Plasma type IV collagen levels as a potential biomarker for early detection of nephropathy in diabetes mellitus patients.

Diabetic nephropathy represents a microvascular complication related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that ultimately causes end-stage renal disease. Our study aimed to evaluate the association of plasma type IV collagen with albuminuria status and to assess the clinical significance of plasma type IV collagen as a potential biomarker in the early stage of diabetic nephropathy. The study comprised 75 participants diagnosed with T2DM allocated equally (n=25) into three groups: (A) normal albuminuria levels, (B) microalbuminuria, and (C) macroalbuminuria, depending on their urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio. A comparative analysis was conducted between these groups and a control group (D, n=15). The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was employed for measuring plasma type IV collagen levels. The results revealed that plasma type IV collagen levels were significantly higher in T2DM groups than in the control group. Moreover, diabetic patients without albuminuria had significantly higher plasma type IV collagen levels than the control group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, albuminuria levels among diabetic patient groups were significantly increased as albuminuria categories increased (p < 0.001). A significant positive correlation existed between plasma type IV collagen and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in the macroalbuminuric diabetic group. Our study employed the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine plasma type IV collagen diagnostic utility in macroalbuminuria prediction. The ROC curve analysis revealed that type IV collagen can significantly determine macroalbuminuric patients at a cutoff value of 2.25 with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 68%, 100%, 100%, and 75.8%, respectively (p < 0.001). In conclusion, plasma type IV collagen levels might serve as a valuable predictor of albuminuria onset in patients with T2DM.

Residual Bone Marrow T & NK-Cells at Diagnosis in Pediatric Pre-B-ALL: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Mature bone marrow T lymphocytes and NK may have a special relevance in the control of the malignant growth. Objective: We aimed to assess the percentage of the residual BM T-cells, (T-helper -T-cytotoxic- NKT) and the NK cells of childhood precursor B-lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) as an indicator of innate and adaptive immunity in these patients. Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted on 40 B-ALL patients, and 40 apparently healthy matched children served as a control group. The flow cytometry was used to assess the percentage of the residual BM T-cells (T-helper, T-cytotoxic and NKT), and the NK cells. Results: Compared with the control group, the percentage of the residual BM T-cells, its subtypes (T-helper, T-cytotoxic), and NKT cells in addition to the NK cells was significantly decreased in Group IA, and Group IB, but there was no significant difference between Group IA and Group IB in all studied parameters. In terms of the CD4/CD8 ratio, there was a significant increase in Group IA as compared to the control group (P < 0.026), but there were no significant statistical differences in CD4/CD8 ratio between Groups IB, and the control. Likewise, in CD4/CD8 ratio between groups IA, and Groups IB (P > 0.05). The percentage of NK, and NKT cells shows a significant increase in Hepatomegaly and Splenomegaly, as compared to non-Hepatomegaly and non-Splenomegaly patients of Groups IB (P < 0.05). However, there was a significant increase in statistical differences in the percentage of NKT cell between non-Splenomegaly, as compared to Splenomegaly patients of Group IA (P < 0.05). Additionally, there is a negative correlation between B.M Blast% to CD4/CD8 ratio and NK%, but there is no significant correlation between B.M Blast% to NK T% in the group 1 A.

Admission Levels of Serum P-Selectin and IL-6 Can Predict Development of Deep Venous Thrombosis in Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients.

Background and Aim: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities is common in Covid-19 patients. Interleukin (IL)-6 and P-selectin were found to be elevated in Covid-19 patients. The current study aimed to evaluate P-selectin and IL6 in Covid-19 patients with DVT and to explore its relation to clinical and laboratory parameters in those patients. Patients and methods: The present retrospective study included 150 hospitalized COVID-19 patients diagnosed on the basis of a positive result of reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. Laboratory assessments were included for IL-6 and P selectin assessments via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The primary outcome of the present study was the development of DVT detected by Doppler ultrasound (DU) evaluation of the lower extremities during the admission. Results: The present study included 150 hospitalized Covid-19 patients. DVT was developed in 59 patients (39.3%). DVP patients had significantly higher levels of P selectin [76.0 (63.0-87.0) versus 63.0 (54.3-75.0), p < 0.001] and IL-6 [37.0 (27.0-49.0) versus 18.5 (13.5-31.5), p < 0.001]. ROC curve analysis revealed good performance of P selectin [AUC (95% CI): 0.72 (0.64-0.81)] and IL-6 [AUC (95% CI): 0.79 (0.71-0.86)] in identification of DVT. Logistic regression analysis identified the presence of severe disease [OR (95% CI): 9.016 (3.61-22.49), p < 0.001], elevated P selectin [OR (95% CI): 1.032 (1.005-1.059), p = 0.018] and elevated IL-6 [OR (95% CI): 1.062 (1.033-1.091), p < 0.001] as significant predictors of DVT development in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The present study identified a probable role of elevated P-selectin and IL-6 levels in the DVT development in hospitalized Covid-19 patients.

Platelet-derived growth factor-beta as a new marker of deep venous thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Thus, there is a great need to demonstrate a more efficient biomarker that would confirm the diagnosis of DVT. Our work aimed to evaluate the role of platelet-derived growth factor-beta (PDGF-B) as a new marker of DVT and its correlation with other radiological and laboratory tools used for the diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study enrolled forty patients selected from our university hospital between April 2018 and August 2018, who divided into two groups: Group I (n = 20) consisted of patients diagnosed with acute venous thrombosis and Group II (n = 20) consisted of patients diagnosed with chronic venous thrombosis. Twenty samples were collected from age- and gender-matched apparently healthy controls to be used as a control. Venous duplex ultrasonography, routine laboratory investigations, D-dimer (DD), and protein expression of PDGF-B were performed on all patients. RESULTS: There was a highly significant increase in a protein expression of PDFG-B in all cases of acute and chronic venous thrombosis compared to the control group with P < 0.001; furthermore, it was more specific than DD for the detection of DVT (specificity 95% and 90%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study submits a novel association of PDGF-B plasma levels with DVT, and PDGF-B is considered to be a more specific indicator for DVT than is DD.