Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinological disease affecting women in the reproductive age. Non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD) can promote many aspects of pancreatic dysfunction. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of NAFPD and to identify its association with clinical and biochemical parameters in PCOS patients. Methods The present study included 150 patients with PCOS and 150 age-matched healthy controls. All patients were submitted to careful history taking and thorough clinical examination. Performed laboratory investigations included fasting and postprandial blood glucose, lipid profile, liver function tests, serum prolactin and total testosterone. Fatty pancreas was diagnosed using abdominal ultrasound. Results Among PCOS women, NAFPD was diagnosed in 57 women (38.0%) in contrast to 18 women (12.0%) in the control group (p < 0.001). Patients with NAFPD were significantly older [median (IQR): 38.0 (35.0–43.0) versus 29.0 (25.5–33.0) years, p = 0.001] with higher BMI [median (IQR): 31.5 (29.1–34.7) versus 30.4 (28.6–32.4) kg/m 2 , 0.042]. Moreover, they had significantly higher frequency of metabolic syndrome (84.2% versus 54.8%, p = 0.001), insulin resistance (68.4% versus 26.9%, p < 0.001) and severe NAFLD (22.8% versus 2.2%, p < 0.001). NAFPD patients had significantly lower sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) [median (IQR): 36.0 (30.8–40.7) versus 38.1 (35.15–42.7), p = 0.002] and significantly higher free androgen index (FAI) [median (IQR): 4.08 (3.3–4.92) versus 3.47 (3.12–4.05), p < 0.001]. Conclusion NAFPD is prevalent PCOS. It is related to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hyperandrogenism.

Background and Aim: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by persistent low-grade inflammation. Soluble CD14 (sCD14) is involved in many pathological conditions including inflammation and atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to assess the relation between sCD14 levels, subclinical atherosclerosis (SCA), inflammation and mortality in Egyptian hemodialysis (HD) patients. Patients and Methods: The present longitudinal study included 62 HD patients. All patients were submitted to careful history taking, thorough clinical examination and laboratory assessment for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and sCD14. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was also assessed. Patients were followed for a maximum of 18 months. The primary outcome is patients’ mortality. Data were statistically analyzed using standard descriptive, comparative, correlative and regression methods. Results: The present study was conducted on 62 HD patients. They comprised 34 males and 28 females with an age of 54.6 ± 9.0 years. At the end of follow up, 12 patients (19.4 %) died. It was shown that survivors had significantly lower hsCRP levels (104.2 ± 38.2 versus 134.1 ± 15.3 mg/dL, p <0.001), lower sCD14 levels (32.7 ± 10.3 versus 47.4 ± 18.4 µg/mL, p=0.02) and lower CIMT (1.32 ± 0.5 versus 1.5 ± 0.2 mm, p=0.049). sCD14 levels were significantly correlated with hsCRP (r=0.4, p=0.001) and CIMT (r=0.31, p=0.013). Multivariate analysis identified HD duration [HR (95% CI): 1.02 (1.0-1.04), p= 0.021] and sCD14 levels [HR (95% CI): 1.06 (1.0-1.12), p= 0.026] as significant predictors of patients’ survival. Conclusions: sCD14 levels in this cohort of HD patients are well-correlated with hsCRP levels and CIMT. In addition, they are significant predictor of patients’ mortality.

Background: In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) correlates positively with elevated serum chemerin levels. This study was aimed at investigating the probable association between the serum chemerin level and the development of DR in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we included Egyptians and classified them into four groups: group 1, including healthy individuals; group 2, including patients with T1DM without DR; group 3, including patients with T1DM with non-proliferative DR (NPDR); and group 4, including patients with T1DM with proliferative DR (PDR). The assessment included best-corrected distance visual acuity assessment, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, funduscopy, fundus fluorescein angiography, and macular ocular coherence tomography. Fasting blood samples were obtained from all participants to measure serum chemerin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol, triglyceride, and creatinine levels. Serum chemerin levels were compared among the groups, and their correlations with age, duration of diabetes, HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and creatinine levels were analyzed. Results: We recruited 209 participants, including 46 healthy individuals in group 1, 52 patients (T1DM and no DR) in group 2, 61 patients (T1DM and NPDR) in group 3, and 50 patients (T1DM and PDR) in group 4, with comparable mean ages and sex ratios among groups. The diabetes duration, body mass index, HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and serum chemerin levels differed significantly among the groups (all P < 0.001), whereas the creatinine level did not (P > 0.05). The serum chemerin level was significantly higher in group 4 than in groups 3 and 2, in group 3 than in group 2, and in groups 3 and 4 than in group 1 (all P < 0.001). However, it was comparable between groups 1 and 2 (P > 0.05). It correlated with the duration of T1DM and HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and creatinine levels but not with age. Conclusions: Patients with T1DM with DR showed higher serum chemerin levels than those with T1DM without DR or healthy individuals. Serum chemerin levels were higher in those with PDR than in those with NPDR. Thus, serum chemerin levels are a potential biomarker of the development and severity of DR in patients with T1DM. Nevertheless, future diagnostic accuracy studies are required to confirm these potential applications.