Serum-soluble suppression of tumourigenicity-2 as a biomarker in children with congestive heart failure.

Background: We aimed to evaluate serum soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 in children with congestive heart failure, to assess the diagnostic and prognostic values of soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 in these patients, and to correlate its levels with various clinical and echocardiographic data.

Methods: We included 60 children with congestive heart failure as the patient group. Sixty healthy children of matched age and sex served as the control group.

Therapeutic efficacy of different iron chelators in Egyptian children with Beta Thalassemia with iron overload.

Backgrounds: Beta thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder characterized by reduced or absent beta chains of hemoglobin resulting in imbalanced globin chain synthesis with early destruction of RBCs and anemia. Patients with thalassemia major become transfusion- dependent with subsequent iron overload. Effective iron chelation therapy remains the main target of management of thalassemia major.

Fibrosis severity and mannan-binding lectin (MBL)/MBL-associated serine protease 1 (MASP-1) complex in HCV-infected patients.

Background And Study Aims: Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a collectin synthesised in the liver and secreted into the bloodstream. It binds micro-organisms via interactions with glycans on the target surface. Bound MBL subsequently activates MBL-associated serine protease proenzymes (MASPs).

Regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted chemokine and interleukin-6 in rheumatic pulmonary hypertension, targets for therapeutic decisions.

Background: Recent studies have highlighted the possible influence of chemokines and cytokines on several types of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Increasing interest has also been focussed on their role as a cause of post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) organ dysfunction.

Hypothesis: Chemokines and cytokines are involved in the pathobiology of rheumatic PAH.