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Considering the importance of toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders, present study was designed to assess serum TLR4, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as a marker of oxidative DNA damage, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to study their relation with disease activity and their predictive potential. 44 RA patients and 44 matched controls were studied. Disease activity score (DAS-28) was assessed. Serum TLR4, 8-OHdG and TAC were measured. The mean age of patients was 44 ± 10.4 years, 33 females and 11 males with and disease duration 5.5 ± 3.8 months. The mean DAS-28 was 4.6 ± 0.6 (3.45–6.01). Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) were both positive in 20 patients. Compared to control, the mean ± SD of serum TLR4 (2.41 ± 4.50 vs. 1.20 ± 1.67 ng/ml), and 8-OHdG (67.67 ± 20.57 vs. 45.34 ± 30.61 ng/ml) were significantly higher in patients (p < 0.001); whilst serum TAC (1.3 ± 0.5 vs. 2.01 ± 0.55 µmol/L) was significantly lower (p < 0.001). TLR4, 8-OHdG were significantly increased and TAC decreased in patients with positive RF/anti-CCP compared to negative (p < 0.001, p = 0.005 and p = 0.036 respectively). TLR4 was significantly higher in patients with higher DAS-28 (p = 0.003) and both significantly correlated (p < 0.001). Areas under the ROC curve of TLR4 (0.87; 95%CI: 0.78–0.96) and 8-OHdG (0.88; 95%CI: 0.79–0.97) were greater than that of TAC (0.19, 95%CI: 0.09–0.29) (p < 0.001). The TLR4, 8-OHdG and TAC showed high predictive value in RA disease. TLR4 can be remarked as a sensitive and specific marker for determining disease activity in RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to evaluate serum pentraxin 3 (PTX3) levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to study the association with the disease activity. Sixty RA patients and 26 matched controls were included. In patients, clinical examination was performed and disease activity score (DAS28) assessed. Serum PTX3, rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured. The mean age of the patients was 54.9 ± 11.7 years, and the median (Min–Max) of disease duration was 24 (3.96–60) months and 91.7% were females. The mean DAS28 was 4.16 ± 1.77, the ESR was 38.6 ± 23.03 mm/1st h, CRP was 14.9 ± 8.6 mg/l, RF was 49.6 ± 28.1 IU/ml and the median anti-CCP was 375. Serum PTX3 level was significantly higher in RA patients (2.82 ± 0.48 pg/ml) compared to controls (2.56 ± 0.29 pg/ml) (p = 0.003). There was a significant difference in serum PTX3 level according to the disease activity: remission (2.49 ± 0.16 pg/ml), low (2.61 ± 0.33 pg/ml), moderate (2.90 ± 0.53 pg/ml) and high (3.01 ± 0.51 pg/ml) (p = 0.016). There was a significant correlation between serum PTX3 level with disease activity (r = 0.39, p = 0.002) and CRP (r = 0.49, p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between serum PTX3 level and the RF (r = 0.25, p = 0.054), anti-CCP (r = 0.18, p = 0.17) and ESR (r = 0.09, p = 0.51). PTX3 and CRP showed a good sensitivity and specificity in predicting RA disease (p = 0.006 and p < 0.001, respectively). PTX3 can be considered as a marker of a positive acute phase response and may serve as a potential novel biomarker for detecting RA activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is characterized by recurrent, painful, shallow, round or oval oral ulcers surrounded by inflammatory halos. Aim of the work To investigate the status of vitamin D in RAS patients and the relationship between vitamin D levels and the severity of RAS. Patients and methods In this cross sectional study 46 patients with idiopathic minor RAS (MIRAS), and 49 age and sex matched healthy controls were included. Patients with at least 3 minor aphthous oral ulcers in a year without any known cause for RAS were determined as idiopathic minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis. The severity of RAS was assessed by the number of oral aphthous ulcers in each attack and the frequency of attacks. 25-Hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH) D] levels were measured by the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method in patients and control groups. Results The mean 25(OH) D level in the MIRAS group was lower than the control group (12.1 ± 7.7 ng/dl vs. 27.4 ± 9.7 ng/dl, p = 0.0001). Insufficiency and deficiency of 25(OH) D in the recurrent aphthous stomatitis groups were more common than those in the control group (Vitamin D sufficient, Vitamin D insufficient and Vitamin D deficient ( p < 0.0001 for all the cases)). No correlation was found between the serum levels of 25(OH) D and the duration of RAS, the number of oral aphthous ulcers in each attack, and the frequency of attacks ( p < 0.05 for all the cases). Conclusions Our study suggests that deficiency of vitamin D may be a trigger factor for RAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with unknown origin. The disease causes a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms in a majority of body organs. Due to several factors like damage to mucosal surfaces and defect in complement systems, these patients are at a great risk of infections with opportunistic pathogens. Aim of the work To evaluate the nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus , rate of Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and its correlation with relapse in lupus patients. Patients and methods In an analytical-descriptive study, 80 patients (65 female and 15 male) with SLE attending the rheumatology clinics of Tabriz University of medical sciences were selected. Nasal mucosa specimens of the patients were taken and incubated in appropriate culture environment. All of the patients were followed for 1 year and the relapse of the disease was evaluated. Results The mean age of the patients was 25.35 ± 5.87 years. The mean disease duration was 3.66 ± 2.27 years and the mean SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) was 6.40 ± 2.84. Thirty-nine out of 80 patients (48.75%) were positive for S. aureus in the nasal mucosa. Although no significant difference in SLEDAI was observed between the patients with nasal carriage of S. aureus and those without, the two groups were significantly different in the relapse and complement levels. Conclusion These results indicate that relapse of SLE in patients having S. aureus in their nasal mucosa is higher than in patients without. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Imbalanced Matrix Gla protein (MGP) and Osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels occur in inflammatory diseases. Aim of the work: The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum MGP and OPG levels in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients and study their relation to the disease activity. Patients and methods: Forty-five female RA patients and 45 age and sex-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Disease activity score 28-C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) was used for the assessment of disease activity. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), MGP and OPG were measured in patients and controls. The associations of MGP and OPG with DAS28-CRP and the other laboratory and clinical variables were analyzed. Results: RA patients had significantly higher serum OPG levels (408.3±520.9pg/ml) and hs-CRP (2.8±1.9mg/l) than the control (92.5±86.3pg/ml and 0.9±1.5mg/l respectively) (p <0.001 each). There was no significant difference in MGP levels between the patients and control (p =0.3). The correlation of OPG and MGP with DAS28-CRP in the patients was insignificant (p =0.4 and p =0.8 respectively). Age positively correlated with OPG (r =0.32, p =0.02), but not with MGP concentration (r =0.05, p =0.64) in the RA patients. Conclusions: The significant elevation of the OPG level in RA patients may through light on its possible role in the pathogenesis of this disease and could be considered as a future therapeutic target. The significant correlation with age suggests that OPG may be an important mediator especially in elderly RA cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of elderly irreversible vision loss in the world. Since C-reactive protein (CRP) is a potential risk factor that has been known to induce AMD, this study was designed to explore the relationship between AMD and serum levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and endothelin-1 (ET-1). Methods: The subjects were 48 males with AMD (28 with wet type and 20 with dry type) having a mean age of 69.4±9.6 years and a matched group of 45 apparently healthy control subjects. The AMD was diagnosed using a slit-lamp with super filled lens, fundus photography and fluorescein angiography. Levels of hsCRP and ET-1 were determined using ELISA methods. Results: hsCRP (6.96±5.15 vs. 3.64±4.67mg/l, P<0.0001) and ET-1 levels (0.66±0.31 vs. 0.52±0.25 pg/ml, P =0.025) in the patients were higher than in the controls, but the multivariate analysis also showed a significant difference in cholesterol level (P <0.001). There were no significant differences in the serum levels of hsCRP and ET-1 between the two types of AMD (P>0.05). ET-1 also correlated directly with hsCRP levels (r =0.284, P <0.01). Conclusions: The results suggest that although the serum levels of ET-1 and hsCRP are higher in the patients with AMD, they are a dependent risk factor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Serum paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is a high-density lipoprotein-associated enzyme that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of aging. Our aim of the study was to investigate whether there were any associations between serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities with regular exercise during aging.Two hundred male rats divided into 8 groups consisting; 3, 6, 9, 12 months treadmill exercise groups and a control group for each treadmill exercise groups (n=25). Rats in all test groups, were run on a treadmill for 60 min/d at a speed of 22 m/min 7 degree slope 6 times a week.Mean levels of arylesterase were (101.35±19.43, 112.88±16.77, 105.99±22.91, and 113.03±14.98) in 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of exercise groups and these amounts were (87.05±18.90, 90.40±17.91, 90.98±22.54, and 102.00±18.91) for control groups. Mean levels of paraoxonase were (135.02±18.87, 142.06±12.52, 144.34±18.38, and 132.83±25.32) in 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of exercise groups and these amounts were (118.93±23.76, 133.67±8.83, 120.12±2068, and 121.22±9.72) for control groups.Serum arylesterase levels were significantly increased in animals of exercise compared with control groups during increasing of age (P=0.04, 0.00, 0.04, and 0.03). Serum paraoxonase levels were significantly increased in animals of exercise compared with control groups during increasing of age (P=0.03, 0.03, 0.00, and 0.04). To our knowledge this is the first study in which the effect of treadmill exercise is shown on serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities during aging. Mild-intensity treadmill exercise increases significantly serum Arylesterase and Paraoxonase in test groups compared with control groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immune system and the nervous system maintain extensive communication. Sensory innervation plays a vital role in normal wound healing. In the present study, we performed corpus callosotomy to evaluate the role of corpus callosum on brain laterality and the influence of brain laterality on wound healing in dominant and nondominant sides of the body in rats. After detecting the cerebral laterality by T-maze, 200 young male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups. In the control group, rats underwent wounding, but no craniotomy and callosotomy. In the sham group, rats underwent wounding and craniotomy without callosotomy. In the operation group, wounding was performed with craniotomy and callosotomy. The length and the inflammatory cell count of the created wound in both sides of the body in same days were measured and analyzed statistically. Wound healing took significantly shorter in dominant side in comparison with nondominant side of body in control and sham groups (P=0.010, 0.031, 0.029, and 0.036). In the operation group, there was no significant difference of complete wound healing between dominant and nondominant sides of the body (P=0.875, 0.604). Inflammatory cell count showed no statistically significant difference between groups (P>0.05). Taken together, our results constitute an endorsement to the hypothesis that brain laterality has a meaningful influence on wound healing in different sides of the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin is known as a potent natural antioxidant, which is synthesized from Tryptophan in the pineal gland. Serotonin N-acetyl transferase enzyme is the basic and rate-limiting factor in melatonin biosynthesis. The purpose of this study is the evaluation of the sympathomimetic drug effect of secreted melatonin in experimental injuries of the rat spinal cord. Forty-eight male Wistar male rats with a mean weight of 250 to 300 g were used for the study. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. In the first (control) group, laminectomy and drug (isoproterenol) injection was not performed. In the second group, only laminectomy was performed. In the third group, laminectomy and drug injection without spinal cord trauma was performed. In the fourth group, laminectomy and spinal cord trauma was performed without drug injection. In the fifth group, after laminectomy and spinal cord trauma, normal saline was injected. In the sixth group, after laminectomy and spinal cord trauma, drug was injected 2 times. Blood melatonin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. -SH groups, malondialdehyde, and 8-0HdG were measured. Deoxyribonucleic acid damage, -SH groups, malondialdehyde, and melatonin level comparison between laminectomy+trauma and laminectomy+trauma+drug groups showed meaningful differences (P=0.01, 0.01, and <0.001). The results of this study suggest that isoproterenol can decrease deoxyribonucleic acid, protein, and lipid damage in spinal cord trauma by increasing the secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]