Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Polymorphism In Hepatitis C Patients Treated With Interferon Based-Treatment As A Predictor of Early Virological Response.

HCV infection represented a foremost communal health trouble and Egypt has the largest epidemic of HCV in the world with prevalence of 14.7% for HCV antibody and 9.8% HCV-RNA. Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule participated in inhibiting of microbial diseases. Pro-inflammatory stimuli can trigger resting cells to produce inducible nitric oxide synthase ((iNOS) also referred to as (NOS2), which is very crucial for host response to contagious agents. NOS2A gene haplotypes has been associated with a number of diseases. This study aimed to assess the relation between NOS2A gene haplotypes and HCV treatment response in pegylated interferon alpha /ribavirin (PEG-IFN /RBV) in chronic HCV patients (CHC) in an attempt to find a predictor biomarker to detect poor responders to therapy. DNA was extracted from blood samples and subjected to detection of NOS2A gene haplotypes using real time PCR. Non-responder patients showed statistically significant higher percentages of unclassified haplotypes than responder patients (85.7% versus 58.6%, respectively) (P < 0.0001) and of haplotypes 4 and 5 (GTT and ATC) than non-responder patients (25.7% and 14.3% versus 0% and 0%, respectively) (P < 0.0001). The NOS2A gene haplotypes were not associated with response to PEG-IFN /RBV at 12th week Early Virological Response (EVR). In conclusion, NOS2A gene haplotypes are not considered predictors of response to PEG-IFN /RBV treatment. Further studies are required to elucidate predictor markers.

IL-37 gene variant (rs3811047): A marker of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a joint destructive disorder with great morbidity. Unraveling genetic determinants causing the disease would pave the road towards early detection and precise medicine. Interleukin 37 (IL-37), a natural inhibitor of innate immunity, was shown to be a key modulator in RA. Plasma levels were deregulated and correlated with disease activity. Therefore, we hypothesized the IL-37 gene variants could influence the clinical characteristics of RA patients. OBJECTIVE: This is a pilot study to assess the association of rs3811047 variant of IL-37 gene with RA development and disease activity in an Egyptian population. METHODS: A total of 100 individuals (50 RA patients and 50 healthy individuals) were enrolled in the study. Disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28) was estimated for RA patients. Genotyping was performed using Real-Time PCR technology. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant association between genotype frequencies of rs3811047 and RA risk. However, there was a significant relationship between the studied single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and disease activity. Patients carrying the GG genotype had higher DAS28 score than patients with AA or AG genotypes (p = .041). CONCLUSION: IL-37 gene rs3811047 SNP was associated with more severe RA disease activity in the current population. Larger epidemiological study is warranted to validate our results.

Salivary C-reactive protein, mean platelet volume and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio as diagnostic markers for neonatal sepsis / Proteína C reativa salivar, volume médio de plaquetas e proporção de neutrófilos/linfócitos como marcadores de diagnóstico de sepse neonatal

Abstract Objective: To assess the applicability of salivary C-reactive protein, mean platelet volume, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet lymphocyte ratio in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Methods: Prospective case-control study of 70 full-term neonates, 35 with sepsis (20 with proven sepsis and 15 with clinical sepsis) and 35 healthy controls. Serum and salivary C-reactive protein concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay while mean platelet volume, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet lymphocyte ratio were measured by automated blood cell counter. Results: This study showed statistically significant difference of mean salivary C-reactive protein between septic neonates and controls (12.0 ± 4.6 ng/L vs. 2.8 ± 1.2 ng/L) respectively. At a cut-off point of 3.48 ng/L, salivary C-reactive protein showed 94.3% sensitivity and 80% specificity. Salivary C-reactive protein also showed good predictive accuracy for predicting elevated serum C-reactive protein values in septic neonates. Mean platelet volume and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio showed significant difference between septic neonates and controls (10.2 ± 1.2 fL vs.8.0 ± 0.5 fL; 2.9 ± 1.7 vs. 1.6 ± 0.4, respectively). At a cut-off point of 10.2 fL, mean platelet volume presented 80% sensitivity and specificity. At a cut-off point of 2.7, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio presented 80% sensitivity and 57.1% specificity. Conclusion: This study provides support for further studies on the usefulness of salivary C-reactive protein, mean platelet volume, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as diagnostic markers for neonatal sepsis.

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a aplicabilidade da proteína C reativa salivar, do volume médio de plaquetas, a proporção de neutrófilos-linfócitos e a proporção de plaquetas/linfócitos no diagnóstico de sepse neonatal. Métodos: Estudo caso-controle prospectivo de 70 neonatos a termo, 35 com sepse (20 com sepse comprovada e 15 com sepse clínica) e 35 controles saudáveis. As concentrações de PCR no soro e salivar foram medidas por ensaio imunossorvente ligado a enzima (Elisa), ao passo que o VMP, PNL e PPL foram medidos por contador de células sanguíneas automatizado. Resultados: Este estudo mostrou uma diferença estatisticamente significativa da média de PCR salivar entre os neonatos com sepse e os controles (12,0 ± 4,6 ng/L em comparação com 2,8 ± 1,2 ng/L), respectivamente. Um ponto de corte 3,48 ng/L na PCR salivar mostrou sensibilidade de 94,3% e especificidade de 80%. A PCR salivar mostrou, ainda, boa precisão preditiva para prever altos valores de PCR no soro em neonatos com sepse. O VMP e a PNL mostraram diferença significativa entre os neonatos com sepse e os controles (10,2 ± 1,2 fL em comparação com 8,0 ± 0,5 fL), (2,9 ± 1,7 em comparação com 1,6 ± 0,4), respectivamente. O VMP no ponto de corte 10,2 fL apresentou 80% de sensibilidade e especificidade. A PNL no ponto de corte 2,7 fL apresentou 80% de sensibilidade e 57,1% de especificidade. Conclusão: Este estudo fornece uma base para outros estudos na utilidade da PCR salivar, VMP e PNL como marcadores de diagnóstico de sepse neonatal.

Salivary C-reactive protein and mean platelet volume in diagnosis of late-onset neonatal pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal pneumonia is an important and major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide therefore; its early detection plays a crucial role in successful therapy. Analysis of saliva as a non-invasive method for detection of neonatal diseases holds great promise for improving health care. Till now, salivary C-reactive protein (CRP), mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelets/lymphocytes ratio (PLR) have not been studied as markers of diagnosis in neonatal pneumonia. OBJECTIVE: To assess the applicability of salivary CRP, MPV, NLR and PLR as diagnostic markers in late-onset neonatal pneumonia. METHODS: A prospective case control study of 70 full-term neonates, 35 with late-onset neonatal pneumonia and 35 healthy controls, was enrolled. Serum and salivary CRP concentrations were measured by ELISA, while MPV, NLR and PLR were measured by automated blood cell counter. RESULTS: This study showed a statistically significant difference between salivary CRP means in neonates with late-onset neonatal pneumonia vs control neonates (6.2 ± 4.6 and 2.8 ± 1.9 ng/L) respectively. At the cutoff point of 3.8 ng/L, salivary CRP showed 91.4% sensitivity and 80.9% specificity. Salivary CRP also showed accuracy in predicting elevated serum CRP in neonates with pneumonia. MPV showed a significant difference between pneumonia and controls (mean = 10.2 ± 0.7, 8 ± 0.5) respectively. At cutoff point 9.0, it has 80% sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed for the first time that both salivary CRP and MPV are suitable as diagnostic markers in late-onset neonatal pneumonia.