Pharmacogenomics of Methotrexate Pathway in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Approach toward Personalized Medicine.

Background: Methotrexate (MTX) is one of the most common medications used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could potentially predict variability in therapeutic outcomes. Aim: This study aims to assess the impact of SNPs in genes encoding for the MTX pathway for predicting clinical and therapeutic responses to MTX in a cohort of Egyptian patients with RA.

The association of CD40 polymorphism (rs1883832C/T) and soluble CD40 with the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus among Egyptian patients.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disorder of unknown etiology. Considerable evidence supports a genetic basis for susceptibility to SLE. Genetic and functional data suggested the CD40 receptor (CD40) and CD40 ligand (CD40L) as strong candidate genes for SLE.

Homocysteine, insulin-like growth factor one and oestrogen levels in patients with erectile dysfunction-associated chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

We assessed the change of homocysteine (Hcy), insulin-like growth factor one (IGF-Ι) and oestrogen (E2) levels in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Eighty-five male patients with chronic HCV and/or ED were enrolled in this study. Seventy-five men were assigned to three equal groups (n = 25/each); Group A: patients who had chronic HCV and ED.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 gene C-509T and T869C polymorphisms as possible risk factors in rheumatic heart disease in Egypt.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between the TGF-beta1 gene C-509T and T869C polymorphisms and rheumatic heart disease (RHD), as well as their clinical significance.

Methods: Seventy-three patients with RHD diagnosed by echocardiography (mean age 31.7 +/- 14.

Impact of hepatitis C virus infection on neutrophil oxidative burst function in hemodialysis patients.

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) functions have been studied extensively in hemodialysis (HD) patients; however, results are contradictory and the mechanisms that modulate phagocytosis and oxidative burst are not completely understood. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a frequent complication of HD that may be associated with disturbed PMN function; however, the impact of HCV infection on neutrophil oxidative burst function in HD patients is unknown. We investigated Neutrophil oxidative burst function in 24 HD patients (15 HCV-positive and, 9 HCV-negative patients) before and after dialysis.

Serum interleukin-8 and insulin like growth factor-1 in Egyptian bladder cancer patients.

Background: Bladder cancer is a major health problem in Egypt as it represents the most common malignancy.

Aim: Evaluation of the potential usefulness of serum IL-8 and IGF-1 in Egyptian bladder cancer patients.

Methods: Serum levels of IL-8 and IGF-1 were determined in 51 bladder cancer patients and 45 controls using a chemiluminescence enzyme immunometric assay.

Alterations in neutrophil surface expression of L-selectin (CD62L) and soluble L-selectin (sL-selectin) in hemodialysis patients: relation to HCV.

High levels of L-selectin (CD62L) are a strong indicator of endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Whether HCV infection (highly prevalent in HD patients and also associated with alterations in adhesion molecules) would affect the leukocytic expression and/or the soluble form of L-selectin in hemodialysis patients is unknown.

Age related testosterone depletion in patients with erectile dysfunction.

Purpose: We assessed the pattern of age related testosterone depletion in patients with erectile dysfunction.

Materials And Methods: A total of 305 patients with erectile dysfunction who had a normal testosterone level at baseline visit and who completed the study were candidates for analysis. Erectile function was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function.

Role of increased transforming growth factor beta protein expression in the pathogenesis of Peyronie's disease.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) has been implicated in many chronic fibrotic conditions such as pulmonary and hepatic fibrosis. Inhibition of TGF-beta activity can prevent the development of chronic hepatitis and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. We postulated that TGF-beta might play a role in the pathogenesis of Peyronie's disease (a localized connective tissue disorder that primarily affects the tunica albuginea and adjacent erectile tissue of the penis).

Soluble ICAM-1 in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection: a prognostic marker of disease activity.

Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-I (sICAM-1) is an important early marker of response to inflammatory mediators and immune activation released from a variety of cells including hepatocytes. At present, the most reliable determination of severity and prognosis in chronic viral hepatitis is the histological staging of the disease which is an invasive procedure and is often not well accepted by patients. The search for alternative non-invasive methods is mandatory especially in follow ups after initial assessment by biopsy.

Prostatic specific antigen in patients with hypogonadism: effect of testosterone replacement.

Introduction: The effect of parenteral testosterone replacement therapy on prostatic specific antigen (PSA) level or the development or growth of prostate cancer is unclear.

Aim: To assess the effect of testosterone replacement on PSA level in patients with hypogonadism associated with erectile dysfunction (ED).

Methods: A total of 187 male patients above the age of 45 with hypogonadism associated with ED were enrolled in this study.

Pattern of endocrinal changes in patients with sexual dysfunction.

Introduction: Many patients with endocrinal changes (endocrinopathy) have some degrees of sexual dysfunction that necessitate assessment and treatment.

Aim: To assess the prevalence, and identify the pattern, of endocrinopathy in patients with sexual dysfunction in our community.

Methods: A total of 1,248 male patients with sexual dysfunction were enrolled in this study.

TT virus infection among Egyptian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) have been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, a novel DNA virus was isolated from a patient with posttransfusion hepatitis of unknown etiology and designated TT virus (TTV). To examine whether this virus is associated with HCC, we investigated sera from 82 Egyptian patients with histopathologically-diagnosed HCC.

IL-10 and IL-12p40 in Egyptian patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide with a prevalence of approximately 14% in Egypt. IL-10 is a cytokine produced by Th2 cells. It down-regulates the proinflammatory response and modulates hepatic fibrogenesis.