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Background & Objective: Appendicectomy for suspected acute Appendicitis is a common procedure. The rate of normal Appendices unnecessarily removed remains high (15-30%) despite several techniques and investigations used to improve the diagnostic accuracy. Many studies investigated the role of raised C-reactive protein in improving the diagnosis of acute Appendicitis. This study emphasizes the impact of a normal serum C-reactive protein in reducing the rate of negative explorations. Materials & Methods: In a double blind study, blood for the WBC count and measurement of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was collected pre-operatively from 100 patients just before going to the operating room for appendicectomy. The histopathology of the 100 Appendices was grouped into positive (Acute Appendicitis) and negative (Normal appendix). White blood count (WBC), CRP and the histopathology finding were correlated. Results: In-patients with histopathologically proven acute Appendicitis both the WBC count and serum CRP level were significantly raised (P=0.000 and P=0.000 respectively). Serum CRP level was normal in 16 out of 18 negative explorations (Normal appendix on histopathology). The specificity and sensitivity of serum CRP was 88.8% and 92.6% respectively. Conclusion: Normal pre-operative serum CRP measurement in-patients with suspected acute Appendicitis is most likely associated with a normal appendix. Deferring surgery in this group of patients would probably reduce the rate of unnecessary appendicectomies.

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Background and Objective: Previous reports on the effect of treatment on the serum immunologic parameters in patients with infective endocarditis are controversial. This study was conducted to asses the serum levels of CRP (C-reactive protein), RF (rheumatoid factor) and CIC (circulatory immune complex) before and after treatment in patients with infective endocarditis. Materials and Methods: In this discriptive study 30 hospitalized patients with infective endocarditis in Razi Hospital in Ahvaz during 2006. Blood samples obtained before and after treatment. 2.5 cc of each sample were used for CRP and RF and remaining 2.5 cc preserved at -20ºC until CIC examination. CRP and RF were measured by using nephlometry and CIC was detected by immundiffusion method. The data were analyzed using SPSS-16 and t-student test. Results: Out of 30 patients, 26 (86.7%) were male. Mean age was 29.53±10.28years. The mean values of CIC, CRP and RF before and after treatment were 0.847, 72.38, 60.45 and 0.80, 44.1, 41.2, respectively. The means of CRP and RF before and after treatment were statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that the serum level of CRP and RF reduce after effective treatments because most of the our patients were intravenous drug user, CRP and RF indeces may be useful measurment for treatment evaluation responses to infective endocarditis in these population.

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Background and Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an inflammatory multi-system disease with an unknown origin. In patients with lupus disease cardiovascular events is an important cause of mortality and morbidity. This study carried out to measurement of high sensitivity C –reactive protein (HsCRP) and homocysteine in patients with SLE and their relation with diseases activity and cardiovascular risk factors.

Materials and Methods: This case control study carried out on 60 patients (55 females and 5 males) with lupus disease which referred to Clinical Research Center of Rheumatology, Mashhad, Iran and 30 controls (26 females and 4 males) during 2007-08. Information of subjects were gathered using SLEDAI questionare. HsCRP and homocysteine of subjects were measured. The level of low density lipoprotein (LDL), Triglycerid, hypertension and Body mass index (BMI) was assessed. Systemic lupus erythematosus activity was assessed by using SLEDAI so that if the score was higher than 10, lupus was called as active disease.

Results: Mean age was 28.8±10.3 and 33.8±9.13 years in SLE and control groups respectively. The mean of HsCRP in SLE patients were 3±2.42 mg/dl versus in controls were 1.58±2.1. The serum level of homocysteine were 12.3±1.93 µmol/L and 24±8.13 µmol/L in SLE patients and controls (P<0.001). Mean disease activity was 15.37. There was no any associtation between homocysteine and HsCRP and disease activity. LDL, Triglycerid, hypertension had significant association with homocystein (P<0.05). BMI and Triglycerid had significant association with HsCRP (P<0.05).

Conclusion: This study showed that there is no linear significant corrolation between homocysteine, HsCRP and disease activity, but there is significant corrolation between increase of homocysteine and HsCRP and cardiovascular risk factors.

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Background and Objective: Elevated levels of inflammation markers including white blood cell, platelet, serum fibrinogen and CRP are associated with prognosis in patients with coronary artery diseases. This study was done to determine the effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of Amaranthus caudatus l on Inflammation markers level in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 20 male Rabbits were allocated into four groups of five each: Group I Normal diet(75 days) Group II Hypercholesterolemic diet (75 days) Group III and IV Hypercholesterolemic diet (45 days) followed by Normal diet and Normal diet with hydroalcoholic extracts Amaranthus caudatus l., respectively for an additional 30 days(Regression period). Blood samples were collected from rabbits before and after 45 days and 75 days of respective diet regimen. The level of White Blood cell, platelet, serum fibrinogen and CRP were measured. Data analyzed by using SPSS-13 and one-way ANOVA‌ test. Results: CRP in treatment group reduced from 8.14±4.5 mg/l to 17.8±4.6 mg/l in hypercholesterolemic animals (group II) (P<0.05). WBC count was 20820±8692 and 42366±17048 in treatment and hypercholesterolemic animals, respectively (P<0.05). Platelet and fibrinogen concentration was reduced in treatment group 502600±35725 and 208±24 mg/dl, respectively in comparison with hypercholesterolemic animals 638000±59774 and 299±46 mg/dl, respectively. These differences were significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that hydroalcoholic extracts of Amaranthus caudatus l reduces inflammatory markers in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

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Background and Objective: Previous studies have reported inconsistent findings about the effect of endurance training on level of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in obese individuals. This study was performed to determine the effect of resistance training on serum level of IL-18 and hsCRP in obese men. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, eighteen obese men were randomly divided into training and control groups. After 12-hours fasting, height, weight, body mass index, body fat percent, serum level of IL-18 and hsCRP were assessed before and after training period. Resistance training protocol consisted of twelve weeks training, 3 sessions training per week, each session for 60 minutes. Results: Mean±SD of IL-18 were 323.34±46.57 pg/ml and 239.43±53.75 pg/ml in training and control groups, respectively. Mean±SD of hsCRP was 3.83±3.65 µg/ml and 3.03±2.98 µg/ml in training and control groups, respectively. This difference was not significant. Conclusion: Performing resistance training for twelve weeks did not significantly reduce IL-18 and hsCRP in obese men.