A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, evaluating the sesamin supplement effects on proteolytic enzymes, inflammatory markers, and clinical indices in women with rheumatoid arthritis

Inflammation is one of the main characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis. Based on the antiinflammatory properties of sesame, this study was conducted to evaluate the sesamin supplement effects on serum levels of some proteolytic enzymes, inflammatory biomarkers, and clinical indices in women with rheumatoid arthritis. In this randomized, triple‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial, 44 patients were randomly divided in intervention and control groups. Patients received 200‐mg/day sesamin supplement or placebo in the intervention and control group for 6 weeks. Serum levels of proteolytic enzymes (hyaluronidase, aggrecanase, and matrix metalloproteinases‐3) and inflammatory biomarkers (hs‐CRP, IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and cyclooxygenase‐2) were measured with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay method at the beginning and end of the study. After intervention, serum levels of hyaluronidase and matrix metalloproteinases‐3 decreased significantly in sesamin group. Also, serum levels of hs‐CRP, TNF‐α, and cyclooxygenase‐2 in intervention group were significantly decreased in intervention group compared with placebo group. Sesamin supplementation also caused a significant reduction in the number of tender joints and severity of pain in these patients. According to the results, it seems that the sesamin by reducing inflammatory mediators can relieve clinical symptoms and pathological changes that caused by inflammatory impairment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. KEYWORDS inflammatory factors, proteolytic enzymes, rheumatoid arthritis, sesami

Erythropoietin, Vitamin D3 and Parathormone level associated with kidney lesions in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Many diseases, including renal disorders in ruminants, appear in subclinical form and lead to reduced production without causing clinical signs. In this research, blood and tissue samples of kidney were taken from 102 buffaloes from Ahvaz industrial abattoir and sent to the laboratory for biochemical and histopathological analysis. After preparing the pathological sections from kidney specimens, conventional and specific staining and microscopic examination, 41 samples had no kidney lesion was considered as control and 61 specimens as the lesion group. The samples with renal lesions were divided into 4 subgroups including acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis, Urinary tubular inflammation, and Congestion. The samples were also divided and compared to males and females. In blood samples, serum biochemical tests including parathyroid hormone, erythropoietin, and vitamin D3 were measured by using ELISA-specific commercial kits. After statistical analysis, the results of vitamin D3 in the studied groups did not show any significant difference. However, erythropoietin and parathormone values in buffaloes with renal lesions were significantly lower and higher than those in control animals respectively. The results of this study showed that most of the kidney lesions in the studied buffaloes including the mentioned above have led to a decrease in the production of erythropoietin hormone following the occurrence of these lesions and its functional effects on the kidneys. Naturally, the effects of this hormone deficiency are expected to be reflected in the hemogram and eventually, anemia resulting from it may affect overall body health

Effect of Methanolic Extract of Cassia Fistula to Prevent Erythrocyte Sickling

Introduction: Due to the pathophysiology of Sickle cell disease (SCD), several treatment strategies have been reviewed so far. One of the strategies is anti-sickling factors. This study was performed to determine the effect of methanolic extract of Cassia Fistula fruit on sickle cell sickling in vitro. Methods: In this laboratory study, 25 people with sickle cell trait (SCT) ranging in age from 3 to 27 years, and 5 healthy people (as a control) participated. Cassia Fistula was introduced by Dr. Mohammad Taha Jalali to be used in this project. Methanolic extract of Cassia Fistula fruit was obtained by maceration using vacuum distillation (rotary evaporator). Samples with sickle cell trait were examined for sickle cell before and after extract interference, in hypoxic condition. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software version16. Results: In this study, 64% of the participants were male and 36% were female.  Sickling rates in 1:50, 1: 100 and 1: 200 dilutions were 24%, 37.8% and 46.1%, respectively. According to Wilcoxon Test, the rate of sickling in 1: 2 to 1: 100 dilutions was significantly reduced, relative to pre-interference conditions (P <0.05). Conclusion: In the present study, it was shown that the methanolic extract of Cassia Fistula plant can prevent erythrocyte sickling in vitro, even with a dilution of 1: 100. According to previous studies, this plant has various therapeutic uses and is non-toxic. Therefore, this extract can be further studied in clinical and in vivo conditions as a useful and cost-effective therapeutic drug

Comparison of Serum Levels of Vitamin D and Inflammatory Markers Between Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Healthy Pregnant Control

Objective: Vitamin D appears to be involved in regulation of glycemic and inflammatory responses in gestational diabetes. The purpose of this study was to compare the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), inflammatory biomarkers and glycemic profile between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) pregnant women. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, fasting serum levels of 25(OH)D, insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, hs-CRP and TNF-α were measured in 45 GDM and 45 NGT women at week 20-30 gestation whom referred to Reference Medical Laboratory of Ahvaz, Iran in 1394. Results: Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower (p = 0.003 ) in the GDM group compared to the NGT group which remained even after controlling for confounders. Insulin and TNF-α levels were not statistically different between groups (p > 0.05). However, in unadjusted model, HOMA-IR and hs-CRP were significantly different between groups that disappeared in adjusted model. In the GDM group, there was a negative significant correlation between 25 (OH) D and fasting blood sugar (p = 0.009) and pre pregnancy BMI (p < 0.001). Levels of 25(OH)D were also negatively correlated with pre pregnancy BMI (p < 0.001) and hs-CRP levels (p = 0.003) in the NGT group. Conclusion: The lower level of vitamin D may be responsible for impairments of some glycemic and inflammatory markers in pregnant women. This is more important in overweight pregnant women. However, further studies with larger sample size are recommended in this regards

Association of rs7903146 polymorphism in the TCF7L2 gene with diabetic nephropathy and decreased estimated GFR in an Arab population in southwest Iran

Background: Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) acts as a downstream effector in the Wnt signaling pathway. It plays important roles in the proliferation and differentiation of islet betacell, insulin secretion and kidney development. Objectives: This study aimed to demonstrate whether rs7903146 variant is associated with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and measures of kidney function in a diabetic and healthy Arab population in southwest of Iran. Patients and Methods: This study is comprised of 132 diabetic subjects (T2DM) and 66 healthy participants. The diabetic subgroups were composed of patients with DN (n=56) and early onset of diabetes (n=71). The rs7903146 polymorphism was genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in all the participants. Blood glucose, HbA1c, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and urinary albumin were evaluated by a biochemistry analyzer and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed for cystatin C measurement. Results: The frequency of genotypes was significantly different between all the diabetic cases and control subjects (P<0.05). The TT variant odds ratio (OR) versus CT/CC genotypes for diabetes was 2.47 (95% CI 1.11-5.48). An association was observed between TT homozygous and DN (OR for TT 2.78, 1.13-6.84). Early onset diabetic patients showed stronger association (OR: 4.64, 1.64-13.14, P=0.003). The TT genotype was also found to be a risk variant for decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)(Cys-Cr) below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR: 3.36, 1.4-8.1, P=0.005). Conclusions: The results confirmed that the TCF7L2 gene rs7903146 variants are significantly associated with T2DM in Arab population of Iran. The TT genotype of this SNP is also predisposed to the risk of developing DN especially in subjects with early onset diabetes. Patients with TT genotype were also at risk of decreased GFR

Comparison of zinc, copper, selenium, magnesium, aluminium and lead blood concentrations in end-stage renal disease patients and healthy volunteers in Ahvaz, southwest of Iran

Introduction ― Heavy metal storage and essential elements deficiency are two important issues in dialysis patients. Geographic region and dietary habits might affect essential trace elements concentration in body. Trace elements (TEs) status has not been studied previously in dialyzed patients in Ahvaz city. The aim of this study is to compare blood concentrations of six TEs between dialysis patients and normal group in Ahvaz, the center of Khuzestan province, in southwest of Iran. Material and Methods ― We studied 33 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and 33 normal cases. TEs assayed in serum samples, except lead, which assessed in whole blood. We used atomic absorption spectroscopy in this pressure. We used ANOVA and Tukey-HSD statistical analysis as well as binary logistic regression for calculating Odds ratio. Results ― There was a significant difference between case and control groups for magnesium (Mg), aluminium (Al) and lead (Pb) (P0.05). Zinc (Zn) level change was not significant. Al and Pb level increased after dialysis but Mg level decreased. All calculated Odds ratios were weak for all investigated trace elements. Different results published about TEs level in ESRD patients. Increase in TEs level in case group may be as a result of chronic poisoning through dialysis and after dialysis hemoconcentration, respectively. In order to understand the exact reason of this observation we need comprehensive and monitored studies. TEs disturbances in Ahvaz ESRD patients imply the importance of periodically studies. Conclusion ― The most important interpretations and suggestions of this study is that the TEs level is different among different population. Then, Iranian health-providers should consider to TEs assessment in both healthy and patient cases. Periodical measurement of TEs is essential for ESRD patients and it can be helpful in preventing TEs deleterious effects

Additional file 1 of Capparis spinosa improves non-alcoholic steatohepatitis through down-regulating SREBP-1c and a PPARα-independent pathway in high-fat diet-fed rats

Additional file 1: Additional main text