Serum LINC00152 and UCA1 in HCV-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Clinical Significance and Prognostic Value.

Background: Despite significant advancements in the molecular characterization of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), no oncogene addiction has been discovered. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have a lot of promise as cancer biomarkers. LINC00152 and UCA1 have shown potential as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets for human cancers. Aim: To investigate the diagnostic and prognostic potential of serum LINC00152 and UCA1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The expression levels of LINC00152 and UCA1 in blood samples from 120 patients (60 with HCC, 60 with liver cirrhosis) and 40 healthy subjects were assessed using real-time qRT-PCR. Results: Serum LINC00152 and UCA1 expression were considerably higher in HCC patients compared to patients with liver cirrhosis and the healthy controls (p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively). And their expressions in the liver cirrhosis group were significantly higher than in healthy controls. Both lncRNAs performed well in the ROC analysis, distinguishing HCC patients from patients with liver cirrhosis. Higher levels of LINC00152 expression were linked to lesions in both lobes of the liver (p=0.02), while higher levels of UCA1 expression were linked to vascular invasion and the late stage (p=0.01, p=0.03 respectively). The multivariate analysis showed that a high level of LINC00152 in the blood was an independent indicator of a bad outcome for HCC patients (HR=2.23, 95% CI= 1.30-5.29, p=0.03). Conclusion: Serum LINC00152 and UCA1 expression were upregulated in patients with HCC, suggesting their use as non-invasive biomarkers for HCC. Furthermore, LINC00152 has the potential to serve as a prognostic indicator.

Serum and Tissue Lipocalin-2 Expression in Chronic Kidney Disease Pruritic Patients.

BACKGROUND: Uremic pruritus is an irritating symptom for patients with end-stage kidney disease. Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) has relevant importance in several biological cellular processes and immunity. It is also a major player in the progression of many disorders, such as renal injury. AIM: To evaluate LCN2 expression in chronic kidney disease (CKD) pruritic patients in serum together with immunohistochemical expression in skin samples and further correlation of their results with the studied clinicopathologic parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum level of LCN2 (assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and skin immunohistochemical expression were investigated in 25 CKD patients and 25 healthy controls. Ten patients were subjected to narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy for 12 weeks then re-evaluated for serum and tissue LCN2 after therapy. RESULTS: LCN2 expression was increased significantly in both the epidermis and dermal adnexa in CKD patients over controls. Also, serum LCN2 level was higher in patients than in healthy subjects and was significantly associated with itching severity, grades of CKD, urea, and creatinine serum level. Tissue and serum levels of LCN2 were significantly diminished in CKD patients following narrowband therapy along with improvement of the severity of pruritus. CONCLUSIONS: The increased serum and tissue LCN2 expression in CKD pruritic patients and its pronounced decrease, in addition to the improvement of pruritus after treatment, suggest a major pathogenic role of LCN2 in uremic pruritus.

Study the relationship between long non-coding RNA (CCAT1) expression and CDK4 expression levels in Egyptian patients with preeclampsia.

Background: Maternal and perinatal mortality is caused by a variety of factors, including preeclampsia. PE's onset and progression may be influenced by lncRNAs. The effect of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Colon cancer-associated transcription factor 1 (CCAT1) expression in the placenta of preeclampsia patients on preeclampsia progression was the focus of this investigation. Objectives: The aim of the current study is to check if the levels of expression of Colon cancer-associated transcription factor 1 (CCAT1) and Cyclin-dependent protein kinase 4 (CDK4) are associated with preeclampsia vulnerability and biogenesis. Subjects: and methods: This work included the participation of 160 people. Eighty of the patients had preeclampsia. The control group included 80 normal pregnant women. The two groups were almost of the same age. A thorough clinical examination was performed in all groups (including taking a detailed history, concentrating on parity, age and previous background of diabetes or hypertension). The expression levels of CCAT1 and CDK4 in placental tissue were determined using a real-time q PCR technique. Results: Expression levels of CCAT1 and CDK4 differed significantly between the study groups. preeclamptic patients having the highest level of CCAT1in comparison with control group, However, preeclamptic patients having lower level of CDK4 than controls. There was a strong negative association between CDK4 expression level and DBP, SBP, creatinine, urea and CCAT1 level of expression in the preeclamptic group, whereas there was a positive correlation between CCAT1 level of expression and DBP, SBP, urea and creatinine in patients group. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it is possible that CCAT1 and CDK4 expression levels could be used to aid in the diagnosis and biogenesis of preeclampsia.

The diagnostic and prognostic role of MiRNA 15b and MiRNA 378a in neonatal sepsis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sepsis is one of the major factors for both term and preterm babies with morbidity and mortality. On the basis of recent clinical trials, altered circulating micro-RNAs (miRNAs) may serve as possible biomarkers in sepsis for diagnosis and prognosis. The aim of this research is to assess the diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of miRNA 15b and miRNA 378a for neonatal sepsis. SUBJECTS & METHODS: This study was carried out 25 neonates with sepsis admitted to neonatal ICU of Menoufia University Hospital and 25 healthy controls from February 2019 to May 2020. The relative quantification (RQ) of miRNA-15b and miRNA-378a expression was assessed using real time PCR technique. Results: Our results demonstrated that patients with sepsis had significantly higher level of MiRNA-15b than the healthy volunteers. On the other hand, patients with sepsis had significantly lower level of MiRNA-378a than the healthy volunteers. The ROC curve showed that the serum MiRNA-15b was a significant discriminator of sepsis with a combined sensitivity and specificity of 76% and 88% with cutoff point of 3.24. In addition, serum MiRNA-378a was a significant discriminator of sepsis with a combined sensitivity and specificity of 60% and 88% with cutoff point of 0.361. The miRNA-15b expression significantly correlated positive with respiratory rate (r =0.415,p =0.039), WBCs (r = 0.408, p =0.043), and CRP (r =0.407, p=0.043). Likewise, miRNA-378a expression significantly correlated negative with respiratory rate (r =-0.415p =0.024), WBCs (r =- 0.442, p =0.027), and CRP (r =- 0.459, p=0.021). CONCLUSION: Both MiRNA 15b and 378a are promising biomarker for neonatal sepsis.

H2S releasing Sodium sulfide protects from acute stress-induced hypertension by increasing the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase enzyme.

Acute stress is a feature of our daily events that affects cardiovascular system and predisposes to hypertension. H2S is now considered as a vasorelaxant gasotransmitter although it was considered as a toxic agent. In present work we studied the effect of H2S releasing Na2S in acute stress induced hypertension and cardiac damage. Rats were divided into five groups: control, Na2S, acute stress, half dose of Na2S (6 mg/kg), and finally full dose of Na2S (12 mg/kg) to acute stressed rats. BP was measured then blood samples were taken for estimation of cortisol, cardiac enzymes markers, IL-6 and H2S. Finally, animals were sacrificed, hearts and thoracic aortae were excised for histological assessment, estimation of MDA, SOD and RNA extraction of CSE. Acute stress significantly elevated BP, cortisol, cardiac enzymes markers, IL-6, and tissue levels of MDA. It also, induced cardiac cell damage with congested B.V., extravasation of blood and decreased eNOs. Moreover, acute stress reduced H2S levels, RNA expression of CSE and SOD in cardiac tissues. Na2S significantly decreased BP, serum levels of cortisol, cardiac enzymes markers, IL-6, and tissue levels of MDA. Also, Na2S elevated serum H2S, RNA expression of CSE, SOD in cardiac tissue and increased eNOs activity.

Diagnostic Performance of microRNA-122 and microRNA-224 in Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).

Background and objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a potential health problem in Egypt because of the high prevalence of HCV infection. Using alpha-fetoprotein for diagnosis is unsatisfactory especially in early stages. Many studies showed that microRNAs (miRNA) expression may be associated with the development and progression of various types of cancer including HCC and it may serve as biomarkers for diagnosis. This study examined two miRNAs which are miRNA-122 and miRNA-224 if it could serve as biomarkers for diagnosis of HCC. Methods: This study included 20 patients with HCV-induced HCC and 20 patients with HCV-induced liver cirrhosis for comparison. As well as 20 healthy volunteers as controls. All participants were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, and determination of serum alpha-fetoprotein. Quantification of plasma miRNA-122 and miRNA-224 was done by real-time quantitative PCR. Results: Our results showed that levels of miRNA-122 were significantly lower in HCC group compared to the cirrhosis group and controls, while levels of miRNA-224 were significantly higher. The levels of both miRNAs have a correlation with tumor size. Moreover, the diagnostic accuracy of miRNA-122 (sensitivity 95%, specificity 81%, p-value <0.001) and of miRNA-224 (sensitivity 85%, specificity 79%, p-value <0.001) in discriminating patients with HCC from patients with liver cirrhosis were higher than that of alpha-fetoprotein (sensitivity 70%, specificity 70%, p-value <0.05). In addition, combining any one of these miRNAs with alpha-fetoprotein will increase the diagnostic accuracy compared to using each marker alone. Conclusion: miRNA-122 and miRNA-224 could serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis of HCC.