Relation between homocysteine, folate, vitamin B12 and MTHFR C677T polymorphism and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women

To investigate the association between total Homocysteine [tHcy] levels with bone turnover markers and lumbar spine BMD, and to study the influences of MTHFR genotypes and B-vitamins on tHcy and BMD in a group of Egyptian postmenopausal women. 66 Egyptian postmenopausal women were subjected to clinical assessment and lumbar spine BMD measurement. Venous blood samples were collected to measure the levels of plasma tHcy, plasma folate, vitamin B12, osteocalcin, serum cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen [S-CTX] and the MTHFR C677T genotyping. According to the T-score, the participants were divided into three groups: normal [N], osteopenic [OPN] and osteoporotic [OPR]. tHcy levels were statistically significantly higher, and serum folate levels statistically significantly lower in the OPR group compared to the other two groups. Nonsignificant differences between the three groups regarding vitamin B12 levels and percentage of the 3 MTHFR genotypes were found. Osteocalcin and the S-CTX levels were statistically significantly higher in the OPR group than the other two groups. BMD was statistically significantly positively correlated with folate and negatively correlated with tHcy, Osteocalcin and S-CTX, while was nonsignificantly correlated with vitamin B12 levels. tHcy was statistically significantly negatively correlated with folate and positively correlated with Osteocalcin and S-CTX, while was nonsignificantly correlated with vitamin B12. The MTHFR genotype groups were not associated with the BMD, tHcy, folate or vitamin B12 levels. In postmenopausal women, tHcy and folate could be related to lumbar spine BMD while vitamin B12 and the MTHFR genotypes seem not to have relation to BMD

Anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in systemic sclerosis

To measure the serum levels of anti CCP antibodies in patients with systemic sclerosis and to correlate these levels with joint involvement extent of skin sclerosis and pulmonary involvement. 22 SSc patients were grouped into [group II] included 10 patients had limited cutaneous SSc and [group III] included 12 patients had diffuse SSc in addition to 10 healthy subjects as a control group [group I]. All patients and controls were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination, routine blood investigations, chest and hand-x-ray, pulmonary function tests, capillary microscope. Measurement of anti-CCP antibodies using ELISA technique. Anti-CCP antibodies serum level was significantly higher in SSc patients than the control [p<0.05]. Also anti-CCP antibodies serum level was significantly higher in patients with arthritis and pulmonary affection than those without arthritis or pulmonary affection. There was a significant association between anti-CCP antibodies positivity and capillaroscopic abnormalities. Our results suggest that anti-CCP antibodies might be linked to disease severity

Differential T-helper 2 cell function predominance in pregnant rheumatoid arthritis females: a possible concept for pregnancy-induced amelioration

Despite being a physiological process, pregnancy has been noted by clinicians to have various impacts on different diseases in general and on immune-modulated diseases in particular. Concerning rheumatoid arthritis [RA], several studies reported a favorable outcome of the disease during pregnancy. Several researches looked at this pregnancy-induced improvement as a result of a change in the T helper 1/T helper 2 [Th1/Th2] function with predominance of Th2 function. To assess the status of serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor [sTNF-R], interleukin-1 receptor antagonist [IL-1Ra] and soluble CD30 [sCD30] -during the three trimesters of pregnancy- in pregnant ladies and evaluate their relations to disease activity in RA patients. The study was performed on 21 pregnant RA patients, of whom only 17 completed the study. They were subjected to clinical assessment of their disease activity and had their sera tested for the level of the three aforementioned indirect Th2 cell function markers. This clinical examination and serum tests were performed once in each pregnancy trimester. These results were compared to those of thirty other controls: ten non-pregnant RA patients, ten pregnant healthy subjects and ten non-pregnant healthy subjects. The study showed definite and significant higher levels of sTNF-R and IL-1Ra in pregnant RA patients and pregnant healthy subjects when compared with non-pregnant controls. These rises of markers levels were negatively correlated with the disease activity. There were no corresponding differences in levels of sCD30 in the two groups. We conclude that during pregnancy there is a differential predominance of Th2 cell function involving an increase in some anti-inflammatory cytokines that could explain the clinical improvement of RA during pregnancy

Effect of progressive resistance training on glycemic control in elderly type II diabetic patients

To investigate the effect of progressive resistance training [PRT] on glycemic control in elderly type II diabetic patients. The study was conducted on 40 elderly individuals with type II diabetes. They were divided into 2 equal groups. The progressive resistance training [PRT] group received 16 weeks of PRT program plus the usual diabetic care, while the control group received a controlled exercise program plus the usual diabetic care. Glycemic control, lipid profile, resting blood pressure, muscle strength and anthropometry were evaluated for the 2 groups at baseline and at end of the study. For the PRT group we found a highly significant reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin level [HbA1c] [t=13.64, p<0.001], highly significant increase in muscle strength [t=10.19, p<0.001], trend for reduction in blood pressure and trend for reduction in triglyceride level. PRT when included with usual diabetic care for elderly people with type II diabetes is of benefit in glycemic control and at the same time is safe and well tolerated