Reprogramming the tumor microenvironment to improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies.

The immunotherapeutic approaches based on checkpoint inhibitors, tumor vaccination, immune cell-based therapy, and cytokines were developed to engage the patient's immune system against cancer and better survival of them. While potent, however, preclinical and clinical data have identified that abnormalities in the tumor microenvironment (TME) can affect the efficacy of immunotherapies in some cancers. It is therefore imperative to develop new therapeutic interventions that will enable to overcome tumor-supportive TME and restrain anti-tumor immunity in patients that acquire resistance to current immunotherapies.

Association of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Myeloperoxidase enzyme with Severe Asthma: A comparative study.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) may stimulate airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma, which is also affected by neutrophils activity. The latter can be determined indirectly by evaluating myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The insufficient studies that investigated the combined association of serum TNF-α and MPO with asthma was objective of this study.

Species identification of birds nasal trichobilharzia in sari, north of iran.

Background: Cercarial dermatitis is known as an endemic parasitic disease in North of Iran, a hypersensitive skin reaction to the penetration of nonhuman schistosome larvae into human skin. In recent studies in this region, final and intermediate hosts were recognized and Trichobilharzia was identified as the main causative agent of cercarial dermatitis in this region, but to date the parasite species haven't been identified. Therefore this study was performed to species identification of nasal Trichobilharzia in infected birds for the first time.

Genotyping of Acanthamoeba isolated from water in recreational areas of Tehran, Iran.

A comprehensive survey assessing the presence of Acanthamoeba was conducted on 50 samples from water sources in parks and public squares from 22 municipal districts of Tehran, Iran. The prevalence and genotypes of Acanthamoeba were determined by PCR and the PCR fragments of ribosomal RNA genes sequenced. Sixteen (32%) samples were positive for Acanthamoeba spp.

Genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp. in clinical samples: PCR-RFLP analysis of the TRAP-C2 gene.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the species and genotypes of Cryptosporidium spp. among children with diarrhea by PCR-RFLP using the TRAP-C2 gene.

Background: Cryptosporidium is a globally distributed protozoan parasite and one of the most common causes of infection and diarrhea in humans.

Seroprevalence of Acanthamoeba Antibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients by IFAT, Tehran, Iran 2007.

Background: This preliminary study was conducted to discriminate the prevalence of Acanthamoeba antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy controls to analyze the correlation between these two groups.

Methods: From October 2006 to August 2007 a total of 121 serum samples from RA patients attending the Rheumatolgy Department at Shariati Hospital in Tehran were obtained and stored at -20°C until using by indirect fluorescent-antibody test (IFAT). RA was diagnosed according to the American Collage of Rheumatology classification criteria.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of bovine Cryptosporidium in Qazvin province, Iran.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, variability with host age, and the genotypes of species of Cryptosporidium in cattle from 15 dairy farms in Qazvin province, Iran. Fecal samples, collected from 272 cattle during May 2006 to December 2007, were characterized microscopically. Oocysts from 51 positive samples were analyzed using PCR assay of 18S SSU rRNA, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequencing.

Determination of definitive and intermediate hosts of cercarial dermatitis-producing agents in northern Iran.

Background: The study concerns the prevalence of avian schistosomes in intermediate and definite hosts in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran.

Methods: A total of 14190 fresh-water snails belonging to various genera were sampled and tested for cercarial emission by lighting and then crushing. During the same period, the nasal blood vessels and mesenteric veins of aquatic birds, mainly belonging to the Anatidae family, were examined under dissecting microscope for detecting adult worms.

Plasma alkaline phosphatase and production traits in laying hens as influenced by dietary protein, strain and age.

1. Plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was determined in 4 laying strains (White Leghorn, New Hampshire, Native Brown and Native Barred) at 48 and 54 weeks of age. Birds were fed 1 of 2 isoenergetic diets with calculated crude protein contents of 152 and 181 g/kg.

Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio as a selection criterion for heat resistance in domestic fowls.

1. Two experiments were conducted to examine the Heterophil/Lymphocyte ratio (H/L) as criterion for selection for resistance to heat stress and some aspects of general resistance in domestic fowls. 2.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha and D2 release from primary Ito cell cultures after stimulation with noradrenaline and ATP but not adenosine.

Rat liver Ito cells were cultured for 24 hr with 20% newborn calf serum. Stimulation with the sympathetic neurotransmitter noradrenaline (0.1 mumol/L to 1 mmol/L) led to a dose-dependent increase in prostaglandin F2 alpha release and a slightly smaller enhancement of prostaglandin D2 production.

Unspecific inhibition by the calmodulin antagonist calmidazolium and the intracellular calcium antagonist TMB-8 of the actions of sympathetic hepatic nerves and noradrenaline on glucose balance and flow in perfused rat liver.

In perfused rat liver hepatic nerve stimulation (10 Hz, 2 ms) (NS) increased glucose and lactate output, decreased flow and was accompanied by an overflow of noradrenaline into the hepatic vein. These effects were dependent on extracellular and partly on intracellular calcium. Infusion of noradrenaline (1 microM) (NA) elicited similar effects.

Role of extracellular calcium in the metabolic and hemodynamic actions of sympathetic nerve stimulation, noradrenaline and prostaglandin F2 alpha in perfused rat liver. Differential inhibition by nifedipine and verapamil.

In perfused rat liver hepatic nerve stimulation (10 Hz, 2 ms) caused an increase in glucose and lactate output, a decrease in flow and an overflow of noradrenaline into the hepatic vein. Noradrenaline (1 microM) (NA) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (5 microM) (PGF2 alpha), which are implicated as mediators of nerve action, elicited similar effects. 1) All actions of nerve stimulation and the hemodynamic but not the metabolic effects of noradrenaline and PGF2 alpha were largely dependent on extracellular calcium.

Direct activation by prostaglandin F2 alpha but not thromboxane A2 of glycogenolysis via an increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in rat hepatocytes.

In rat liver prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2), released from non-parenchymal cells, have been implicated as mediators of the enhancement of glucose and lactate output from parenchymal cells caused by sympathetic nerve stimulation [Iwai, M. et al. (1988) Eur.

Adult rat hepatocyte microcarrier culture. Comparison to the conventional dish culture system.

A technique has been devised to attach adult rat hepatocytes to collagen-coated dextran microcarriers. Cells were cultured serum-free for 2 d and their viability, enzyme activities, glucose metabolism, and hormone responsiveness were compared to data obtained from conventional dish cell culture. The two different culture methods showed no difference in cell viability and morphology.

Distribution of trans and cis 18:1 fatty acid isomers in chicks fed different fats.

The effects of dietary trans isomers of 18:1 (t-18:1) were studied in chicks by feeding purified diets containing soybean oil (SBO) as the control lipid source, saturated fat (SF), hydrogenated soybean oil (HSBO), or spent restaurant grease (SRG) for three weeks. Argentation thin-layer chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography were used to separate trans and cis (c) isomers of 18:1 and to determine the fatty acid composition in chick tissues. Chicks fed HSBO (34% t-18:1 of total 18:1) had weight gains similar to those of chicks fed SF but significantly (P less than .

Chromatographic analysis of 18:1 isomers in blended feed-grade fats used in poultry diets.

The presence of trans and cis 18:1 isomers was determined in samples of commercially available blended feed-grade fats (BFF) used in poultry diets. Total lipids (TL) were extracted with chloroform:methanol (2:1, v/v); triglycerides (TG) and free fatty acids (FFA) were separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The trans and cis isomers of 18:1 in TL, TG, and FFA were separated by argentation TLC and quantified by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC).