Background: Methodology: Results: Conclusion: Keywords:Nasal polyposis is the benign protrusion of soft tissue into the nasal cavity, with multifactorial origin. This study is designed to examine the suggested role of IgE and CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis.Blood samples were taken from 32 patients with chronic polypoid sinusitis and 32 controls. CD4 and CD8 total lymphocyte count were determined by flow cytometry and the level of serum IgE was measured by ELISA. Nasal discharge samples were also collected for determining IgE level in both patients and controls during surgery.In 68.8% of patients a history of allergy was present. The level of nasal discharge IgE was significantly higher (p<0.001) in patients compared to controls, but the difference between serum IgE levels was not significant (p> 0.05). CD8 concentration and blood lymphocytes were significantly higher (p<0.001) in the patients group, while CD4 concentration was significantly lower (p<0.001) in them. Finally, CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly lower (p<0.001) in the patients group.This study suggests that a change in the amount of CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes and an increased level of local IgE contribute to nasal polyposis, but the results should be confirmed in more extensive studies including cytokine analyses. Such increasing insights in the pathophysiology of nasal polyposis open perspectives for new pharmacological treatment options, with immunologic factors as potential targets.Nasal polyposis, CD4,

Background:Although it is life-saving, blood transfusion therapy has resulted in risk for transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) in the majority of sickle cell anemia being patients. Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV, HCV and different genotypes of HCV among sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients in Ahvaz city, South-western Iran. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 56 SCA patients who referred to the Hemoglobinopathy and Thalassemia research centre during January 2009 to February 2010. Patients` sera were tested for HBsAg and anti-HCV using ELISA and confirmed by PCR (HBV) and RT-PCR (HCV). HCV genotypes were determined with HCV genotype specific primers using HCV genotyping kit. Results:The overall prevalence rate of HBsAg and anti-HCV were 1.8% (95% CI: 0-5.26) and 12.5% (95% CI: 3.8 -21.1), respectively. Five of the anti-HCV patients (71.4%) were also HCV RNA positive. The predominant HCV genotype in the patients was 1a (60%), though genotype 1b was found in 40% of the subjects. Conclusions: It seems that stringent donor selection procedures reduce HCV infection in multi-transfused patients, but there is still serious risk for these patients.

Background: Nasal polyposis is the benign protrusion of soft tissue into the nasal cavity, with multifactorial origin. This study is designed to examine the suggested role of IgE and CD and CD lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of 48 nasal polyposis. Method: Blood samples were taken from 32 patients with chronic polypoid sinusitis and 32 controls. CD and CD 48 total lymphocyte count were determined by flow cytometry and the level of serum IgE was measured by ELISA. Nasal discharge samples were also collected for determining IgE level in both patients and controls during surgery. Results: In 68.8% of patients a history of allergy was present. The level of nasal discharge IgE was significantly higher (p<0.001) in patients compared to controls, but the difference between serum IgE levels was not significant (p> 0.05). CD concentration and blood lymphocytes were 8 significantly higher (p<0.001) in the patients group, while CD concentration was significantly lower (p<0.001) in 4 them. Finally, CD /CD ratio was significantly lower 48 (p<0.001) in the patients group. Conclusion: This study suggests that a change in the amount of CD and CD lymphocytes and an increased 48 level of local IgE contribute to nasal polyposis, but the results should be confirmed in more extensive studies including cytokine analyses. Such increasing insights in the pathophysiology of nasal polyposis open perspectives for new pharmacological treatment options, with immunologic factors as potential targets.