Aim: This article aimed to evaluate NITRIC oxide (NO) and NITRIC oxide synthase (iNOS) markers in patients with erosive esophagitis (EE) and those with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and compare them with the control group. Background: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common disturbances of the upper digestive tract. INDUCIBLE NITRIC oxide synthase (iNOS) is expressed in esophageal adenocarcinoma. NO, the product of this enzyme, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of this condition. Nevertheless, the data on whether iNOS and NO are expressed in the early stages of GERD is conflicting. Methods: In this study, tissue samples were obtained from fifty-four patients (27 with erosive esophagitis and 27 with non-erosive reflux disease) and 27 controls. Tissue concentrations of nitrite, nitrate, and iNOS were measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunesorbent Assay (ELISA). The Bradford method was used to determine the protein concentration of samples. The results were analyzed by SPSS software (version 22. 0). In multiple comparisons, the Tukey test was performed, and p < 0. 05 was considered as the level of significance. Results Tissue amounts of iNOS were significantly higher (p= 0. 001) in EE patients compared with the control group. There was a significant difference (p= 0. 01) in this factor between EE patients and patients with NERD. Moreover, tissue levels of nitrite and nitrate were significantly higher (p = 0. 001) in patient groups compared with the control group. Conclusion: It was observed that NO and iNOS protein were increased in human esophagitis tissue. The results indicated that NITRIC oxide and iNOS levels are useful and effective markers in the pathogenesis of GERD. While the results are not certain, it is thought that a link exists between the expressions of iNOS and disease progression.

Objective (s): The neuropeptide calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) has long been postulated to play an integral role in the pathophysiology of migraine. Earlier studies showed that CGRP can stimulate the synthesis and release of NITRIC oxide (NO) and cytokines from trigeminal ganglion glial cells. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 17b‐estradiol in regulation of CGRP expression, INDUCIBLE NITRIC oxide synthase (iNOS) activity, and NO and interleukin‐1beta (IL‐1 b) release in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with pure menstrual migraine and healthy individuals.Materials and Methods: This study was performed on twelve patients with pure menstrual migraine and twelve age‐and sex‐matched healthy individuals. PBMCs treated with 17 b ‐estradiol for 24 hr at physiological and pharmacological doses. Gene expression was evaluated by real time‐PCR. CGRP and IL‐1 b proteins in culture supernatant were determined by ELISA method. Activity of iNOS in PBMCs and total nitrite in the culture supernatant were measured by colorimetric assays.Results: Treatment with 17 b ‐estradiol had a biphasic effect on expression of CGRP. We found that 17 b ‐estradiol treatment at pharmacological dose significantly increases mRNA expression of CGRP in both groups (P<0.001), whereas at physiological dose it could significantly decrease CGRP mRNA expression (P<0.001), CGRP protein levels, IL‐1 b release, NO production and iNOS activity only in patient groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: Collectively, it appears that 17 b ‐estradiol can exert protective effect on decrease of inflammation in migraine via decrease in levels of CGRP, IL‐1 b and iNOS activity; however, more studies are necessary in this regard.

Aim: Here, we evaluated the role of (iNOS) as a blood-based biomarker of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Background: Up-regulation of INDUCIBLE NITRIC oxide synthase (iNOS) in the intestinal epithelial cells has been closely associated with the initiation and maintenance of intestinal inflammation in IBD. Methods: In a case-control design, 59 IBD patients and 30 healthy control subjects were participated in this study. A total of 10 ml blood sample was taken from each participant. Blood leukocytes were isolated and iNOS mRNA expression level was evaluated in the isolated leukocytes using relative quantitative Real-time PCR. Results: The patients’ population included 40 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 19 Crohn's disease (CD) patients. The flare and remission phase of disease were seen in 43 and 16 patients, respectively. The mean iNOS mRNA expression was not significantly different between the IBD patients and healthy controls (p=0. 056). The mean iNOS mRNA expression was significantly higher in the flare phase of the disease compared to the remission phase (p=0. 039). No significant difference was observed between the mean iNOS mRNA expression in the blood leukocytes of UC and CD patients (p=0. 82). Conclusion: iNOS is differently expressed in the blood leukocytes of active vs. inactive IBD disease. Thus, it could be potentially used as a non-invasive blood-based biomarker of IBD.