Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with decreased bone mineral density in upper Egyptian patients.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been linked with a number of extra hepatic diseases and could be a potential risk factor of decreasing bone mineral density. To determine whether Upper Egyptian patients with NAFLD are at risk of developing osteoporosis. Cross sectional study was done on a total 100 individuals; 50 patients diagnosed with NAFLD (based on ultrasound imaging) crossed-matched with 50 individuals without NAFLD based on age, sex and body mass index.

Apolipoprotein M Gene Polymorphism Rs805297 (C-1065A): Association With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Related Microvascular Complications in South Egypt.

Background: Apolipoprotein M (ApoM) may have a role in the susceptibility of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Polymorphisms in the promoter region of the ApoM gene were found to be significantly associated with diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of ApoM SNP rs805297 (C-1065A) with the susceptibility of T2DM and related microvascular complications in South Egypt.

Down-regulation of Regulatory T-cells in Children With Gaucher Disease Under Enzyme Replacement Therapy.

Gaucher disease (GD) is one of the most important lysosomal storage disorders. T-lymphocytes perform and regulate many of the immune processes and play a major role in immune homeostasis. Studies have shown that GD causes impairment in T-lymphocyte functions, although the role and status of T-lymphocytes in GD are still under investigation.

Daclatasvir and Sofosbuvir Therapy Enhance Monocyte Phenotypic Changes in Naive Chronic Hepatitis C Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Liver inflammation influences monocyte function, recruitment, and consequently inflammatory and fibrogenic responses. We aimed to investigate changes in the circulating monocyte phenotypes in response to Daclatasvir-Sofosbuvir (SOF/DCV) therapy in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and relate findings to the viral kinetics and the fibrosis score.

Methods: A longitudinal study involving 100 treatment-naïve patients and 30 healthy controls, tested for liver function, fibrosis scores (AST to platelet ratio index, FIB-4), and blood monocyte subsets based on CD14/CD16 expression by flow cytometer.

Frequency and Implications of Natural Killer and Natural Killer T Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

A complex role of the immune system has been highlighted in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Natural Killer cells (NK) and natural killer T cells (NKT) cells are among the innate immune lymphocytes that predominate in the liver and can prevent tumor growth and metastasis. The aim of the study was to measure the percentages of NK and NKT cells among a sample of Egyptian patients with HCC and to find the association between their frequencies and disease progression.

Theophylline increases saliva sonic hedgehog and improves taste dysfunction.

Objective: To determine changes in saliva sonic hedgehog (Shh) and in taste dysfunction before and after oral theophylline treatment.

Design: Shh was measured in parotid saliva of both normal subjects and patients with taste dysfunction of multiple etiologies by use of a sensitive spectrophotometric ELISA assay. Taste dysfunction was defined clinically by both subjective inhibition of taste function (including acuity loss) and impaired gustometry.

Sonic hedgehog is present in parotid saliva and is decreased in patients with taste dysfunction.

Purpose: To demonstrate that sonic hedgehog (Shh) is present in human parotid saliva and is decreased in human taste dysfunction.

Methods: Shh was measured in parotid saliva of 27 normal subjects and 81 patients with taste dysfunction of multiple etiologies using a sensitive spectrophotometric ELISA assay. Taste dysfunction was defined clinically both by subjective decreases of taste acuity and flavor perception and by impaired gustometry.

Improved smell function with increased nasal mucus sonic hedgehog in hyposmic patients after treatment with oral theophylline.

Purpose: We previously demonstrated the presence of sonic hedgehog (Shh) in nasal mucus in normal subjects and in patients with smell loss (hyposmia). Nasal mucus Shh levels were found significantly diminished in untreated hyposmic patients of multiple etiologies. Since treatment with oral theophylline has been previously associated with improvement in smell function we wished to study if such treatment increased nasal mucus Shh as well as improved smell function in patients with hyposmia.

On the mechanism of smell loss in patients with Type II congenital hyposmia.

Background: Smell function has been initiated with theophylline treatment in 63% of patients with Type II congenital smell loss. Based upon a systematic evaluation of the protein components of nasal mucus we have demonstrated that interactions among four chemical moieties in nasal mucus may play significant roles in this initiation. Prior to treatment three of these moieties, cAMP, cGMP and sonic hedgehog (Shh), were significantly decreased in concentration whereas one of these moieties, TNFalpha, was increased in concentration.

Initiation of smell function in patients with congenital hyposmia.

Background: Patients with congenital smell loss (hyposmia) are born without a sense of smell. They comprise two types. Type I patients have genetic abnormalities manifested by brain, gonadal and other somatic abnormalities.

A new role for translation initiation factor 2 in maintaining genome integrity.

Escherichia coli translation initiation factor 2 (IF2) performs the unexpected function of promoting transition from recombination to replication during bacteriophage Mu transposition in vitro, leading to initiation by replication restart proteins. This function has suggested a role of IF2 in engaging cellular restart mechanisms and regulating the maintenance of genome integrity. To examine the potential effect of IF2 on restart mechanisms, we characterized its influence on cellular recovery following DNA damage by methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and UV damage.