The association of FSCN1 (rs852479, rs1640233) and HOTAIR (rs920778) polymorphisms with the risk of breast cancer in Egyptian women.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most prevalent cancers that contribute to mortality among women worldwide. Despite contradictory findings, considerable evidence suggests that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FSCN1 and HOTAIR genes may have a causative impact on the development of BC. This case-control study was conducted to evaluate the association of genotype frequency in FSCN1 rs852479, rs1640233, and HOTAIR rs920778 with susceptibility and prognosis of BC, as well as the impact of clinical stages and hormonal features.

Risperidone impedes glutamate excitotoxicity in a valproic acid rat model of autism: Role of ADAR2 in AMPA GluA2 RNA editing.

Several reports indicate a plausible role of calcium (Ca) permeable AMPA glutamate receptors (with RNA hypo-editing at the GluA2 Q/R site) and the subsequent excitotoxicity-mediated neuronal death in the pathogenesis of a wide array of neurological disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study was designed to examine the effects of chronic risperidone treatment on the expression of adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 2 (Adar2), the status of AMPA glutamate receptor GluA2 editing, and its effects on oxidative/nitrosative stress and excitotoxicity-mediated neuronal death in the prenatal valproic acid (VPA) rat model of ASD. Prenatal VPA exposure was associated with autistic-like behaviors accompanied by an increase in the apoptotic marker "caspase-3" and a decrease in the antiapoptotic marker "BCL2" alongside a reduction in the Adar2 relative gene expression and an increase in GluA2 Q:R ratio in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex.

Serum amyloid A, ferritin and carcinoembryonic antigen as biomarkers of severity in patients with COVID-19.

In view of the rapid spread of COVID-19 and the high mortality rate of severe cases, reliable risk stratifying indicators of prognosis are necessary to decrease morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the value of serum amyloid A (SAA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as prognostic biomarkers in comparison to other predictors, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin levels. This study included 124 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, and they were assigned to one of two groups: Mild and severe, based on the severity of the infection.

Vitamin D deficiency as a predictor of severity in patients with COVID-19 infection.

Background: As an immune modulator, vitamin D has been implicated in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity. This study aimed to investigate the association between vitamin D levels and the severity of COVID-19 infection.

Methods: A cross-sectional study, which included 124 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and were selected from Ain Shams University Hospitals and assigned to two groups; mild and severe COVID-19.

Oncotype DX and Prosigna in breast cancer patients: A comparison study.

Background: Oncotype Dx® (ODX) is the most used prognostic and predictive assay for ER + breast cancer (BCa) and is categorized into low (< 18), intermediate (18 to 30), or high (≥31) risk of recurrence. Prosigna® is a prognostic signature to estimate distant recurrence-free survival for stage I/II, ER+ cancer in postmenopausal women treated with adjuvant therapy. The goal of the study is to assess the agreement between ODX and Prosigna®.

Impact of a genomic classifier on indeterminate thyroid nodules: an institutional experience.

Introduction: Indeterminate thyroid cytology (ITC) occurs in 20% to 25% of cases, and the associated risk of malignancy ranges from 5% to 30%. The genomic classifier ThyroSeq (CBLPath/UPMC, Rye Brook, NY), a targeted next-generation sequencing technology, could classify ITC nodules as malignant and nonmalignant. We sought to characterize our institutional experience with ThyroSeq testing.

Utility of p16 and HPV testing in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: An institutional review.

Unlabelled: In the US, 60% to 80% of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV). However, until recently, no consensus existed about when and how to test for HPV in patients with head and neck cancers. We aimed to evaluate the use of p16 and HPV testing at our institution because p16 immunohistochemistry is reportedly a reliable surrogate marker for HPV detection in OPSCCs.