Anti -MBP autoantibody changes as a predictor of response to treatment in MS patients

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]

Subclinical hypothyroidism and the alterations of lipid profile as a cardiovascular risk factor

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

Comparative assessment of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin [NGAL] and cystatin C as early biomarkers for early detection of renal failure in patients with hypertension

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

Assessment of Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin [NGAL] as an early biomarker for detection of renal impairment in hypertensive patients

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

Evaluation of the relationship between serums visfatin and resistin levels with BMI in PCOS young women

Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] is a common endocrine / metabolic disorder in women of reproductive age .Abdominal adiposity and obesity are frequently present in PCOS. It now appears that, obesity is associated with a low-grade inflammation of white adipose tissue. Adipokines play a significant role in the pathogenesis of a low-grade inflammation associated with obesity. Among variety of adipokines, resistin and visfatin are proposed as important pro inflammatory mediators and they have recently been suggested to be associated with obesity related diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation of visfatin and resistin serum levels and the ratio of these two adipokines with BMI in PCOS women under age of 35 years old. Twenty eight young women with clinically confirmed PCOS disease [14 lean and 14 obese], and 12 young, healthy and lean women with stable weight and BMI<25 were enrolled. Blood was obtained from the included persons, and visfatin and resistin were assessed by ELISA method. We did not observe any significant differences in serum visfatin and resistin concentrations and also in the Visfatin/Resistin ratio between PCOS and control group. Also we did not found a significant correlation between visfatin and resistin with BMI. This study demonstrated that serum resistin and visfatin levels do not seem to be directly involved in the pathology of PCOS

Evaluation of some factors affecting the risk of kidney damage in patients with hypertension

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

Granzyme H serum levels variations with both reproductive hormone receptors, and related hormone receptors in breast cancer patients

Breast Cancer [BC] is the most common cancer in Iranian women, meanwhile the Iranian patients are relatively young. Granzyme H [GZMH] is a functional cytotoxic serine protease of NK cell granules, which expands the cell death-inducing repertoire of innate immune system. GZMH is constitutively and highly expressed in human NK cells, in order to possess chymotrypsin-like [chymase] enzymatic activity. The purpose of this study was to determine GZMH level, in BC and healthy women. 30 breast cancer patients, and 30 control women in premenopausal status, have participated in this study. GZMH, Estrogen levels, and ER,PR have been measured in cancer and healthy women subsequently, as using ELISA, Radioimmunoassay, and Immunohistochemistry methods. Mean GZMH value was lower in BC than healthy women [p<0.0001]. Our study has implicated suppressor existence, or the problem for producing of GZMH in patients group, and levels of estrogen that could not effect on making positive ER, PR

High omega-3: omega-6 fatty acids ratio increases fatty acid binding protein 4 and extracellular secretory phospholipase A2IIa in human ectopic endometrial cells

Endometriosis, a common chronic inflammatory disorder, is defined by the atypical growth of endometrium- like tissue outside of the uterus. Secretory phospholipase A2 group Ha [sPLA2-IIa] and fatty acid binding protein4 [FABP4] play several important roles in the inflammatory diseases, Due to reported potential anti-inflammatory effects of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFAs] on fatty acid binding protein 4 and extracellular secretory phospholipase A2IIa in cultured endometrial cells. Ectopic and eutopic endometrial tissues obtained from 15 women were snap frozen. After thawing and tissue digestion, primary mixed stromal f and endometrial epithelial cell culture was performed for 8 days in culture mediums supplemented with normal and high ratios of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA. sPLA2-IIa in the J culture medium and FABP4 level was determined using enzyme immuno assay [EIA] technique. Within ectopic endometrial cells group, the level of cellular FABP4 and extracellular sPLA2-IIa were remarkably increased under high omega-3 PUFA exposure compared with control condition [p=0.014 and p=0.04 respectively]. Omega-3 PUFAs may increase the level of cellular FABP4 and extracellular sPLA2-IIa in ectopic endometrial cells, since sPLAIIa and FABP4 may affect endometriosis via several mechanisms, more relevant studies are encouraged to know the potential effect of increased cellular FABP4 and extracellular sPLA2-IIa on endometriosis

Comparative study of serum levels of granzyme H and estrogen in patients suffering from breast cancer

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

Comparative study of serum levels of perforin in prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia patients

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

Evaluation of the relationship between endometriosis and omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Endometriosis is a common chronic inflammation causing major problems including infertility. The role of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as their potential anti-inflammatory effects in endometriosis needs to be further explored. The objective of this study was to compare serum phospholipid fatty acid profile in endometriosis patients with controls, and to explore the correlation of this profile with the severity of the disease. Sixty-four endometriosis patients and 74 control women, in reproductive age, participated in this study. Among the endometriosis patients, 19 cases were in stage I, 27 cases in stage II, 8 cases in stage III, and 10 cases in stage IV. Each patient underwent laparoscopy. Before surgery, 5 ml of blood was obtained. After extraction of the total lipids, serum total phospholipid fraction was isolated by thin layer chromatography. Fatty acid composition of the phospholipid fraction was determined by gas chromatography and the resulted profile was compared in endometriosis patients and controls. The profile was also compared in the endometriosis group based on the severity of disease. Stearic acid was significantly lower in the endometriosis group as compared to controls [P= 0.030]. No other fatty acid compositions were significantly different between patients and controls. Serum ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] to arachidonic acid [AA] was in reasonable correlation with the severity of endometriosis [r = 0.34, P = 0.006]. According to these findings, levels of fatty acids in serum total phospholipids seem not to be a marker for endometriosis, but the EPA to AA ratio was a relevant factor indicating severity of illness

Effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids on secretory phospholipase A2 type IIa in ectopic endometrial cells

Endometriosis is a common chronic inflammation which leads to infertility and chronic pelvic pain in affected women. Secretory phospholipase A2 type IIa [sPLA2IIa] is an acute phase reactant that is markedly increased in inflammatory disorders. To assess the effects of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFAs] administration in endometrial cells culture on sPLA2IIa level and cell survival comparing homolog ectopic versus eutopic endometrial cells from endometriosis patients. In this experimental study, ectopic and eutopic endometrial tissue samples obtained from 15 endometriosis patients were immediately frozen. After thawing and tissue digestion, mixed stromal and endometrial gland cells were cultured for 8 days in three different culture media; balanced omega-3/omega-6, high omega-3 and high omega-6 PUFAs ratio. Cell survival was measured using 2, 3-bis [2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl]-5-[phenylamino] carbonyl-2H- tetrazolium hydroxide [XTT] method and sPLA2IIa level assessed with ELISA technique. The sPLA2IIa level was significantly higher in the ectopic endometrial cell culture compared to the eutopic group for each of the three matched treatments [balanced, high omega-3 and high omega-6]. Also the sPLA2IIa level in the ectopic endometrial cell group was remarkably increased by each of the three PUFAs treatments compared to control condition [p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.05 respectively]. Cell survival in the eutopic group was significantly decreased by high omega-6 culturing compared to control medium [p<0.05]. The increase in sPLA2IIa level in ectopic endometrial cells by fatty acid treatments [especially high omega-3], strengthens the hypothesis that PUFAs stimulate secretion of cytokines leading to increased sPLA2IIa level

Fatty acid composition of human follicular fluid phospholipids and fertilization rate in assisted reproductive techniques

Fatty acids are known to be critically important in multiple biological functions. Phospholipid fatty acids of follicular fluid, an important microenvironment for the development of oocytes, may contribute to the women's fertility and the efficacy of assisted reproduction techniques. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fatty acid composition of follicular fluid phospholipids on women undergoing assisted reproductive techniques. Follicular fluid samples were obtained from 100 patients, referred to Tabriz Alzahra Hospital. Seventy-nine subjects underwent in vitro fertilization [IVF] and the remaining 21 underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI]. Total lipid of follicular fluid was extracted and fatty acids were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Saturated fatty acids [SFA, P = 0.002] and the ratio of SFA to polyunsaturated fatty acids [P = 0.001] were correlated negatively with a number of mature oocytes after age adjustment. Linoleic acid [P = 0.006] was positively correlated, while the level of arachidonic acid was negatively correlated with fertility percentage after adjustment for body mass index, sperm count, sperm motility. Since phospholipids are one of the major components of lipid metabolism, the results of this study highlight the importance of this component in follicular fluid lipid metabolism. Consequently, it is proposed as an index in determination of the rate of success in assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF/ICSI

Correlation between the level of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in follicular fluid with fertilization rates in IVF/ ICSI cycles

Follicular fluid [FF] plays an important role in oocytes and embryo development, which may contribute to IVF/ICSI success rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between cholesteryl ester transfer protein [CETP] level in FF and the success rate of IVF/ICSI. In a cross-sectional study, FF samples, FF samples were obtained from 100 patients referred to Tabriz Alzahra Hospital. Seventy-nine subjects underwent IVF and the remaining 21 underwent ICSI. The levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], apolipoprotein A-I and CETP were measured using enzymatic, turbidometric and ELISA methods respectively. Analysis of the subgroups with different levels of CETP showed a significant lower level of CETP in the subgroup with the lowest number of mature oocytes [p<0.05]. The level of CETP was also considerably lower [18%, p=0.05] in subjects with<50% oocytes fertilization ratio than subjects with >70% of this ratio. While no association was found for pregnancy, the amount of CETP in FF was associated positively to the maturity and the percentage of oocyte fertilization

Molecular diversity of mitochondrial DNA in Iranian Azeri ethnicities vis-a-vis other Azeris in Asia

In order to investigate the molecular diversity of mtDNA in Azeri population, 133 Azeri subjects inhabiting different regions of Azerbaijan [Iran] were selected. Blood samples were taken from these subjects for mtDNA extraction. The extracted mtDNA samples were then studied by the PCR-RFLP method. Fourteen haplogroups were characterized from which 82% were identified as European specific haplogroups. The H haplogroup was the most frequent and 79 haplotypes were specified. In this study, the Iranian Azeri population was found to be a heterogenic population where all the specific haplogroups of Asians, Europeans and Africans were present in the studied population. Comparing the haplogroups of the present investigation with other populations indicated a very close similarity with other Iranian populations, but was different from haplogroups of other Asian populations who also speak the Azeri language