BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:The initial step in atherosclerosis is the adhesion of leukocytes to activated endothelial cells mediated by intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). This study aimed to investigate the association of K469E polymorphism of the ICAM-1 gene and soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) serum level with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Egyptian subjects.PATIENTS AND METHODS:Using a case-control design, we studied 100 patients with CHD, including 73 patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and 27 with unstable angina (UA). The control group consisted of 50 healthy subjects with normal left ventricular function. All participants were genotyped for the ICAM-1 polymorphism by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Serum sICAM-1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA).RESULTS:In CHD patients, the frequencies of K genotype (KK and EK) were significantly higher when compared to controls (P<.001) and were associated with an increased risk of disease development (OR=3.8, 95% CI: 1.7 to 8.5; P=.001). K genotype frequencies in patients with MI showed no significant difference when compared to patients with UA (P= .121). Serum sICAM-1 levels were comparable between CHD patients and controls (P= .37) and between MI and UA patients (P=.23). There were no significant differences in sICAM-1 levels among patients with different genotypes (P=.532). Men presented with higher sICAM-1 levels than women (P=.004).CONCLUSION:ICAM-1 gene polymorphism in codon 469 is associated with a risk for CHD development in Egyptian subjects. Serum sICAM-1 is not influenced by this polymorphism and is not necessarily elevated in CHD.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) can occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract especially the stomach and upper small bowel. They are usually solid, but cystic degeneration, necrosis, and focal hemorrhage have been described in larger tumors leading to central necrotic cavitation. The most sensitive marker of GIST is CD117 (c-kit). In computed tomography (CT) scan, it is often difficult to decide the origin of the primary tumor, especially in large GISTs. We report an incidental case of a large duodenal GIST fistulizing into the second part of the duodenum with a large amount of fluid and gas inside, mistaken for a cystic pancreatic neoplasm by CT and mistaken for a duodenal diverticulum by endoscopic ultrasound.

Background and Aim: Malnutrition is prevalent among patients with chronic liver disease. We aimed to assess the nutritional status of HCV-related compensated cirrhosis and chronic HCV-infected patients compared to healthy control subjects and to compare the different methods used for nutritional assessment namely the anthropometric measures and the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Patients and Methods: A total of 120 subjects were recruited. 40 patients with hepatitis C-related compensated liver cirrhosis in Group I, 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C in Group II and 40 age-and sexmatched healthy Egyptian volunteers in Group III. Thorough history taking, physical examination and detailed nutritional assessment were performed including a 24-hour dietary recall. Evaluation of nutritional status was done using different anthropometric measures and the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Results: Chronic HCV patients were found to have lower mean daily caloric intake (1858.70±630.2 Kcal/day) as compared to patients with compensated cirrhosis (1923.75±595.8 Kcal/day). The diagnosis of severely malnourished was detected with an increased frequency in the cirrhotic patients by the triceps skin fold thickness (TST) method (52.5%) as compared to mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) (30%) and the sub-scapular skin fold thickness (15%). In the chronic HCV patients, an increased frequency of diagnosis of malnutrition was detected by the MAMC% (57.5%) as compared to the other anthropometric indices. Based on the SGA rating, moderate degree of malnutrition was detected in 37.5% of cirrhotic patients and only 27.5% of chronic HCV patients, however, severe degree of malnutrition was not diagnosed in any of the subjects. The majority of the patients with compensated HCV related cirrhosis and chronic HCV group as well as controls were found to be overweight 67.5%, 62.5% and 62.5% respectively. There was a highly significant positive correlation between the BMI and the TST, MAC, MAMC, and sub-scapular skin fold thickness in the three studied groups. Conclusion: Overweight was prevalent among patients with chronic HCV and compensated cirrhosis. SGA underestimated the degree and prevalence of malnutrition as compared to TST, MAMC and sub-scapular skin fold thickness in the liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis C and healthy control groups.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently one of the most prevalent liver diseases. NAFLD is exemplified by the deposition of fat in the liver, in the absence of other etiologies. The spectrum of histological features in NAFLD ranges from macro-vesicular steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and it can eventually end in fibrosis, cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide. Obese subjects are more prone to VDD, particularly those with liver disease. Non-classic functions of Vitamin D may be involved in the metabolic pathways beyond NAFLD development and progression. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between NAFLD and Vitamin D levels in extreme obese subjects, and the correlation between Vitamin D levels and NAFLD severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 80 Egyptian subjects of both sexes, divided into two groups: 50 patients with Stage III obesity (defined as body mass index [BMI] ≥40 kg/m2) and NAFLD, their age ranging from 20 to <60 years, and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers as control subjects. All patients were recruited from nutrition outpatient clinic at endocrinology unit, Cairo University Hospitals during the period from January 2019 to June 2019. Diagnosis of NAFLD was done by ultrasonography and laboratory evaluation included Vitamin D level. Nutritional evaluation included BMI, waist circumference, and weight. RESULTS: Vitamin D was significantly lower in the NAFLD group versus healthy controls: About 34%, deficient, 32% insufficient, and 34% sufficient in NAFLD group versus 23.3% insufficient, and 76.7% sufficient only in control, p ˂ 0.001. The severity of NAFLD, as graded by ultrasonography, was positively correlated with BMI and inversely correlated with Vit D levels, p = 0.001 and 0.024, respectively. Multivariate linear regression proved that both BMI and Vit D were independent predictors for NAFLD progression, BMI in a positive manner and Vit D in a negative manner. A cutoff Vit D level of 27.75 had 64% sensitivity and 90% specificity in NAFLD detection, area under the curve was 0.821. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D is significantly lower in the NAFLD group versus healthy controls in this cohort. VDD and BMI were associated with increased NAFLD severity. VDD was found to be an independent predictor of NAFLD progression. Vitamin D supplementation may be added to lifestyle modifications to prevent NAFLD occurrence in obese subjects.