Colorectal cancer (CRC) represented the second cause of mortality among cancer patients. Long noncoding RNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) serve as noninvasive biomarkers for CRC surveillance and introduce new therapeutic approaches. LINC00657 and miR‐106a expression levels play a pivotal role in CRC. This study included 190 Egyptian subjects, and the expression levels of LINC00657 and miR‐106a in serum were measured by using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. We found that upregulation of LINC00657 and downregulation of miR‐106a are significantly associated with the development of CRC. Also, a positive correlation was detected between their serum levels. In addition, serum LINC00657 can distinguish adenomatous polyposis (AP) patients and/or ulcerative colitis (UC) patients from controls. Also the miRNA‐106a expression level discriminates AP but not UC from healthy individuals. Our study cited new diagnostic biomarkers for CRC, AP, and UC among Egyptians in addition to be noninvasive screening tools for CRC in both healthy subjects and those having precancerous lesions. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 71(9):1322–1335, 2019

Background/AimsPediatric immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease; whose etiology is not exactly understood and seems to be highly multifactorial. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key regulators of different actions, which contribute to the development of many autoimmune diseases. To gain a further understanding, we estimated the relative expression of lncRNAs Metastasis‐associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNPL) immune‐regulatory lncRNA (THRIL) in pediatric ITP.MethodsIn this case‐control study, analysis of the expression profiles of these lncRNAs in blood samples from children with ITP and healthy controls (HCs) using quantitative real‐time PCR was done. The association of MALAT1 and THRIL with ITP clinical features and their potential usage as non‐invasive circulating biomarkers for ITP diagnosis was also evaluated. The receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed, and an area under the curve was analyzed.ResultsBoth lncRNAs MALAT1 and THRIL were significantly upregulated in ITP patients in comparison to HCs ( p < .0001 and = .001 respectively). In addition, there was a positive significant correlation between the expression level of both biomarkers among patients (r = 0.745, p < .0001). At cutoff points of 1.17 and 1.27 for lncRNAs MALAT1and THRIL, respectively, both biomarkers had an excellent specificity (100% for both) and fair sensitivity (63.6 and 73.3% for lncRNAs MALAT1and THRIL, respectively). Improvement of biomarkers specificity was obtained by evaluation of the combined expression of both biomarkers. Serum lncRNAs MALAT1 and THRIL could be used as potential biomarkers in differentiating childhood ITP patients and HCs.

Different molecular assays for the detection of bacterial DNA in the peripheral blood represented a diagnostic tool for neonatal sepsis. We targeted to evaluate the role of 16S rRNA gene sequencing to screen for bacteremia to confirm suspected neonatal sepsis (NS) and compare with risk factors and septic screen testing. Sixty-two neonates with suspected NS were enrolled. White blood cells count, I/T ratio, C-reactive protein, blood culture and 16S rRNA sequencing were performed. Blood culture was positive in 26% of cases, and PCR was positive in 26% of cases. Evaluation of PCR for the diagnosis of NS showed sensitivity 62.5%, specificity 86.9%, PPV 62.5%, NPV 86.9% and accuracy of 79.7%. 16S rRNA PCR increased the sensitivity of detecting bacterial DNA in newborns with signs of sepsis from 26 to 35.4%, and its use can be limited to cases with the most significant risk factors and positive septic screen.

Background: Neonatal sepsis remains a challenge for neonatal care providers. The accurate and timely diagnosis of neonatal sepsis remains a challenging issue due to its non-specific clinical presentation. Patients and Methods:This descriptive cross sectional study was carried out at neonatal intensive care unit in Fayoum University Hospital from February to December 2019. Samples were obtained from 100 neonates that were met the inclusion criteria as having EONS. Neonates were subjected to: History taking, through clinical examination for manifestations of sepsis. Complete blood count, differential leucocytic count, Creactive protein and Blood culture were done to all neonates. Results: of 100 neonates who met the inclusion criteria, (61%) were males and (39%) were females.71 (71%) subjects were included in confirmed sepsis group and 29 (29%) were in non-confirmed sepsis group. Mean eosinophil count in confirmed EONS and non-confirmed EONS group were 250 ± 170 cells/mm3 and 670 ± 470 cells/mm3 , respectively, considered as significant (p<0.001).Result from diagnostic test of eosinopenia from the EONS group (cut-off point 280 cells/mm3 ) obtained 56.3% sensitivity and 93.1% specificity. Mean NLR in EONS and non-confirmed EONS group were 3.08 ± 1.9 and 1.29 ± 0.76, respectively, also considered as significant (p<0.001).Result for diagnostic test of NLR in EONS group (cut-off point 1.75) obtained 70.4% sensitivity and 75.9% specificity. Conclusion: Eosinopenia and increasedin NLR both have a high specificity value as a diagnostic marker of EONS.

Background Neonatal sepsis is a serious condition. Recent clinical studies have indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are key players in the pathogenesis of sepsis, which could be used as biomarkers for this condition. Patients and methods A total of 90 neonates with sepsis and 90 healthy neonates were enrolled in this study. qRT-PCR was performed to measure the expression levels of serum miR-34a-5p and miR-199a-3p. Results miR-34a-5p and miR-199a-3p serum levels were significantly reduced in neonates with sepsis compared with those in healthy neonates (P = 0.006 and P = 0.001, respectively). Significant correlations of miR-34a-5p and miR-199a-3p with each of TLC, RDW, RBS, and C-reactive protein (CRP) as well as SNAPII were observed, indicating their associations with the severity of neonatal sepsis. Conclusion miR-34a-5p and miR-199a-3p may be useful as novel biomarkers in neonatal sepsis and may provide a new direction for its treatment.