Effect of conjugated linoleic acid, vitamin E, alone or combined on immunity and inflammatory parameters in adults with active rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled trial

Little information about the effects of conjugated linoleic acids [CLAs] on inflammation and immune function in humans is available. This study investigated the effects of CLAs, with and without Vitamin E on immunity and inflammatory parameters in adults with active rheumatoid arthritis [RA]. In a double-blind clinical trial, 78 patients were randomly divided into four groups, each group receiving one of the following daily supplement for 3 months; group C: 2.5 g CLAs, group E: 400 mg Vitamin E, group CE: CLAs plus Vitamin E, group P: Placebo. Cytokines, matrix metalloproteinase 3 [MMP-3] and citrullinated antibody [CCP-A] were measured by ELISA method and Vitamin E by high-performance liquid chromatography. Consider statistical methods there were no significant differences between groups in cytokines interleukin-2 [IL-2], IL-4, tumor necrosis factor-alpha[TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2/IL-4, CCP-A white blood cells and neutrophils, lymphocyte, monocytes, and eosinophils numbers. TNF-alpha decreased in all groups, but its reduction was significant in group CE. IL-1beta increased in groups P [P = 0.004] and E [P = 0.041] but the difference between group P and CE was significant. IL-4 decreased in groups C, CE and E [P = 0.03, P =0.03P = 0.07 respectively]. IL2 did not change significantly within groups. CCP-A increased in groups P [P = 0.035] and E [P = 0.05], while it decreased in groups CE [P = 0.034]. CCP-A and MMP-3 decrease were significant between groups P and CE. MMP-3 reduction was significant in group CE. Co-supplementation CLAs and Vitamin E may be effective in the level of inflammatory markers in RA patients

Real-Time RT-PCR on SAG1 and BAG1 Gene Expression during Stage Conversion in Immunosuppressed Mice Infected with Toxoplasma gondii Tehran Strain

Toxoplasmic encephalitis is caused by reactivation of bradyzoites to rapidly dividing tachyzoites of the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii in immunocompromised hosts. Diagnosis of this life-threatening disease is problematic, because it is difficult to discriminate between these 2 stages. Toxoplasma PCR assays using gDNA as a template have been unable to discriminate between an increase or decrease in SAG1 and BAG1 expression between the active tachyzoite stage and the latent bradyzoite stage. In the present study, real-time RT-PCR assay was used to detect the expression of bradyzoite (BAG1)- and tachyzoite-specific genes (SAG1) during bradyzoite/tachyzoite stage conversion in mice infected with T. gondii Tehran strain after dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DXM) administration. The conversion reaction was observed in the lungs and brain tissues of experimental mice, indicated by SAG1 expression at day 6 after DXM administration, and continued until day 14. Bradyzoites were also detected in both organs throughout the study; however, it decreased at day 14 significantly. It is suggested that during the reactivation period, bradyzoites not only escape from the cysts and reinvade neighboring cells as tachyzoites, but also converted to new bradyzoites. In summary, the real-time RT-PCR assay provided a reliable, fast, and quantitative way of detecting T. gondii reactivation in an animal model. Thus, this method may be useful for diagnosing stage conversion in clinical specimens of immunocompromised patients (HIV or transplant patients) for early identification of tachyzoite-bradyzoite stage conversion.

Production and Evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii Recombinant GRA7 for Serodiagnosis of Human Infections

The precise diagnosis of the acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and immunocompromsied patients has critical importance. Most of the commercially available assays use the whole Toxoplasma soluble extract as the antigen. However, the assays currently available for the detection of specific anti-Toxoplasma antibodies may vary in their abilities to detect serum immunoglobulins, due to the lack of a purified standardized antigen. The aim of this study was production and evaluation of the usefulness of the recombinant Toxoplasma gondii GRA7 antigen for the serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG by ELISA. A total of 70 T. gondii IgM positive sera, 74 T. gondii IgG positive sera, and 60 sera from subjects who were not infected with T. gondii were examined. These sera were shown different absorbance values in ELISA test. To control the specificity of the rGRA7 other parasitic diseases, for example, echinococcosis, malaria, leishmaniasis, fascioliasis, and strongyloidiasis were tested of which none showed positive results. Sensitivity and specificity of the generated recombinant IgG ELISA in comparison with commercial ELISA (com ELISA) were 89% and 90%, and the sensitivity and specificity of the generated recombinant IgM ELISA were 96% and 90%, respectively. The results obtained here show that this antigen is useful for diagnostic purposes.

Serum levels of lipoprotein [A] and homocysteine in patients on hemodialysis who take hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors, vitamin B6, and folic acid

High serum levels of lipoprotein [a] and homocysteine are risk factors of cardiovascular disease which are prevalent in patients on hemodialysis. Controversy exists about the effects of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors on serum lipoprotein [a] levels in patients on hemodialysis. Also, deficiency of some water soluble vitamins and administration of statins may raise serum levels of homocysteine in these patients. This study was designed to investigate serum levels of lipoprotein [a] and homocysteine in patients on hemodialysis who were taking a statin, vitamin B6, and folic acid. We investigated on 152 patients with maintenance hemodialysis who were taking atorvastatin or lovastatin, vitamin B6, and folic acid for at least 6 months. Their serum levels were obtained to measure lipoprotein [a] and homocysteine levels, as well as triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The mean serum values of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly less than the maximum reference values [P < .001]. The mean serum level of lipoprotein [a] was also less than the reference value [P = .009], but homocysteine level was 33% higher on average than the reference value [P < 001]. Our study demonstrated that in our patients on hemodialysis, the mean serum level of homocysteine was about 30% higher than the reference value although they were receiving vitamin B6 and folic acid. Hence, they were still exposed to the risk of cardiovascular disease