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Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects almost all organs of the body, and viral infections are involved in its development and progression. The present study aimed to evaluate the serological status of some viral infections in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and a healthy population. Methods: This descriptive study conducted from May 2017 to April 2018 at Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran on 70 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 70 healthy individuals who had no autoimmune diseases and were matched with the patient group for age and sex. All patients had active records and were routinely visited in rheumatology clinic of Hafez hospital, affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The evidence of active disease was assessed by the physicians of this practice according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria. Peripheral blood samples were collected in tubes containing EDTA and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 min. The plasma of study participants was evaluated for HBsAg, HCVAb, HIVAb, EBV-VCA-IgG, and CMVIgG using a commercially available ELISA kit. Results: The seropositivity of CMV-IgG and EBV-VCA-IgG in the systemic lupus erythematosus group was 70 (100%) and 65 (92.9%), and in healthy individuals was 68 (97.1%) and 57 (81.4%), respectively. The prevalence of EBV-VCA-IgG in the systemic lupus erythematosus group was significantly higher than healthy ones (P=0.043). The optical density (OD) of CMV-IgG and EBV-VCA-IgG in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus was significantly higher than in healthy individuals (P<0.0001). All patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were negative for HBsAg and HIVAb, but HCVAb was detected in 1 (1.4%) patient. Conclusion: Considering the higher frequency of EBV-VCA-IgG and the higher titer of antibodies against CMV and EBV in patient groups compared to healthy individuals group, it seems that periodical assessment of viral load in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus will be beneficial to prescribe medication by physicians if it is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Acrylamide is a chemical compound that is widely used in the production of paper, paint, and other industrial products. Food and cigarette smoke are primary sources of exposure to acrylamide. Betaine is a native compound with antioxidant properties and has also been reported as a protective agent against tissue damages induced by some toxicants. This study aimed to evaluate the possible effectiveness of betaine against the damage caused by acrylamide in brain. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 28 male rats were randomly divided into four groups. The first group was considered as the control group. Group 2 received acrylamide (50 mg/kg;ip). Group 3 received the diet containing 2% betaine in addition to acrylamide. Rats in group 4 received diet containing 2% betaine. At the end of the experimental period (the eleventh day), brain tissue was sampled for biochemical and histopathological evaluation. ANOVA and Bonferroni tests were utilized to compare the means of biochemical data, and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were employed to investigate histopathological data. Calculations were conducted using SPSS/PC V21. Results: In the group receiving acrylamide, significant reduction in catalase and superoxide dismutase and significant increase in proteins carbonyl groups and malondialdehyde were observed in comparison to the control group (P<0.05). Hyperemia, microgliosis, and ischemic cell changes in the brain tissue of the group receiving acrylamide increased significantly compared to the control group (P<0.05). Administration of betaine in acrylamide+betaine group caused an increasing trend of catalase and superoxide dismutase relative to group 2 in a manner that were comparable with those of the control group. Likewise, betaine administration in acrylamide+betaine group significantly (P<0.05) reduced the severity of ischemic cell changes and non-significantly reduced hyperemia and microgliosis compared to the group receiving acrylamide. Conclusion: Betaine administration could be beneficial to oxidative indices alterations and could improve tissue damage induced by acrylamide in brain of rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]