Background Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in activation of innate and adaptive immune responses. Aim We aimed to detect the association between TLR2 rs5743708 G>A and TLR9 rs5743836 C>T variants and COVID-19 disease susceptibility, severity, and thrombosis by using neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Subjects and Methods We included 100 adult COVID-19 patients as well as 100 age- and gender-matched normal controls. Participants were genotyped for TLR2 rs5743708 and TLR9 rs5743836. Citrullinated Histone (H3) was detected as an indicator of NETs. Results The mutant (G/A and C/C) genotypes and (A and C) alleles of TLR2 rs5743708 and TLR9 rs5743836, respectively, have been significantly related to a higher risk of COVID-19 infection, representing a significant risk factor for the severity of COVID-19. There was no significant association between the two variants and citrullinated histone (H3). Conclusion TLR2 rs5743708 and TLR9 rs5743836 variants have been significantly related to a higher risk and severity of COVID-19 infection but had no effect on thrombus formation.

Background: Missed abortion (MA) is a pregnancy with an embryo without cardiac pulsation or gestational sac without embryo without attempt for expulsion of the product of conception outside the uterus. Objective: to detect the efficacy of serum Angiopoietin-1(Ang-1) as a biomarker of missed abortion at 6 to 8 weeks of pregnancy Methodology: This case-control study comprised eighty pregnant women aged 20-40 years; they were divided into; A) control group which composed of 40 women with normal viable pregnancy at the 6-8 weeks of pregnancy , B) study group that included 40 women with missed abortion diagnosed by TVUS at same gestational age. Results: This study revealed that, there was highly statistically significant decrease in serum levels of Ang-1 in missed abortion .The mean ±SD of serum Ang-1 were 926.16 ± 211.48 ( 700 -1620.3) pg/ml in normal pregnant women, and 700.04 ± 87.87 (435.9-797.8) pg/ml in women with missed abortion. The cutoff point was ≤ 780.99 pg/ml with high sensitivity and specificity (87.5.% and 90.00% respectively). There was no correlation between the Ang-1 levels and (age, parity, and body mass index). Conclusion: Serum levels of Ang-1 were highly significantly decreased in a status of missed abortion as early as 6 to 8 weeks of conception when compared with Ang-1 levels in normal viable pregnancies of similar gestational age which indicate its role in pathogenesis of missed abortion. Angiopoietin 1 is not a reliable biomarker for instant diagnosis of missed abortion as some patients need further transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) and regular follow up.

Hypertension is the most frequent medical complication of pregnancy, and the most severe clinical presentation of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is preeclampsia (PE). PE is a condition significantly associated with maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The etiology of PE remains unknown. However, it has been found that genetic factors cause a defective immune adaptation, which in turn leads to inadequate trophoblast invasion and inappropriate placenta development. This study involved 30 patients with gestational hypertension (GH), 30 patients with PE and 30 normotensive pregnant women as controls. We aimed to evaluate the association between the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism (rs4343) and susceptibility to GH and PE. Genotyping for rs4343 polymorphism was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The differences of genotypes and allele frequencies were analyzed as well as the relationship between ACE polymorphism and susceptibility to PE. The GG genotype of ACE gene rs4343 and G allele frequency were significantly associated with increased risk of PE [OR (95% CI) 10.3125 (2.1043 to 50.5388), p=0.004 and OR (95% CI) 3.4714 (1.6352 to 7.3697), p = 0.001, respectively]. Also, G allele frequency was significantly associated with severity of PE [OR (95% CI) 15.5455 (1.8938 to 127.6075), p = 0.011]. However, the GG genotype and G allele frequency were not associated with GH. In conclusion, ACE rs4343 polymorphism may be associated with PE susceptibility and severity but not with GH.

Background: Pneumonia represents a significant public health problem in the whole world, and it is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children. Disease severity and clinical outcome prediction are required in pneumonia to manage health resources and give effective treatment options. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is a marker of the recently used oxidant-antioxidant mechanism and has been found toin crease in many inflammatory conditions. Procalcitonin (PCT) is released as a part of the pro-inflammatory response of the innate immune system from parenchymal cells reaching detectable levels within 4 h after endotoxin stimulation. Objectives: This study examined IMA and PCT levels in patients with pneumonia, in comparison with healthy controls and their possible association with disease severity and outcome. Methods: A total of 90 cases of pneumonia and 90 controls were included in this cohort observational study, and severity grading was performed according to pediatric respiratory severity score (PRESS). Serum IMA and PCT were evaluated in all study subjects. Results: In pneumonia, IMA levels were significantly elevated as compared with controls, and it was elevated in died patients compared to those who were discharged.IMA showed a significant positive correlation with PRESS.

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