Sialic acid and anti-ganglioside M1 antibodies are invaluable biomarkers correlated with the severity of autism spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are devastating neurodevelopmental disorders that showed global increased prevalence. They are characterized by impairment of social communication and stereotyped patterns. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at measuring the levels of total sialic acid (SA) and anti-ganglioside M1 (anti- GM1) IgG antibodies as essential biomarkers in a cohort of children with ASD to identify their diagnostic yield as well as their correlation with the severity of autistic behaviors. METHODS: The demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and clinical data were recorded. The levels of total plasma SA and serum anti-GM1 IgG antibodies levels were measured in 100 children with ASD and 100 healthy controls. The severity of ASD-related symptoms was assessed by using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). RESULTS: Children with ASD had significantly higher levels of both SA and anti-GM1 antibodies than healthy controls (p < 0.001). SA showed a statistically significant moderate diagnostic performance while anti-GM1 antibody showed a statistically significant high diagnostic in differentiating severe from mild to moderate autism. Moreover, both SA and anti-GM1 antibodies levels were significantly correlated to the severity of ASD symptoms (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The significantly increased levels of SA and anti-GM1 antibodies in children with ASD and their correlation with autism-related symptoms suggest their possible etiopathogenic role in autism as one of the pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders. However, further large-scale studies are still needed to explore their possible bidirectional relationship as biomarkers for autism.

Is serum Osteopontin a predictor of carotid atherosclerosis severity among prevalent hemodialysis patients?

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients are among the highest population risk for accelerated atherosclerosis. Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional protein that is increased in chronic kidney disease that may play a role in vascular remodelling and intimal proliferation. AIM: To assess the relation between OPN levels and severity of carotid atherosclerosis among prevalent HD patients. METHODS: Eighty chronic HD patients underwent serum OPN levels assessment and were further classified into 3 subgroups according to the OPN tertiles' levels; sub-group 1 (lower tertile) subgroup 2 (middle tertile) and sub-group 3 (upper tertile), together with the carotid duplex and Transthoracic Doppler Echocardiography examination. RESULTS: The mean carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was 0.89±0.14mm. Out of the studied group, 50 (62.5%) patients had atheromatous plaques and 15 patients (18.8%). had significant stenosis. The 3rd group with the upper OPN tertile (78-270ng/dl) had the highest incidence of atherosclerosis. A significant correlation between the OPN levels and the CIMT (r=0.533, p=0.001). OPN values detect atherosclerosis with diagnostic sensitivity of 70%, specificity of 69%, positive predictive value (PPV) 73%, negative predictive value (NPV) 65% with area under the curve (AUC) 0.804 (95% CI: 0.711-0.897). Serum OPN detect carotid stenosis with sensitivity of 66%, specificity of 81%, PPV 45%, NPV 91% with AUC=0.769 and detect the presence of carotid atheroma with sensitivity 70%, specificity 66.67%, PPV 77.8%, NPV 57.1% and AUC=0.767 (p-value<0.001). Moreover, serum levels of OPN were significantly positively correlated with grade of diastolic dysfunction (r=0.312, p=0.005), E/A ratio (r=0.293, p=0.008) and inversely correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (r=-0.304, p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Serum Osteopontin is of clinical value as a predictor biomarker of the severity of carotid atherosclerosis, presence of atheroma and carotid stenosis with high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in chronic hemodialysis patients. Increased Osteopontin level is associated with left ventricular diastolic and systolic dysfunction in those patients.

Using Lamin B1 mRNA for the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study.

Background:  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is vital medical issue in Egypt. It accounts for 70.48% of all liver tumors among Egyptians. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic role of plasma levels of mRNA of lamin B1 by RT-qPCR as an early marker of HCC. Methods: This study was conducted at the Clinical Pathology Department in collaboration with the Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Ain Shams University Hospitals. It included 30 patients with primary HCC and viral cirrhosis (all were hepatitis C virus-positive) (Group I), in addition to 10 patients with chronic liver diseases (Group II) and 10 healthy age- and sex-matched subjects (Group III). Group I was further classified according to the Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer Staging System. Serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) chemiluminescent-immunoassays and RT-qPCR analysis of plasma lamin B1 mRNA levels were performed for all participants. Results: AFP and lamin B1 significantly elevated in patients with HCC compared to those in the other studied groups. AFP and lamin B1 status could discriminate group I from group II and III. A significant increase was found among the three Barcelona stages with regards to AFP and lamin B1 levels. A significant decrease was found between group II and stage 0, A and B with regards to AFP and lamin B1. Lamin B1 and AFP could both differentiate HCC patients with one tumor nodule (T1) from those with two or more tumor nodules (T2&Tm), as well as between those with tumor sizes >3 cm and ≤3 cm. Conclusion: Measurement of lamin B1 mRNA is recommended in patients with chronic liver disease with normal serum AFP, especially in known cirrhotic patients that deteriorate rapidly without any apparent etiology.

Is serum Osteopontin a predictor of carotid atherosclerosis severity among prevalent hemodialysis patients? / ¿Es la osteopontina sérica un factor predictivo de la gravedad de la aterosclerosis carotídea en los pacientes prevalentes en hemodiálisis?

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients are among the highest population risk for accelerated atherosclerosis. Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional protein that is increased in chronic kidney disease that may play a role in vascular remodelling and intimal proliferation. AIM: To assess the relation between OPN levels and severity of carotid atherosclerosis among prevalent HD patients. METHODS: Eighty chronic HD patients underwent serum OPN levels assessment and were further classified into 3 subgroups according to the OPN tertiles’ levels; sub-group 1 (lower tertile) subgroup 2 (middle tertile) and sub-group 3 (upper tertile), together with the carotid duplex and Transthoracic Doppler Echocardiography examination. RESULTS: The mean carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was 0.89±0.14mm. Out of the studied group, 50 (62.5%) patients had atheromatous plaques and 15 patients (18.8%). had significant stenosis. The 3rd group with the upper OPN tertile (78–270ng/dl) had the highest incidence of atherosclerosis. A significant correlation between the OPN levels and the CIMT (r=0.533, p=0.001). OPN values detect atherosclerosis with diagnostic sensitivity of 70%, specificity of 69%, positive predictive value (PPV) 73%, negative predictive value (NPV) 65% with area under the curve (AUC) 0.804 (95% CI: 0.711–0.897). Serum OPN detect carotid stenosis with sensitivity of 66%, specificity of 81%, PPV 45%, NPV 91% with AUC=0.769 and detect the presence of carotid atheroma with sensitivity 70%, specificity 66.67%, PPV 77.8%, NPV 57.1% and AUC=0.767 (p-value<0.001). Moreover, serum levels of OPN were significantly positively correlated with grade of diastolic dysfunction (r=0.312, p=0.005), E/A ratio (r=0.293, p=0.008) and inversely correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (r=−0.304, p=0.006).

ANTECEDENTES Y OBJETIVO: Los pacientes de hemodiálisis crónica (HD) son una de las poblaciones de mayor riesgo de aterosclerosis acelerada. La osteopontina (OPN) es una proteína multifuncional que se incrementa en la enfermedad renal crónica, y que puede jugar un papel en la remodelación vascular y la proliferación de la íntima. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la relación entre los niveles de OPN y la gravedad de la aterosclerosis carotídea en los pacientes prevalentes en HD. MÉTODOS: Se evaluó el nivel sérico de OPN en 80 pacientes de HD crónica. Seguidamente, se clasificó a dichos pacientes en tres subgrupos con arreglo a los niveles de los terciles de OPN: subgrupo 1 (tercil inferior) subgrupo 2 (tercil medio) y subgrupo 3 (tercil superior), junto con dúplex carotídeo y ecocardiografía Doppler transtorácica. RESULTADOS: El espesor medio de la íntima-media carotídea (CIMT) fue de 0,89 ± 0,14 mm. En el grupo estudiado, 50 (62,5%) pacientes tenían placas ateromatosas y 15 pacientes (18,8%) tenían estenosis significativa. El tercer grupo, con tercil OPN (78-270 ng/dL) reflejó la mayor incidencia de aterosclerosis. Existió una correlación significativa entre los niveles de OPN y CIMT (r = 0,533, p = 0,001). Los valores de OPN detectaron aterosclerosis con una sensibilidad diagnóstica del 70%, especificidad del 69%, valor predictivo positivo (VPP) del 73%, valor predictivo negativo (VPN) del 65% y área bajo la curva (AUC) de 0,804 (intervalo de confianza [IC] 95%: 0,711-0,897). La OPN detectó estenosis carotídea con una sensibilidad del 66%, especificidad del 81%, VPP del 45%, VPN del 91%, y AUC = 0,769 y detectó la presencia de ateroma carotídeo con una sensibilidad del 70%, especificidad del 66,67%, VPP del 77,8%, VPN del 57,1% y AUC = 0,767 (valor p < 0,001). [...]