13-14 year olds had positive history of wheezing among which 8.6% and 10.6% respectively had had recent attacks. Physician confirmed asthma was reported in 2.1% of the 6-7 year olds and 2.6% of the 13-14 age group. Severity of asthma assessed by frequency of speech limitation due to wheeze was positive in 1.5% of 6-7 aged group and 3% of 13-14 year olds. Exercise induced wheeze was detected in 2.3% of the 6-7year old group compared to 15.3% of the 13-14 year olds. Nocturnal cough was more prevalent among 13-14 year olds (18.4%) compared to only 7.2% in the 6-7 year olds. Overall, no significant change in prevalence of asthma symptoms has occurred since 1997 (the last phase of ISAAC) among children of Tehran. The results of our study suggest higher rates of confirmed asthma among 6-7 years old girls compared to boys. However, more extensive and precisely designed studies are needed to further confirm these findings.