Diagnostic utility of serum dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP- IV) /CD26 as a serum marker in Egyptian patients with colorectal cancer

ABSTRACT

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is considered a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Egypt. Colonoscopy is the standard for detection of lesions. The combination of screening methods is effective. Decrease and loss of DPP-IV/CD26 expression and activity are found in microenvironments of specific tumors which are related to impaired immune functions.     

The Association of Diurnal Blood Glucose Variability With Subclinical Cardiac Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BackgroundThe relationship between glycemic control and the risk of cardiac disease in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is controversial. 1,5-Anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) is a biomarker of Glucose Variability (GV) and has been associated with clinical cardiovascular disease. However, its association with Subclinical Cardiac Disease (SCD) is unknown.Aim of the workStudy the association between GV and SCD.Subjects and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 46 asymptomatic patients with T2DM as T2DM individuals group. Another 46 non-diabetic age and sex matched subjects were included as the healthy group. 1,5-AG was measured for all subjects. M-mode echocardiography in parasternal long axis view was used to measure Left Ventricular (LV) end diastolic dimension, LV end systolic dimension, ejection fraction, interventricular septum, LV posterior wall thickness, LV fractional shortening, left atrial dimension and aortic root dimension. Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) was assessed by speckled tracking echocardiography.ResultsThere were no significant differences between both groups as regarding age, sex, BMI, AST, ALT, and serum creatinine. 1,5-AG was lower in T2DM individuals group. As regarding the echo parameters no significant difference found between both groups regarding left ventricular, left atrial and aortic root dimensions. T2DM individuals group showed a statistically significant higher mitral valve area, apical 2 chambers, apical 4 chambers, apical longitudinal axis and GLS. No correlation found between HbA1c and any echo parameters while 1,5-AG showed a significantly negative correlation with apical 2 chambers, apical 4 chambers, apical longitudinal axis and GLS. ROC curve analysis detected 1,5-AG less than 7.51 ng/ml as the best cut off value with sensitivity of 85.7%, specificity 75% to diagnose patients with T2DM and SCD.Conclusion1,5-AG might be used as an additional surrogate marker to identify patients with T2DM and SCD.     

Molecular detection of spotted fever group rickettsiae associated with ixodid ticks in Egypt

Tick-borne diseases comprise a complex epidemiological and ecological network that connects the vectors, pathogens, and a group of host species. The aim of this study was to identify bacteria from the genus Rickettsia associated with ixodid ticks infesting camels and cows in Egypt. Ticks were collected from 6 different localities: Qina, Giza, Qalet El Nakhl, New Valley, El Arish, and Minufia, from July to October 2008. Species were identified using PCR, followed by sequencing. The gltA and rOmpA genes were used for the initial detection of Rickettsia spp. Further characterization of positive samples utilized primers targeting rOmpB, sca4, and intergenic spacers (mppA-purC, dksA-xerC, and rpmE-tRNA(fMet)). Cows were infested with Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum and Boophilus annulatus. Camels were infested with Hyalomma dromedarii, H. impeltatum, and H. marginatum marginatum. Approximately 57.1% of H. dromedarii ticks collected from Qalet El Nakhl were infected with Rickettsia africae, exhibiting 99.1-100% identity to reference strains. Within H. impeltatum, 26.7% and 73.3% of ticks from El Arish were infected with R. africae and R. aeschlimannii, with 98.3-100% and 97.9-100% identity, respectively. Furthermore, 33.3% of H. marginatum marginatum ticks in Qalet El Nakhl were infected with the same two species as H. impeltatum, demonstrating 99.1-100% and 99.3-100% identity, respectively. By comparing percent identities and phylogenetic relationships, R. africae is identified for the first time in Egypt, in addition to R. aeschlimannii, which exhibits 100% identity with the Stavropol strain in GenBank. In conclusion, the obtained data underscore the medical and veterinary importance of tick-borne rickettsioses, which necessitate further investigation by authorities in Egypt. Moreover, additional characterization of these rickettsial isolates should be performed to designate their strains, using a polyphasic strategy combining genotypic and phenotypic tests, to facilitate their deposition in the rickettsial collection of the WHO and/or ATCC.     

Coagulation System Activation for Targeting of COVID-19: Insights into Anticoagulants,Vaccine-Loaded Nanoparticles,and Hypercoagulability in COVID-19 Vaccines

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), also known as COVID-19, is currently developing into a rapidly disseminating and an overwhelming worldwide pandemic. In severe COVID-19 cases, hypercoagulability and inflammation are two crucial complications responsible for poor prognosis and mortality. In addition, coagulation system activation and inflammation overlap and produce life-threatening complications, including coagulopathy and cytokine storm, which are associated with overproduction of cytokines and activation of the immune system; they might be a lead cause of organ damage. However, patients with severe COVID-19 who received anticoagulant therapy had lower mortality, especially with elevated D-dimer or fibrin degradation products (FDP). In this regard, the discovery of natural products with anticoagulant potential may help mitigate the numerous side effects of the available synthetic drugs. This review sheds light on blood coagulation and its impact on the complication associated with COVID-19. Furthermore, the sources of natural anticoagulants, the role of nanoparticle formulation in this outbreak, and the prevalence of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after COVID-19 vaccines are also reviewed. These combined data provide many research ideas related to the possibility of using these anticoagulant agents as a treatment to relieve acute symptoms of COVID-19 infection.     

Utility of the Guy’s Stone Score in predicting different aspects of percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Objective

To evaluate Guy’s scoring system (GSS) as a grading system for complexity of kidney stone before percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) as a predictor for different items of outcome.

Serum cystatin C as an early predictor of acute kidney injury in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract

Preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) are at increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). Our study aimed at determining whether serum cystatin C (sCysC) on day 3 of life (D3) can early predict AKI in preterm neonates with RDS. This prospective study was conducted on 75 preterm neonates; 50 with RDS and 25 without RDS. On D3, sCysC, serum creatinine (sCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated. sCr and BUN levels were measured again on days 5 and 7. Neonates were evaluated for development of AKI during first week of life according to the modified pediatric RIFLE (pRIFLE) criteria. Thirteen neonates with RDS developed AKI (26%).There was no significant difference between RDS and control groups with respect to sCysC. RDS neonates with AKI had significantly higher sCysC than those without AKI (1.62?±?0.12 versus 1.16?±?0.09?mg/l; p?<?.001). RDS grade III–IV neonates had significantly higher sCysC than RDS grade I–II. There was a significant positive correlation between D3 sCysC and (D5 and D7 sCr and BUN). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that D3 sCysC can predict AKI in preterm neonates with RDS at a cutoff point of >1.3?mg/l with sensitivity of 92.30% and specificity of 96%. We conclude that neonates with RDS are at increased risk of AKI. sCysC on day 3 of life can predict AKI earlier than Cr and eGFR.     

TNF-alpha and CXCL-10 correlation with insulin resistance in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

There are increasing reports of association between HCV infection and type-2 diabetes mellitus. Although the mechanism by which this association remains uncertain, development of insulin resistance may explain this association. We investigated the association of TNF-alpha and CXCL-10 with insulin resistance in HCV infected patients. Forty-four non-diabetic chronic hepatitis C patients and twenty healthy individuals were included. Fasting blood was used for glucose and insulin measurements. Diagnosis of insulin resistance (IR) was based on a mathematical means by the homeostasis model assessment score-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). Serum insulin, TNF-alpha and CXCL-10 levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Quantitative measurement of hepatitis C virus was performed by a standardized real time PCR assay. The HCV patients demonstrated a significant increase in serum TNF-alpha, CXCL-10, and HOMA-IR values as compared to normal controls. HOMA-IR level positively correlated with hepatitis C viral load, TNF-alpha and CXCL-10. It is concluded that, TNF-alpha, CXCL-10 correlate with IR and may play a role in the development of type-2 diabetes mellitus in chronic hepatitis C infected patients.     

Familial Mediterranean fever diagnosed by PCR

The diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) was, until recently, based on exclusion of diseases with related clinical signs. Now an exact diagnosis of FMF is possible by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We report here a case with 2 different mutations in the gene responsible for FMF, thereby being a compound heterozygote (M694V/V726A).