Problem statement: There is a relationship between sexual hormones and pain sensitivity and also a role for hippocampal GABA B receptor in nociception. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of intrahippocampal injection of GABA B receptor agonist (baclofen) and GABA B receptor antagonist (CGP35348) on pain sensitivity during the estrous cycle. Approach: Forty eight adult female rats were used. The animals were divided into four groups: (1) Control; (2) Sham; (3) Baclofen 4.25 or 8.54 µg rat −1 ; (4) CGP35348 alone with doses 3 or 5 µg rat −1 and (5) CGP35348 3 or 5 µg rat −1 after 0.75 µL of baclofen 8.54 µg rat −1 . Data were analyzed by two ways ANOVA measuring. The level of significance was p<0.05. Results: Our data showed that baclofen significantly decreased pain sensitivity in all stages of the estrous cycle, but this analgesic effect was higher during estrus. CGP35348 significantly increased pain sensitivity in all stages of the estrous cycle at 5 µg rat −1 , but this hyperalgesic was least effective during the estrus stages of the estrous cycle. Administration of CGP35348 doses 3 or 5 µg rat −1 after a high dose of baclofen significantly increased pain sensitivity; This hyperalgesic effect was greater than CGP35348 alone. Conclusion/Recommendations: According to our results, the GABA B receptor in the hippocampus can modulate pain sensitivity during the estrous cycle.

Problem statement:Associations between serum levels of fetuin-A, C3 complement, calcium × phosphate product and calcification risk index and lipid profile in SLE patients were established. However, the mechanism of accelerated atherosclerosis accompanied with SLE remains elusive. We therefore turned to investigate the association between Fetuin-A, disease activity and accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with SLE. Approach: Serum blood samples were taken from 100 female SLE patients. All Patient samples were analyzed by ELISA for determination of Fetuin-A level. Calcium, Phosphate, C3 compelement, Lipid profile, Creatinine and urea were measured also in SLE patients compared with healthy control volunteers. Results: We found that Serum fetuin-A had been positively associated with carotid arterial stiffness, independent of known atherogenic factors in healthy subjects. Furthermore, Fetuin-A was correlated negatively with IMT, SLEDAI, CRI, CaxP product, Triglycerdies, VLDL and LDL. While it was correlated positively with C3 complement. Conclusion: Fetuin-A deficiency accompanied with increasing levels of calcium and phosphate gave an evidence that there was a key role of fetuin-A as a strong inhibitor of Cardio Vascular Calcification (CVC) by formation of a complex called (calciprotein) with calcium and phosphate in blood stream. So, Identification of biologic markers of disease activity associated with atherosclerosis may help to optimize therapy for this important manifestation of systemic autoimmune disease.