Objective: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the joints. Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are being used for the treatment of osteoarthritis. However, their use is limited due to complications, such as gastrointestinal bleeding. Therefore, it is necessary to find alternative treatments for osteoarthritis. Recently, nanomicelle curcumin has been developed to increase the oral bioavailability of curcumin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nano curcumin on the alleviation of the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis patients. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind controlled trial, the intervention group was administered 40 mg of nanocurcumin capsule every 12 hours over a period of six weeks, and the control group received the placebo (similar components of nanomicelle curcumin capsules yet without curcumin). In the final analysis, 36 patients in the nanocurcumin group and 35 patients in the placebo group were enrolled. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) was filled for patients in their first visit and at the end of six weeks. Differences were statistically significant at P-value < 0.05. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding gender, age, Kellgren score, and the duration of the disease before the intervention. A significant decrease was observed in the overall score, along with the scores of pain, stiffness and physical activity subscales of the WOMAC questionnaire in patients of the nano curcumin group compared with the placebo group. Conclusion: Nanocurcumin significantly improves the symptoms of osteoarthritis patients.
Background Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) is expanding worldwide. The characteristics of this infection in patients varies from country to country. To move forward, clinical data on infected patients are needed. Here, we report a comparison between fatalities and recovery of patients with severe Covid-19, based on demographic and clinical characteristics. Methods Between 5 March and 12 May 2020 in Mashhad, Iran, 1278 of 4000 suspected Covid-19 patients were confirmed positive by real-time reverse-transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction assay of upper respiratory specimens. We compared the demographic, exposure history and clinical symptoms of 925 survivors and 353 fatal cases with confirmed disease. Results Mean (SD) age for all confirmed patients was 56.9 (18.7) years, 67.1 (15.9) years in fatal cases and 53.0 (18.3) years in survivors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the outcome of patients was associated with age (odds ratio = 1.049, P = 0.0001, 95% CI = 1.040–1.057). Despite a high burden of Covid-19 infections in the 30–39 and 40–49 year age groups, most of these (89.6 and 87.2%, respectively) recovered. The median (IQR) duration of hospitalization was 9.0 (6.0–14.0) days. The most prevalent co-morbidities were cardiovascular disorders (21%) and diabetes (16.3%). Dyspnoea (72.7%), cough (68.1%) and fever (63.8%) were the most frequent clinical symptoms. Healthcare workers, of whom two (3%) died, comprised 5.2% of infected cases. Combination antiviral and antibiotic therapy was used in 43.0% of cases. Conclusions The characteristics of severe Covid-19 varied substantially between fatal cases and survivors, with diabetes and cardiovascular disorders the most prevalent co-morbidities. In contrast to other studies, there were a higher number of fatalities in younger patients in our setting.
BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disorder with unknown etiology. Atorvastatin is a lipid-lowering agent that affects the inflammatory processes.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of atorvastatin on the Disease Activity Index and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations in RA patients.MethodsThis clinical trial was performed on 38 RA patients, who were referred to the Imam Reza and Ghaem Medical Centers of Mashhad, Iran between 2013 and 2014. Patients were divided into two groups: 1) the intervention group, which received 40 mg of atorvastatin, and 2) the control group. Response to treatment and the clinical status of patients were evaluated using the Disease Activity Score (DAS-28) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at weeks zero, four, eight, and twelve, based on the 2010 ACR/EULAR Criteria by two rheumatologists. Disease activity and laboratory parameters, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), DAS-ESR, DAS- hs-CRP, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and liver function test (LFT) were measured in both groups.ResultsThere was a significant difference in the mean number of swollen joints (p<0.011), ESR (p <0.005), DAS-ESR (P<0.043), LDL (0.036), and HDL (0.016) between the two groups. The changes in trend showed no significant difference in the mean number of tender joints (p =0.38), VAS (p =0.715), CRP (p =0.07), DAS-hs-CRP (p=0.431), total cholesterol (p=0.285), or TG (p =0.331) between the two groups. However, the Disease Activity Index decreased by 48.4% in the intervention group, compared to 35.5% in the control group.ConclusionAs the results indicated, atorvastatin has a positive effect on the course of RA. In fact, atorvastatin, as an anti-inflammatory agent, could significantly influence inflammation in RA patients. Therefore, adding a lipid-lowering agent to standard medications in RA may be warranted and could decrease disease activity.Clinical trial registrationThe trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (Website: http://www.irct.ir, Irct ID: IRCT2015122425648N2).FundingThe authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are intracellular proteins with pro-and antiinflammatory actions, playing an important role in the pathogenesis of Behcet's disease (BD). Diagnosis of BD uveitis in early stages is still problematic, thus this study was undertaken to determine diagnostic values of serum HSP-and anti-HSP-70 in BD uveitis. Serum levels of HSP-and anti-HSP-70 were measured in 53 patients with BD (26 with and 27 without uveitis). In control group, 25 age-and sex-matched idiopathic uveitis patients were enrolled consecutively. Both groups had no medical problems save uveitis at the time of sampling. Confounders like medications were analysed subsequently. HSP-and anti-HSP-70 values were measured by commercial ELISA kits. Data were analysed by SPSS 11.5 and MEDCALC 11.5.1 software. The Mean HSP-70 serum levels were different among aforementioned subgroups (P = 0.001, ANOVA). They were elevated in BD uveitis compared with BD without uveitis (4.84 AE 4.21 versus 2.24 AE 2.08 ng/ml; P = 0.045). HSP-70 in sera of BD uveitis was also higher than that parameter in patients with idiopathic uveitis (4.84 AE 4.21 versus 2.37 AE 3.30 ng/ml; P = 0.001; cut-off point value 1.0 9 ng/ml, 95% CI 0.61-0.86, P = 0.0002, ß = 0.06). However, there was not any statistical difference among those groups in the serum anti-HSP-70 levels (P = 0.63, ANOVA). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that among different confounders, only prednisolone increases and BD uveitis decreases HSP-70 levels independently. This prospective cross-sectional study suggested that HSP-70 serum level is impressed over the course of BD uveitis, and it could be utilized to diagnose or predict developing it.
Acquired haemophilia A, secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rare bleeding diathesis. Here we report a 37-year-old woman with autoimmune hepatitis who developed SLE and acquired haemophilia caused by factor VIII inhibitors. She presented with spontaneous ecchymosis and haematuria. There were a prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time, reduced factor VIII activity and a high titer of FVIII inhibitors. Therapeutic regimen was started with intravenous methylprednisolone pulse, continued with prednisolone, intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide and fresh frozen plasma. After 8 weeks, factor VIII inhibitor assay was negative.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.