The relationship between the serum levels of copper and zinc and brucellosis disease

Background: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease in humans and animals and a public health problem throughout the world. Given that measuring changes in the levels of trace elements is a good marker for the diagnosis of infectious diseases from non-infectious ones, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the serum levels of copper and zinc and brucellosis. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients with the brucellosis disease and the subjects were divided into two groups of case and control (n=50 in each group). The serum levels of copper and zinc were measured using the automatic absorptive spectrophotometer. Results: From a total of 100 patients, 31 patients (31) were females and 69 (69) were males. The mean age of the patients in the case group was 32.74±13.7 years and in the control group was 33.44±13.6 years. The results showed that the serum copper level was significantly increased and the zink level significantly decreased in the patients with brucellosis (P<0.001). Conclusion: It seems that the serum levels of copper and zinc can be used as a valid marker for the diagnosis of brucellosis

Anti-mutated citrullinatedvimentin antibody for predicting the activity of rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Anti-citrullinated protein/peptide antibodies (ACPAs) are a heterogeneous family of autoantibodies, targeting citrullinated proteins. We investigated the relationship between serum levels of anti-mutated citrullinatedvimentin antibody (anti-MCV) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity. Method: A total of 271 consecutive female patients with diagnosis of RA who met the ACR/EULAR criteria were enrolled. The disease activity was measured by the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR). Anti-MCV was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a commercial kit with a cut-off value for positivity >20 U/mL. Results: Anti-MCV was positive in 153 (56.5%) patients. Disease in anti-MCV positive patients was significantly more active. A new composite index for predicting disease activity was constructed by replacing ESR with anti-MCV in the DAS28 model. There was a correlation between the absolute scores of DAS28-anti-MCV and DAS28-ESR scores. The new composite index best cut-off values corresponding to DAS28-ESR values of 2.6, 3.2, and 5.1 were 2.94, 3.17, and 4.87, respectively. The patients were re-categorized based on the new threshold values calculated by ROC curve analysis. There was agreement between the DAS28-anti-MCV categories and DAS28-ESR disease activity categories. Conclusions: Based on the correlation between anti-MCV levels with RA disease activity index, we conclude that anti-MCV may be a useful test to determine disease activity in RA

Assessment of quality of life in patients with lower limb osteoarthritis

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive disease, which directly influences individual’s quality of life (QOL). In current study, we decided to assess the QOL in patients with lower limb OA to find an association between patients’ QOL and demographic factors. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 203 OA patients aged over 50 years and 200 healthy controls matched with regard to age and gender were included. Short Form 12-item Health Survey (SF-12) was used to evaluate QOL. Results: The mean±standard deviation (SD) age of OA patients and control group was 69.82±11.49 and 68.18±10.54 years, respectively. 63% of patients and 56% of control group were females. Most of SF-12 domains including physical functioning, role physical, general health, social functioning, and role emotional were significantly lower in OA patients compared with the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, bodily pain domain was significantly higher in OA patients compared with the control group (P=0.038). There was a considerable correlation between most SF-12 domains with age and sex (P<0.05); whereas considerable correlation was just noticed between role physical domain with body mass index (BMI) (P<0.001). Additionally, Vitality considerably was associated with marital status (P=0.038). Conclusion: QOL in lower limb OA patients was compared with healthy subjects and this impairment was in association with some demographic factors

Human herpesvirus type 6 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Background and Objectives: Infectious agents are considered one of the possible etiological factors of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It has been suggested that human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) may trigger autoimmune disorders, but few studies have been conducted on the relationship between this virus and autoimmune diseases, especially SLE. The present study aimed to compare the frequency of HHV-6 infection between SLE patients and healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: Serum samples were collected from 60 healthy people and 60 SLE patients referred to the rheumatology clinic of Shahid-Beheshti Hospital, Kashan, Iran, from January 2020 to January 2021. The following data were collected from the medical records of patients: sex; age; duration of disease; SLE clinical manifestations; and disease activity. After the extraction of viral DNA from samples, a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was performed to detect HHV-6. Results: HHV-6 was detected in 12 SLE patients (20%) and in 8 healthy individuals (13.3%). A significant correlation was not obtained between SLE and the presence of HHV-6 (P = 0.09). There was no correlation between musculoskeletal involvements, skin lesions, renal manifestations, and hematological manifestations with the presence of HHV-6 (P˃0.05). HHV-6 was detected more frequently in patients with active lupus than in patients with quiescent disease, but this difference was not significant (P=0.08). Conclusion: Although patients with SLE had a higher prevalence of HHV-6 compared with healthy people, there is no strong link between HHV-6 infection and SLE. Future research is necessary because this data does not support the hypothesis that human herpesvirus 6 plays a role in the pathogenesis of SLE

The relationship between the serum levels of copper and zinc and brucellosis disease

Background: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease in humans and animals and a public health problem throughout the world. Given that measuring changes in the levels of trace elements is a good marker for the diagnosis of infectious diseases from non-infectious ones, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the serum levels of copper and zinc and brucellosis. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients with the brucellosis disease and the subjects were divided into two groups of case and control (n=50 in each group). The serum levels of copper and zinc were measured using the automatic absorptive spectrophotometer. Results: From a total of 100 patients, 31 patients (31%) were females and 69 (69%) were males. The mean age of the patients in the case group was 32.74±13.7 years and in the control group was 33.44±13.6 years. The results showed that the serum copper level was significantly increased and the zink level significantly decreased in the patients with brucellosis (P<0.001). Conclusion: It seems that the serum levels of copper and zinc can be used as a valid marker for the diagnosis of brucellosis

Determine relation between serum levels of interleukin-6 and CRP with pulmonary involvement in progressive systemic sclerosis

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by excessive collagen deposition in skin and internal organs. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a late demonstration of SSc and cytokines can contribute to the disease pathology. This study aimed to determine relation between serum levels of interleukin-6 and CRP with pulmonary involvement in SSc. Materials and Methods: After obtaining consent, demographic data and serum levels of interleukin-6 were determined in 30 SSc with (case) and 30 without pulmonary involvement (control). Duration and activity status of disease, C-reactive protein (CRP), Chest x-ray and high resolution CT-scan (HRCT), ejection fraction (EF) and echocardiography findings and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) were determined in two groups. Data analyzed with Mann-Whitney test, Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test. Results: Mean age of case and control group ranged 52.5±9.3 and 43.9±9.7 years respectively (P=0.001). The serum levels of IL-6 in case and control groups were 73.1±95.4 and 46.7±83.6 pg/ml (P=0.267), respectively. IL-6 levels was significantly higher in male case compared to male control (P=0.007). Duration of SSc in case and control groups was 11.6±6.4 and 7.4±4.2 years (P=0.002). Also Quantitative CRP and PAP was significantly higher in case (P=0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). In the Case group 66.7% of them had reticulo-nodular pattern, whereas 28 (93.3%) of control had normal CXR (P<0.001). Conclusion: In SSc with pulmonary involvement serum, IL-6 levels is higher than without involvement but not statistically significant. Also, the CRP and PAP are benefit for evaluation of pulmonary involvement

Association of Interferon-alpha and bone density in patients with hepatitis C

Background: Chronic hepatitis is a variety of liver dysfunctions with different causes and severities in which inflammation and necrosis last for at least six months. Choice treatment for all chronic viral hepatitis is interferon Alpha (IFN-&alpha;). Decreasing bone mass density (BMD) may lead to some complications such as non-traumatic spontaneous fractures. Regarding the decreased bone mass complications and existed dilemma, we conducted the current study to compare the BMD in chronic hepatitis patients before and after the IFN-&alpha; treatment. Material and Methods: In a cohort study a total of 22 patients with chronic C- hepatitis needed to be treated with IFN-&alpha; were evaluated. All the patients underwent bone mineral densitometry at lumbar spine and femoral neck before and six months after the IFN-&alpha; treatment. The BMD result was recorded in information sheet. After the treatment, patients were evaluated again by BMD. All the necessary information such as age, sex, co-morbidity and another medication history were asked and recorded. IFN-&alpha; dosage was three million IU three times a week. The gathered data were entered SPSS version 14 and analyzed through Chi-Square and Wilcoxon tests to compare the means. Results: Among 22 patients 21 (95.5%) were male. Mean age was 34.04&plusmn;7.83 years and half of the patients were in 30 to 35 years age group. The participants had not significant difference in bone mass density indices (Z-score and T-score) before and after treatment with IFN-&alpha; (P-value>0.05). The bone mass density indices had not significant difference between different age groups of hepatitis C patients before and after treatment with IFN-&alpha; (P-value>0.05). Conclusion: In the current study IFN-&alpha; used in the treatment of patients with hepatitis C, had no significant effect on both femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD in them. To evaluate the long term effects of IFN-&alpha; it is suggested to do more studies with longer duration, however, the BMD may improve when the inflammation been alleviated long term

A multicenter study of long-term outcomes of relapsing polychondritis in Iran

Abstract Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a systemic immune mediated disease characterized by recurrent episodes of inflammation in various cartilage-rich areas. RP may cause extensive tissue destruction and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In this multicenter study, we considered the remission status and long-term outcomes of RP in patients who were followed-up in six referral rheumatology centers in Iran. Outcomes of disease was assessed by remission status and RP induced damage. A total of 29 patients with RP were examined for enrollment in the study, and 26 patients with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months were included in the RP outcome analysis. Median time to control of symptoms and sustained remission were 5 and 23 weeks, respectively. Prednisolone was discontinued in 8 (30.8%) patients and medication-free remission was achieved in 7 (23.1%) patients. Regarding the disease course, 34.6% of patients had a relapsing–remitting course, 42.3% had a monophasic course, and 23.1% had an always-active course. Despite extensive treatment with immunosuppressive medications, RP induced damage was developed in 21 (80.8%) patients. Ear deformity and osteoporosis were the most common RP induced damage. Long-term remission and medications-free remission in RP is accessible. However, RP related damage occur in majority of patients