2Aim and Background: Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is a complex and chronic disease of joint inflammation. Environmental factors that are important in genetically predisposed people are involved in the occurrence of the disease and its progress. This disease has a lot to related to genetics, including human class 2 antigens. In various studies, this relation is about 60%. This relationship is more positive in people with Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) than negative ones. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between cytokines and soluble proteins in the body of a patient with Rheumatoid arthritis before symptoms appear. Materials and Methods: In this research, analysis with Enrichr, WebGestalt, and GeneMANIA was used to find genes related to the disease. In order to check the amount of cytokines predicted, ELISA and Real time RT-PCR methods were applied. Results: By examining the System Biology methods, the candidate genes included IL-6R, IL-6 and IL-23A. The samples were taken from 46 RA patients referred to the rheumatology department of the Babol hospital, and a significant decrease (Pv=0.1255) of IL-6 was observed in patients undergoing treatment and a significant increase (Pv=0.4414) in the amount of this cytokine receptor in the serum compared to healthy individuals. While the expression of IL6 and IL6R genes increased in the patient group compared to the healthy group. Conclusion: Cytokine IL-6 as an inflammatory cytokine in treated patients decreased in serum and showed a significant increase in RNA level.

Background & Aims: Osteomalacia and biochemical evidence of vitamin-D deficiency may in some cases contribute to the pathogenesis of osteopenia and increase the risk of spontaneous fracture formation in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Materials & Methods: A consecutive series of 93 patients diagnosed with RA who were admitted to the Internal Medicine Department of Ghem Medical Center in Mashhad were screened for clinical, laboratory and radiologic evidences of osteomalacia.Results: We found three patients whose clinical and paraclinical features (especially Looser's Zone in plain radiography) complied with osteomalacia. All affected patients were elderly women who had a poor diet and were virtually housebound. Biochemical screening was of limited value in differential diagnosis, since elevated serum alkaline phosphatase levels were noted in both osteomalacia and nonosteomalacia patients.Conclusion: This study indicates that although diagnosis and consequent treatment of osteomalacia may considerably prevent morbidity and mortality in RA, screening for osteomalacia should be limited to elderly women with risk factors such as poor diet and sedentary lifestyle.

Background & Objectives: Nowadays, attention to natural products with therapeutic potential has been increased. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Thymol on the animal model of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials & Methods: RA was induced by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant into the footpad of Wistar rats. Then, rats were allocated in 3 groups: treated with Thymol (100 mg/kg-orally), treated with Prednisolone (100 mg/kg-orally) and un-treated group. All treatments were initiated at the 5th day after induction. The change in the dorso-plantar diameter of hands and legs of each rat were recorded every other day until 23 days after induction. Results: The edema and swelling of the soles of the feet of RA rats that received Thymol or prednisolone, were significantly decreased in a similar manner compared to RA rat without treatment. The serum levels of nitric oxide and myeloperoxidase correlated with the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes and the levels of IL-1 and IL-6 production were significantly decreased in treatment groups compared to control group rats. The level of decrease in the level of serum nitric oxide was higher in the thymol group compared to the prednisolone-induced group. Conversely, prednisone caused more decrease in the levels of IL-1 and IL-6 cytokines compared to RA rats that received thymol. Conclusion: Thymol may be considered as a useful strategy to control RA disease.