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Background The skin and the kidney are commonly affected in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with similar molecular mechanisms. Although clinical indicators of renal injury in SLE are fairly uncontroversial, few biomarkers are reliable. The role of micro-RNAs (mi-RNAs) in lupus nephritis (LN) pathogenesis has been investigated to help in early diagnosis. Purpose The aim of work is to evaluate miRNA132 and SOX2 expressions in SLE Egyptian patients; with and without nephritis, and the relation between miRNA132 and its long non-coding gene SOX2 in both patients groups. Research Design This is a case-control study involving 100 SLE patients with and without LN (LN and non-LN groups), and 50 age-and sex-matched healthy controls. The study was carried out to detect miRNA132 and SOX2 expression by quantitative Real-Time Polymerase chain reaction methods. The SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) was assessed. Results SLEDAI increased in LN compared to non-LN. Micro-RNA132 expression was significantly increased in patient groups compared to controls ( p<0.01) and increased in LN more than non-LN group ( p<0.001). SOX2 significantly decreased in patient groups compared to controls ( p<0.001), and was more in LN compared to non-LN group ( p<0.001). There was a negative correlation between miRNA132 and SOX2 expression in both patient groups ( p<0.001). Conclusion miRNA132 and SOX2 may play a role in SLE activity and help in the early non-invasive diagnosis of LN.

Background and Purpose The alarming increase in the prevalence of CTX-M-15 extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing E. coli has been significantly linked to the clonal expansion of emerging sequence type (ST131). This study aimed to screen for the O16/O25-ST131 clones among different phylogenetic types of E. coli strains isolated from urinary and diarrhoeal samples. Methods A total of 205 E. coli strains isolated from patients with UTI and acute diarrhoea were investigated by phenotypic and genotypic methods for ESBL identification. Molecular methods were used for identification of O25/O16-ST131 clone and phylogenetic typing of E. coli isolates. Results O25-ST131 clone was detected in 89/105 (84.8%) and 47/100 (47%) of urinary and intestinal E. coli isolates, respectively, with a significant difference ( P -value<0.001). There was a significant high rate of occurrence of ESBLs, MDR, and antibiotic resistance to most antibiotic classes among O25-ST131 than non-O25-ST131 isolates. CTX-M-15 gene was detected in 64/71 (90%) of ESBLs producing intestinal isolates and 54/79 (68.4%) of urinary ESBLs producing isolates. The O25-ST131 clone was reported among all phylogenetic groups. The O16-ST131 clone serotype was not detected in the study isolates. Conclusion High prevalence of the O25-ST131 clone was reported among extraintestinal and intestinal E. coli isolates. First detection of the O25-ST131 clone among phylogenetic groups other than group B2 draws attention of the ability of this clone to transfer among commensal groups. An increasing in the prevalence of CTX-M-15 among E. coli strains especially of intestinal origin is alarming as the intestine is the main reservoir for ExPEC strains causing UTI.