The foremost complication of coagulation disorders are various types of excessive bleedings. The current study revealed severe hemophiliac B patients are prone to reduced bone density similar to severe hemophiliac A patients.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a condition that is associated with oxidative stress. Serum trace elements and their related transport proteins, e.g., albumin and ceruloplasmin, play an important role in the antioxidant defense. Trace element status may therefore be involved in the pathogenesis of RA or be affected by the disease activity of this chronic inflammatory condition. The study participants were 110 patients with RA and 100 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers. Serum concentrations of albumin, ceruloplasmin, selenium, zinc, copper, and zinc/copper ratio were measured in all subjects. The relationship between these parameters and disease activity score was also assessed. Lower concentrations of serum Alb, Zn, and Se were independently related to disease activity index. High concentrations of serum copper were associated with the presence of RA. Serum Cu concentrations were positively related to disease activity as assessed by the disease activity score. Low serum concentrations of Zn and Se, and high serum Cu concentrations may be associated with the presence of RA or be a consequence of this condition. Of the trace elements that were investigated in the present study, only serum Cu was positively correlated with disease activity.

Several data link vitamin D to many autoimmune diseases. Association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene BsmI polymorphisms and systemic lupus erythematosus has been reported. In this study, we examine whether the VDR gene BsmI polymorphisms are markers for susceptibility to or severity of SLE. This study incorporated 60 patients with SLE living in northeastern Iran. Three genotypes, BB, Bb and bb, were detected based on polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP). The distribution of VDR genotyping in patients with SLE was 23.3% for BB, 60% for Bb and 16.7% for bb and in the control group was 33.3% for BB, 46.7% for Bb and 20% for bb (P = 0.334). No association of VDR gene BsmI polymorphisms with SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), SLE damage score and major organ involvement was detected. The result of this study did not show any association between VDR gene BsmI polymorphisms and SLE.

BackgroundSerum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is a non-collagen glycoprotein produced by the cartilage, synovium, tendon, and meniscus. Recent studies showed that COMP is a reliable factor for monitoring cartilage damage.ObjectiveTo determine the relationship between serum COMP concentration and the severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsThis cross-sectional study lasted from 2013 to 2015 at the Rheumatology Clinic of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. The study population consisted of eligible patients who presented to our clinic during the study period. Four groups (150 subjects) were included as early RA (50 patients), late RA (50 patients), grades II and III OA (osteoarthritis) (25 cases, 17 grade II and 8 grade III joint destruction), and healthy controls (25 individuals). These were included consecutively. Serum COMP level was assessed by sandwich ELISA technique. In addition, ESR, hs-CRP, serum RF, and anti-CCP were assayed. X-rays of the knees (in OA) and hands (in RA) were examined for the degree of joint damage/erosion using the Short Erosion Scale (SES) in RA and Kellgren-Lawrence grading in OA. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare mean COMP level among the groups and ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) analysis to determine the diagnostic accuracy of COMP in diagnosis of late RA were used by SPSS software (ver. 20.0).ResultsMean (±SD) serum COMP levels were 18 (±10.6) U/L in early RA, 19.3 (±9.6) U/L in late RA, 10.9 (±4.5) U/L in OA, and 4.2 (±3.8) in controls; p<0.001. Serum COMP level was higher in RA and OA groups when compared to control group. Mean (±SD) SES score was 13.5 (±7.5) in early RA and 16.4 (±9.7) in late RA (p=0.093). There was a significant positive correlation between COMP level and disease severity in early RA (r=0.677, p<0.001) as well as in late RA (r=0.753, p<0.001). Serum COMP level at a concentration of 15.25 U/L had a sensitivity of 68% and specificity of 70% to discriminate late RA from early RA (area under curve= 69% (95% CI: 58% to 79%; p=0.001).ConclusionCOMP had positive significant correlation with early and late RA severity. This serum biomarker can be a useful and easy tool for monitoring of RA patients either at early or late stages of the disease.

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Background Cathelicidin (LL-37), an endogenous antimicrobial peptide, has recently been involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. To assess whether LL-37 reflects disease activity, we measured serum levels of it in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with active and inactive disease compared to healthy controls. LL-37 was also compared between new and old cases. Moreover, the correlation of LL-37 and pro-oxidant, antioxidant balance (PAB) was measured. Methods The study population consisted of 50 SLE patients and 28 healthy controls. Of those, 39 patients had active and 11 patients had inactive disease. Serum levels of LL-37 were measured by ELISA and PAB values by a special method. Results There was no difference in levels of LL-37 between patients and healthy controls (50.9 ± 20.8 vs. 67.7 ± 43.3 ng/ml, P = 0.31). LL-37 did not correlate with SLEDAI and its items in total patients. LL-37 had a positive correlation with SLEDAI in active patients ( P = 0.01, r = 0.4). In active patients (78% of patients), multivariate regression analysis showed significant negative correlation between LL-37 and C3 ( P = 0.01, standardized beta -0.50). No difference was found in levels of PAB between patients and controls (90.4 ± 34.1 vs. 86.9 ± 25.6 HK, P = 0.4).There was no difference in the levels of PAB between patients with active and inactive disease (93.2 ± 34.1 vs. 80.2 ± 33.7 HK, P = 0.27). No correlation was found between levels of PAB and SLEDAI items and total score. However, a positive correlation between the levels of LL-37 and PAB in SLE patients was found ( r = 0.3, P < 0.01). Conclusion Based on this study, serum LL-37 and PAB did not increase in lupus compared with healthy individuals. LL-37 serum values rose in parallel with SLEDAI in active disease. Positive correlation between serum PAB and LL-37 could be a great achievement of this study that may suggest the role of antioxidants in controlling NETosis.

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