Clinicopathologic Effects of Xenogeneic GvHD Induced by Adoptively Transferred Human-Derived T Cells in Severely Immunodeficient Mice.

Background: Xenogeneic graft-versus-host disease (xGvHD) is an inevitable confounder of preclinical evaluation of adoptive immunotherapies on tumor-bearing immunodeficient mouse models. This study was designed to appraise the clinical and histopathological effects caused by xGvHD in severely immunodeficient mice considering the T cell dosage.

Methods: Fifty NOG mice underwent intraperitoneal injection of three different doses of human-derived total T cells, a high dose of CD8T cells, or vehicle (as control).

Unwanted disorders and xenogeneic graft-versus-host disease in experimental immunodeficient mice: How to evaluate and how to report.

Human-derived tumor models are essential for preclinical development of new anticancer drug entities. Generating animal models bearing tumors of human origin, such as patient-derived or cell line-derived xenograft tumors, is dependent on immunodeficient strains. Tumor-bearing immunodeficient mice are susceptible to developing unwanted disorders primarily irrelevant to the tumor nature; and if get involved with such disorders, reliability of the study results will be undermined, inevitably confounding the research in general.

Medically important snakes and snakebite envenoming in Iran.

Snakebite is a relatively common health condition in Iran with a diverse snake fauna, especially in tropical southern and mountainous western areas of the country with a plethora of snake species. The list of medically important snakes, circumstances and effects of their bite, and necessary medical care require critical appraisal and should be updated regularly. This study aims to review and map the distributions of medically important snake species of Iran, re-evaluate their taxonomy, review their venomics, describe the clinical effects of envenoming, and discuss medical management and treatment, including the use of antivenom.

Efficacy of adoptively transferred allogeneic CIK cells on colorectal cancer: Augmentative antitumoral effects of GvHD.

Objective: A preclinical study was designed to evaluate the effects of adoptively transferred cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells on colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Forty NOG mice bearing HT-29 xenograft tumors were developed and equally divided into 2 groups of treatment and control. The mice in the treatment group received cumulatively 40-60 × 10 CIK cells in four divided doses.

Spontaneous xenogeneic GvHD in Wilms' tumor Patient-Derived xenograft models and potential solutions.

Severely immunocompromised NOD.Cg-Prkdc Il2rg (NOG) mice are among the ideal animal recipients for generation of human cancer models. Transplantation of human solid tumors having abundant tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) can induce xenogeneic graft-versus-host disease (xGvHD) following engraftment and expansion of the TILs inside the animal body.

Adoptive NK-cell transfer as a potential treatment paradigm for Wilms tumor: A preclinical study.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cell therapy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of some cancers. However, the effects of this adoptive immunotherapy have not been investigated for Wilms tumor (WT). In this study, the effects of adoptive NK-cell transfer on a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model of anaplastic WT were evaluated, and the impacts of cell source and ex vivo activation strategy on the therapeutic efficacy of NK-cell product were appraised.

First report of a confirmed case of Montivipera latifii (Latifi's viper) envenoming and a literature review of envenoming by Montivipera species.

Latifi's viper (Montivipera latifii), also known as Lar Valley or Damavandi viper, is endemic to Iran. It has rarely been recorded, as it occurs in a highly-protected national park. In this first clinical report of a confirmed bite by this species, a teenage girl was bitten on the chin, causing rapidly-progressive swelling of the face and oropharyngeal mucosa.

Allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cell transplantation for refractory lupus nephritis: Results of a phase I clinical trial.

Background: Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are known for their immunomodulatory properties. This study was performed to analyse the effects of MSC transplantation on treatment-resistant lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: In this phase I trial, nine biopsy-proven LN patients refractory to standard treatments underwent systemic infusion of 2 × 10 allogeneic adipose-derived (AD) MSCs/kg and were followed for 12 months post-intervention.

Comparative Analysis of the Effectiveness of Intra-Articular Injection of Platelet-Rich Plasma versus Hyaluronic Acid for Knee Osteoarthritis: Results of an Open-Label Trial.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous source of growth factors, and hyaluronic acid (HA) are among the minimally invasive treatments for knee osteoarthritis (OA). This trial was designed to compare the effectiveness of intra-articular injection of PRP with HA (as one of the standard treatments) on mild to moderate knee OA.

Methods: In this phase I open-label clinical trial, 10 patients underwent intra-articular PRP injection and 10 others received HA injection.

Extracellular Matrix Scaffold Using Decellularized Cartilage for Hyaline Cartilage Regeneration.

The repair of osteochondral defects is among the top ten medical needs of humans in the 21st centuries with many countries facing rapidly aging population involved with osteoarthritis as a major contributor to global disease burden. Tissue engineering methods have offered new windows of hope to treat such disorders and disabilities. Regenerative approaches to cartilage injuries require careful replication of the complex microenvironment of the native tissue.

Radiation-Free myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A comparison of outcomes between patients with and without central nervous system involvement.

For patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), total body irradiation (TBI) has been particularly advocated as a part of the conditioning regimen in case of extramedullary involvement in sanctuary sites such as the central nervous system (CNS), to ensure greater tissue penetration. In resource-limited countries lacking TBI facilities; however, ALL patients undergo radiation-free myeloablative conditioning, though its impacts on post-HSCT outcomes of the patients with pre-HSCT CNS involvement have not been analyzed. In this 14-year series of 278 adult (> 18 y) ALL patients undergoing TBI-free busulfan/cyclophosphamide conditioning allo-HSCT, we found that the long-term probabilities of overall survival, disease free survival, relapse and non-relapse mortality were not significantly different between CNS-involved and CNS-spared patients.

An outlook on antigen-specific adoptive immunotherapy for viral infections with a focus on COVID-19.

Although not a standard-of-care yet, adoptive immunotherapeutic approaches have gradually earned a place within the list of antiviral therapies for some of fatal and hard-to-treat viral diseases. To maintain robust antiviral immunity and to effectively target the viral particles and virally-infected cells, immune cells capable of recognizing the viral antigens are required. While conventional vaccination can induce these cells in vivo; another option is to prime and generate antigen-specific immune cells ex vivo.

Analysis of determinant factors of liver fibrosis progression in ex-thalassemic patients.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) potentially renders thalassemia patients disease-free with presumably cessation of associated complications. This study analyzes the liver fibrosis status and the determinants of its progression in ex-thalassemic patients. The liver fibrosis status of 108 pediatric transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia major patients was evaluated before and one year after allo-HSCT using transient elastography (TE).

Analysis of effectiveness of Iranian snake antivenom on Viper venom induced effects including analysis of immunologic biomarkers in the Echis carinatus sochureki envenomed victims.

Snakebite is an important toxicologic emergency with the potential of triggering local and systemic inflammation. Antivenom has remained the mainstay of treatment for snakebite envenomation. In this study we sought to investigate the effectiveness of Iranian antivenom in a series of 44 viper envenomed patients through analysis of changes in clinical severity and the levels of inflammatory markers.

Efficacy analysis of hydroxychloroquine therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus: a study on disease activity and immunological biomarkers.

Background: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a widely prescribed medication to patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with potential anti-inflammatory effects. This study was performed to investigate the efficacy of HCQ therapy by serial assessment of disease activity and serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines in SLE patients.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 41 newly diagnosed SLE patients receiving 400 mg HCQ per day were included.

Outcome Analysis of Pediatric Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treated with Total Body Irradiation-Free Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Comparison of Patients with and Without Central Nervous System Involvement.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with a non-total body irradiation (TBI) conditioning regimen has proven feasible for treating patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, it is commonly believed that for extramedullary involvement of ALL in sanctuary sites, such as the central nervous system (CNS), TBI shall not be abandoned. In this study, the outcomes of pediatric ALL patients with CNS involvement (CNS) and without CNS involvement (CNS) treated with TBI-free allogeneic HSCT were retrospectively compared.

Effectiveness of a clinical protocol implemented to standardize snakebite management in Iran: initial evaluation.

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a new protocol implemented to standardize snakebite management in Iran.

Methods: In this study, 27 patients treated according to the new protocol in 2012 (P+) were compared with 22 patients treated according to the previous modality in the year before implementation of the protocol (P-) in Mashhad Medical Toxicology Centre (MTC). Demographic characteristics and treatment details of all patients were recorded prospectively.

Snakebite management in Iran: Devising a protocol.

Background: Snakebite in Iran has been a health concern. However, management of snakebite is not standardized and varies from center to center. This study is aimed at devising an evidence-based comprehensive protocol for snakebite management in Iran, to reduce unnecessary variations in practice.

Analysis of clinicopathologic correlations in Iranian patients with lupus nephritis.

Objective: To determine clinical features of different histopathological presentations in patients with lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: Clinical and pathological features of 71 biopsy-proven LN patients were analyzed in a cross-sectional study during 2005-2011.

Results: Sixty-five women (91.

High disease activity is associated with high disease damage in an Iranian inception cohort of patients with lupus nephritis.

Objectives: This paper aims to determine disease activity and damage in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and to evaluate the correlation among these domains and sociodemographic features.

Methods: This study was carried out on 71 lupus patients who were candidate for kidney biopsy due to their clinical renal manifestations. Clinical and sociodemographic data were collected and the Systemic Lupus Erythaematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2K updated version), European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI) were assessed after 10 days of admission, the day prior to performing renal biopsy.