Serum anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies may predict disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

To define the relationship between serum anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) and disease activity, and to construct a new disease activity index by using anti-CCP in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One hundred and five RA patients were included. Disease activity based on DAS28-ESR and serum anti-CCP was measured. There was correlation between serum anti-CCP and DAS28-ESR. (R (2) = 0.71, P value < 0.01). New disease activity index was developed by replacing anti-CCP with ESR in DAS28-ESR. There was correlation between new model and DAS28-ESR. (R (2) = 0.91, P value < 0.01) The new composite index best cut-off values corresponding to DAS28-ESR values of 2.6, 3.2, and 5.1 were 3.21, 3.38, and 4.74, respectively. There was agreement between new model and DAS28-ESR for determination of patients in different disease activity categories. (Kappa = 0.71, P value < 0.01). The new disease activity index that applies serum anti-CCP may predict disease activity in RA.

The Role of N-Acetylcysteine in Platelet Aggregation and Reperfusion Injury in Recent Years.

BACKGROUND: N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an amino acid that contains a cysteine group and is currently used widely in various fields of medical research especially in cardiology. In this review, potential benefits of NAC in the aggregation of platelet and reperfusion injury are evaluated. METHODS: The available evidence was collected by searching Scopus, Pub-Med, Medline, Cochrane central register of controlled trials, and Cochrane database systematic reviews. Our searching was performed without time limitation and only English language articles were included in this review. Key words used as search terms included "N-acetylcysteine", "platelet aggregation", "reperfusion injury". RESULTS: Over the past decade, several investigations were carried out to ascertain reperfusion injury and antiplatelet properties of NAC, and in this article the results of investigations in both models (human and animal) were addressed in detail. The results revealed that NAC has an important antiplatelet property in animal models while this effect is not very significant in human models and needs more investigations. However, its reperfusion injury in both models is worth noticing. CONCLUSION: Due to the limited data about effectiveness of NAC in both human and animal as antiplatelet agent, more investigation is needed to evaluate NAC efficacy in platelet aggregation and reperfusion injury especially in human studies in the future.