Increase in the Th1-Cell-Based Immune Response in Healthy Workers Exposed to Low-Dose Radiation - Immune System Status of Radiology Staff

Karimi, Gholamreza,Balali-Mood, Mahdi,Alamdaran, Seyed-Ali,Badie-Bostan, Hassan,Mohammadi, Elaheh,Ghorani-Azam, Adel,Sadeghi, Mahmood,Riahi-Zanjani, Bamdad KOREAN PHARMACOPUNCTURE INSTITUTE 2017 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.20 No.2

Objectives: Radiation is one of the most important sources of free radical (such as reactive oxygen species) production, which plays an essential role in the etiology of over hundred diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate some immune parameters and hematological indices in healthy workers of the Radiology Department, University Hospital of Mashhad, Iran. Methods: The study was performed on 50 healthy workers: 30 radiology staff as the case group and 20 laboratory workers as the control group. The radiation dose received by the radiology staff participating in the study was less than the annual maximum permissible level, 50 millisievert. Hematological parameters, lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production were studied in both groups. Results: Among healthy radiology workers, the hematological indices did not differ statistically; however, their proliferation indices and $IFN-{\gamma}$ levels showed significant increases in parallel with decreases in the IL-4 levels as compared to controls. The immune system of workers exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation was found to be shifted from a Type 2 to a Type 1 response to promote cellular immunity. Conclusion: Based on our data, exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation may decrease the prevalence, frequency, and recurrence of various cancers and infectious diseases because of an increase in Th1-cell-based response, thus leading to more protection of the human body against tumor cells and foreign agents and possibly increased longevity. However, due to high rate of fluoroscopy use for interventional radiology, we suggest continuing research projects on radiation protection and hazards to prevent irreversible damage. As a recommendation, in future studies, radiology staff with a weakened immunity due to high radiation exposure should be considered as good choices to be treated using acupuncture techniques because acupuncture has been demonstrated to enhance the function and the number of immune cells.

Analysis of Novel Approach to Design of Ultra-wide Stopband Microstrip Low-Pass Filter Using Modified U-Shaped Resonator

Gholamreza Karimi,Ali Lalbakhsh,Khatereh Dehghani,Hesam Siahkamari 한국전자통신연구원 2015 ETRI Journal Vol.37 No.5

A novel microstrip low-pass filter is presented to achieve an ultra-wide stopband with 11 harmonic suppression and very sharp skirt characteristics. The filter is composed of a modified U-shaped resonator (which creates two fully adjustable transmission zeroes), a T-shaped resonator (which determines a cut-off frequency), and four radial stubs (which provide a wider stopband). The operating mechanism of the filter is investigated based on a proposed equivalent-circuit model, and the role of each section of the proposed filter in creating null points is theoretically discussed in detail. The presented filter with 3 dB cut-off frequency (fc = 2.35 GHz) has been fabricated and measured. Results show that a relative stopband bandwidth of 164% (referred to as a 22 dB suppression) is obtained while achieving a high figure-of-merit of 15221.

Immunomodulatory effects of silymarin after subacute exposure to mice: A tiered approach immunotoxicity screening

Karimi, Gholamreza,Hassanzadeh-Josan, Samed,Memar, Bahram,Esmaeili, Seyed-Alireza,Riahi-Zanjani, Bamdad KOREAN PHARMACOPUNCTURE INSTITUTE 2018 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.21 No.2

Silymarin is a flavonoid complex extracted from the Silybum marianum plant with a wide range of pharmacological and biochemical effects. In the present study, the immunomodulatory effects of silymarin were investigated in BALB/c mice. Silymarin was administered daily by intraperitoneal injection at doses of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days. Following the exposure, host hematological parameters, spleen cellularity and histopathological examination, as well as delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses, hemagglutination titers (HA), splenocyte cytokine production and lymphocyte proliferation assay were studied in all of the test groups of animals. The results showed that the low dose of silymarin (50 mg/kg) could stimulate both cellular and humoral immune functions in the treated hosts. In addition, silymarin at 100 mg/kg appeared to impact on DTH responses and lymphoproliferation. Based on the finding here, it would seem that silymarin has efficient immunostimulant properties. As a recommendation, the application of silymarin along with acupuncture technique (herbal acupuncture) can be thought as a good plan to modulate and enhance the immune system for the management of several immunodeficiency disorders. However, further studies are required to demonstrate this hypothesis.

Decreased Levels of Spleen Tissue CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Regulatory T Lymphocytes in Mice Exposed to Berberine

Gholamreza Karimi,Mahmoud Mahmoudi,Mahdi Balali-Mood,Maryam Rahnama,Shahrzad Zamani Taghizadeh Rabe,Nafiseh Tabasi,Bamdad Riahi-Zanjani 사단법인약침학회 2017 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.10 No.2

The effects of isoquinoline alkaloid berberine (BER) on spleen tissue CD4þCD25þFoxp3þ regulatory T (Treg) cells were evaluated in BALB/c mice. Here, BER was administered daily by intraperitoneal injection at doses of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg for 14 days. Following the exposure, mice spleen cellularities, IL-10 production by splenocytes, and spleen Treg/CD4þ cell profiles were studied in all the test groups of animals. The results showed that a high dose of BER (10 mg/kg) could decrease both the absolute and relative percentages of spleen Treg cells as well as decrease the production of IL-10 by splenocytes in the treated mice (p < 0.05). BER at 5 mg/kg did not appear to affect any of these parameters. Based on the finding here, it would seem that BER has effective immunostimulatory properties, which contradicts the results from other studies indicating immunosuppressive effects of BER. Depending on the doses of BER used, it might have a broad spectrum from immunosuppressive to stimulatory effects. Further studies, including more doses, are required to better evaluate the effects of this natural product. Mechanistic studies are required, particularly in case of redox state of the immune cells, to elucidate and determine how BER functions to impart the toxicity effects demonstrated here and in other studies.

Evaluation of the Analgesic Effect of Dextromethorphan and its Interaction With Nitric Oxide on Sciatic Nerve Ligated Rats

Gholamreza Karimi,Kaveh Tabrizian,Ramin Rezaee 사단법인약침학회 2010 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.3 No.1

The symptoms of neuropathic pain are often intractable because they are poorly relieved by conventional analgesics. This therapeutic area remains one of the least satisfactorily managed by current drugs. Effective therapy for this type of pain is lacking, and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of sciatic nerve ligation on inducing neuropathic pain and to understand the mechanisms involved, and the effect of, an L-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)/dextromethorphan combination therapy on reducing neuropathic pain. According to our results, L-NAME and dextromethorphan showed analgesic properties, but only 100 mg/kg L-NAME had an additive effect on the analgesic effects of dextromethorphan. Our observations support the idea that N-methyl-D-aspartate/nitric oxide pathways play an important role in the development of such sciatic nerve ligated-evoked pathological pain conditions, thus this combination therapy could be used instead of conventional treatment.

Increase in the Th1-Cell-Based Immune Response in Healthy Workers Exposed to Low-Dose Radiation - Immune System Status of Radiology Staff

Gholamreza Karimi,Mahdi Balali-Mood,Seyed-Ali Alamdaran,Hassan Badie-Bostan,Elaheh Mohammadi,Adel Ghorani-Azam,Mahmood Sadeghi,Bamdad Riahi-Zanjani 대한약침학회 2017 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.20 No.2

Objectives: Radiation is one of the most important sources of free radical (such as reactive oxygen species) production, which plays an essential role in the etiology of over hundred diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate some immune parameters and hematological indices in healthy workers of the Radiology Department, University Hospital of Mashhad, Iran. Methods: The study was performed on 50 healthy workers: 30 radiology staff as the case group and 20 laboratory workers as the control group. The radiation dose received by the radiology staff participating in the study was less than the annual maximum permissible level, 50 millisievert. Hematological parameters, lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production were studied in both groups. Results: Among healthy radiology workers, the hematological indices did not differ statistically; however, their proliferation indices and IFN-γ levels showed significant increases in parallel with decreases in the IL-4 levels as compared to controls. The immune system of workers exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation was found to be shifted from a Type 2 to a Type 1 response to promote cellular immunity. Conclusion: Based on our data, exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation may decrease the prevalence, frequency, and recurrence of various cancers and infectious diseases because of an increase in Th1-cell-based response, thus leading to more protection of the human body against tumor cells and foreign agents and possibly increased longevity. However, due to high rate of fluoroscopy use for interventional radiology, we suggest continuing research projects on radiation protection and hazards to prevent irreversible damage. As a recommendation, in future studies, radiology staff with a weakened immunity due to high radiation exposure should be considered as good choices to be treated using acupuncture techniques because acupuncture has been demonstrated to enhance the function and the number of immune cells.

Immunomodulatory effects of silymarin after subacute exposure to mice: A tiered approach immunotoxicity screening

Gholamreza Karimi,Samed Hassanzadeh-Josan,Bahram Memar,Seyed-Alireza Esmaeili,Bamdad Riahi-Zanjani 대한약침학회 2018 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.21 No.2

Silymarin is a flavonoid complex extracted from the Silybum marianum plant with a wide range of pharmacological and biochemical effects. In the present study, the immunomodulatory effects of silymarin were investigated in BALB/c mice. Silymarin was administered daily by intraperitoneal injection at doses of 50, 100 and 150mg/kg for 14 consecutive days. Following the exposure, host hematological parameters, spleen cellularity and histopathological examination, as well as delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses, hemagglutination titers (HA), splenocyte cytokine production and lymphocyte proliferation assay were studied in all of the test groups of animals. The results showed that the low dose of silymarin (50 mg/kg) could stimulate both cellular and humoral immune functions in the treated hosts. In addition, silymarin at 100 mg/kg appeared to impact on DTH responses and lymphoproliferation. Based on the finding here, it would seem that silymarin has efficient immunostimulant properties. As a recommendation, the application of silymarin along with acupuncture technique (herbal acupuncture) can be thought as a good plan to modulate and enhance the immune system for the management of several immunodeficiency disorders. However, further studies are required to demonstrate this hypothesis.

Factors Related to Sleep Disturbance in Patients of AIi-Ibne Abitaleb Educational and Therapeutic Center

Majid Kazemi,Gholamreza Refine,Ali Ansari,Sima Karimi 한국간호과학회 2007 한국간호과학회 학술대회 Vol.2007 No.11

Antigenotoxic Effects of Satureja hortensis L. on Rat Lymphocytes Exposed to Oxidative Stress

Fatemeh Mosaffa,Javad Behravan,Gholamreza Karimi,Mehrdad Iranshahi 대한약학회 2006 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.29 No.2

The protective properties of Satureja hortensis L. on the rat lymphocytes DNA lesions were tested. Lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples taken from healthy rats. DNA breaks and resistance to H2O2-induced damage were measured with the comet assay. Rat lymphocytes were incubated in S. hortensis ethanolic extract (SHE) (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 mg/ mL), essential oil (SHEO)(0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 µL/mL), H2O2 (50, 100, and 200 µM), a combination of H2O2 (200 mM) with either SHE (1.0, 2.5 mg/mL) or SHEO (1.0, 2.5 µL/mL) at 4oC for 30 min, and the extent of DNA migration was measured using a single-cell microgel electrophoresis technique under alkaline conditions. Treatment of rat lymphocytes with SHE or SHEO resulted in significant reduction of H2O2-induced DNA damage compared to controls. SHE exhibited a significant (P<0.01) inhibitory effect on oxidative DNA damage at 2.5 mg/mL. SHEO (1.0 and 2.5 µL/mL) also showed significant inhibitory effects (P <0.01) on H2O2 induced chromosomal damage. In conclusion both the ethanolic extract and the essential oil of the plant reversed the oxidative damage to rat lymphocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide.

Trade-off Between Cost and Safety To Cope with Station Blackout in A PWR in A Deregulated Electricity Market

Ghafour Ahmad Khanbeigi,Gholamreza Jahanfarnia,Naser Mansour Sharifloo,Mohamad Kazem Sheikh-el-Eslami,Kaveh Karimi 대한전기학회 2020 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.15 No.5

In this paper a close solution is presented to determine the trade-off between cost and safety to cope with station blackout (SBO) in Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs). To compute the profi t of each generation unit, a Supply Function Equilibrium (SFE) model swhich considers carbon tax is used in a uniform electricity market. A hierarchical heuristic method is applied for decision making on safety improvement of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). In this method the break-even point is used as a criterion to make a decision on comparing cost of safety improvement and profi t of NPP in a deregulated electricity market. This method is applied in a case of adding an Emergency Water Supply (EWS) and an Emergency Diesel Generator (EDG) to a NPP where impacts of its investment cost and its profi t are investigated. The achieved results show that the break-even point of investment cost and net profi t of the NPP by adding the EDG is one month later than NPP with addition of EWS.