Atherosclerosis Associated With COVID-19: Acute, Tends to Severely Involve Peripheral Arteries, and May be Reversible.

Arterial stiffness was reported with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We studied atherosclerosis in COVID-19 directly through duplex ultrasound measurements and their relation to co-morbidities, clinical and laboratory severity markers, and serum interleukin (IL) 6 and 17. Serum IL 6 and 17, average carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), diameter and peak systolic velocities (PSV) of tibial, ulnar, radial arteries, and ankle brachial index (ABI) were measured in 44 COVID-19 patients and 44 healthy controls.

B-cell activating factor and A proliferation-inducing ligand in relation to intima-media thickness as biomarkers of premature atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation of the serum B-cell activating factor (BAFF), A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and interleukin (IL)-21 with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) to evaluate their efficacy as non-invasive biomarkers for the risk of premature development of atherosclerosis.

Methods: ELISA test was used to quantify serum BAFF, APRIL and IL-21 in 40 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 20 healthy controls (HCs). The obtained results were correlated with disease duration, anti-double stranded DNA, complement proteins levels, lipid profile, cIMT and the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI).

Interleukin 37; a possible marker of arterial stiffness in Behçet's disease.

Background: Interleukin 37 (IL-37) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine previously studied in Behçet's disease (BD) and atherosclerosis. However, little is known about its relation to macro and microcirculations in BD. Previous studies relied mainly on common carotid artery (CCA) intima-media thickness (IMT) and ankle brachial index (ABI) to study atherosclerosis in BD with conflicting results.

The potential use of serum interleukin-21 as biomarker for lupus nephritis activity compared to cytokines of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family.

Objective: Lupus nephritis (LN) is a significant consequence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that focuses on evaluation of serum interleukin (IL-) 21 as a diagnostic biomarker of LN activity, compared to B lymphocyte stimulator (BlyS), tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 13 (TNF-SF13), and traditional techniques of active LN attempting to compare their diagnostic usefulness.

Methods: Serum levels of IL-21, BlyS, and TNF-SF13 during LN were investigated.

Evaluating the role of serum sclerostin as an indicator of activity and damage in Egyptian patients with rheumatoid arthritis: university hospital experience.

Objective: Sclerostin is an osteocyte-derived glycoprotein which inhibits the canonical Wnt pathway essential for osteoblastic activity decreasing bone formation. Its potential role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis was highlighted by experimental studies. Here we measured the serum sclerostin in RA patients and evaluated its relationship with disease activity and damage.

Serum Transforming Growth Factor-Beta 1 Level in Egyptian Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the role of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Patients And Methods: The study included 40 female SLE patients (mean age 25.5±6.

Role of long non-coding RNAs expression (ANRIL, NOS3-AS, and APOA1-AS) in development of atherosclerosis in Egyptian systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

To quantify the expression level of three lncRNAs which are known to be relevant to atherosclerosis (ANRIL, NOS3-AS, and APOA1-AS) in SLE patients and to assess their relationship with atherogenic and inflammatory biomarkers. The circulating levels of these lncRNAs were assessed using RT-PCR, in addition to measurement of E-selectin, V-CAM1, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), total nitric oxide (NOx), and lipid profile in 65 SLE patients (35 atherosclerotic and 30 non-atherosclerotic) and 35 healthy subjects. The expression levels of these lncRNAs were higher in SLE patients than in healthy controls.

Evaluation of scars in children after treatment with low-level laser.

Burn scars are known for their tendency to worsen with hypertrophy and contracture, causing esthetic and functional problems. The objective is to analyze the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy on post-burn hypertrophic scar tissue in children. A randomized controlled study included 15 children, ranging from 2 to 10 years of age, presented with post-burn hypertrophic scars.

Vascular affection in relation to oxidative DNA damage in metabolic syndrome.

Introduction: Obesity has become an important issue affecting both males and females. Obesity is now regarded as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis-related diseases. Metabolic syndrome is associated with increased risk for development of cardiovascular disease.

Photobiomodulation effect on children's scars.

The management of burn scars has become one of the major clinical challenges in the developing countries which involve enormous treatment cost; this needs new methods for better cost benefit relationship. The objective of the study is to analyze the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy on post-burn scar tissue in children. A randomized controlled study included 15 children, ranging from 2 to 10 years of age, presenting with burn scars.

Vitamin D as a risk factor for premature atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Several cardiovascular risk factors have been recognized in patients with diabetes and vitamin D deficiency is emerging as a new risk. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of vitamin D deficiency on the incidence of premature atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A total of 78 patients with type 2 diabetes were subjected to history taking, physical examination, fasting glucose level, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, lipid profile, 25(OH) vitamin D measurement, and carotid Doppler.

Plasma Osteopontin Level in Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted glycoprotein and is frequently associated with various tumors.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the clinical usefulness of the level of plasma OPN, compared to α-fetoprotein (AFP), as a biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate its diagnostic value in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its relationship with clinical and laboratory features of HCC and NAFLD.

Patients And Methods: The study was performed on 120 subjects classified into 5 groups: Group I included 25 chronic non-cirrhotic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients; Group II encompassed 25 patients with chronic HCV infection with liver cirrhosis; Group III comprised 25 patients with chronic HCV with liver cirrhosis and HCC; Group IV was comprised of 25 patients with NAFLD; and Group V consisted of 20 healthy age- and sex-matched controls.

Microparticles (CD146) and Arterial Stiffness Versus Carotid Intima Media Thickness as an Early Predictors of Vascular Affection in Systemic Lupus Patients.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate cluster of differentiation 146 (CD146) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) as non-invasive methods for prediction of early vascular affection in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients without symptoms of vascular disease, to detect the outcome and reproducibility of these methods, and to correlate CD146 and PWV with lipid profile, intima media thickness (IMT), and ankle brachial index.

Patients And Methods: Thirty female SLE patients (mean age 26.6±6.