Subtypes of Antiphospholipid Antibodies in Neurologic Disorders: An Observational Study.

Background And Objectives: Concomitant neurologic manifestations and positive antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) have been investigated in different manners. The present study aimed to investigate the association between neurologic manifestations and APAs.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 100 consecutive patients with selected neurological manifestations and at least one positive APAs within the age range of 20-50 years, referred to the Rheumatic Diseases Research Center from the Northeast Central Neurology Department of Iran during August 2012 to March 2014.

Musculoskeletal Manifestations of Sarcoidosis: A Review Article.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disease with an etiology that is not clearly understood. Amongst the different organs that may be affected, the lungs are the most common. Musculoskeletal manifestations of the disease are uncommon.

Relationship between cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and rheumatoid arthritis severity.

Background: Serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is a non-collagen glycoprotein produced by the cartilage, synovium, tendon, and meniscus. Recent studies showed that COMP is a reliable factor for monitoring cartilage damage.

Objective: To determine the relationship between serum COMP concentration and the severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Associations between vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and susceptibility to Behcet's disease: A meta-analysis.

Background: The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms have been reported to be related to the development of Behcet's disease (BD). However, the results have been inconsistent among diverse populations. Therefore, this comprehensive meta-analysis has been designed to assess a more accurate association between VDR polymorphisms and BD susceptibility.

No association between the risk of breast cancer and systemic lupus erythematosus: evidence from a meta-analysis.

Several studies have estimated breast cancer risk in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) relative to the general population. However, the results have been inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to ascertain a more comprehensive conclusion.

Bone Density Status in Bleeding Disorders: Where Are We and What Needs to Be Done?

Bleeding disorders, including hemophilia, can be seen in every ethnic population in the world. Among various bleeding disorders, reduced bone density has been addressed in hemophilia A. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in addressing osteopenia and osteoporosis in hemophilia A.

Correlation of echocardiographic findings of pulmonary hypertension with six-minute walk test and plasma pro b-type natriuretic peptide level in systemic lupus erythematous.

Introduction: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an increasingly recognized complication of systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), which may remain undiagnosed if asymptomatic.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the correlation between echocardiographic findings of PAH and six-minute walk test (6WMT) and serum pro b-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) level in patients with SLE.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 50 SLE patients selected from patients referring to the outpatient's department of the Rheumatology Clinic at Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad, Iran, from July 2013 through September 2014, using resting transthoracic echocardiography to estimate systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP).

Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis in a 9-year-old Boy.

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a rare aseptic, auto-inflammatory bone disorder. CRMO presents with bone pain with or without fever. The diagnosis of CRMO is a diagnosis of exclusion and should be included in the differential diagnosis of chronic inflammatory bone lesions in children.

Vitamin D3 Alters the Expression of Toll-like Receptors in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by production of inflammatory cytokines and autoreactive antibodies due to the loss of immune tolerance. Recognition of self-nucleic acids by intracellular Toll-like receptors (TLRs) can overactivate immune responses and this abnormal activation of TLRs contributes to the pathogenesis of the disease. In recent years, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VitD3) on the immune system has received particular attention.

HTLV-1 seroprevalance in sarcoidosis. A clinical and laboratory study in northeast of Iran.

Aim: Sarcoidosis is an autoimmune multiorgan granulomatosis disease with unknown origin. Some environmental factors such as viruses may induce the disease in genetically susceptible individuals. Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) can dysregulate the human immune system and the role of this virus in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases has been investigated and documented, such as in uveitis.

Ventricular endomyocardial fibrosis in a pregnant female with Behçet's disease.

A 32-year-old pregnant woman, diagnosed with Behçet's disease 6 months earlier, presented with recent mild hemoptysis and exertional dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiography showed an enlarged dysfunctional right ventricle. A large hypoechoic triangular-shaped mass was seen attached to the inner right ventricular wall, filling the cavity.

The Relationship Between Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Activity and Persistent Positive Antiphospholipid Antibodies.

Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder, characterized by producing different auto-antibodies and multiorgan involvements. In this study we aimed to investigate the relationship between SLE activity and persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies.

Objective/methods: Fifty-nine lupus patients (55 women and 4 men) who were assessed in two consecutive visits with 6 weeks interval were selected.

Immunology-Rheumatology Approach to Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Background: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and vestibular dysfunction have been described in various autoimmune disorders and systemic vasculitides. A high prevalence of SNHL is reported to occur in established rheumatologic diseases; however, immunologic and rheumatologic disorders make up a small proportion of patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).

Objectives: This prospective study was carried out in order to determine the prevalence of rheumatologic and immunologic disorders in patients with SSNHL in Northeast Iran.

Relationship Between Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index Scores and Subclinical Cardiac Problems.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune connective-tissue disease involving multiple organs and systems. Some evidence has demonstrated that disease activity could be associated with increased risk of organ damage.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the association between systemic lupus erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) scores and subclinical cardiac involvement.

Metabolic syndrome in lupus patients in northeast of Iran, and their lifestyle habits.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematous is an autoimmune disease associated with atherosclerotic manifestations or metabolic disturbance due to inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine frequency of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in SLE compared to healthy controls.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 150 SLE patients and 220 healthy volunteers were enrolled.

Evaluation of the Anti-inflammatory Effects of Atorvastatin on Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disorder with unknown etiology. Atorvastatin is a lipid-lowering agent that affects the inflammatory processes.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of atorvastatin on the Disease Activity Index and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations in RA patients.

Evaluation of Interleukin17and Interleukin 23 expression in patients with active and latent tuberculosis infection.

Objectives: Tuberculosis is one of the most important infectious diseases with high mortality rates worldwide, especially in developing countries. Interleukin17 (IL-17) is an important acquired immunity cytokine, which is mainly produced by CD4TH17 cells. It can recruit neutrophils and macrophages to the infected site in the lungs.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis: Long-discussed but yet-to-be-known.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a chronic benign inflammatory disease of the breast with unknown etiology. It is an important diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, as most patients were initially misdiagnosed by their primary care physicians, leading to diagnostic confusion and heightened anxiety. Although several triggers have been proposed for development of IGM, the etiologic association of neither of them has been documented.

Serum Trace Element Concentrations in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a condition that is associated with oxidative stress. Serum trace elements and their related transport proteins, e.g.

Hypercalcemia and Lytic Bone Lesions Masquerading Inflammatory Arthritis Treated as Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Hyperparathyroidism is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by dysfunction in the metabolism of bone, calcium and phosphorus. Rheumatologic manifestations are common amongst patients with hyperparathyroidism. We report a 50-year-old woman with hypercalcemia, lytic bone lesions and inflammatory arthritis of both hands that were not resolved after parathyroidectomy.

Controlling type 2 diabetes mellitus with herbal medicines: A triple-blind randomized clinical trial of efficacy and safety.

Background: The use of alternative medicines is common in patients with diabetes mellitus. The primary aim of the present study was to determine the effects of cinnamon and Caucasian whortleberry (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.) on blood glucose control, lipid profile and body mass index (BMI) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Evaluation of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ Regulatory T cells and FoxP3 and CTLA-4 gene Expression in Patients wwith Newly Diagnosed Tuberculosis in Northeast of Iran.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the world's second most common infectious disease after Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AID) and the most frequent cause of mortality especially in developing countries. T regulatory (Treg) cells, which have suppressive activity and express forkhead winged-helix family transcriptional repressor p3 (FoxP3), suppress the immune responses against pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There are controversial results regarding the role of FoxP3 expressing cells in the blood of patients with TB.