Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism as possible risk factor in rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid related osteoporosis.

Objective: To study the role of VDR polymorphisms as risk factor for RA and osteoporosis, and whether osteoporosis complicating RA is due to RA or VDR polymorphisms.

Methods: VDR gene polymorphisms ApaI, TaqI, BsmI and FokI were typed by RFLP for 128 RA patients, 30 postmenopausal osteoporotic females and 150 healthy controls.

Results: Significant differences were found between patients and healthy controls in the frequency of BsmI and TaqI (Pc<0.

Serum leptin in Egyptian patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: relation to disease severity.

Aim: Recently, a large body of studies has focused on the leptin levels in psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to measure serum leptin levels in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) due to a significantly higher prevalence of psychiatric disorder and to determine the relationship between leptin and FMS.

Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive study.