IKZF1 rs4132601 and rs11978267 gene polymorphisms and paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus; relation to lupus nephritis.

The demographic factors, the socioeconomic status and the ethnicity of populations are important players that determine the incidence, the prevalence and the spectrum of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) clinical presentations in different populations. Therefore, the purpose of the present research was to investigate the possible association between the Ikaros family zinc finger 1 gene (IKZF1) rs4132601 and rs11978267 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and SLE susceptibility and clinical presentations including lupus nephritis (LN) among Egyptian paediatric patients. After DNA extraction from Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) blood samples for 104 paediatric SLE (pSLE) patients and 286 healthy controls, the investigated SNPs (IKZF1 rs4132601 and rs11978267) were genotyped using TaqMan-Real-time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

A Notorious Trio! Inflammation, Metabolic Syndrome and Vitiligo.

Background: There is evidence to support that vitiligo is linked to metabolic syndrome (MS), confirming its systemic nature. However, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms remain unknown.

Objectives: To reveal the possible association of MS with vitiligo.

Apolipoprotein E Gene Polymorphism, Serum Lipids, and Risk of Superficial Fungal Infections in Egyptian Patients - A Preliminary Case-Controlled Study.

Background: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene isoforms have been found to affect the risk of superficial fungal infections (SFIs). However, the data only cover a few ethnicities.

Aims: The present work intended to investigate the association of APOE gene polymorphism and serum lipids with the susceptibility of SFIs among a group of Egyptian patients.

Serum Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (sICAM-1): A Novel Potential Biomarker in Severe Acne Vulgaris.

Background: Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic inflammatory disorder. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a vital adhesion molecule mediating cellular adhesion during the inflammatory process.

Aims And Objectives: To evaluate serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) level in AV patients as an attempt to elucidate its role in acne pathogenesis and to relate with studied clinical parameters.

Serum Fetuin-A: A Novel Potential Link Between Post-adolescent Acne and Insulin Resistance.

Background: Post-adolescent acne is acne in patients aged older than 25 years. It is more common in women, suggesting an underlying hormonal imbalance. It has been postulated that insulin resistance (IR) may play a role in pathogenesis.

Perceived stigma and healthcare services in healthcare settings among people living with HIV in Egypt: a qualitative study.

Background: The researchers conducted the current study to explore the perspectives of people living with HIV (PLHIV) on HIV-related discrimination and the delivery of healthcare services in healthcare settings.

Methods: An exploratory study using a qualitative approach was conducted among 46 PLHIV who were seeking HIV counselling and treatment from two HIV centres in the Cairo governorate using a purposive sampling technique.

Results: A thematic content analysis was used to examine the responses.

Diagnostic implications of MicroRNAs; 155, 146 a, and 203 lesional expression in alopecia areata: A preliminary case-controlled study.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is an immune mediated disorder that attacks hair follicles with unknown pathophysiology. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules, and their aberrant expression or function has been involved in different autoimmune conditions.

Objectives: We aimed at exploring the association between some miRNAs lesional expression and AA pathogenesis by measurement of miRNAs-155, 146a, and 203 expression levels in the lesional skin from patchy AA patients and to evaluate their relation with the studied parameters.

Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion deletion polymorphism and androgenetic alopecia susceptibility among Egyptian patients: A preliminary case-controlled study.

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a prevalent condition with a complex etiopathogenesis. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene located on the chromosome 17q23 contains an insertion (I) and deletion (D) polymorphism in the intron 16. This gene polymorphism plays a role in multiple inflammatory disorders.

rs10821936 and rs10994982 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis.

Background: The prevalence of SLE and the spectrum of clinical manifestations vary widely in different races and geographical populations.

Objective: To investigate the possible role of rs10821936 and rs10994982 polymorphism as a risk factor for the development of SLE in children (jSLE) and to evaluate their role in relation to clinical manifestations especially lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: DNA extraction and Real-time PCR genotyping of rs10821936 and rs10994982 were done for 104 jSLE and 282 healthy controls.

Metabolic syndrome in androgenetic alopecia patients; Is serum regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted the missing link?

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss affecting both men and women. There are many conflicting results about the relationship between AGA and metabolic syndrome, (MetS) and the pathogenesis of the metabolic disorders in AGA patients is not completely elucidated.

Aims: Evaluation of the prevalence of MetS and the possible role of RANTES in pathogenesis of the MS among AGA patients.

Cross talk between oxidative stress and inflammation in alopecia areata.

Background: Although the etiopathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA) is still unclear, inflammation, oxidative stress, and subsequent DNA damage might be considered role players in disease development.

Aim: We aimed at exploring the potential link between oxidative DNA damage and inflammation in AA patients through measuring 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), and one of the inflammatory mediators, C-reactive protein (CRP).

Methods: A total of 79 subjects (49 AA patients in addition to 30 apparently healthy control subjects) were tested for serum levels of 8-OHdG, HMBG1, and CRP.

IKZF1 rs4132601 and rs11978267 Gene Polymorphisms and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Relation to Disease Susceptibility and Outcome.

(IKZF1) rs4132601 and rs11978267 are common gene polymorphisms and have been associated with the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, these associations are less evident in races and/or ethnicities other than European and Hispanic. Therefore, we investigated the association between these single-nucleotide polymorphisms and acute lymphoblastic leukemia susceptibility and disease outcome.

Methylation of tumour suppressor genes and in HCV-related liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

: HCV infection is related to aberrant methylation of several genes. and are tumour suppressor genes that may be inactivated by hypermethylation in many tumours including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We hypothesized that methylation is a diagnostic biomarker for HCC in patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis.

Fish oil plus wheat germ oil have no prominent effect on homocysteine levels and nutritional indices in hemodialysis patients.

Elevated homocysteine levels and malnutrition are frequently detected in hemodialysis patients and are believed to exacerbate cardiovascular comorbidities. Omega-3 fatty acids have been postulated to lower homocysteine levels by up-regulating metabolic enzymes and improving substrate availability for homocysteine degradation. Additionally, it has been suggested that prevention of folate depletion by vitamin E consumption decreases homocysteine levels.

rs10821936 and rs10994982 gene polymorphisms and acute lymphoblastic leukemia: relation to disease susceptibility and outcome.

rs10821936 and rs10994982 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) have been associated with the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in different ethnic populations. We investigated the association between the rs10821936 C > T, rs10994982 A > G, and susceptibility to ALL in a cohort of Egyptian individuals and investigated their role in relation to disease outcome. Real-time PCR typing was done for rs10821936 and rs10994982 SNPs for 128 pediatric ALL (pALL), 45 adult ALL (aALL), and 436 healthy controls.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and family history in severe acne vulgaris.

Background: Acne vulgaris is an inflammatory disorder with a profound heterogenous aetio-pathophysiology. ACE gene I/D polymorphism affects angiotensin-converting enzyme activities that play a role in inflammation. However, there are no molecular genetic studies investigating the contribution of ACE gene insertion/deletion polymorphism in the genetic background of acne vulgaris.

GATA3 rs3824662 gene polymorphism as possible risk factor for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: There is no report about the association between GATA3 rs3824662 polymorphism and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Objective: To investigate the possible role of GATA3 rs3824662 polymorphism as a susceptibility risk factor for either adult SLE (aSLE) or pediatric SLE (pSLE) and to evaluate its role in the development of lupus nephritis (LN) in pSLE.

Methods: Typing of GATA3 rs3824662 polymorphism was done using real-time polymerase chain reaction for three groups; 104 pSLE patients, 140 aSLE patients and 436 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Evaluation of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms (Fok-I and Bsm-I) in T1DM Saudi children.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency conferred strongest susceptibility to pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Altered gene expression and function have strong effect on VDR gene polymorphism.

Objectives: We aimed to check for the association of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in VDR gene (Fok-I and Bsm-I) with T1DM in Saudi children.

The impact of fish oil and wheat germ oil combination on mineral-bone and inflammatory markers in maintenance hemodialysis patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the impact of combined supplementation of fish oil (FO) with antioxidants like wheat germ oil (WGO) on mineral-bone and inflammatory markers in maintenance HD patients.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 46 HD patients who were randomly assigned into two groups to receive daily 3000 mg of FO [1053 mg omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FAs)] plus 300 mg of WGO [0.765 mg vitamin E] or placebo for 4 months.

Tuberculosis/toxoplasmosis co-infection in Egyptian patients: A reciprocal impact.

Objective: To assess the concurrent toxoplasmosis infection in Egyptian TB patients and the impact of each infection on the other in terms of increased severity of TB or reactivation of latent Toxoplasma infection.

Methods: Three hundred suspected pulmonary TB cases were initially screened for TB using direct Ziehl Neelsen staining and Lowenstein Jensen culture of their sputa. Rifampicin resistance was detected by Xpert MTB/RIF assay.

Interleukin-17A rs2275913, Interleukin-17F rs763780 and rs2397084 gene polymorphisms as possible risk factors in Juvenile lupus and lupus related nephritis.

Unlabelled: There are no reports about the association of interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F gene polymorphism and susceptibility to pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE).

Objective: To examine the possible role of IL-17A rs2275913, IL-17F rs763780 and rs2397084 polymorphisms as risk factors for pSLE in a cohort of Egyptian children and to investigate their association with the clinico-pathological features including lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: Typing of IL-17A and IL-17F polymorphisms was done using restriction fragment length polymorphism for 115 children with SLE and 259 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Relation of interleukin-10 Promoter Polymorphisms to Adult Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura in a Cohort of Egyptian Population.

Background: Adult chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (chronic ITP) is an autoimmune multifactorial bleeding disorder that occurs because of enhanced peripheral platelet destruction. Treatment decisions can be challenging because the goal of treatment is to prevent severe bleeding, but the risk of bleeding can be difficult to estimate for any individual patient.

Objective: This case-control study was planned to investigate the relationship of interleukin (IL)-10 promoter (IL-10-1082, -819 and -592) polymorphisms with the susceptibility, severity and outcome of adult chronic ITP in a cohort of Egyptian population.

C1q rs292001 polymorphism and C1q antibodies in juvenile lupus and their relation to lupus nephritis.

C1q deficiency is related strongly to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but very few and inconsistent studies explored the single nucleotide polymorphisms of the C1q gene in relation to juvenile SLE (jSLE) and lupus nephritis (LN). The objective of this study was to analyse whether C1q rs 292001 polymorphism is associated with SLE and disease phenotype, especially nephritis, and to investigate the relation between this polymorphism and clinical data, treatment outcome, serum level of C1q protein and antibodies. Typing of C1q rs292001 polymorphism using restriction fragment length polymorphism and measuring serum levels of C1q protein and antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed for 130 children with SLE and 208 healthy controls.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T and A1298C polymorphism and susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a cohort of Egyptian children.

This case-control study was planned to investigate the possible role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C polymorphisms as a risk factor for the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in a cohort of Egyptian children. Typing of MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms was done using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for 100 children with ALL and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. No significant differences were found between patients with ALL and controls for the frequency of MTHFR C677T and A1298C alleles, genotypes, combined genotypes or haplotypes.