There was no evidence of a greater prevalence of metabolic syndrome in RA patients compared with controls in this study. The duration of RA was associated with metabolic syndrome, implicating the role of inflammation in metabolic syndrome development.

Objectives: This study aims to determine the effects of oral glucosamine on glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in non-diabetic patients with osteoarthritis in Northeastern Iran. Patients and methods:This placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial included 40 non-diabetic patients with osteoarthritis (15 males, 25 females, mean age 63.8±7.64 years; range 49 to 80 years). Patients were randomly divided into two equal groups and treated with oral glucosamine sulfate 1500 mg a day or placebo for 90 days. Fasting blood sugar, glucose tolerance test with 75 grams glucose and serum insulin levels, and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance were evaluated initially and at the end of intervention. Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of blood sugar, glucose tolerance test, and insulin levels at the beginning and end of the study. In the oral glucosamine group, there were no significant changes in fasting blood sugar (94.1±7.14 mg/dL versus 93.5±9.45 mg/dL, p=0.15), glucose tolerance test (99.3±8.99 mg/dL versus 103.3±10.1 mg/dL, p=0.07), and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (1.57±0.21 versus 1.48±0.21, p=0.13) after treatment. Also, placebo did not significantly affect serum glucose levels and insulin resistance. Conclusion: Oral glucosamine with routine dosage was safe in our non-diabetic patients with osteoarthritis and had no significant effect on glucose metabolism and insulin resistance.

IntroductionBehçet's disease is an inflammatory disorder of unknown origin, with mucocutaneous, ocular, articular, vascular, gastrointestinal and central nervous system manifestations. Although cardiac involvement is not an uncommon manifestation of Behçet's disease, coronary aneurysm has rarely been reported.Case presentationA 36-year-old Iranian man was admitted to our emergency department for retrosternal pain of two and a half hours duration. His detailed medical history revealed that he had no risk factors for coronary artery disease, however, Behçet's disease had been diagnosed about 10 years earlier. His electrocardiogram showed inferior myocardial infarction. He underwent coronary angiography that showed multiple giant aneurysms in his coronary arteries. Two months later, he experienced another episode of unstable angina. This was followed by two episodes of anterior myocardial infarction 2 and 5 months afterwards.ConclusionThis case highlights the importance of careful diagnostic work-up in the evaluation of myocardial infarction in patients. In our patient, Behçet's disease proved to be the cause of recurrent myocardial infarction.