Efficacy of botulinum toxin type A injection for Raynaud's phenomenon and digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune, connective tissue disorder of unknown etiology which causes vasculopathy and fibrosis. Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is a common complication of SSc, which leads to ischemia and gangrenes. Treatment of RP is a clinical problem and often remains insufficient.

In vitro modulatory effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on apoptosis and expression of apoptosis-related genes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus‌ (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by hyperactive B cells that produce various autoantibodies. Sex hormones have been documented to influence the development of SLE, in which women with SLE have low plasma level of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). A strong conclusion about the effect of DHEAS on apoptosis in SLE patients has not been provided.

HLA-DRB1 frequency in patients with familial and sporadic rheumatoid arthritis in north east of Iran.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints that has a strong correlation with HLA-DRB1. Family history is considered a known risk factor for RA. The aims of this study were to compare the frequency of HLA-DRB1 alleles between patients with sporadic and familial RA and also between healthy controls with RA patients (sporadic and familial) and clarify if familial RA is more severe than sporadic RA.