Study of Anti-C1q Antibodies in Egyptian Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients.

Autoantibodies to complement are associated with various diseases. Anti-C1q antibodies are present in all patients with hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis, but also with varying prevalence in other conditions. Anti-C1q may interfere with the clearance of apoptotic cells, so influencing induction and expression of autoimmunity. The aim of this work is to study the relation between anti-C1q antibodies and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its manifestations including renal affection. The presence and levels of anti-C1q antibodies were investigated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The study included 70 Egyptian patients suffering from SLE and 18 healthy controls. They were 65 females and five males. Their age ranged from 12 to 48.5 years with a mean value of 27.4 ± 8.4. Anti-C1q antibodies were statistically significantly elevated in cases compared with controls being positive in 37.2% (mean 18.3 ± 27.1) in patients versus 11.1% (mean value 4.1 ± 3.5) in controls (P = 0. 03). Anti-C1q antibody-positive patients (n = 226) had significantly higher SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) (16.1 ± 9.9) compared to negative patients (n = 44) (SLEDAI = 8.1 ± 7.7) P = 0.000. Regarding renal affection, the presence of anti-C1q-positive antibodies was associated with proteinuria, P = 0.002. In conclusion, anti-C1q was more common in patients with SLE and disease activity. We confirmed a significant association of anti-C1q with renal involvement, independent of demographics and other serologies.

Changes of epicardial fat thickness after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: Epicardial fat thickness is an interesting parameter of early atherosclerosis. We prospectively assessed whether weight loss following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) leads to a significant reduction in the epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and the correlation between the decline in the epicardial fat thickness with other clinical parameters. METHODS: A prospective analysis of 98 cases that were scheduled to undergo LSG and followed up for 12 months was conducted. EFT was assessed using two-dimensional (2 D) echocardiography. RESULTS: A total of 98 cases and 70 controls were enrolled. EFT demonstrated a significant reduction at follow-up in the whole group (median 8.9 (1.95) versus 7.65 (1.67) mm, respectively). The degree of reduction was higher in the LSG cohort compared to control cohort 1.3 (0.4) versus 1 (0.4), respectively; p < .001). The univariate regression analysis demonstrated a notable correlation of the EFT with the weight, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and creatinine with a p-value of <.0001, .001, .022, and .018, respectively while the multivariate analysis showed a strong correlation between EFT and weight and creatinine with a p-value of <.0001 and .033 respectively. CONCLUSION: LSG can have a favourable impact on metabolic syndrome aspects, namely EFT, as it can decrease it considerably.

Factors associated with resolution of type-2 diabetes mellitus after sleeve gastrectomy in obese adults.

Many bariatric procedures are more effective for improving type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) than conventional pharmacotherapy. The current research evaluated factors linked to complete and partial remission or improvement of T2DM after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). The current prospective study included all diabetic patients who were submitted LSG between January 2015 and June 2018 and completed a 2-year follow-up period. Patients were assessed at baseline and 2 years after LSG. This work comprised of 226 diabetic cases. Two years after LSG, 86 patients (38.1%) achieved complete remission of DM, and 24 (10.6%) reached partial remission. Only 14 patients (6.2%) showed no change in their diabetic status. On univariate analysis, age ≤ 45 years, duration of diabetes ≤ 5 years, use of a single oral antidiabetic, HbA1c ≤ 6.5%, HOMA-IR ≤ 4.6, C-peptide > 2.72 ng/mL, and BMI ≤ 40 kg/m2 predicted complete remission. The independent predictors of complete remission were age ≤ 45 years, duration of diabetes ≤ 5 years, use of a single oral antidiabetic, HOMA-IR ≤ 4.6, and C-peptide > 2.72 ng/mL. A combined marker of young age, short duration of DM, and low HOMA-IR predicted complete remission with sensitivity 93% and specificity 82%. Independent predictors of complete remission of T2DM after LSG were younger age, shorter duration, single oral antidiabetic, lower HOMA-IR, and higher C-peptide.

Serum Urate Lowering Therapy Using Allopurinol Improves Serum 25 Hydroxy Vitamin D in Stage 3-5 CKD Patients: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated negative associations of serum uric acid (SUA) with serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25 [OH] vit D) among CKD patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to look for the impact of hypouricemic therapy using allopurinol on serum level of 25 (OH) vit D in CKD patients. CASES AND METHODS: Seventy-two CKD stage 3-5 patients were selected to this study. Patients with SUA above 7 mg/dL were allocated to hypouricemic therapy using allopurinol (group I). A control group of cases not suffering marked increase in SUA were included as control group (group II). All cases were followed up for 3 months. Serum Cr, SUA, ionized calcium (SiCa), phosphorus, 25 (OH) vitD, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and 24-h urine protein were estimated at entry and by the end of the study. RESULTS: At least 20 cases completed the study in each group. Serum 25 (OH) vit D significantly increased in group I (26.4 [14.1] vs. 39.6 [14.8] at entry vs. at end of the study, p < 0.001). In addition, SUA, PTH, and urine protein significantly decreased (11 [1.6] vs. 3.95 [0.58] mg/dL, 267.5 [97.5] vs. 225.5 [153] ng/mL, and 2.7 [1.18] vs. 1.5 [1.08] gm/day, p < 0.001, = 0.043, and <0.001 respectively). SiCa and phosphorus significantly increased (4.4 [0.3] vs. 5.2 [0.5] mg/dL and 4.25 [0.72] vs. 4.9 [0.75] mg/dL, p < 0.001 and = 0.007, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study supports a negative causal relationship between SUA and serum 25 (OH) vit D. Further studies are still needed to confirm this conclusion.

Digging more in the genetic risk prediction of hepatitis C virus epidemic in Egypt: Apoptosis genes polymorphisms in the susceptibility of hepatitis C virus and association with viral load.

Egypt is confronted with the highest hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic. Apoptosis and cellular immune responses are crucial to the clearance or persistence of viral infections. This case-control study was carried out to detect whether apoptosis genes single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) confer risk to HCV in a cohort of Egyptian patients and to explore their association with viral load. One hundred and ninety six blood samples were withdrawn from 96 HCV patients and 100 controls. The Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) -1525G>A and FasL-844T>C SNPs were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Hepatitis C viral load was measured using Real time PCR. Results Genotypes distributions of TRAIL -1525G>A and FasL-844 T>C polymorphisms in controls were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p>0.05). The study showed a statistically significant difference in the distribution of the TRAIL -1525G>A polymorphism genotypes and the FasL-844 T>C polymorphism genotypes between the HCV patients and the controls (p=0.001 and 0.02 respectively), with association of the -1525GA genotype and -844 TT genotype with increased risk of HCV infection (OR=2.68, 1.942 respectively, 95% CI=1.482-4.846, 1.1-3.43, respectively). No significant association was detected between TRAIL, FasL and the viral load. Our results suggest that the FasL -844T>C SNP is implicated in the susceptibility to HCV in Egyptian patients and firstly report the involvement of TRAIL gene polymorphism in the risk of the disease. Therefore we recommend national programs to delineate genetic factors that may put individuals at risk for contracting HCV.

Tumor necrosis factor gene expression in regular hemodialysis patients.

This study evaluates tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alfa gene expression in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on regular hemodialysis as an expression of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk even on a sub-clinical level and its relation to some of the parameters incriminated in the pathogenesis and the establishment of uremic arteriopathy. A total of 51 patients with ESRD on regular hemodialysis and 20 healthy subjects matching in age and gender as a control group were recruited. All selected cases were subjected to serum lipid profile, Creactive protein (CRP), TNF-alfa gene expression and Doppler study of carotid arteries to estimate carotid intimal media thickness (cIMT). Serum triglycerides (TGS) level (P <0.001), CRP positivity (P = 0.002), relative quantification (RQ) of TNF-alfa gene expression (P = 0.007) and cIMT (P = 0.02) were significantly higher while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level (P <0.001) was significantly lower among cases compared with controls. RQ showed a significant positive correlation with CRP titer (rho = 0.583, P = 0.011). Results also showed a significant strong negative correlation between with CRP titer and cIMT (rho = -0.590, P = 0.010). CRP titer showed only a significant strong negative correlation with age (rho = -0.589, P = 0.01) and positive correlation with HDL (rho = 0.51, P = 0.031). Patients with ESRD have increased gene expression of TNF-alfa and CRP titer together with increased atherosclerosis as expressed by increased cIMT.

A study of hepcidin and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in Egyptian females with systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: Lupus nephritis is one of the most serious manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Novel biomarkers are necessary to enhance the diagnostic accuracy, prognostic stratification, monitoring of treatment response, and detection of early renal flares. METHODS: Our study was conducted on 90 participants. They were divided into three groups, group I (controls) encompassed 30 ages and sex-matched healthy personnel. Group II included 30 non-nephritic SLE patients and finally group III included 30 SLE nephritic patients. Urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (UMCP-1) and hepcidin were evaluated by ELISA technique, compared and correlated in different groups, with each other and with other routine variables and with renal biopsy done to study group (III). RESULTS: Both UMCP-1 and hepcidin in group III showed significant increase compared to other two groups (controls and group II) (468 ± 128, 111 ± 12, 252 ± 56 pg/ml, respectively, for UMCP-1 and 40 ± 12, 11 ± 2, 20 ± 5 ng/ml, respectively, for hepcidin, P < 0.01). Also both UMCP-1 and hepcidin in group III showed significant increase in diffuse proliferative subgroup compared to focal proliferative and mesangioproliferative subgroups (580 ± 43, 502 ± 46, and 352.6 ± 100 pg/ml, respectively, for UMCP-1 and 47.8 ± 9.5, 41.4 ± 6, and 32.9 ± 10.8 ng/ml, respectively, for urinary hepcidin, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: UMCP-1 and hepcidin could be associated with the susceptibility of lupus nephritis.

Pulmonary involvement in early rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is common and can be due to the disease itself as well as to the therapies used to treat it. The purpose of this study was to disclose the pulmonary involvement in early RA patients not more than 2 years disease duration using the computed tomography (CT) as well as the pulmonary function tests as ways of pulmonary involvement assessment. Forty patients aged 37.6 ± 10.3 with early rheumatoid arthritis not more than 2 years of disease duration were recruited for the study. All patients were assessed clinically for their RA with DAS28, which was utilized for disease activity determination. Ten percent of our patients were found to be clinically involved by interstitial lung disease (ILD), where 27% have abnormal HRCT finding and 32.5% with abnormal PFT. Predilection for clinically manifest ILD was evident in active RA patients with high DAS28 score, seropositive RA patients, and in patients receiving steroids and anti-TNFα therapy. ILD occurs early in the course of RA, with more predilection for clinically active RA disease.