Serum Level of Soluble Lymphocyte-Activation Gene 3 Is Increased in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is described as a systemic and chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory polyarthritis. Lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG3) is a membrane glycoprotein expressed on activated, exhausted, and regulatory T cells. LAG3 plays a major role in the function of Treg cells.

Air pollutants and development of interstitial lung disease in patients with connective tissue disease: a population-based case-control study in Taiwan.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the association between air pollutant exposure and interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs).

Setting: A nationwide, population-based, matched case-control study in Taiwan.

Participants: Using the 1997-2013 Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified patients with newly diagnosed CTD during 2001-2013, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), dermatomyositis (DMtis)/polymyositis (PM) and primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

Major dietary patterns and food groups in relation to rheumatoid arthritis in newly diagnosed patients.

Background: Evidence suggests that dietary patterns might act as environmental triggers in the development of chronic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, data regarding the relationship between food patterns and RA are still limited and conflicting. In the current study, the authors aim to evaluate a link between major dietary patterns and RA in new case patients.

Association of Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism with Adipokines and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphism and adipokines are linked to atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate the associations of apoE genotypes with adipokines, inflammatory parameters, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. We enrolled 152 RA patients and 49 healthy control (HC) subjects.

Effect of Two Educational Models including Face-to-Face and Training Pamphlets for Disease Control in Asthmatic Patients.

Background: Asthma is a common condition in which the patient requires self-management and teaching programs that lead to reduced prevalence and mortality. The main aim of this study was to improve the management knowledge of the disease through the use of educational tools, pamphlets and face-to-face lecture, concurrent with evaluating and comparing its effectiveness in response to treatment.

Materials And Methods: In this study, 82 asthmatic patients were enrolled.

Berberine Inhibits the Gene Expression and Production of Proinflammatory Cytokines by Mononuclear Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Healthy Individuals.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most prevalent autoimmune arthritis. Berberine is an alkaloid isolated from Berberis vulgaris, and its anti-inflammatory effect has been identified.

Methods: Twenty newly diagnosed RA patients and 20 healthy controls participated.

Current methods of measuring platelet activity: pros and cons.

: Platelets play a pivotal role in controlling hemorrhaging from vessels of the human body. The impairment of platelets may lead to the development of bleeding manifestations. Unraveling the precise defects of platelets by means of suitable laboratory methods paves the way for the effective control and management of platelet disorders.

Association of Electronegative LDL with Macrophage Foam Cell Formation and CD11c Expression in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

L5, the most negatively charged subfraction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), is implicated in atherogenesis, but the pathogenic association is relatively unexplored in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We examined the role of L5 LDL in macrophage foam cell formation and the association of L5 with CD11c expression in THP-1 cells and RA patients. Using quantitative real-time PCR, we determined mRNA expression levels of , the gene for CD11c, a marker associated with vascular plaque formation and M1 macrophages in atherogenesis, in 93 RA patients.

Comparison of the Therapeutic Effects of Rivaroxaban Versus Warfarin in Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: This study aims to review the studies evaluating the therapeutic effects of rivaroxaban versus those of warfarin in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Materials And Methods: The study included randomized clinical trials, comparative studies, cross-sectional investigations, and case series that focused on the effects of warfarin and rivaroxaban and compared the effects of these anticoagulants in patients with APS. The relevant articles published until 2018 were searched in several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Embase, and Web of Science.

Immunoregulatory Effects of Krocina™, a Herbal Medicine Made of Crocin, on Osteoarthritis Patients: A Successful Clinical Trial in Iran.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the major cause of joint pain and disability. This research was planned to examine the effects of Krocina™, aherbal medicine made of crocin, an ingredient of saffron, in patients with OA. Forty patients suffering from OA were enrolled in our study and randomly divided into two groups, receiving Krocina™ and placebo, and the clinical trial continued for four months.

Clinical Care of Bone Health in Patients on the Immune Tolerance Induction's Protocols With an Immunosuppressive Agent for Inhibitor Eradication in Hemophilia.

Nowadays, the development of factor VIII and IX inhibitors in patients with hemophilia is considered as the most challenging in the treatment of hemophilia. Immune tolerance induction (ITI) therapy is an approach for eradication of inhibitors. Some ITI protocols are routinely in use for the eradication of inhibitors in patients with hemophilia.

Significant immunomodulatory properties of curcumin in patients with osteoarthritis; a successful clinical trial in Iran.

Osteoarthritis (OA) routinely is known as a multifactorial degenerative joint disease. This trial aimed to assess the curcumin (an active element of turmeric) effects on the immune responses in OA patients. Thirty patients were selected according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and equally divided into the two groups; intervention (received Sinacurcumin® 80 mg daily) and placebo, followed for 3 months.

Crocus Sativus (Saffron): An Immunoregulatory Factor in the Autoimmune and Non-autoimmune Diseases.

It has been reported that patients with arthritis, osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, brain ischemia, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suffer from pro-inflammatory and oxidant related responses. Therefore, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant therapies are used to improve the quality of life of the patients. Saffron is a herbal drug that has immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties.

Possible Anti-inflammatory Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation via Changes in CXCL8 Levels in Patients with Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The synovial- lining cells have been involved with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through the secretion of various cytokines and chemokines. Increased levels of these cytokines and chemokines are seen first in the synovial and subsequently in the bloodstream of RA patients. The synovial and circulating levels of CXCL8, CXCL12, and CXCL13 are higher in the RA patients than in the healthy subjects, causing migration of immune cells to the joints, which is associated with increased joint destruction.

The Sufficient Immunoregulatory Effect of Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation on Regulatory T Cells in Patients with Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an advanced autoimmune disease described by joint involvement. The special properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) introduced them as a potential therapeutic candidate for RA. In this study, a single dose of autologous MSCs isolated from bone marrow (autologous BM-MSCs, 1 × 10 per kg) was injected intravenously into 13 patients suffering from refractory RA who were followed up within 12 months after the intervention to evaluate immunological elements.

Elevated Expression of C-Type Lectin Domain Family 5-Member A (CLEC5A) and Its Relation to Inflammatory Parameters and Disease Course in Adult-Onset Still's Disease.

C-type lectin domain family 5-member A (CLEC5A) associates with adaptor DAP12 (DNAX activation protein 12) to form receptor complexes involved in inflammatory responses. We postulated a potential role of CLEC5A in the pathogenesis of adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) and aimed to investigate CLEC5A expression and its association with activity parameters and disease course. In 34 AOSD patients and 12 healthy controls (HC), circulating levels of CLEC5A-expressing monocytes or granulocytes were determined by flow cytometry analysis, the mRNA expression of CLEC5A and DAP12 on PBMCs by quantitative PCR, and plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines by ELISA.

The role of β-d-mannuronic acid, as a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug on expression of miR-146a, IRAK1, TRAF6, NF-κB and pro-inflammatory cytokines following a clinical trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

miR-146a, its targets (IRAK1, TRAF6) and NF-κB transcription factor play a fundamental role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Positive effects of drug β-d-mannuronic acid (M2000) were proven on their expression in the HEK-Blue hTLR2 cell line, and results of its phase III clinical trial on RA patients were encouraging. This research aimed to investigate the effects of M2000 on expression of these genes and serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α as pro-inflammatory cytokines in RA patients.

Hydroxychloroquine may reduce risk of Pneumocystis pneumonia in lupus patients: a Nationwide, population-based case-control study.

Background: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is increasingly being diagnosed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been found to possess antifungal activities. We hence aimed to investigate the association between HCQ and PCP risk among patients with SLE.

Methods: Using the 1997-2013 nationwide claim data, we identified 24,343 newly-diagnosed SLE patients.

Elevated plasma galectin-3 levels and their correlation with disease activity in adult-onset Still's disease.

Objectives: With galectin-3 playing an important role in inflammatory responses, elevated galectin-3 levels have been shown in patients with autoimmune diseases. However, there are limited data regarding galectin-3 expression in patients with autoinflammatory diseases such as adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). This study aimed to investigate the extracellular galectin-3 expression and examine its association with activity parameters and disease outcome in AOSD patients.

Diagnostic Role of Survivin in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, which is characterized by the hyperplasia of synovial tissue. Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, which facilitates the formation of functional T-cell receptor and differentiation of memory T cells. Survivin plays an important role in the expression of major histocompatibility complex molecules and mature dendritic cells, which play the main role in the etiology of RA.

A significant decrease of BAFF, APRIL, and BAFF receptors following mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis.

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate effects of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) intravenous administration on the response of B cells, BAFF, APRIL, and their receptors on the surface of B cells at 1, 6, and 12 month follow-up periods in refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Thirteen patients with refractory RA received autologous MSCs. Plasma levels of BAFF and APRIL were measured employing ELISA method, followed by estimating B cell population and BAFFRs evaluation by flow cytometry technique.

The Effect of Nanocurcumin in Improvement of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the joints. Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are being used for the treatment of osteoarthritis. However, their use is limited due to complications, such as gastrointestinal bleeding.

Relationship Between Polymorphisms of Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist (IL-1Ra) Genes and Susceptibility to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Iranian Population.

Objectives: Interleukin (IL)-1 has a major role in cell destruction and inflammation. IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN or IL-1Ra) is a natural anti-inflammatory molecule that blocks IL-1. We intended to determine whether IL-1RN or IL-1Ra variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a series of patients in the Northeastern part of Iran.

Infection risk in patients undergoing treatment for inflammatory arthritis: non-biologics versus biologics.

: Despite the therapeutic effectiveness of biologics targeting immune cells or cytokines in patients with inflammatory arthritis, which reflects their pathogenic roles, an increased infection risk is observed in those undergoing biological treatment. However, there are limited data regarding the comparison of infection risks in inflammatory arthritis patients treated with non-biologics (csDMARDs), biologics (bDMARDs), including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and non-TNF inhibitors, or targeted synthetic (ts)DMARDs.: Through a review of English-language literature as of 30 June 2019, we focus on the existing evidence on the risk of infections caused by bacteria, , and hepatitis virus in inflammatory arthritis patients undergoing treatment with csDMARDs, bDMARDs, or tsDMARDs.

Investigation of the Association Between Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) and Cardiac Risk Factors in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Background: The relationship between SLE and traditional risk factors for cardiovascular events was evaluated.

Methods: The data regarding sixty patients with SLE and 30 healthy controls (age and sex matched) were gathered using SLEDAI forms. Venous blood (10mL) from all the participants was examined for hs-CRP, homocysteine, VCAM1, CBC, anti-DNA antibody, C3, C4, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol, FBS and triglyceride.