Background Recent data display the possible role of cytokines such as interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-17 and IL-23 as a link between dyslipidemia and atopy; however, the relationship between dyslipidemia, allergic rhinitis (AR), and the underlying mechanisms involved is unclear. Purpose To measure the lipid profile and IL-17A level in AR patients in comparison to healthy controls, and correlate serum lipid level with the severity of symptoms and quality of life (QoL) of AR patients. Patients and Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from AR patients (n=70) and a control group (n=80). Samples were analyzed for serum total IgE by ELISA, serum lipid profile, and IL-17A level by ELISA. Severity of AR symptoms was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) score and the rhinoconjunctivitis QoL questionnaire. Results Serum lipid profile and level of IL-17A in AR patients were significantly higher in comparison to controls (P < 0.001). Positive correlations were found between total cholesterol (TC) and the severity of AR and QoL. IL-17A was positively correlated with triglyceride (TG) level and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P=0.011, r =0.303; P=0.043, r =0.242, respectively). Additionally, IL-17A was negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level ( P =0.036, r =−0.251). IL-17A was positively correlated with both age and VAS score with statistical significance (P=0.033, r =0.225; P=0.011, r =0.302, respectively). Conclusion Dyslipidemia might play a potential role in the severity of AR symptoms and impairment of patients’ QoL. Highlighting this association might alert physicians to evaluate the lipid profile in AR patients for timely diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia in an attempt to improve disease control and improve QoL.

Background Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is currently used for serologic screening in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but with low sensitivity ranging 41–65% with a high rate of false-negative and false-positive results. For the hypermethylation of the p16 inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (p16INK4A), a tumor suppressor gene results in the uncontrolled division of cells. This suggests that the loss of p16INK4A function due to promoter methylation may be an early event in HCC pathogenesis so the study aimed to assess aberrant p16INK4A gene methylation as an early diagnostic marker in HCC patients. Results Our study revealed a highly significant increase of p16INK4A methylation in patients versus controls (Fisher, 36.11; p < 0.01). P16INK4A methylation was detected in 86.6% (26/30) and none of the controls were methylated (100% specificity) compared to the low sensitivity of AFP 65.38% at a cutoff value of 28 ng/mL. Data revealed non-significant difference of p16INK4A methylation status between different HCC Barcelona stages (Fisher, 0.055; p > 0.05). While, AFP levels were statistically significantly higher in stages B and C (median = 243,400 ng/mL, respectively, when compared to stage A (median = 10 ng/mL) (H:16.667, p < 0.01)). Conclusion Early diagnosis of HCC can be achieved through the detection of p16INK4A gene methylation in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients with normal serum AFP especially in known cirrhotic patients that deteriorate clinically without apparent etiology.

Background Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) constitutes a clinical phenotype of severe lung injury associated with many causes. Endothelial activation and injury is a component of ARDS. The release of von Willebrand factor (vWF) indicates direct endothelial cell damage has occurred, and this can be used as a marker of endothelium injury. The aim of the study was to investigate the diagnostic value of vWF antigen as a determinant of early detection of ARDS in comparison to interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a control biomarker. vWF antigen and IL-6 were measured in 60 patients who were at risk of developing ARDS on T0 (at the start of the study), T48 (after 48 h), and T72 (after 72 h). Results Higher vWF Ag levels were seen in patients at risk of developing ARDS with direct cause of lung injury than those with indirect causes. Include groups I and II. There was a highly significant increase between the “at risk of developing ARDS” patients, VWF Ag, and IL-6 levels. The results were recorded at T0 (i.e., at start of the study baseline reading), T48 (after 48 h), and T72 (after 72 h), p 0.001 and p 0.05, respectively. A value of vWF Ag of 447% on the 3rd day of ARDS showed a sensitivity of 94.9% and specificity 56.7% compared to IL-6 at 246 pg/ml with 79.5% sensitivity and 52.4% specificity. As a comparison between VWF and IL6 levels among ARDS patients, they both show statistical correlation together. Conclusion The results of our study point out to VWF as a sensitive and good diagnostic marker for ARDS diagnosis.

Background: Coronary artery disease is a multifactorial disease where genetic risk factors are targeted by the environmental risk factors leads to disease pathogenesis. CYP2J2 is a monooxygenase which metabolize arachidonic acid into cardioprotective compounds. Genetic polymorphisms in CYP2J2 are common especially CYP2J2*7 (rs890293) which reduce CYP2J2 gene expression and subsequently its cardioprotective effects. Aim of Study:The aim of the present case control study to investigate the relation between CYP2J2*7 (G-50T) (rs890293) gene polymorphism and coronary artery disease (CAD) susceptibility and severity in a cohort of Egyptian individuals. Patients and Methods:The study was conducted on 50 CAD patients and 50 age and sex-matched apparently healthy individuals. Assay of CYP2J2*7 gene SNP (rs890293) was performed by PCR amplification and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Results:Our results revealed that the genotypic and allelic frequencies of G-50T didn't show any statistically significant association neither with the susceptibility of coronary artery disease or with the number of significantly diseased coronaries. Also no statistically significant difference between GG genotypes patients and GT genotypes patients as regard risk factors for CAD. Conclusions:There was no significant association between CYP2J2*7 gene polymorphism (G-50T) (rs890293) and risk of coronary artery disease and also no association between this gene polymorphism and the severity of CAD in the sample of Egyptian population included in this study.

Background: Migraine is a recurrent neurovascular disorder which lowers the quality of life. Middle-aged women are more susceptible to migraine than men. It is either migraine with aura (MA) or migraine without aura (MO). Molecular genetic studies of migraine have investigated many polymorphisms possibly associated with migraine particularly rs4846049 and A1298C polymorphisms. Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) gene 677CT polymorphism is one of the proposed genetic changes affecting migraine. Aim of Study:This study aimed at assessing its role in migraine in Egyptian population and its relation to the clinical manifestations of the disease and to find a possible link to effectiveness or resistance to 677CT treatment protocols. Subjects and Methods:This study was conducted on (180) subjects who were divided into two groups: Group I (patients, group) which included (120) adult patients with migraine recruited from Headache Clinic in Ain Shams University Hospitals and were diagnosed with migraine according to ICHD diagnostic criteria 3 rd edition beta version (2013), and Group II (control group) which included (60) age-and sexmatched apparently healthy subjects. MTHFR 677CT polymorphism was assessed using Restriction Fragment Length Polymerase Chain Reaction (RFLP-PCR) technique. Results:The study demonstrated a significant association between MTHFR gene polymorphism (C677T) and migraine (p<0.001), Odd's Ratio (OR)=6.0, 95% CI (1.84-19.59). Both heterozygous (CT) and homozygous (TT) female patients were significantly more susceptible to develop migraine than both heterozygous (CT) and homozygous (TT) males (χ 2 : 12.48, p<0.05). Patients with homozygous type (TT) showed positive significant risk to develop aura (50%) (p<0.001), OR=45.0, ) while patients with heterozygous type (CT) showed positive significant risk to have attacks of migraine associated with photophobia (58.3%) (p<0.001), OR=21.0, 95%CI (3.10-142.21) or phonophobia (56.5%) (p<0.001), OR=13.0, 95%CI (2.09-81.05) or both. Significant statistical difference was seen on comparing