Ischemic heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis: Do inflammatory cytokines have a role?

Background: The increase in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) associated mortality is predominantly due to accelerated coronary artery and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis with increased risk of ischemic heart disease about 50% in RA patients compared to controls.

Objective: To study the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease in RA, role of inflammatory cytokine interplay, disease activity and rheumatoid factor positivity.

Methods: Eighty RA patients and 44 healthy controls were included.

Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 rs17576 Gene Polymorphism and Behçet's Disease: Is There an Association?

Background: Clinical studies have reported a significant association between matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), particularly (MMP-9), and inflammatory diseases including Behçet's disease (BD).

Purpose: To study the relationship between MMP-9 rs17576 gene polymorphism and the development of BD, and its relation to disease activity among Egyptian patients.

Methods: A total of 100 BD patients and 100 healthy control volunteers were genotyped for MMP-9 rs17576 polymorphism with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), followed by the confirmation of our results in random subgroups using direct DNA sequencing technique.

Dysregulation of angiogenic homeostasis in systemic sclerosis.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by tissue hypoxia and excessive fibrosis of skin and internal organs.

Objective: To evaluate the possible role of angiogenesis imbalance in the pathogenesis of SSc.

Subjects And Methods: Twenty-five SSc patients and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included.