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SM Journal of Arthritis Research

Anti CCP and Anti MCV Antibodies are Marker of Arthritis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Scleroderma

[ ISSN : 2637-8841 ]

Abstract Introduction Patients and Methods Results Discussion Conclusion References
Details

Received: 08-Mar-2017

Accepted: 10-Apr-2017

Published: 14-Apr-2017

Adel Mahmoud Elsayed¹, Samah Abd El-Rahman Mohamed¹, Noran Osama ElAzizi¹*, Shafica Ibrahim Ibrahim¹, Amr Abdelzaher¹, Neama Lotfy Mohamed², and Fatma Mohamed Badr¹

¹Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt
²Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

Corresponding Author:

Noran Osama El-Azizi, Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Faculty of medicine- Ain Shams University, Abbasia, Cairo, Egypt; Tel: 002 01227441074;

Keywords

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE); Systemic Sclerosis (SSc); Anti CCP antibodies; Anti MCV antibodies; Arthritis and joint erosions

Abstract

Aim of the work: To detect the presence of Anti-Cyclic-Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies (anti CCP Ab) and Anti-Modified Citrullinated Vimentin Antibodies (anti MCV Ab) in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) patients and their correlation to radiological findings and disease activity.

Methods: This study was included 70 SLE patients and 30 SSc patients diagnosed according to ACR classification criteria. After informed consent, all patients were subjected to detailed history taking, full clinical examination including rheumatological examination, laboratory investigations: included CBC, ESR, CRP with titer, urine analysis, renal and liver function, serum uric acid, ANA, Anti dsDNA antibodies by Indirect Immunofluorescence Method (IIF), Anti Scl 70 antibody, Anti CCP and Anti MCV antibodies done by ELISA. X- Ray and U/S on both hands and knees and disease activity score using SLEDAI score for SLE patients and Medsgar score for SSc patients.

Results: In this study, anti CCP Ab were found in 8 (11.4%) of SLE patients and 4 (13.3%) SSc patients, while anti MCV Ab were found in 14 (20%) SLE patients and 8 (26.7%) of SSc patients. There is association between presence of anti CCP Ab and anti MCV Ab and a clinically evident arthritis in both SLE and SSc. Strong relationship between high CRP level and a severe arthritis and joint erosions was noticed in SLE patients. A significant radiological evident erosive arthritis in the form of synovial hypertrophy and bony erosions were found using ultrasonography and plain X-ray with seropositive anti CCP and anti MCV Ab in both SLE and SSc patients. In our study, cut off value of anti CCP which was >12, with sensitivity of 70.42% and specificity of 60%and best cut off value of Anti MCV which was >11, with sensitivity of 98.46% and specificity of 30% in SLE and SSc.

Conclusion: There is a significant association between presence of anti CCP Ab and anti MCV Ab and the presence of clinically and radiologicaly evident erosive arthritis assessed by x-ray and U/S in both SLE and SSc patients.

Introduction

Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibodies (ACPA) has been reported as more specific serological markers of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). They provide a superior alternative to the Rheumatoid Factor (RF) test in laboratory diagnostics of RA [1]. Different studies suggest that the enzymatic citrullination and the production of ACPAs may also be associated with other inflammatory arthritis-associated autoimmune diseases [2].

In SLE, arthritis is one of the most common symptoms seen in 60-90% of patients. In the majority of cases arthritis is non deforming and non-erosive and thus will not directly cause irreversible functional impairment, the presence of anti CCP was strongly associated with erosive arthritis [3].

In SSc, polyarthritis have varied between 36-80%. Erosive arthritis has been reported throughout the Metacarpophalangeal (MCP), Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP), and Distal Interphalangeal (DIP) joints, as well as the wrist. Indeed, at 7 years of SSc, bony erosions (mostly in the hands) have been noted in 4-57% of patients [4].

Patients and Methods

Patients

This is across sectional study which included 70 SLE patients selected according to ACR classification criteria [5] and 30 SSc patients selected according to ACR classification criteria SSc [6]. All patients were recruited randomly by simple sampling method from rheumatology and internal medicine outpatient clinics and inpatient departments at Ain Shams University hospitals, Egypt.

Ethical considerations: The nature of the present study was explained to all participants. The laboratory and radiological procedures represent standard care with no ethical conflicts. Consent was obtained from all participants.

Methods

All subjects included in this study were subjected to the following: Detailed history taking with special emphasis on: age, sex, disease duration, drugs intake and musculoskeletal affection, full clinical examination including rheumatological examination. Laboratory investigations: Complete blood picture, performed on 5 part differential automated cell counter coulter® LH 750 cell counter (Coulter Corporation, Florida, USA). Measurement of the level of C - Reactive Protein Extended Range (RCRP), it was performed on dimension® clinical chemistry system (Siemens health care diagnostic products Gmbh, Malburg/ Germany) using Flex® reagent cartilage. It is a quantitative determination of CRP in human serum and plasma, based on particle enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay technique. The cut off value for RF is 3.0 mg/L. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), performed by using “ALS – 20” Automatic Sedimentation Rate Analyzer (ALARİS MEDİKAL ve ELEKTRONİK SİSTEMLER SAN.TİC., ÇamdibiBornova /İZMİR / TÜRKİYE). Liver Function tests (Liver enzyme (AST\ALT) - Serum albumin- Total protein) and renal function tests (serum creatinine, blood urea and serum uric acid measurement), done by Synchron CX-9 autoanalyzer, Beckman Instruments., Inc., Fullerton, California USA. Routine urine analysis [7], ANA and Anti-Double Stranded DNA (anti dsDNA) by Indirect Immunofluorescence Method (IIF), auto antibodies were measured by incubation of patients’ sera on the tissue substrate to allow binding of antibodies to the substrate. Any antibodies not bound are removed by rinsing the slide. Bound antibodies of the IgG class are detected by incubation of the substrate with fluorescence-labeled antihuman IgG conjugate. Reactions are observed under a fluorescence microscope equipped with appropriate filters. The presence of ANA and anti dsDNA is demonstrated by an apple green fluorescence of specific histological structures in the tissue (ANA pattern). The titre is then determined by testing serial dilutions. Serum antibodies measured by ELISA method, Anti Scl 70 antibodies by ELISA kit (MyBiosource, Inc., California USA) when indicated for SSc diagnosis, anti CCP by (DIASTAT, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, UK) ELISA Kit and anti MCV antibodies measured by (OrgentecDiagnostika GmbH, Mainz, Germany) according to manufacturer’s instructions with the recommended cut-off value of 1 U/L for anti Scl 70 and 20 U/L for both anti CCP and anti MCV.

Statistical analysis: Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 20) statistical software package under Windows 7 operating system for IBM compatible PC. The statistical tests used were as follow: The mean, standard deviation, for categorized parametric data. Student’s t-test: was used for comparison of quantitative data, while Chi-Square test (X2 ) was used for comparison of qualitative data. ROC curve was done to determine the best cut off value of the marker to determine the highest value of sensitivity and specificity on this point. The level of significance was ≤ 0.05.

Radiological methods: All the patients were subjected to plain X-ray posterior-anterior view for both hands and knees and numerical counting of number of erosions was done and ultrasonographic imaging of both hands and knees including assessing erosions, synovial hypertrophy and active inflammatory signs with blood flow Doppler [8].

Disease activity assessment: SLE disease activity was assessed by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI),patients with SLEDAI score less than 6 considered clinically inactive, patients with score 6-11 considered to have mild to moderate disease activity while patients with score 12 or more were considered to have severe disease activity [9].

SSc disease activity disease severity scale for SSc recently has been developed and internally tested. The authors identified nine organ systems and identified variables for each one which could be used for defining severity [10].

Results

Demographic data of SLE patients

The study was carried on 62 female patients and 8 male SLE patients, their age ranged from 18 to 49 years with mean 29.14±6.41 years. The disease duration ranged from 3 months to 10 years with mean 2.48±2.24 years with cumulative dose of steroid in gram ranged from 1 to13 gram with mean 7.91±3.79 gram and 39 (55.71%) of patient receiving cyclophosphamide.

 The most prevalent symptoms in SLE patients were nephritis as 62 (88.57%) SLE patients, 53 (75.71%) patients have malar rash, 44 (76.86%) patients have arthritis, 43 (61.4%) patients have anaemia and 36 (51.4%) patients have photosensitivity. As regard SSc, all patient had skin tightness (100%) at time of examination, 28 (93.33%) patients had Raynaud’s phenomena, 11(36.7%) patients had arthritis,10 (33.33%) patients had GIT affection, 7 (23.33%) patients had pulmonary affection, 2 (6.67%) patients had telangiectasia, calcinosis and neurological affection, 1(3.33%) patient had cardiac affection, but no patients with renal affection. In this study, the incidence of anti CCP and anti MCV among SLE patients and SSc patients; anti CCP Ab were found in 8 (11.4%) of SLE patients and 4 (13.3%) SSc patients, while anti MCV Ab were found in 14 (20%) SLE patients and 8 (26.7%) of SSc patients as seen in table 1.

Table 1: Incidence of anti CCP and anti MCV among SLE patients and SSc patients.

There is a statistically significant difference between both anti CCP Ab and anti MCV Ab positive and negative SLE and SSc patients as regard clinically evident arthritis (number of swollen, tender joints and the presence of morning stiffness) (p value <0.05) as seen in table 2.

Table 2: Relation between Anti CCP and Anti MCV antibodies and different clinically evident arthritis in both SLE and SSc patients.

As regard different laboratory data, Disease Activity Index in SLE (SLEDAI score) ranged from 2-28 with statistically significant difference between positive anti CCP Ab and anti MCV Ab and CRP in SLE patients (p value 0.05) as seen in table 3. Other studied laboratory parameters shows no statistically significant difference (p value >0.05).

As regard radiological finding there were a statistically significant difference between anti CCP Ab and anti MCV Ab positive and negative in SLE and SSc patients as regard the presence of erosions either by U/S or X-ray and the presence of synovial hypertrophy by U/S (p value <0.05).

Table 3: Relation between Anti CCP and Anti MCV antibodies and laboratory markers of arthritis in both SLE and SSc patients

But as regard synovitis by blood flow doppler there was a statistically significant difference between Anti CCP Ab and Anti MCV Ab positive and negative in SSc patients only (p value <0.05) as seen in table 4.

Table 4: Relation between Anti CCP and Anti MCV antibodies and different radiological evident of arthritis in both SLE and SSc patients.

Disease Activity Index in SLE (SLEDAI score) ranged from 2-28 with no statistically significant with either anti CCP and anti MCV positive and negative patients (p value >0.05) while SSc disease activity index ranged from 3-9 and it is statistically significant with anti CCP positive antibodies (p value <0.05) while highly statistical significant with anti MCV positive antibodies (p value <0.01) as seen in table 5.

Table 5: Diagnostic Performance of Anti CCP and Anti MCV antibodies in Discrimination of SLE and SSc.

Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve was used to define the best cut off value of anti CCP which was >12 and cut off value of anti MCV which was >11 (Figure 1 and 2).

Figure 1: Cut off value of anti CCP which was >12.

Figure 2: Cut off value of anti MCV which was >11.

Discussion

Anti CCP Ab are highly specific serological markers for RA that is thought to be directly involved in the disease pathogenesis. Assays for the detection of anti CCP Ab have become popular in the last years for diagnosis of RA, in accordance with the 2010 RA classification criteria, ACPA detection is now used as a means of diagnosing RA [11]. Citrullinated proteins are not exclusively found in RA patients, but can also be present in patients with other inflammatory joint diseases [12].

In this study anti CCP Ab were found in 8 (11.4%) of SLE patients, while anti MCV Ab were found in 14 (20%) of SLE patients. The anti CCP Ab prevalence among SLE patients in previous different studies was extremely variable. As the prevalence among different studies, ranging from 6.7 % to 37.93 % .In Romanian study it was 6.7% [13], in Brazalian study was 13.7% [14], in Chinese study was 13.8% [15], in Egyptian study was 28% [16], in another Chinese study was 37.93% [17]. In Contrast to Damián-Abrego et al. [18] who studied 34 SLE patients reported that SLE patients, with or without deforming arthropathy, had normal serum anti CCP Ab concentrations. The cause of this variability may be due to the different ethnicities, also the variability between the SLE patients in the different studies should be considered. Although Iaccarino et al. [19] estimated that the prevalence of ACPA in SLE patients with arthritis was around 57-100% and considering them as having “rhupus” (SLE-RA overlap syndrome) supporting the concept that rhupus represents the coexistence of two separated diseases in the same patient, rather than an additional disease entity.

But as regard anti MCV Ab in SLE our results were close to the results of Egerer et al., [20] who reported that anti MCV antibody was detected in many rheumatic diseases and was found positive in 14% of SLE patients. Lower results were reported by Putterman et al. [21]. Poulsom and Charles [22] studied different autoantibodies in SLE they had found that 2%of the studied patients had positive anti MCV Ab, this was similar to the results of Kalunian1 et al. [23] who studied the level of anti MCV Ab in 210 lupus patients he only found positive anti MCV Ab in 1.9%.

As regard SSc 4 patients (13.3%) had positive anti CCP Ab and 8 patients (26.7%) had positive anti MCV Ab. The anti CCP Ab prevalence among SSc patients in previous different studies was extremely variable ranging from 2.6% to 20.5%. In study done by Morita et al. it was 2.6% [24], Xia et al., study was 10% [1], in gegnoli et al. study was 10.6% [25], Payet et al. study was 10.8% [26] and in study of Polimeni et al. was 20.5% [27]. On other hand Gaddy et al. [28] who studied the level of different auto antibodies in patients with rheumatic disease among Oklahoma tribal populations anti CCP Ab were not detectable. But as regard anti MCV Ab in SSc patients Poulsom and Charles [22] found that only 2% scleroderma patients had positive anti MCV Ab.

As regard studying musculoskeletal and joint affection in SLE patients our results were agreed with Habeeb et al. [16] who found that arthritis in the form of joint tenderness and swelling were found in 60% of the studied patients and anti CCP Ab positive patients exhibited a significant higher occurrence of arthritis in comparison to negative patients.

We also agreed with Popescu et al. [13] who found that 80% of anti CCP lupus patients had arthritis. Martinez ‘ study [29] had detected a similar results, in his a retrospective medical record review of a case series of five female patients with SLE and erosive arthropathy anti CCP Ab detected in 4 out of 5 (80%) patients, they concluded that erosive arthritis was strongly associated with the presence of anti CCP Ab. Also Amezcua-Guerra et al. [30] detected association of anti CCP Ab with erosive arthritis in SLE patients and concluded that high levels of anti CCP Ab may be a useful serological marker for an erosive arthritis pattern among these patients; also Tarabore et al. [31] reported that patients with SLE and positive anti CCP Ab have more erosive arthritis than patients without anti CCP Ab.

Although, one study did report that even though the prevalence of anti CCP was higher in SLE patients in comparison to control yet no relationship could be found with clinical profile including joint complaints which done by Skare et al. [20] and another study done by Galvão et al. [32] also found no difference between the patients with or without arthritis. Studying the clinical manifestations of SLE patients with positive anti MCV Ab had significantly more number of swollen joints, tender joints and more patients with morning stiffness than those with negative anti MCV Ab.

This is in concordance with Hussain and Jaffery [33] that studied the association of anti MCV Ab with SLE overlapping with various syndromes and found that SLE patients with erosive arthropathy showed high level of anti MCV Ab. Studying musculoskeletal affection among anti CCP Ab in SSc patients; our results were close to Atzeni et al., [34] who showed that the frequency of arthritis was higher in patients with SSc with anti CCP Ab than in patients with SSc without anti CCP Ab. On the other hand Morita et al. [24] found that SSc patients with elevated serum levels of anti CCP Ab exhibited arthralgias and interstitial pneumonia.

In contrast to Payet et al. [26] and Gottenberg et al. [35] who found no significant correlation between anti CCP Ab and any clinical symptoms? Habeeb et al. [16] found that anti CCP Ab positive patients exhibited significant difference in comparison to negative patients as regard arthritis (79 vs. 52%) and the presence of erosions (28 vs. 5%) and presence of high CRP (78 vs. 30%).

As well as anti MCV Ab positive SSc patients in our results were in agreement with Xia et al. [1] who found significant association between anti MCV Ab with arthritis. Concerning the laboratory findings there were statistical significant correlation between anti CCP Ab positive SLE patients with high CRP level that was in agreement with Habeeb et al. [16] and Zhao et al. [15] who demonstrated that anti CCP Ab positive patients with SLE show higher CRP and RF positivity than those with negative anti CCP Ab.

Interestingly, since CRP does not usually increase with disease activity in SLE, in contrast to the majority of inflammatory diseases, an increase in CRP could help to distinguish SLE patients with or without classic articular involvement. This simple marker in SLE patients with articular involvement could be a warning signal of worse articular evolution.

Also, that findings are supported by the results of Taraborelli et al. [31], as they found that RF positivity and increased CRP were more frequent in erosive arthritis than in nonerosive arthritis and reported that increase in RF and CRP could be an additional means of identifying lupus patients with arthritis at risk of a worse prognosis. On the contrary, Popscu et al. [13] found no statistical significant difference between anti CCP Ab positive and anti CCP Ab negative patients with CRP.

Unlike SLE, among SSc patients, with positive anti CCP Ab and anti MCV Ab, joint erosions showed no association with CRP level or other laboratory parameters as up till now no available studies in this issue. Our results revealed a significant radiological evident erosive arthritis in the form of synovial hypertrophy and bony erosions were found using ultrasonography and plain X-ray with seropositive anti CCP Ab and anti MCV Ab in both SLE and SSc patients, previous studies had detected similar results, as Amezcua et al., [30] who concluded that anti CCP Ab with radiological evident joint erosions

Conclusion

There is a significant association between presence of anti CCP Ab and anti MCV Ab and the presence of clinically and radiologicaly evident erosive arthritis assessed by x-ray and U/S in both SLE and SSc patients.

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Citation

Elsayed AM, Mohamed SAER, El-Azizi NO, Ibrahim SI, Abdelzaher A, Mohamed NL, et al. Anti CCP and Anti MCV Antibodies are Marker of Arthritis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Scleroderma. SM J Arthritis Res. 2017; 1(1): 1001

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Results: A total of 58 fractures in 56 patients were analysed. 26 fractures were caused by high-energy trauma (45%) and 26 patients developed impaired healing (45%). Impaired fracture healing occurred more frequently after High Energy Trauma (p<0.001), open fractures (p<0.001), comminuted fractures (p=0.001) and in younger patients (p<0.001). High Energy Trauma remained an independent predictor of impaired fracture healing when open fractures and comminution were included in the multivariable logistic regression.

Conclusion: High energy trauma, open fractures and comminution were all identified as independent predictors of impaired fracture healing. This indicates that high energy trauma, regardless of the fracture type that results, may negatively affect fracture healing.

Karhof S¹*, Bastian OW¹,², Olden GDJ van², Leenen LPH¹, Kolkman KA³, and Blokhuis TJ¹,⁴


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Medical Ozone Reduces the Risk of ?-Glutamyl Transferase and Alkaline Phosphatase Abnormalities and Oxidative Stress in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated with Methotrexate

Background: Methotrexate (MTX) + Medical Ozone increase MTX clinical efficacy in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether medical ozone could decrease the risk of γ -Glutamyl Trasnsferase (GGT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) abnormalities and oxidative stress in RA patients.

Methods: A prospective study with 100 patients was performed, who were divided into two groups: one (n = 50) treated with MTX, Folic acid and Ibuprophen (MTX Group) and the second group (n = 50) receiving the same as the MTX Group + medical ozone by rectal insufflation. The diagnosis of RA patients was performed using AntiCyclic Citrullinated Peptides levels, DAS-28 and HAQ-DI. The risk of liver marker abnormalities and the oxidative stress were evaluated by means of biochemical methods and statistical tests.

Results: MTX + Ozone reestablished γ-Glutamyl Trasnsferase (GGT), reduced Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), enhanced the antioxidants endogenous and decreased oxidative damage to biomolecules with regard to MTX monotherapy. Patients treated with MTX + medical ozone decreased the risk of GGT and ALP abnormalities by a factor of 4. An inverse correlation between GGT and reduced glutathione was found.

Conclusions: MTX + Ozone regulated and decreased the risk of GGT and ALP abnormalities. The modulation of GGT by ozone and the reduction of oxidative stress may play an important role against liver damage induced by MTX.

Gabriel Takon Oru¹, Renate Viebhan-Haensler², Gilberto López Cabreja³, Irainis Serrano Espinosa³, Beatriz Tamargo Santos¹, Juan Carlos Polo Vega¹, Susana Sánchez Cintas³, and Olga Sonia León Fernández¹*


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Quantification of Transcripts for Immunoproteasome Subunits PSMB8 and PSMB9 Discriminates Inflammatory from Non-Inflammatory Myopathies

Objectives: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a group of muscle diseases characterized by inflammatory infiltrates in skeletal muscle. Associated pathways include increased antigen presentation with tissue specific inflammatory signatures could be related to the proteasome system. In this study we investigated the contribution of the proteasome in IIM.

Methods: Real time PCR was used for relative quantification of mRNA transcripts of proteasomal beta subunits in muscle biopsies from 21 patients with IIM in comparison to 13 patients with non-inflammatory myopathies (NI). Expression levels of the constitutive beta subunits (PSMB5, -6, -7), and the corresponding immunosubunits (PSMB8, -9, -10) were measured relative to different housekeeping genes (HKG). GeNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper were used to evaluate the expression stability of HPRT1, ACTB and GAPDH as HKG.

Results: HPRT1 was identified as the most stable reference gene in the investigated biopsies. The analysis demonstrated that irrespective of the clinical disease classification, transcripts of PSMB8 and PSMB9 were upregulated in biopsies of all types of IIM and correlated with the intensity of inflammation. Furthermore, expression ratios of PSMB5:PSMB8 and PSMB6:PSMB9 differentiated clearly between IIM and NI.

Conclusions: The quantification of PSMB8 and PSMB9 could qualify for diagnostic scoring of inflammation in myopathy muscles.

Khetam Ghannam¹*# , Lorena Martinez Gamboa¹# , Marie-Kristin Fettke¹ , Sabine Krause² , Thomas Häupl¹ , Salyan Bhattarai¹ , Gerd-Rüdiger Burmester¹ , and Eugen Feist¹


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Clinico-Epidemological Profile of Children with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura at Tripoli Children

Background: Henoch schonlein purpura (HSP) is one of the most common vasculitides of unknown etiology in childhood. It is a non-Granulomatous vasculitis that is characterized by deposition of immunoglobulin A, complement and immune complex in blood vessel wall as well as renal mesangium. Aim of the study: To describe the demographic, epidemiologic, clinical characteristics and possible etiology of HSP patients. Design: Retrospective descriptive observational study.

Patients and Methods: Medical records of all patients who diagnosed as HSP according to the European league against rheumatism and pediatric rheumatology European society (EULAR\ PReS) criteria and followed up at Tripoli Children Hospital rheumatology and nephrology departments from January 2005 to June 2017 were reviewed.

Results: 75 Children were included in the study, of these 40 were boys giving a male to female ratio of 1.14: 1. Their ages ranged from 2 to 12 years (mean age 6.5 ± 1.5 years). At the time of diagnosis, 50.7% of patients were ≤ 5 years and 93.4% were less than 10 years, with peak age onset of 2-9 years. Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) preceded the onset of the disease in 57.3% of the patients. 100% of the patients had rash either at presentation or during the disease course. Joint involvement observed in 80%, with the ankles the most frequently affected joints. Gastrointestinal (GIT) involvement occurred in 65% of patients, the dominant digestive clinical features were abdominal pain and vomiting. Renal involvement documented in 40% with various degrees of severity, none of our patients had acute renal failure.73.3% of patients treated as in-patient and steroid was used in 53.3% with a mean duration of 10 days. None of our patients developed chronic renal failure or hypertension as long-term sequels.

Conclusion: HSP is a mild disease, etiology, epidemiological, clinical findings and etiological factors of HSP patients in our region were found to be similar to those reported in the national and international studies, more research is warranted to study the prevalence and complications of HSP in Libyan based cohort.

Awatif M Abushhaiwia¹* , Naziha R Rhuma² , Mabruka A Zletni¹ , Ebtisam S Khawaja¹ , and Halima Ben Amer³


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The Implication of Biofield Energy Treated DMEM on Bone-Health Assessment Using Osteoblast Cells

Nutrition plays a crucial role for healthy growth and development of the skeleton system. Study objective was to find the effect of Biofield Treatment ontest item (DMEM medium) for bone health activity in human bone osteosarcoma cell line (MG-63) cells. After divided of the test item into two parts, one part was treated by Alice Branton’s Biofield Energy i.e., Biofield Treated DMEM and others part kept as such i.e., untreated DMEM, respectively. MTT assay showed cell viability was observed more than 74%, which signify with safe and non-toxic profile of the test item on MG-63 cells. Further, the bone health parameter, level of ALP was significantly (p≤0.001) increased by 40.58% in the Biofield Treated DMEM compared to untreated DMEM. In conclusion, the experimental data suggested that the Biofield Energy Treatment have some effect on the growth and development of bone cells, and could be useful against certain bone-related disorders like osteomalacia, osteoma, fractures, rickets, osteoporosis, stress, and aging, etc.

Alice Branton¹ and Snehasis Jana²*


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Starvation osteoporosis and the next generation. A family case report

Early life metabolite deprivation was recognized as predisposing to later life premature osteoporosis and transferred to the next generations. No retrospective studies on WWII time deprivation could be performed, hence studies are conducted on survivors and their descendants. These are no scientific, no epidemiological /statistical, they could only be observational studies. The present case report of a family with osteoporosis premature in father and premature in adults, ought to be brought to awareness and could raise the possibility of inheritance.

Dorit Weissberg Kasav¹ and George M. Weisz²*