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Objectives The present study aimed to evaluate interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-23 in the saliva of patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Materials and Methods Thirty cases with clinical and histopathological OLP (bilateral lesions, papular and reticular lesions, and Wickham lines) (Group A), 30 with oral SCCs (OSCCs) (Group B), and 30 with no history of oral cancer, other lesions, or lichen planus (Group C) were enrolled at the Department of Oral Medicine School of Dentistry, Zahedan, Iran. The whole unstimulated saliva was collected and the salivary concentration of IL-12 and IL-23 was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the laboratory. Statistical Analysis Data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney tests, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Results In the present study, salivary IL-12 and IL-23 levels were higher in OSCC patients than in OLP and healthy individuals. Conclusions The results show that although IL-23 and IL-12 cytokines have an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic immunity and inflammatory diseases, further studies are required to assess matrix metalloproteinase links with tumor invasion.

Aims: Periodontitis is one of the most common chronic bacterial infections in humans involving the tooth-supporting tissue. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare salivary biomarkers, including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), between patients with severe chronic periodontitis and healthy individuals. Methods: This study was performed on 29 patients with severe chronic periodontitis and 30 healthy individuals at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran, in 2021. Salivary samples were taken, and clinical parameters, including the clinical attachment loss (CAL) and probing pocket depth (PPD), were measured. Besides, the levels of LDH and HbA1c were measured using ELISA kits. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of HbA1c and LDH were examined for chronic periodontitis diagnosis. Results: Based on the present results, the levels of LDH and HbA1C did not show adequate sensitivity or specificity for screening chronic periodontitis. Conclusion: According to the present findings, salivary biomarkers, including LDH and HbA1c, cannot be used with certainty for screening chronic periodontitis.

Background RANKL and OPG play an important role in bone resorption. The R A N K L O P G ratio increases in periodontal disease. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Phase 1 periodontal treatment on the salivary R A N K L O P G ratio in patients with severe chronic periodontitis. Materials and methods Saliva samples were collected from 13 patients with severe chronic periodontitis and 14 healthy controls at baseline and then four weeks after the treatment using unstimulated spitting. The salivary levels of RANKL, OPG and R A N K L O P G ratio were investigated using the ELISA method. Results The findings of this study showed that the mean R A N K L O P G ratio was significantly higher in the patients with periodontal disease than in the healthy controls (P=0.001). Also, the R A N K L O P G ratio was significantly higher in the patients with a higher mean CAL (P=0/004). The comparison of the salivary R A N K L O P G ratio in patients with periodontal disease before and four weeks after the treatment showed a significant reduction in this value four weeks after the periodontal treatment (P=0/001). Conclusion The results of this study showed a direct relationship between the R A N K L O P G ratio and the severity of periodontal disease. Phase 1 of periodontal treatment was found to be effective in reducing the R A N K L O P G ratio. In other words, the R A N K L O P G ratio can be a good predictor of treatment success. Further long-term studies with larger sample sizes are required for confirming these results.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii might lead to behavioral changes in patients with toxoplasmosis. Since addicts are considered as individuals with behavioral, social, and psychiatric changes, we need to evaluate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in addicts. Objectives: This cross-sectional study was conducted to measure Toxoplasma antibodies using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in addicted women who were kept at the Zahedan Welfare Center in 2018. Patients and Methods: Ninety-six addicted women with high-risk behaviors and history of narcotic drug consumption as the case group and 96 non-addicted women (without a history of narcotic drug consumption) as the control group participated in this study. They had no history of alcohol consumption. The type of consumed narcotic drugs and the way of the consumption of narcotic drugs were indicated in the participants. After taking blood samples and separating the sera, the opium rapid strips were used to confirm the addiction status of the participants. Then, all sera were evaluated for Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies using ELISA. Results: All sera showed positive results for addition using opium rapid strips. The ELISA results indicated that the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgM in addicted women was 0.96%. Also, the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgG was identified as 37.5% in addicted women and 27.1% in the control group. Conclusions: According to the low difference in the rate of Toxoplasma IgG between addicts and controls, and the low rate of Toxoplasma IgM, the relationship between addiction and toxoplasmosis was not proven in this study. Presumably, different factors can be involved, so more studies are needed to elucidate the reasons for the high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in addicts.

Purpose Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii; despite being asymptomatic in the majority of healthy individuals, it can cause significant complications and mortalities in patients with immune deficiency. Methods A case-control study was performed on 320 subjects, 160 with hemodialysis and 160 healthy control subjects in Zahedan, southeast of Iran. In both groups, diabetes was evaluated using diagnostic tests such as FBS and A1C, and subjects that suffer from diabetes excluded from this study. Two blood samples were collected from each participant for conducting the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and molecular diagnostic tests. Molecular diagnostic tests including Nested-PCR, Real-Time PCR, and LAMP were performed on RE gene. Results Among 160 blood samples in patients group, T. gondii antibody was confirmed in 75 (46.8%) samples by ELISA test. Also, 51 (31.87%) and 54 (33.75%) of samples having an infection confirmed by Nested-PCR and LAMP methods, respectively. Also, among 160 healthy samples, 39 (24.3%) were serologically positive for T. gondii. However, only 7 (4.3%) samples were reported to be positive by LAMP method in the control group, 4 of whom were Toxoplasma IgG antibodies positive by the same test. Conclusions The results of the present study indicate that molecular tests (LAMP and Nested-PCR) on the RE gene sequence have more efficient than serologic methods for detecting active and reactive types of toxoplasmosis in hemodialysis patients.

Objectives β2 microglobulin, as a biomarker, is used for the diagnosis of oral malignant and pre-malignant lesions. The components of the microglobulin system can directly or indirectly help grow and develop tumors. The present study aims to compare beta-2 microglobulin levels in patients with lichen planus of the esophagus, oral squamous cell carcinoma, and healthy individuals. Further, it evaluated the salivary β2-microglobulin level in malignant and pre-malignant lesions. Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic skin-mucus disorder. Of the total 75 patients referred to Oral Medicine at Dentistry School of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, 25 were healthy and 25 had oral lichen planus (OLP) and the rest had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). To collect the saliva samples, unstimulated spitting was used. They were collected between 9 and 12 a.m. Salivary beta2 microglobulin was recorded based on the factory instructions by ELISA optical density method with 450 nm wavelength for each sample. The data were analyzed using descriptive, Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney and Pearson’s correlation coefficient (SPSS 21). Results The salivary β2 microglobulin level in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and oral lichen plan (OLP) is significantly higher than that in healthy group. Thus, this index is used for assessing early malignant transformation and oral pre-malignant lesion.

Objectiveβ2 microglobulin one of the biomarkers which are used to oral malignancy and pre-malignance lesion diagnosis. The components of the microglobulin system can help in growing and development of tumors directly or indirectly. The current study aims to evaluate the salivary β2- microglobulin level in malignance and pre-malignance lesion. The statistical population of research consists of 75 people which 25 people were healthy, 25 were infected by oral Lichen Planus (OLP) and remaining were infected by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The salivary data was performed by none –stimulated spitting method. The sample was performing during 9-12 AM and samples were transmitted to the laboratory immediately and salivary beta2microglobin was recorded based on the factory instructions by ELISA optical density method with 45Nm wavelength for each sample. Data analysis was performed by SPSS 24 software and ANOVA and post-hoc least significant difference (LSD) test.ResultsThe salivary β2 microglobulin level in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and oral lichen plan (OLP) patient is significantly higher than the healthy group. Therefore, we can use this index as a modern treatment protocol for malignancy and a pre-malignance oral lesion.

T. gondii is one of the dangerous parasitic agents in immunocompromised patients (hemodialysis, diabetes, cancer, AIDS). Therefore, due to the severe and fatal complications of toxoplasmosis in these individuals, it is necessary to calculate of parasite load in patients. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and Parasite load of T. gondii in hemodialysis patients based on RE gene by Real-time PCR in Iran. For the purpose of the study, 212 whole blood samples, including 106 hemodialysis patients (HD) and 106 healthy groups (HG), were collected. The procedure was performed in 2 steps. Step 1: Obtaining a standard curve and Step 2: Determining the parasitic load and prevalence of T. gondii (gene RE) in the study groups by Real-time PCR. Statistical evaluations were performed with SPSS (ver. 20.0, Chicago, IL, USA). Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used for categorical data. A P-value

Toxoplasma gondii is zoonotic protozoa that spread throughout the world. The aim of current study was determination of the prevalence of T. gondii infection in patient undergoing chemotherapy for malignancies using ELISA and two different molecular tests including Nested-PCR and LAMP techniques. This study was carried out in Ali Ibn Aboutaleb hospital in Zahedan cities, southeast of Iran. Totally, 154 serum samples from patient were test for detection of IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii by ELISA test. All of the samples were also test by Loop amplification (LAMP) and Nested-PCR with RE gene. Totally, 39.4% of the sample sera from cases were positive for IgG against T. gondii. After using RE-Nested-PCR technique, 29.8% sample sera were positively. After using LAMP technique, 33.1% of the samples were found to be positive. Based on our result, the RE-LAMP technique was more effective than RE-nested-PCR method in the detection of T. gondii DNA.

Objectives: Imbalances in effector T cell functioning have been associated with a number of autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). Differentiation of effector T helper (Th) 1, Th2, Th17 and regulatory T cell (Treg) lymphocytes is regulated by transcription factors, including Th1-specific T box (T-bet), GATA binding protein-3 (GATA3), retinoid-related orphan receptor (ROR)-α and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3). This study aimed to investigate Th1/Th2, Th1/Treg, Th2/Treg and Th17/Treg balances at the level of these transcription factors. Methods: This study took place between October 2015 and August 2016. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from a control group of 40 healthy women recruited from the Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran, and a patient group of 40 women with HT referred to the Hazrat Ali Asghar Hospital, Zahedan. Total ribonucleic acid extraction was performed and the gene expression of transcription factors was quantitated using a real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. Results: Expression of T-bet and GATA3 was significantly elevated, while FOXP3 expression was significantly diminished among HT patients in comparison with the controls ( P = 0.03, 0.01 and 0.05, respectively). Expression of RORα was higher among HT patients, although this difference was not significant ( P = 0.15). Expression of T-bet/FOXP3, GATA3/FOXP3 and RORα/FOXP3 ratios were increased among HT patients in comparison with the controls ( P

PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the level of salivary endothelin-1 in premalignant and malignant lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, 75 cases were investigated of which 25 cases were healthy, 25 cases had oral lichen planus (OLP), and 25 cases had oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In order to collect the saliva samples, the unstimulated spitting was used. The samples were collected between 9 and 12 a.m. They were sent to the lab shortly after being collected and salivary endothelin-1 was recorded for each sample according to the instruction of factory by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and optical density at a wavelength of 450 nm. SPSS version 20 and one-way ANOVA and LSD tests were used to analyze the data. RESULTS The mean of salivary endothelin-1 level in patients with OSCC was 163.98 pg/ml, in patients with OLP was 160.9 pg/ml, and in healthy people was 137.19 pg/ml. The analysis of one-way ANOVA suggested that the level of salivary endothelin-1 in both groups was the same and significantly higher than that in control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The level of salivary endothelin-1 in patients with SCC and OLP was higher than that in healthy group. Thus, it can be used as the latest therapeutic protocol for oral premalignant and malignant lesions.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease predominantly involving the synovial joints and affects up to 1 of adults worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the interleukin-1 receptor (IL1R)-associated kinase (IRAK1) rs3027898 gene polymorphism confers susceptibility to RA in a sample of patients from Iran. This gene encodes IRAK1, one of two putative serine/threonine kinases that associates with IL1R upon stimulation. IRAK1 is partially responsible for IL-1-induced upregulation of the transcription factor, nuclear factor-kappa B. The present case-control study was performed on 120 patients with RA and 120 healthy individuals. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood, and the gene polymorphism was evaluated using a tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction method. The results demonstrated that there was no association between IRAK1 rs3027898 CA genotype and the risk of RA in women (odds ratio= 0.72, 95 confidence interval= 0.41-1.49; P= 0.446). Further studies with larger sample sizes and different ethnicities are required to validate the present findings.

There is a need for new, effective, and less expensive and toxic treatment for Leishmaniasis. It seems that the use of a suitable adjuvant and a delivery system is effective in inducing immune reactions for protection. Liposomes can be applied as immunoadjuvants to trigger immune reactions to different antigens. The adjuvant effects of imiquimod using DSPC liposomes containing SLA (soluble Leishmania antigens) were studied on the type and intensity of the produced immune reaction to the challenge of Leishmania major in BALB/c mice. Liposomes were produced by the lipid film procedure. BALB/C mice were immunized subcutaneously, three times at 2-week intervals and with various formulations. Lesion development and the parasite burden in the spleens and feet after the challenge with Leishmania major, Th1 cytokine (IFN-γ), and the IgG isotype titration were assessed to evaluate the induced immune reaction and the protection level. The group of mice immunized with Liposome DSPC +Imiquimod +SLA revealed less severe footpad swelling, being significantly different (P .05) from other groups. A higher level of IgG2a and IFN-γ secretion was observed in the mice immunized with Liposome DSPC +Imiquimod +SLA than the control group. These observations imply that the DSPC liposome containing imiquimod induces the Th1 immune response that is protective against the challenge of Leishmania major.

Background and Objectives: Hydronephrosis is defined as varying degrees of dilatation in renal pelvis and calyxes, which leads to renal parenchymal atrophy together with obstruction of urinary flow. The present study was conducted to compare levels of urinary cytokine MCP-1 in children with urinary obstruction and healthy children attending Ali-Asghar hospital of the city of Zahedan. Methods: The present case-control study recruited 20 children with obstructive hydronephrosis, 20 children with non-obstructive hydronephrosis, and 30 healthy children as the control group that matched in terms of gender and age and were selected by the convenience sampling method. Urine samples were taken from these children, and urinary creatinine and MCP-1 levels were measured. Data were analyzed with the SPSS-21 software using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: Mean MCP-1 level was 542.56 ng/L in the obstructive hydronephrosis group, 424.7 ng/L in the non-obstructive hydronephrosis, and 335.97 ng/L in the control group. Mean MCP-1 to creatinine ratio was 58.94 in the obstructive hydronephrosis group, 39.58 in non-obstructive hydronephrosis, and 33.1 in the control group. Mean MCP-1 and MCP-1 to creatinine ratio was significantly higher in the obstructive hydronephrosis group compared with non-obstructive hydronephrosis and control groups (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in MCP-1 and MCP-1 to creatinine ratio between patients with unilateral and bilateral obstructive hydronephrosis (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The present study results showed that MCP-1 could be a marker for renal tubular injury in patients with obstructive hydronephrosis.

The aim of present study was to evaluate salivary matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), MMP-2, MMP-3 and MMP-13 levels in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) as well as in healthy controls. Thirty cases of OLP (bilateral lesions, papular and reticular lesions, and Wickham lines) clinically and histopathologically (group A), 30 with oral SCCs (group B), and 30 with no history of oral cancer, other lesions or lichen planus (group C) were enrolled at the Department of Oral Medicine School of Dentistry, Zahedan, Iran. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected and laboratory measurement of salivary concentration of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3 and MMP-13 was conducted by immuno-sorbent enzyme-linked methods. Data analysis was performed with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests and Pearson’s correlation coefficients. In the present study, MMP-2 and MMP-13 levels were higher in oral SCC patients than in OLP and healthy individuals. More research is required to assess MMP links with tumor invasion.

This study aimed to investigate the level of salivary endothelin-1 in premalignant and malignant lesions.In this study, 75 cases were investigated of which 25 cases were healthy, 25 cases had oral lichen planus (OLP), and 25 cases had oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In order to collect the saliva samples, the unstimulated spitting was used. The samples were collected between 9 and 12 a.m. They were sent to the lab shortly after being collected and salivary endothelin-1 was recorded for each sample according to the instruction of factory by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and optical density at a wavelength of 450 nm. SPSS version 20 and one-way ANOVA and LSD tests were used to analyze the data.The mean of salivary endothelin-1 level in patients with OSCC was 163.98 pg/ml, in patients with OLP was 160.9 pg/ml, and in healthy people was 137.19 pg/ml. The analysis of one-way ANOVA suggested that the level of salivary endothelin-1 in both groups was the same and significantly higher than that in control group (p0.05).The level of salivary endothelin-1 in patients with SCC and OLP was higher than that in healthy group. Thus, it can be used as the latest therapeutic protocol for oral premalignant and malignant lesions.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease predominantly involving the synovial joints and affects up to 1% of adults worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the interleukin-1 receptor (IL1R)-associated kinase (IRAK1) rs3027898 gene polymorphism confers susceptibility to RA in a sample of patients from Iran. This gene encodes IRAK1, one of two putative serine/threonine kinases that associates with IL1R upon stimulation. IRAK1 is partially responsible for IL-1-induced upregulation of the transcription factor, nuclear factor-κB. The present case-control study was performed on 120 patients with RA and 120 healthy individuals. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood, and the gene polymorphism was evaluated using a tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction method. The results demonstrated that there was no association between IRAK1 rs3027898 CA genotype and the risk of RA in women (odds ratio=0.72, 95% confidence interval=0.41–1.49; P=0.446). Further studies with larger sample sizes and different ethnicities are required to validate the present findings.

BACKGROUND: Despite recent technologic improvements in identifying mycobacterium tuberculosis, we are still facing problems in rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis. The objective of this study is to determine the diagnostic value of a new rapid screening test (Patho-TB™) for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.METHODS: Between September 2006 to August 2007, 178 patients were enrolled in the study who were finally classified into two groups; a group of documented pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 67) and a group of non-tuberculous pulmonary infection (n = 111). Patho-TB™ test, Ziehl-Neelsen staining and culture were done on all specimens.RESULTS: Of all, 43 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were sputum smear positive for acid fast bacilli and the rest were smear negative. Mean age of the patients was 59.8 ± 16.1 years and 44% of them were men. The results of Patho- TB™ test were positive in 40 of smear positive and 20 of smear negative tuberculous patients and 33 cases of nontuberculous control group. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of Patho- TB™ test were estimated 89.5%, 70.2%, 64.5%, 91.7% and 77.5%, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: According to the present study it would be suggested that Patho-TB™ test could be a rapid and inexpensive method for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, given by its high sensitivity and negative predictive value. Concerning the high number of false positive results, using a confirmatory diagnostic procedure is mandatory.KEYWORDS: Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Rapid Diagnosis, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Antigens, Iran

Aim: Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in inflammation and tissue destruction in periodontal disease. This study aimed to assess the level of IL-17 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and healthy controls. Materials and methods: This case-control study was performed on 30 patients with CP (53 males, 47 females, mean age of 37.2 ± 5.95 years) and 30 healthy controls (53 males, 47 females, mean age of 30.63 ± 5.22 years). The GCF was collected using paper points. A paper point was inserted into the pocket and remained there for 30 seconds. It was then placed in a sterile tube containing 300 µL of phosphate buffered saline and stored at-70° C. Level of IL-17 was measured using enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). The level of IL-17 was compared between the two groups using independent sample t-test at 0.05 level of significance. Results: The mean GCF level of IL-17 was 53.46 pg/L in CP patients and 38.1 pg/L in healthy controls. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.025). Conclusion: The CP patients had significantly higher GCF level of IL-17 compared to healthy controls. Clinical significance: The finding of this study highlight the role of IL-17 in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. Within the limitations of the present study, it may be suggested that measurement of GCF level of IL-17 can serve as a bioindicator of periodontal destruction and gingival inflammation. © 2018, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd. All rights reserved.