Analysis of Candidate miRNAs' Expression in Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most aggressive types of cancer. Despite advances in molecular diagnostics, PC diagnosis relies on imaging technologies and morphological assessment of fine needle aspirates (FNAs). MicroRNA (miRNA) involvement in PC pathogenesis and potential diagnostics application have been suggested, albeit current supporting evidence is lacking.

Analysis of Pancreatic Cancer Genetic Risk Factors in a Multi-Ethnic Population Sample.

Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) has one of the highest mortality to incidence ratio of all cancers. Early identification of at-risk individuals should permit early diagnosis. Genome-wide association studies showed the association of several genetic variants with PC risk in multi-ethnic populations.

miR-24-3p and miR-484 are potential biomarkers for neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex, neurodegenerative chronic disorder. Circulating diagnostic biomarkers for MS have remained elusive, and those proposed so far have limited sensitivity and specificity to MS. Plasma-circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have advantageous biochemical and physiological attributes that can be utilized in clinical testing and disease monitoring.

Analysis of potential microRNA biomarkers for multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating autoimmune neurodegenerative disorder for which no specific blood biomarker is available. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been investigated for their diagnostic potential in MS. However, MS-associated miRNAs are rarely replicated in different MS populations, thus impeding their use in clinical testing.

Uncommon fundus presentation of Koolen-De Vries Syndrome in a young boy.

Introduction: Koleen-De Vries syndrome (KDVS) is a rare genetic condition characterized by typical facial features, intellectual disability, cardiac and renal diseases, and ophthalmic manifestations. The syndrome is known to be caused by a microdeletion in the 17q21.31 region, involving multiple genes, including the KANSL1 gene.

Exploring the relationship between vitamin D and leptin hormones in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients from Kuwait.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity are prevalent in Kuwait. Vitamin D (VD) deficiency and leptin resistance are risk factors for both disorders. A correlation between the two risk factors has been suggested albeit inconsistently reported.

Predictors of Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating autoimmune disorder. Several factors have been shown to associate with MS clinical severity. The influence of different lifestyle factors on MS clinical severity as assessed by the Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) was investigated.

Replication analysis of variants associated with multiple sclerosis risk.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complex chronic neurodegenerative disorder resulting from an autoimmune reaction against myelin. So far, many genetic variants have been reported to associate with MS risk however their association is inconsistent across different populations. Here we investigated the association of the most consistently reported genetic MS risk variants in the Kuwaiti MS population in a case-control study designs.

Thymol tolerance in Escherichia coli induces morphological, metabolic and genetic changes.

Background: Thymol is a phenolic compound used for its wide spectrum antimicrobial activity. There is a limited understanding of the antimicrobial mechanisms underlying thymol activity. To investigate this, E.

The FTO gene polymorphism rs9939609 is associated with obesity and disability in multiple sclerosis patients.

Obesity is a well-known risk factor for multiple diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). Polymorphisms in the fat-mass obesity (FTO) gene have been consistently found to be associated with obesity, and recently found to increase the risk of developing MS. We therefore assessed the common FTO gene polymorphism (rs9939609) in relation to obesity, risk of developing MS and its disability in a cohort of MS patients.

Vitamin D pathway related polymorphisms and vitamin D receptor expression in breast cancer.

Vitamin D deficiency is an emerging risk factor for breast cancer suggesting its role in breast cancer pathogenesis. Recent evidence suggests vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression is a prognosis predictor in breast cancer. We set out to determine the status of VDR expression in histologically characterized breast cancers, and whether common genetic variants modify VDR expression in breast cancer.

Leptin rs7799039 polymorphism is associated with multiple sclerosis risk in Kuwait.

Background: Leptin association with Multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis and MS related clinical characteristics is inconsistent. Here, we investigated whether two common variants in leptin (LEP) and leptin receptor (LEPR) genes influence MS risk and leptin levels in MS patients.

Methods: In a case-control study including 169 MS patients and 100 controls we examined the association of leptin in MS.

Hormone Receptors and Human Epidermal Growth Factor (HER2) Expression in Fine-Needle Aspirates from Metastatic Breast Carcinoma - Role in Patient Management.

Introduction: Estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and epidermal growth factor (HER2) are prognostic and predictive factors for breast carcinoma. We determined them by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on cell blocks from fine-needle aspirates (FNA) of metastatic breast carcinoma to axillary lymphnodes and compared them with that reported in the primary breast carcinoma (PBC) to document any change in their expression for future management.

Materials And Methods: ER, PR, and HER2 by IHC and HER2 oncogene by fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) were studied on cell blocks of FNA of axillary lymphnodes in 53 of 94 PBC cases from 2012 to 2016.

Angiopoietin-like proteins in multiple sclerosis.

Angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTLs) are a group of proteins with functions in lipid metabolism, angiogenesis, and inflammation. Here, we investigated their involvement in multiple sclerosis (MS) progression and response to treatment in 100 MS patients and 77 healthy controls. ANGPTLs significantly associated with MS progression and response to therapy.

Association of FTO rs9939609 with Obesity in the Kuwaiti Population: A Public Health Concern?

Objective: To investigate the effect of the common fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene polymorphism rs9939609 on body mass index (BMI) in one of the most obese populations worldwide.

Subjects And Methods: Genotypic data for FTO rs9939609 were available for 1,034 unrelated Kuwaiti adults obtained from Kuwait's Dasman Diabetes Institute and Kuwait University. The association between the FTO polymorphism with BMI as continuous and categorical (normal BMI [< 25] vs.

Remyelination modulators in multiple sclerosis patients.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complex autoimmune neuro-inflammatory disorder characterized by persistent MS plaques in the central nervous system. Resolution of MS plaques is dependent on the remyelination competence of surviving oligodendrocytes and surrounding environment. Here, we assessed myelination modulators in a 100 MS patients against 77 healthy controls.

PLXNA3 Variant rs5945430 is Associated with Severe Clinical Course in Male Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) exhibits sex bias in disease clinical course as male MS patients develop severe, progressive clinical course with accumulating disability. So far, no factors have been found associating with this sex bias in MS severity. We set out to determine the genetic factor contributing to MS male-specific progressive disease.

Assessment of plasma biomarkers for their association with Multiple Sclerosis progression.

In a cross-sectional study involving 160 Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients and 70 healthy controls we set out to determine the association of five blood biomarkers with MS risk and progression scores. High levels of Semaphorin3A (SEMA3A) in females, and low levels of prolactin and estradiol in males associated with MS risk. High MS disability correlated with higher SEMA3A levels in females.

Identification of 42 Genes Linked to Stage II Colorectal Cancer Metastatic Relapse.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality. Metastasis remains the primary cause of CRC death. Predicting the possibility of metastatic relapse in early-stage CRC is of paramount importance to target therapy for patients who really need it and spare those with low-potential of metastasis.

Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in nonsmall cell lung carcinoma patients in Kuwait.

Context: Nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is the most frequently diagnosed form of lung cancer in Kuwait. NSCLC samples from Kuwait have never been screened for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene aberration, which is known to affect treatment options.

Aims: This study investigated the feasibility of using fine-needle aspiration (FNA) material for mutational screening, and whether common EGFR mutations are present in NSCLC samples from Kuwait.

The Association of Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms with Multiple Sclerosis in a Case-Control Study from Kuwait.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with several diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). Several factors influence vitamin D levels and its optimal multi-function maintenance. Our objective was to assess quantifiable variables influencing vitamin D level and metabolism in MS patients from Kuwait.

Gender influence in EBV antibody response in multiple sclerosis patients from Kuwait.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is implicated with multiple sclerosis (MS) risk, exacerbation, and progression. The HLA-DRB1*1501 haplotype is a strong MS risk factor consistently documented in MS populations. There are no studies of EBV infections and HLA-DRB1*1501 haplotype associating with MS from Kuwait where MS prevalence has increased significantly.

Disruptive environmental chemicals and cellular mechanisms that confer resistance to cell death.

Cell death is a process of dying within biological cells that are ceasing to function. This process is essential in regulating organism development, tissue homeostasis, and to eliminate cells in the body that are irreparably damaged. In general, dysfunction in normal cellular death is tightly linked to cancer progression.

Causes of genome instability: the effect of low dose chemical exposures in modern society.

Genome instability is a prerequisite for the development of cancer. It occurs when genome maintenance systems fail to safeguard the genome's integrity, whether as a consequence of inherited defects or induced via exposure to environmental agents (chemicals, biological agents and radiation). Thus, genome instability can be defined as an enhanced tendency for the genome to acquire mutations; ranging from changes to the nucleotide sequence to chromosomal gain, rearrangements or loss.