Comparison of bone mineral density of osteoporotic and osteopenia menopausal women treated with oral bisphosphonates before stopping the treatment and 1 year after drug holiday period.

Background: Osteoporosis is a skeletal and bone disorder characterized by bone fractures and decreased bone mineral density (BMD). Bisphosphonates have a great tendency to bind to minerals, and their long-term use can increase the risk of bone fragility in patients. Stopping bisphosphonates after a period of time is called a drug holiday (DH).

Evaluation of the effectiveness of topical oily solution containing frankincense extract in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Objective: Pharmacological treatments of osteoarthritis (OA) have several side effects. Boswellia serrata resin (frankincense) is rich in boswellic acids that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects; though, their oral bioavailability is low. The aim of this study was evaluation of the clinical effectiveness of frankincense extract in the treatment of knee OA.

Impacts of FcγRIIB and FcγRIIIA gene polymorphisms on systemic lupus erythematous disease activity index.

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) disease is a chronic autoimmune disease with unknown etiology that can involve different organs. Polymorphisms in Fcγ receptors have been identified as genetic factors in susceptibility to SLE. This study was aimed to investigate effects of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within FcγRIIB and FcγRIIIA genes on systemic lupus erythematous disease activity index (SLEDAI) in an Iranian population.

The effects of conventional drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis on the serum lipids.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic autoimmune disorder that leads to damage of human joints. There are various treatment approaches in which different drugs are prescribed which have several alterations in serum lipids. This research aimed to study the effect of RA treatments on the serum lipids.

Alendronate improves fasting plasma glucose and insulin sensitivity, and decreases insulin resistance in prediabetic osteopenic postmenopausal women: A randomized triple-blind clinical trial.

Aims/introduction: Postmenopausal women receive bisphosphonates for osteoporosis treatment. The effect of these medications on developing diabetes mellitus in prediabetic patients is yet to be investigated. We aimed to determine the effect of alendronate on plasma glucose, insulin indices of postmenopausal women with prediabetes and osteopenia.

Prevalence of Chondrocalcinosis in Patients above 50 Years and the Relationship with Osteoarthritis.

Background: Some studies showed a relation between chondrocalcinosis and osteoarthritis (OA). Hence, considering the importance of chondrocalcinosis diagnosis andnecessity for its integration with OA, the current study aims at investigating prevalence of chondrocalcinosis in patients above 50 years admitted to Isfahan Al-Zahra Medical Center and its relationship with OA.

Materials And Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 600 patients who referred to the radiology units of Al-Zahra Hospital for radiography of different joints were studied during 2013-2014.

Evaluation of the effect of Elaeagnus angustifolia alone and combined with Boswellia thurifera compared with ibuprofen in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common articular disorders. Many patients do not respond to acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the mainstay of pharmacotherapy for knee OA. The plants Elaeagnus angustifolia and Boswellia thurifera have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

The association of immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies with disease activity in seronegative rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease that is associated with progressive disability, systemic complications, and early death. The present study was aimed to investigate the level of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA isotypes and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody and to assess their association with disease severity based on disease activity score (DAS-28) in patients with IgM rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF) negative RA.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 62 RA patients with IgM-RF negative were assessed.

Effects of Levothyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormone on bone loss in patients with primary hypothyroidism.

Objective: Previous studies on bone mineral density (BMD) abnormalities associated with hypothyroidism are scarce and not conclusive. The effect of thyroid hormone therapy on BMD has shown mixed results. The aim of the present study was to determine the severities of osteoporosis in female patients with hypothyroidism in comparison to healthy women.

A case of sine scleroderma with parenchymal lung disease.

Systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma is a subtype of scleroderma, which is characterized by involvement of visceral organs, but no characteristic skin alteration. The involved organs could be kidneys, heart, gastrointestinal system, and lungs. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the pulmonary manifestations of sine scleroderma.

Anti-ribosomal P antibodies related to depression in early clinical course of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Diagnosis and treatment of neuropsychiatric lupus is still a major challenge in clinical practice. We investigated the association between depression and anti-ribosomal P (anti-P) antibodies in a sample of Iranian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on adult patients with SLE referring to a referral out-patient clinic of rheumatology.

Serum cryoglobulins and disease activity in systematic lupus erythematosus.

Background: To determine the prevalence of cryoglobulins in Iranian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and evaluate the correlation of cryoglobulins with disease activity in these patients.

Materials And Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we investigated 80 consecutive women who fulfilled the 1982 revised criteria of the American College of Rheumatology for the classification of SLE. All the patients had undergone a medical interview and general physical examination by a rheumatologist for clinical and serologic characteristics of SLE.

Evaluation of bone loss in diabetic postmenopausal women.

Background: Osteoporosis and diabetes mellitus are major and growing public health problems particularly among postmenopausal women. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between osteoporosis and osteopenia with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in postmenopausal women.

Materials And Methods: In a cross sectional study, we compared 200 diabetic postmenopausal women with 400 non-diabetic postmenopausal women over the age of 60 years.

The association of anti-CCP1 antibodies with disease activity score 28 (DAS-28) in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most frequent autoimmune diseases in the world which affect about 1% of people. Measurement of the anti-CCP1 antibody titer in these patients is one of the new tests that is available in our country and in the multiple studies has been shown to be more specific than rheumatoid factor in the diagnosis of RA (97%). This test becomes positive in early stage of disease and it has a high predictive value.

Wegener's granulomatosis and mucoromycosis: A case study and review of literature.

Mucormycosis is a fatal invasive infection which mostly involves diabetic or immunosuppressed patients. Early diagnosis, improving immunosuppression, systemic antifungal therapy, and surgical debridement are necessary for successful treatment. In this case study, we represent a known case of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), with concomitant sinusal mucormycosis mimicking vasculitic disease relapse, which was successfully treated with surgical debridement, amphotericine, and intravenous immunoglobuline.

Serum adenosine deaminase in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate.

Objective: Recently, adenosine deaminase (ADA) is introduced as helpful marker in diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the serum ADA in diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment with methotrexate (MTX) in RA.

Methods: This was a self-controlled clinical trial conducted in university hospitals of Isfahan, Iran.

A case of Takayasu's arteritis with pulsatile neck mass.

Takayasu's arteritis (TA), also known as pulseless disease or occlusive thromboaortopathy, is a form of vasculitis of unknown cause that chiefly affects the aorta and its major branches, most frequently in young women. We describe an 18-year-old female with a soft and pulsatile mass in the left side of her neck.

Evaluation of damage index and its association with risk factors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: This study aimed to determine the value of damage index in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the association between damage index and disease severity, flare up numbers, disease duration, and antiphospholipid antibodies.

Methods: Eighty patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were included. The damage was measured using the SLICC (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics)/ACR damage index (SDI).

Correlation of serum prolactin levels and disease activity in systematic lupus erythematosus.

To assess the frequency of hyperprolactinaemia and its possible clinical significance in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this cross-sectional study, we determined serum prolactin (PRL) levels in 60 SLE female patients (age range 15-60 years). Disease activity was defined according to the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI).

A case of granulomatous mastitis with erythema nodosum and arthritis.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis is an inflammatory mass in the breast. Patients typically present with a firm breast mass, often associated with inflammation of the overlying skin. Nipple retraction, peau d'orange-like changes, and axillary adenopathy may be present.

Endothelial dysfunction in Iranian lupus patients.

Atherosclerosis has a high prevalence in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and vascular endothelial dysfunction is the earliest stage of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of vascular endothelial dysfunction and its risk factors in SLE patients and to identify its correlation with disease activity, duration and concomitant conditions in these patients. A total of 84 female SLE patients and 18 healthy young women were included.

Correlation of ESR, C3, C4, anti-DNA and lupus activity based on British Isles Lupus Assessment Group Index in patients of rheumatology clinic.

This study aimed to determine the correlation between of ESR, C3, C4, anti-DNA, and lupus activity and also the construct and criterion validity of the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) index for assessing disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Patients with SLE were recruited into a cross-sectional study. Data were analyzed for estimating of SLE disease activity [scores on the BILAG index and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K)].