Galectin-3 as an early marker of diastolic dysfunction in children with end-stage renal disease on regular hemodialysis.

Introduction And Aim: Diastolic dysfunction is a common finding in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on regular hemodialysis (HD). Galectin-3 (Gal-3) has emerged as an early biomarker with diagnostic and prognostic values in cardiac dysfunction with reduced or preserved ejection fraction. We aimed to assess the correlation between Gal-3 levels and diastolic dysfunction in children with ESRD on regular HD.

Serum and salivary adipsin levels and its association with insulin resistance in acne vulgaris patients.

Background: There is scarcity in literature about the reliability of salivary markers in acne vulgaris.

Aims: The aims were to evaluate the insulin resistance (IR) and adipsin levels in serum and saliva in a sample of acne vulgaris patients; and to correlate IR and adipsin levels with the disease severity.

Methods: This prospective case-control study included 60 acne vulgaris patients (patients Group), in addition, 60 apparently healthy individuals (control group).

Methotrexate Mechanism of Action in Plaque Psoriasis: Something New in the Old View.

Background: Despite the era of biologic therapy in the management of psoriasis, methotrexate, the traditional backbone of psoriasis treatment, does not stop surprising us with what it can offer.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the peripheral expression and the serum levels of TWEAK in patients with psoriasis vulgaris before and after receiving methotrexate treatment.

Methods: The study included 58 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris, and 90 apparently healthy individuals as a control group.

Galectin-3 and Interleukin-17: A potential role in the pathogenesis of human papilloma virus infection.

Background: In many cases, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is self-limiting, as innate and adaptive cell-mediated immunity is needed for infection elimination; however, the inability of the immune system in some patients to clear the infection is a matter of debate. The interleukin-17 (IL-17) family cytokines play an important protective role in host immune response to infections, through maintaining immunity against specific pathogens, induction of antimicrobial proteins, and recruitment of neutrophils to sites of invasion. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) may be considered as a marker of viral infection as many studies reported its increased serum level in viral infections.

HMGB1-RAGE-moesin axis may be indicted for acne vulgaris.

Background: High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)-receptor for advanced glycation end (RAGE)-moesin axis could be implicated in induction of inflammation. However, there is a scarcity in literature discussing the role of this axis in inflammatory skin disorders.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of HMGB1 and moesin in patients with inflammatory acne vulgaris.

Inflammatory markers in acne vulgaris: Saliva as a novel diagnostic fluid.

Background: Despite the wide use of saliva-based measurements in inflammatory, autoimmune and neoplastic conditions, its use in dermatology is still limited.

Aims: The aims of this study were to assess the serum and salivary levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with acne vulgaris.

Patients/methods: The study included 84 moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris patients, in addition to 105 healthy control subjects.

Serum Zinc and Inflammatory Cytokines in Vitiligo.

The relation between zinc and the cytokines involved in vitiligo pathogenesis has not been studied well. We aimed to investigate the serum levels of zinc in patients with vitiligo and to assess their relation to serum interleukins (IL)-4, IL-6, and IL-17. The study included 50 patients with active vitiligo and 100 age-, sex-, and BMI-matched healthy volunteers as a control group.

Factors affecting vitiligo response to treatment: do MiRNA 196a2C/T gene polymorphism and serum tyrosinase levels have any role?

Background: Factors contributing to the pathogenesis of vitiligo and factors affecting its response to treatment are still a major area of debate.

Aim Of The Work: The study aimed to assess the serum levels of tyrosinase and Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) gene polymorphism in a sample of Egyptian vitiligo patients, and to determine factors affecting the response of vitiligo to treatment.

Subjects And Methods: This prospective case-control interventional study included 212 non-segmental vitiligo patients and 96 control subjects.

Association between seminal granulysin and malondialdehyde in infertile men with varicocele and the potential effect of varicocelectomy.

This study assessed the seminal plasma granulysin and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in patients suffering from varicocele-associated infertility prior to and after varicocelectomy. This study was conducted on 34 infertile men with varicocele (group A) and same patients after varicocelectomy (group B) and 32 fertile normozoospermic males (group C). A detailed history taking, clinical examination, scrotal doppler ultrasound for varicocele diagnosis and grading, semen analysis and estimation of seminal granulysin and MDA before and after varicocelectomy were done to all participants.

Serum Interleukin-15 is a Marker of Alopecia Areata Severity.

Background: Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a cytokine that is involved in many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Although alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease, serum levels of IL-15 have not been studied well in AA patients.

Aim Of The Work: We aims at evaluating the serum levels of IL-15 in active AA.