Serum lipids, vitamin B12, folic acid, pHcy and acute phase protein levels were measured in all cases. MTHFR C677T gene polymorphisms were determined, and IMT of main carotid artery were evaluated ultrasonographically in all subjects. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity score and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index were used to assess disease activity and spinal mobility. Fifty AS patients (mean age of 36.6 +/- A 4.79 years) and 50 control subjects (36.34 +/- A 4.72 years) were included in the study. Plasma homocysteine levels of AS patients and

control group were also similar (14.26 +/- A 9.96 vs. 11.81 +/- A 5.53 mu mol/L). Hyperhomocysteinemia Rabusertib was present in 11 subjects in patient group (22.0 %), while it was seen in 5 subjects in the control group (10.0 %). The MTHFR C677T genotype distribution was as follows: CC 31 (62 %), CT 14 (28 %), TT 5 (10 %) in AS patients. The BGJ398 solubility dmso mean carotid IMT values

were also found to be similar between the groups. The most important factor influencing pHcy level was found as MTHFR 677TT genotype. We indicated no difference of atherosclerosis indices revealed by IMT values and pHcy levels AS patients and control subjects. But an association between MTHFR 677 gene polymorphism and pHcy levels was concluded, which may suggest that MTHFR 677 TT polymorphism may be a potential prognostic factor for cardiovascular disease in patients with AS.”
“Several studies of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) incidence and prevalence indicate that occurrence of the disease varies significantly among different populations. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and incidence of RA in South Korea. We used

Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) claims data to estimate the prevalence of RA in 2007-2009 and the incidence of RA in 2008. On the basis of our PF299804 cell line previous validation study, the presence of RA was defined by the diagnostic code for RA with biologic or non-biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in the same claim in each year. To estimate the incidence of RA, we identified cases of RA in 2008 and set the 12-month period prior to 2008 as a disease-free period. Among the incident case of 2008, only patients who continued treatment in 2009 were defined as true incident case of RA in 2008. The corresponding prevalence estimates were 0.26 % (95 % CI 0.25-0.27) in 2006, 0.27 % (95 % CI 0.26-0.28) in 2007, and 0.27 % (95 % CI 0.26-0.28) in 2008. The incidence of RA in 2008 was estimated at 42/100,000 (95 % CI 29.3-54.7) in the general population of South Korea. Data gathered nationwide through the NHI yielded estimates of RA prevalence and incidence in South Korea. This study is the first report of nationwide prevalence and incidence of South Korea and those are comparable to values for other countries in Asia.