ABSTRACT
Myelin basic protein [MBP] is one of the most important constituents of the CNS myelin sheaths. It is supposed that an autoimmune response directed against MBP is crucial in the demyelination process in patients with multiple sclerosis. Studies have proved that free anti-MBP level in CSF of MS patients is declined when the patient entered into clinical remission. Some researchers evaluate the changes in serum or CSF level of this antibody during immunomodulatory therapy; the results are different and the relation between the changes in this antibody and response to treatment is poorly investigated
The objective of this study was to assess the relation between the changes in serum level of anti-MBP and clinical remission in patients during treatment with fingolimod. 37 MS patients that were non responder to interferon and glatiramer acetate and were candidates to receive fingolimod were nominated for this study. In this study, the serum level of anti-MBP was evaluated before and after 3 and 6 months of therapy and clinical remission was assessed by changes in Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] scores
The result of this study showed that MS patients, after treatment with interferon, have lower serum anti-MBP level than healthy control group and this difference is statistically significant [p =0.03]
The present study demonstrated that the serum anti-MBP level in MS patient during 6 months of treatment with fingolimod significantly decreased [p<0.001]. However, there was no significant difference in EDSS of MS patients during 6 months of treatment with fingolimod [p < 0.001]
ABSTRACT
The association between overt hypothyroidism and altered lipid profile is well known, whereas the significance of dyslipidemia in subclinical hypothyroidism [SCH] is still a matter of debate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the lipid profile in patients with SCH in comparison to controls. Serum lipid parameters of 34 patients with SCH and 34 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were evaluated in our study. TC [198.88 +/- 42.90 vs 171.40 +/- 26.24 mg/dl, P < 0.01] and LDL-C concentrations [129.04 +/- 35.44 vs 106.71 +/- 26.21 mg/dl, P < 0.01] as well as ratio of LDL-C/HDL-C [3.51 +/- 1.46 vs 2.81 +/- 0.80, P < 0.05] were significantly higher in the patients in comparison to the controls, whereas HDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratio remained unaltered. TG concentrations were higher in the patients but this difference did not reach statistical significance [0.063]. Correlation analyses revealed a significant correlation of TSH with TC, LDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio [r=0.351, r=0.345, r=0.340, respectively, P < 0.01] and a borderline correlation with TG [p=0.051]. Our findings showed that SCH is associated with some lipid abnormalities suggesting higher risk of cardiovascular disease in these patients which seems to weigh in favor of treatment of patients with SCH
ABSTRACT
Hypertension is one the most common causes of chronic kidney disease [CKD]. One of the major concerns in hypertensive patients is early detection of renal disorders. In the past, serum creatinine [Scr] concentration was used as a marker of kidney function, but it proffers a late reflection of reduced glomerular filtration rate. Cystatin C and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin [NGAL] have been recently proven to be useful for quantification of CKD. Therefore, we compared the diagnostic value of NGAL with cystatin C and creatinine to evaluate kidney function in hypertensive patients. In this study, 42 hypertensive patients and 30 healthy volunteers were recruited. Serum cystatin C [Scys C] and plasma NGAL were measured using ELISA method. Creatinine, urea, hemoglobin, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein were measured according to the routine methods. Estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] was considered as the gold standard method [cut-off value of < 78 ml/min/1.73 m[2]. In the patient group, plasma NGAL, cystatin C, and creatinine were all significantly correlated with eGFR, and plasma NGAL correlated best with eGFR. Receiver-operating characteristics analysis indicated that plasma NGAL was a better indicator than creatinine and cystatin C for predicting a GFR < 78 ml/min/1.73 m[2]. The sensitivity and specificity for NGAL were 96% and 100%, for cystatin C were 92% and 60% and for creatinine were 76% and 47%, respectively. Plasma NGAL demonstrated a higher diagnostic value to detect kidney impairment in the early stages of CKD as compared to Scys C and Scr in hypertensive patients
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Acute-Phase Proteins , Proto-Oncogene Proteins , Lipocalins , Cystatin C , Biomarkers , Hypertension , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
Chronic kidney disease [CKD] is probably the most important problem of public health in advanced countries. Kidneys are often damaged as a result of high blood pressure. One of our main concerns in patients with hypertension is early detection of kidney disorders. The routine biomarkers such as creatinine have some limitation for this purpose, however recent studies suggest plasma NGAL to be a better marker. Therefor in this study we assessed the diagnostic value of plasma NGAL and compared it with serum creatinine in hypertensive patients. This study was performed on 42 hypertensive patients and 30 healthy Volunteer, both with normal serum creatinine and urea concentration who referred to Shohada Tajrish Hospital, plasma NGAL were measured subsequently using ELISA method and eGFR was considered as the gold standard method[cut off value of<78ml.min.1.73m[2]]. mean NGAL level was significantly higher in patients in comparison to control group. The sensitivity and specificity were 96% and 100% respectively for plasma NGAL[>/=32.2 ng/ml] compared with 76% and 47% for serum creatinine [>0.97 mg/dl]. Our findings indicate that NGAL is a better indicator of kidney impairment in the early stages of CKD as compared with serum creatinine in hypertensive patients
ABSTRACT
Chronic kidney disease [CKD] is an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Prospective data on risk factors for CKD are few. Hypertension is one of the risk factors for CKD. In the past serum creatinine concentration was used as marker of kidney function but it proffers a late reflection of reduced glomerular filtration rate[GFR], which limits its ability to detect impaired kidney function. Cystatin C and NGAL have recently been proven useful to quantitate CKD. Therefore in this study, we assessed the effect of some risk factors on reduction of estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] in patients with high blood pressure. This study was performed on 42 hypertensive patients and 30 healthy volunteers, both with normal serum creatinine and urea concentration. In this study, we measured serum cystatin C and Plasma NGAL. Serum creatinine and urea levels of the patients were measured after an overnight fasting. . Estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] was considered as the gold standard method .Serum cystatin C and plasma NGAL were measured using commercially available human ELISA kits. Logistic regression and T-test were used for statistical analysis. The results of logistic regression showed that among the variables studied, plasma levels of NGAL, age and duration of hypertension were significantly associated with the eGFR<78[P<0.05]. Our findings suggest that, increased levels of NGAL, age and duration of hypertension predicts a higher odds of impaired renal function
ABSTRACT
GranymeH is a functional cytotoxic serine protease of NK cell granules,which expands the cell death-inducing repertoire of innate immune system.The purpose of this study was to determine GranymeH[GZMH]level in breast cancer[BC] and healty women.This study was performed on 30 patients with BC and 30 healty woman.GZMH and Estrogen levels were measured in cancer patients and healty women subsequently using ELISA and Radioimmunoassay[RIA] methods. Mean GZMH value was lower in BC than healty women[p<0.0001] and mean Estrogen level was higher in BC patients in comparison to healty women [p<0.003].Our finding indicates probability of existance of suppressor or a problem in production of GZMH in cancer patients
ABSTRACT
Perforin[p] is the primary mediator of short term cytotoxicity, it is accumulated in response to proinflammatory cytokines and stored in T lymphocyte, NK cells and NKT cells are released upon activation. Perforin is a prototypical cytotoxic molecule involved in cell mediated immunity against various pathogens, alloantigens and particularly different tumors.The purpose of this study was to determine perforin level in prostate cancer [P.Ca] and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia [BPH] This is study was performed on 59 patients consisting of 28 patients with P.Ca and 31 patients with BPH.Perforin and PSA levels were measured in cancer and BPH patients using ELISA method. Mean Perforin value was significantly lower in P.Ca patients than in BPH patients [p < 0.01] where as mean serum PSA level was significantly higher in the cancer patients in comparison to the BPH group [P < 0.01 Our finding indicate probability of problem in expression of cytotoxic molecule ,perforin in and around the tumor
ABSTRACT
Our aim was to determine a more predictive cut-off value for free to total prostate-specific antigen ratio [f/tPSA] to better differentiate prostate cancer [PCa] from benign prostate hyperplasia [BPH] in Iranian patients with serum PSA levels between 4 and 20 ng/mL. This study was performed on 332 men with serum tPSA level of 4 to 20 ng/mL. All patients underwent transrectal ultrasound guided biopsies. Serum levels of tPSA and fPSA were measured by Roche immunoassay Elecsys 2010. Relationship between f/tPSA and cases of PCa was determined. Prostate cancer detected in 49 [15%] patients. Incidence of PCa for serum tPSA level < l0ng/mL and serum tPSA level of 10.1 to 20 ng/ mL was 17 [6.7%] and 32 [39.5%], respectively. Mean f/tPSA value was significantly lower in PCa patients [0.12 +/- 0.01] than in benign histology group [0.16 +/- 0.03]. Among patients with serum PSA level of 4 to 10 ng/mL [n = 251], mean f/tPSA in benign histology group [n = 234] was 0.16 +/- 0.08 and in PCa group [n = 17] was 0.13 +/- 0.06 [P < .05]. For serum PSA level of 10.1 to 20 ng/mL [n = 81], mean f/tPSA in benign histology group [n = 49] was 0.16 +/- 0.08 and in PCa group [n = 32] was 0.12 +/- 0.05 [P < .05]. The cut-off value of 0.12 produced 76% sensitivity and 71% specificity, whereas the cut-off value of 0.14 yielded 83.5% sensitivity and 61% specificity. Determination of f/tPSA ratio improves differentiation of Pea from BPH. We recommend a cut-off value of 0.14 to be applied to Iranian patients