RESUMO
Background: Ankylosing Spondylitis [AS] is a chronic autoinflammatory Spondyloarthropathy [SpA] which is characterized by sacroiliitis, which progresses to the axial skeleton. It seems that non-Human Leukocyte Antigen [HLA] and also HLA-B27 are associated with the susceptibility and pathogenesis of the disease. The recent Genome- Wide Association Studies [GWASs] have reported intergenic rs6759298 to be associated with AS etiology. The aim of this study was investigation of the rs6759298 polymorphism in Iranian AS patients. In addition, probable correlations with clinical indices and manifestations were considered
Methods: This study included 403 patients with AS. The control group consisted of 506 healthy individuals who were matched for sex, age, and ethnicity with AS group. Genotyping of rs6759298 was determined using the Amplification-Refractory Mutation System-Polymerase Chain Reaction [ARMS-PCR]
Results: The GG genotype and G allele were found to be significantly more prevalent in the patient group in comparison to the control group [[p=2×10[-6] and 7.44×10[-9]; OR [95% CI] =2.16 [1.56-2.98] and 1.73 [1.43-2.08]],respectively
Conclusion: No associations were found between patients with three genotypes and any disease manifestations or clinical indices. This investigation confirmed a highly significant association of rs6759298 with disease susceptibility, with no effect on disease progress or clinical presentations. Since rs6759298 belongs to the 2p15 gene desert, further studies would elucidate the exact role of this polymorphism in the pathogenesis of AS
RESUMO
The hepatoprotective effects of silymarin have been confirmed by various researchers worldwide; however few studies are available about the therapeutic impact of silymarin on the level of aminotransferases in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]. Our purpose is to determine whether silymarin improves the serum level of aminotransferases in patients with NASH. This was a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial performed on 100 patients with NASH. Subjects were randomized to receive silymarin [140 mg/q12h] for three months or placebo, given in the same manner. A blood sample was drawn at baseline [before treatment] and after completion of the treatment schedule to assess serum aminotransferase levels. We measured body mass index [BMI] before and after administration of the treatments for both groups of patients. There were insignificant changes in BMI for both groups. The mean serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT] level in the case group significantly changed from 84.06 to 68.54 IU/mL following treatment with silymarin [p<0.001], however this change was not significant in the control group. The mean serum aspartate aminotransferase [AST] level in the case group significantly decreased from 71.94 to 54.70 IU/mL after treatment with silymarin. This change in the placebo group was not significant [from 62.94 to 61.56 IU/mL]. Administration of silymarin can effectively reduce liver aminotransferases without any changes in BMI in patients with NASH disease