TP53 Gene Polymorphism (Rs1042522) in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The p53 protein has important roles in apoptosis, proliferation, and prevention of DNA damage. Several studies have reported that TP53 gene polymorphism is associated with various autoimmune diseases, including Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Objective: Evaluation of the correlation between TP53 gene rs1042522 polymorphism and RA and SLE risk by meta-analysis.

Evaluation of survivin expression and regulating miRNAs of survivin expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in systemic lupus erythematous patients.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multisystemic rheumatic disease with different clinical features. Disturbance in apoptosis regulation seems to be a major factor in SLE development.

Objective: Survivin plays a key role in mitosis and inhibiting apoptosis.

TAK-242 (Resatorvid) inhibits proinflammatory cytokine production through the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway in fibroblast-like synoviocytes in osteoarthritis patients.

Background: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) are involved in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis through pro-inflammatory cytokine production. TAK-242, a TLR4 blocker, has been found to have a significant impact on the gene expression profile of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL1-β, IL-6, TNF-α, and TLR4, as well as the phosphorylation of Ikβα, a regulator of the NF-κB signaling pathway, in OA-FLSs. This study aims to investigate this effect because TLR4 plays a crucial role in inflammatory responses.

Determination of IL-23 receptor expression and gene polymorphism (rs1884444) in Iranian patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Background: Through investigating genetic variations, it has been demonstrated that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL-23 receptor (IL23R) gene have a critical role in the pathophysiology of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Here, we investigated whether the IL23R variant (rs1884444) is associated with AS in the Iranian population.

Methods And Material: In this research, we analyzed rs1884444 in a group of 425 patients with AS and 400 matched controls.

Tocilizumab Failed to Reduce Mortality in Severe COVID-19 Patients: Results from a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

The severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with increased levels of blood interleukin (IL)-6. Therefore, it is hypothesized that modulating the levels or effects of IL-6  could diminish airway inflammation and alter the course of COVID-19. We conducted a controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trial on hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 in Iran.

The investigation of killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and their HLA ligands in Iranian patients with myasthenia gravis.

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disabling disease with the underlying pathophysiology of auto-antibodies attacking the postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors of neuromuscular junctions causing muscle weakness. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that play an important regulative role in immune responses. The human killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) family is one of the receptors on NK cells that can either activate or inhibit NK cells.

A case of ankylosing spondylitis presenting with fever of unknown origin diagnosed as aortitis: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Clinicians should be aware of rare manifestations of AS, while considering a low threshold for screening vascular involvement in an axial SpA/nrxSpA/AS presenting with unexplained fevers and significant constitutional symptoms and elevated markers.

Abstract: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease from the spondyloarthritis complex, which usually affects young men and primarily involves sacroiliac joints and the spine. It can also present with non-joint involvement, such as cardiovascular manifestations.

Potential Roles for B cells and Autoantibodies in Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease that predominantly affects young males. AS is a condition in which the spine and sacroiliac joints become inflamed. More specifically, most AS patients experience spine malformations over time, resulting in functional incapability.

Altered expression of apoptosis-related genes in rheumatoid arthritis peripheral blood mononuclear cell and related miRNA regulation.

Aim: Impaired apoptosis and proliferation resulted in autoreactive lymphocyte development and inflammation in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). TP53, BAX, FOXO1, and RB1 are related genes in cell survival, proliferation, and inflammation which could be important in RA development and disease severity. Here we investigated their expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from RA patients in comparison to healthy controls.

Effect of curcumin on the expression of NOD2 receptor and pro-inflammatory cytokines in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Background: Previous studies has shown that nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2) is expressed in Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients which is stimulated by muramyl dipeptide (MDP) present in the joint environment and induces inflammation via the NF-κB pathway. Also, other studies have shown that curcumin inhibits proliferation, migration, invasion, and Inflammation and on the other hand increases the apoptosis of RA FLSs. In this study, we aim to evaluate the effect of curcumin, a natural anti-inflammatory micronutrient, on the expression of NOD2 and inflammatory cytokines.

How do patients value features of biological medicine in rheumatoid arthritis? A discrete choice experiment.

Background: The aim of this study was to quantify the preference of the patients regarding biological DMARDs.

Research Design And Methods: Patients' preferences were assessed using a discrete choice experiment. Eighteen different surveys describing eight attributes were designed using experimental design methods.

The presence of abnormal septal motion on echocardiography is a predictor of abnormal cardiac magnetic resonance in systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: We aimed to perform a comprehensive analysis of the ECG, two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and cardiac MRI (CMR) findings in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and also to investigate correlations between CMR findings and some ECG and echocardiography (ECHO) results.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from patients with SSc who were regularly seen at our outpatient referral centre, all assessed with ECG, Doppler ECHO and CMR.

Results: Ninety-three patients were included; mean (s.

Association of Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptor (KIR) Genes and their HLA Ligands with Susceptibility to Takayasu Arteritis in the Iranian Population.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by vascular damage and fibrosis in the intima that commonly occurs in the aorta. In many damaged sites in TA patients, natural killer (NK) cells have been shown to be hyperactivated and produce inflammatory cytokines and toxic components. Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are found on NK cells and interact with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I ligands to activate or suppress NK cells.

Blood regulatory T cells in inflammatory bowel disease, a systematic review, and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disease involving various parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which includes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Due to the contradictory results regarding the percentage of peripheral blood (PB) regulatory T cells (Tregs) in IBD patients, this meta-analysis aimed to determine the Tregs frequency in IBD patients.

Method: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases for relevant observational articles that analyzed and reported the frequency of PB Tregs in IBD patients and healthy control groups.

High-dose Intravenous Vitamin C in Early Stages of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: A Double-blind, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial.

Objective: Based on previous studies in the sepsis population, Vitamin C could prevent injuries when administered in high doses and before the damage is established. This study aimed to evaluate the protective potentials of high-dose Vitamin C in the progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted.

Anti-inflammatory effects of PRIMA-1 (mutant p53 reactivator) induced by inhibition of nuclear factor-κB on rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes.

Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs), the main pathological cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), display tumor-like phenotype, including hyper-proliferation, apoptosis resistance, and aggressive phenotype. Excessive proliferation and insufficient apoptosis of RA-FLSs can lead to hyperplastic synovial pannus tissue, excess production of inflammatory mediators, and destruction of joints. In this article, we investigate the effect of PRIMA-1 on the apoptosis induction and inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines in RA-FLSs.

MicroRNA-211-5p Overexpression Effect on Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Apoptotic Genes in Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) play a major role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and dysregulation of unfolded protein response are involved in the resistance to apoptosis of FLSs in RA (RA-FLSs). MicroRNA (MiR)-211 plays an important role in controlling ER stress and apoptotic genes in a PKR-like ER kinase (PERK)-activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4)-dependent manner.

A adenosine receptor agonist reduced MMP8 expression in healthy M2-like macrophages but not in macrophages from ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that mostly affects different joints of the body. Macrophages are the predominant cells that mediate disease progression by secreting several pro-inflammatory mediators. Different receptors are involved in macrophages' function including the adenosine receptors (AR).

Upregulation of KAT2B and ESCO2 gene expression level in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition that causes progressive inflammation. It seems that alternations in epigenetic modifications contribute to RA development. The present study aimed to assess the expression pattern of K (lysine) acetyltransferase 1 (KAT1; HAT1) and lysine acetyltransferase 2B (KAT2B; PCAF), and the establishment of sister chromatid cohesion N-acetyltransferase 2 (ESCO2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from RA patients.

Efficacy and safety of the biosimilar denosumab candidate (Arylia) compared to the reference product (Prolia®) in postmenopausal osteoporosis: a phase III, randomized, two-armed, double-blind, parallel, active-controlled, and noninferiority clinical trial.

Background/objective: Osteoporosis is a global health concern with an increasing prevalence worldwide. Denosumab is an antiresoptive agent that has been demonstrated to be effective and safe in osteoporotic patients. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of the biosimilar denosumab candidate (Arylia) to the originator product (Prolia®) in postmenopausal osteoporotic patients.

Prototypic P2X7 Receptor Agonist, BzATP, Induced the Expression of Unfolded Protein Response Genes in Human M1 Macrophages.

Purinergic receptors stimulation by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) contributes significantly to macrophage activation, and also macrophage cell death. Upon the macrophage activation, the protein load of the endoplasmic reticulum is increased which is resulted in the activation of unfolded protein response (UPR). In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the connection between prototypic P2X7 receptor agonist, extracellular 2'(3')-O-(4-Benzoylbenzoyl)-ATP (BzATP), and the UPR pathway in macrophages.

Role of the innate and adaptive immune responses in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus, is a multisystemic rheumatic disease with different clinical features that generally affect women of childbearing age. The common symptoms of SLE are very similar to other autoimmune and non-autoimmune disorders, thereby it is known as a thousand faces disease. In this article, we are going to discuss some of the most updated information about immune system-related factors, cells, and cytokines involved in SLE pathogenesis.

Epidemiology of musculoskeletal symptoms, rheumatologic disorders, and disability in the Zoroastrian population in Yazd, Iran: a WHO-ILAR COPCORD study (stage 1).

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints, rheumatologic diseases, and disability among the Zoroastrian population in Iran.

Methods: The city of Yazd, in central Iran was selected for this study, with the highest population of Zoroastrians in Iran. Subjects were selected by cluster sampling of 9 neighborhoods populated with Zoroastrians.

Evaluation of the Ankylosing Spondylitis Transcriptome for Oxidative Phosphorylation Pathway: The Shared Pathway with Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic inflammatory disorder of joints and entheses. Recent studies have reported an increased prevalence of dementia in AS patients. However, data for exploring the association between dementia and AS remain uncertain.