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Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play essential roles in molecular diagnosis and therapeutic response in several diseases. Purpose For the first time, we aimed to evaluate the association of four lncRNAs TUG1 (rs7284767G/A), MIAT (rs1061540T/C), MALAT1 (rs3200401C/T), and SENCR (rs12420823C/T) variants with susceptibility to diabetic retinopathy (DR), disease severity, and early therapeutic response to intravitreous anti-vascular endothelial growth factor aflibercept therapy. Patients and Methods This case-control study enrolled 126 adult patients with type 2 diabetes. TaqMan assays using Real-Time PCR were run for genotyping. Multivariable regression analyses were applied to assess the role of each polymorphism after the adjustment of covariates. Results Carriers of TUG1 A/G and MIAT T/C and C/C genotypes were more likely to develop DR [OR=3.15 (95% CI=1.15–8.64), and OR=4.31 (95% CI=1.78–10.47)], while MALAT1 T/C conferred protection (OR=0.40, 95% CI=0.16–0.99). For TUG1, MALAT1, MIAT, and SENCR genotype combinations, GTCT and GCCC had a higher disease risk (P=0.012). For disease severity, MIAT T/T homozygosity was associated with higher DR grade [33.3% (T/T) vs 10% (C/C) and 4.2% (C/T) carriers, P=0.012]. Otherwise, patients with the SENCR T variant exhibited better pre-treatment best-corrected visual acuity level (p=0.021). Following aflibercept administration, carrying the TUG1 A or MIAT T/C was associated with a poor therapeutic response (OR=5.02, 95% CI=1.60–15.76, and OR=10.23, 95% CI=1.51–69.15, respectively). Conclusion The lncRNAs TUG1 (rs7284767G/A) and MIAT (rs1061540T/C) were associated with increased DR susceptibility and poor response to aflibercept treatment, while MALAT1 (rs3200401C/T) conferred protection to DR. These genetic determinants could be useful in DR risk stratification and pharmacogenetics after validation in large-scale studies., Graphical Abstract

Background: Viral warts are benign growths that result from an infection of epidermal or mucosal cells with the human papillomavirus. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a link between vitamin D deficiency and increased rates of infectious diseases and their resistance to treatment. Such a link between vitamin D level and wart recalcitrance is yet to be revealed. To the best of our knowledge, there were no previous studies conducted to reveal the possible relationship between vitamin D and recalcitrant warts. Aim: To assess serum vitamin D levels in patients with recalcitrant palmoplantar warts. Subjects and Methods:A cross-sectional study conducted on two groups. The first group included 35 patients with recalcitrant palmoplantar warts, the second group included 35 healthy volunteers matched for age, sex. Serum vitamin D level was measured. Results: A total of 78 participants were enrolled in this study, including 30 males and 48 females, distributed among the 3 groups. There was no statistically significant difference in serum vitamin D levels between the studied groups. Its mean level in the recalcitrant group was 26.03 ng/ml, while in the responsive group it was 29.36 ng/ml and reached 25.15ng/ml in the control group. Conclusion: low serum vitamin D levels do not seem to increase the susceptibility of warts to get resistant to treatment.

BACKGROUND Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a distressing skin disease. Family clustering and heterogeneity in the onset and progression indicate that susceptibility to CSU is a complex trait. In this study, we performed haplotype analysis for one of the key player gene, IL17RA, for CSU to test the association with disease susceptibility and severity. METHODOLOGY The study included 70 CSU patients and 30 healthy controls. The severity of the disease was evaluated by autologous serum skin test (ASST) and urticaria activity score (UAS). ASST test was done and quality of life was assessed using a questionnaire. Allelic discrimination analysis for rs4819554 and rs879577 was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction technology. RESULTS Carriers of rs4819554*G were more prone to develop CSU than its counterpart (P = .039), while rs4819554*A allele displayed more severe phenotype in the form of more prolonged disease duration (P = .040), concurrent angioedema (P

Introduction Globally, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing, predisposing females to health hazards including compromised reproductive capacity. Our objective was to investigate the effect of ad libitum, isocalorically and hypocalorically restricted high-fat diet (HFD) feeding on reproductive function in diet-induced obese female rats. Material and methods Twenty female albino Sprague Dawley rats were used; 5 rats were kept on a standard pellet animal diet to serve as a control group (A) and 15 rats were fed a HFD for 9 weeks to induce obesity. The HFD fed animals were equally divided into three groups: an ad libitum HFD group (B), an isocalorically restricted HFD group (C), and a hypocalorically restricted HFD group (D). Estrous cyclicity, hormonal levels, ovarian histopathology and caspase-3 immunoreactivity were evaluated. Results The HFD-fed rats in groups B, C and D had significant irregularity in estrous cyclicity Vs group A (p = 0.001, 0.003 and 0.034 respectively). Groups C and D had significant reduction in serum progesterone level (p = 0.006 and 0.018 Vs A). Isocaloric restriction of HFD feeding significantly increased serum LH. Groups B and C had a significant increase in caspase-3 expression in the ovary (p < 0.001). Conclusions Ad libitum HFD interfered with the normal estrous cycle and enhanced apoptosis of luteal cells in obese female rats. The HFD restriction interfered with the normal estrous cycle and caused functional insufficiency of the corpus luteum in obese female rats. These results suggest that HFD feeding determinately affects female reproductive function independently of caloric intake.

The insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene is associated with vitiligo in the Indians and Koreans, but not in those of English or Turkish background. We investigated the ACE (I/D) polymorphism in vitiligo patients for the first time in Egypt and compared serum ACE levels between vitiligo patients and controls. The present study was carried out in 100 vitiligo patients (40 males and 60 females) and in 100 healthy controls of an Egyptian population using the polymerase chain reaction genotyping method.The ACE genotype and allele frequency was significantly different between vitiligo patients and controls. Our results revealed a significant increase in the frequency of the ACE I allele (p=0.002; odds ratio: 1.99; 95% confidence intervals: 1.207-3.284) with an overrepresentation of I/D genotype in the vitiligo patient group. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the segmental, nonsegmental, and focal vitiligo in ACE gene genotype distribution. Serum ACE levels were significantly increased in vitiligo patients compared to controls (p=0.034).This study suggests that, for the first time, ACE gene polymorphism confers susceptibility to vitiligo in the Egyptian population.

The aims of the study are determine some immunological aspects namely total IgE, specific IgE, eosinophil count, IFN-γ, IL-10 and CCL-17 in serum of atopic patients and apparently healthy control to determine their relationship to atopic diseases. The age group of 21–40 years seems to be the most affect group with atopic diseases (P =0.0001) and asthmatic and allergic rhinitis patients are at this age group also (P =0.005, P =0.001respectively). There is a major differences (P < 0.001) in level of total IgE between allergic subjects and controls and among three atopic patients groups (P < 0.001) but Specific IgE is significantly higher in asthmatics than allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis patients (P < 0.05). Inhalation of outdoor allergens is significantly affected asthmatic patients and allergic rhinitis patients (P < 0.01). Controversially, indoor allergens are significantly affecting atopic dermatitis (P < 0.01). The mean of IFN-γ serum level in asthma patients was lower than IFN-γ serum level of the control group and atopic dermatitis patients (P < 0.05). The allergic rhinitis patients mean of serum level of IL-10 was significantly low as compared to the mean of the serum level of IL-10 control group (P= 0.020). All of three groups of atopic patients are significantly have high level of CCL-17 compare to mean of serum level of control group (P < 0.01).

The effect of obesity on reproductive function in obese men is much less investigated than in women. In addition, the mechanism of male reproductive outcomes in obesity is unknown. So this study was designed to investigate the effect of prepubertal induction of obesity on the reproductive function in male rats at maturity and to address whether inflammation and testicular oxidative stress are involved at the mechanistical level. Fourteen male albino rats, 4 weeks old were included and divided into control group (n=6) and high fat diet group (n=8). The animal characteristics were assessed, serum biochemical parameters, FSH, LH, testosterone, estradiol, TNFα, IL-6 and IL-10 were measured, sperm count and motility were measured, testicular oxidative stress markers were assayed and histopathological evaluation of spermatogenesis was done. HFD feeding induced significant increase in body weight, BMI, Lee index, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, TNFα and testicular malondialdehyde. HFD feeding induced significant decrease in relative testicular weight, IL-10, sperm count and progressive movement and testicular glutathione peroxidase. HFD group revealed defective spermatogenesis. Prepubertal induction of obesity impaired the reproductive function in mature male rats. Testicular oxidative stress and inflammation may be playing an important role in this effect.