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Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) are produced against lysozomal constituents and primary granules of myeloid cells (Neutrophiles & monocytes) in some rheumatic diseases and wegner’s granulomtosis (WG). This antibodies not only may related to onset of vasculitis lesions, but also have a valuable diagnostic tool, thus, first we tired to evaluated the prevalence of this antibodies in 65 serum of patients with RA and 42 serum of patients with SLE. By using of indirect immunoflourescence assay (IFA), two staining patterns are recognized: Cytoplasmic (C-ANCA) pattern which in 80% of results from anti-PR3, and prenuclear (P-ANCA) pattern, which can result from any antibody directed to myeloperoxidase (MPO), cathepsin G (CG) lactoferrin (LF), elastsae (HLE) and lysozyme (LZ). The sensitivity and specificity for SLE from 1:128 serum dilution was 8% and 85.1% respectively, and for RA from 1:16 dilution was 32.2% and 87.5% respectively. Of the 19 SLE, ANCA positive patients 18 (94.7%) had P-ANCA and 1 patient (5.3%) had C-ANCA and of the 23 RA, ANCA positive patients, 17 (73.9%) had P-ANCA and 6 patients (26.1%) had C-ANCA.

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ANCA are classes of antibodies or in reality autoantibodies usually produce in conditions that degradation of neutrophiles occurs. This is led to vascular damage. They are more common in rheumatic diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), systemic Lupus Erythematus (SLE) and vasculitic diseases especially Wegners’ granulomatosis (With specificity and sensitivity as high as 95%). We decided to design IFA-ANCA because this assay has high sensitivity and in with comparison other techniques such as ELISA & RIA is more economic and simple. On the other hand, screening test for determining ANCA is immunofluorescent assay. ANCA test establishment contains: Isolation of neutrophiles, fixation with Ethanol and Formalin, improvement of method and quality control by using of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), 2 staining pattern are observed. Cytoplasmic (C-ANCA) or classic and prinuclear (P-ANCA) pattern. Established ANCA test by inter assay method had 95% reproducibility and 91% precision.

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Increase blood level of thyroid hormones due to hyperthyroidism can change the balance between resorption and bone formation and result in hypercalcemia, increase Alkaline Phosphatase and increase in urinary Calcium excretion. Due to these finding and the nutritional conditions of our country in Calcium containing food, we decided to evaluate some of bone indexes in hyperthyroid patients. 30 women, 6 men between 17-40 years (23 patients) and more then 40 years (13 patients) were the sample populations. The control subjects were 35 healthy people 17-40 years (25 persons) and more than 40 years (10 persons). The serum Calcium, phosphorus and Alkaline Phosphatase were determined in these hyperthyroid patients. There were a meaningful correlation between the Alkaline Phosphatase of hyperthyroid patients compared to normal subject (P<0.05) in the patients more than 40 years old, and (P<0.01) in the 17-40 years patients. There were no differences between serum Calcium of hyperthyroid patients and normal subjects. The results from this investigation indicate that in hyperthyroid patients the average Alkaline Phosphatase level is higher than normal subjects. On the other hand the reason for not having a meaningful differences in Calcium level between the hyperthyroid patients and normal population may be due to low dietary intake of dairy produce and proteins in daily diet, which results in low amount of Calcium in nutrition.

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Background and Objective: Hyperlipidemia can be considered as one of the main risk factor, involved in cardiovascular disease and it is a major cause of death. This study was done to determine the effect of air part of Echinophora platyloba extract on Pituitary - thyroid axis hormones and lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats.

Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 5 groups (n=8) including control group with normal diet, hypercholesterolemic group along with high cholesterol diet, and the three treatment groups with hypercholesterolemia which animals were received daily doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg/bw of the hydroalcoholic extract of Echinophora platyloba, respectively by gavage during 42 days. At the end of this period, blood sample was obtained. Lipid profile, including total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and thyroid hormone stimulation (TSH) were measeared using Radioimnoassay method.

Results: The level of LDL and cholesterol and TG, significantly reduced in treated group receiving the lowest dose of the extract (100 mg/kg/bw) in compare to hypercholesterolemic group (P<0.05). The level of HDL, TSH and T4 significantly increased in the treated group receiving the highest doses of the extract (300 mg/kg/bw) in compare to hypercholesterolemic group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Echinophora platyloba extract dose dependly can alter Pituitary- thyroid axis hormones and lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats.

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Background and Objective: Paraquat toxicity can damage organisms through mechanisms that are not yet fully understood. Evidence shows that regular exercise and appropriate antioxidant supplements can help reduce the complications caused by paraquat toxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aerobic exercise training, along with piperine supplement, on the liver levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in Wistar rats induced with paraquat.
Methods: In this experimental study, 40 adult Wistar rats were randomly placed into 5 groups of 8, including 1) sham, 2) negative control-paraquat, 3) paraquat + training, 4) paraquat + training + piperine, and 5) paraquat + piperine. Aerobic training included 7 weeks of walking on a treadmill (5 sessions per week for 30-40 min per session, at a speed of 10-18 m/min). Paraquat was administered to the rats by intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 5 mg/kg of body weight. The piperine supplement was daily gavaged at a dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight. The concentration of TNF-a and IL-10 was measured in the liver tissue.
Results: A significant increase in IL-10 and a decrease in TNF-a concentrations were observed between the paraquat-negative control groups compared to the sham, paraquat + exercise, paraquat + piperine, and paraquat + exercise + piperine groups (P<0.05). There was a significant difference between the mean concentrations of TNF-a in the liver tissue between the two negative control groups - paraquat with paraquat + piperine supplement (P<0.05), paraquat + exercise + piperine (P<0.05), paraquat + exercise (P<0.05), and sham (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in concentrations of IL-10 in the liver tissue between the two negative control groups - paraquat with paraquat + piperine supplement, paraquat + exercise + piperine, paraquat + exercise), and sham (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The concentration of TNF-a and IL-10 in male rats induced with paraquat were significantly decreased and increased, respectively, compared to paraquat + piperine supplement, paraquat + exercise + piperine, paraquat + exercise, and sham groups. Therefore, it seems that performing aerobic exercise, along with piperine supplementation, can be a proper way to reduce the inflammation caused by paraquat.