IntroductionThe role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in osteoporosis has not yet been clearly established. Vascular endothelial growth factor is an important part of bone formation. In the literature, although the effects of VEGF on bone metabolism were investigated by different studies, there are very rare studies analysing the association between osteoporosis and VEGF. In the present study, our objective was to investigate serum VEGF concentrations in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) and the correlation of serum VEGF levels and bone mineral density (BMD).Material and methodsThis study was performed on 35 PMO patients, and 30 age-matched healthy controls. Serum VEGF concentrations were measured using a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique according to the manufacturer's instructions. Bone mineral density values were determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).ResultsSerum VEGF concentrations were statistically significantly lower in PMO patients than in controls (150 ±65 pg/ml, 260 ±135 pg/ml respectively; p = 0.005). A positive correlation was found between serum VEGF concentrations and BMD values (r = 0.63, p = 0.001).ConclusionsVascular endothelial growth factor concentrations were decreased in PMO patients and VEGF may play an important role in bone health.
Abstract:Background: Recently, it has been recognized that vitamin D not only is important for calcium metabolism and maintenance of bone healthy, but also plays an important role in reducing risk of many chronic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, several cancers, heart and infectious diseases. In RA, the role of vitamin D is undefi ned. Methods: The objective of this present study was to determine serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in patients with RA and to establish its correlation with disease activity. This study was performed on fi fty-fi ve consecutive patients RA fulfi lling the American Collage of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for the classifi cation of RA and forty-fi ve healthy subjects. Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured using Elecsys 25(OH)D reactive kit. Disease activity was assessed according to DAS28, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The association between serum levels of 25(OH)D and age, gender, disease duration and disease activity parameters were established. Results: The mean serum 25(OH)D levels were signifi cantly decreased in RA patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.01) and were associated with higher levels of parathyroid hormone. Vitamin D defi ciency (i.e. < 30 ng/ml) was found in 50 patients (90.9 %). Serum levels of vitamin D lower than 20 ng/ml were found in 72 % of patients. We did not fi nd the correlation between serum 25(OH)D levels and disease activity parameters. Conclusions: Our fi ndings have demonstrated that serum 25(OH)D levels is highly prevalent in patient with RA. We believe that it will be helpful to investigate the vitamin D levels in order to determine the osteomalacia risk of RA patients (Tab. 2, Ref. 11 Epidemiologic and clinical studies support that vitamin D is a important enviromental factor that can increase the prevalance of certain autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and infl ammatory bowel disease.Several studies have reported that insuffi ciency and/or defi ciency vitamin D levels have been found in patients with RA. The link between vitamin D status and RA is unclear. It has been suggested that lower vitamin D levels may be associated with increased disease severity or activity (1, 2).The aim of this present study was to determine serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in patients with RA and to establish its correlation with disease activity. MethodsThis study was performed on fi fty-fi ve (40 women and 15 men) consecutive patients RA fulfi lling the American Collage of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for the classifi cation of RA and forty fi ve (33 women and 12 men) age and sex matched healthy controls. The patients' ages ranged from 28 to 68 years, the mean was 45 years. The patients were receiving with immunosuppressives, sulphasalazine, antimalarials, corticosteroids and anti-TNF drugs.A standardized exa...
Our findings suggest a possible role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of CRPS.
Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal, recessively inherited multisystem disease that affects various groups of people originating from the Mediterranean Sea region, most specifically those of Jewish, Turkish, Armenian, and Arabic ethnicity. Recurrent attacks of fever and sterile polyserositis of the peritoneum, synovial membranes, and pleura are the main clinical features, although the clinical features of FMF have been expanded in recent years to also include severe myalgia, scrotal swelling, cardiac involvement, and protracted febrile myalgia syndrome (PFMS). PFMS is seen in only a small percentage of FMF patients and is characterized by severe debilitating myalgia of the upper and lower extremities and high fever, occasionally accompanied by abdominal pain, diarrhea, arthritis/arthralgia, and transient vasculitic purpura mimicking Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). Here, we report on a patient with FMF who also presents with PFMS, which is an uncommon and severe manifestation of the disease.
The fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic, widespread pain disorder of unknown etiology. It has been suggest that familial component, environmental factors, endocrine and neurotransmitter alterations, and psychological factors may contribute to the development of FMS. The role of melatonin in FMS is unclear. Some studies describe a lower nocturnal peak and a decreased secretion of melatonin in women with FMS when compared with healthy matched controls. The aim of the present study was to determine the possible role of melatonin in FMS patients. We examined the characteristics and levels of melatonin in 25 consecutive premenopausal women with FMS. Serum blood samples were collected from 25 patients and 20 the age and gender matched healthy controls. Melatonin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Then, the results were compared with those from healthy subjects. Serum melatonin levels of FMS patients were not statistically different from those of controls (P > 0.05). No association was observed between melatonin levels of patients with FMS and disease duration, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and pain scores. Our results demonstrate that melatonin levels were similar in patients with FMS and healthy controls. Further studies are needed to determine the possible role of melatonin.
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