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Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic progressive inflammatory bowel disease, many long non coding RNA (lncRNAs) have been studied to have a role in the pathogenesis of Ulcerative colitis. Objective: is to evaluate expression level of long noncoding RNA PVT1 in ulcerative colitis and its association with the severity of the disease. Methodology: Sixty ulcerative colitis patients and 60 subjects were enrolled as controls. LNCRNA PVT1 relative expression level was tested using miScript SYBR Green PCR Kit. Results: Results showed significant differences between the patients with ulcerative colitis and controls as regard the median of the relative expression level of LNC PVT1 (P

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant health issue worldwide.. We attempted to fulfill the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic and genetic factors associated with chronic HBV (CHBV). Expression levels of the lncRNA growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5) and miR-137 and their corresponding SNPs, rs2067079 (C/T) and rs1625579 (G/T) were analyzed in 117 CHBV patients and 120 controls to investigate the probable association between these biomarkers and CHBV pathogenesis in the Egyptian population. Serum expression levels of GAS5 and miR-137 were significantly down-regulated in cases vs controls. Regarding GAS5 (rs2067079), the mutant TT genotype showed an increased risk of CHBV (p p = 0.004). Regarding miR-137 rs1625579, the mutant genotype TT was reported as a risk factor for CHBV (p p = 0.007). Concerning miR-137 rs1625579, the mutant TT genotype was significantly associated with a lower serum expression level of miR-137 (p = 0.018). We revealed the dysregulated expression levels of GAS5 and miR-137 linked to their functioning SNPs were associated with CHBV risk and might act as potential therapeutic targets.

Background: T regulatory cells (Tregs), through variable mechanisms, play a crucial role in Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronicity and infection tolerance. A great speculation is posed regarding the le...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease. We aimed to measure the level of miR-155 and its genetic variant rs767649 in patients with RA and to evaluate their rela...

Genetic variants in microRNAs (miRNAs) can alter the miRNAs expression and/or function, accordingly, affecting the related biological pathways and disease risk. Dysregulation of miR-155 and miR-146a expression levels has been well-described in viral hepatitis B (HBV). In the current study, we aimed to assess rs767649 T/A and rs57095329 A/G polymorphisms in miR-155, and miR-146a genes, respectively, as risk factors for Chronic HBV (CHBV) in the Egyptian population. Also, we aimed to do in silico analysis to investigate the molecules that primarily target these miRNAs. One hundred patients diagnosed as CHBV and one hundred age and sex-matched controls with evidence of past HBV infection were genotyped for miR-155 (rs767649) and miR-146a (rs57095329) using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The rs767649 AT and AA genotypes in CHBV patients confer four folds and ten folds risk respectively, as compared to control subjects [(AOR = 4.245 (95%CI 2.009–8.970), pppp = 0.004] and [AOR = 5.604 (95%CI 2.157–14.563), p

Reconstruction of a tendon rupture is surgically challenging as each end of the tendon retracts, leaving a substantial gap and direct repair is often not feasible. A tendon graft is required to bridge this defect and restore function. Presently, these gaps are filled with auto-, allo-, or synthetic grafts, but they all have clinical limitations. To address this issue, we developed tissue-engineered grafts by a rapid process using compressed type I collagen, which is the most dominant protein in the tendon. However, biomechanical properties were found to be unsuitable to withstand complete load-bearing in vivo. Hence, a modified suture technique was previously developed to reduce the load on the engineered collagen graft to aid integration in vivo. Using this technique, we tested engineered collagen grafts in vivo on a lapine model in three groups up to 12 weeks without immobilization. Gross observation at 3 and 12 weeks showed the bridge integrated without adhesions with a significant increase in the mechanical, structural and histological properties as compared to 1 week. Insertion of a tissue-engineered collagen graft using a novel load-bearing suture technique which partially loads in vivo showed integration, greater mechanical strength and no adhesion formation in the time period tested. This collagen graft has inherent advantages as compared to the present-day tendon grafts.

Despite the increased proof that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) can control gene expression and broadly affect the normal physiological and disease conditions, the part of lncRNAs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not well known. This study aimed to assess the serum expression levels of lnc-Cox2 and HOTAIR in RA and to investigate their role as novel noninvasive biomarkers in diagnosis of RA. Also, their relations with the levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and with other clinicolaboratory data in RA patients were analyzed. LncRNAs-Cox2 and HOTAIR expression levels were detected in serum by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Both IL-6 and MMP-9 levels in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA expression of lncRNA-Cox2 and HOTAIR was significantly upregulated in RA patients compared with healthy controls. Serum levels of both IL-6 and MMP-9 were significantly higher in RA patients than in healthy subjects (P 0.001 each). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve demonstrated that lncRNA-Cox2 and HOTAIR could discriminate RA patients from healthy controls. HOTAIR (not lnc-Cox2) was observed to be an independent predictor for RA using multiple logistic regression analysis. We concluded that lnc-Cox2 and HOTAIR serum expression levels can be used as novel noninvasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of RA.

Aim of work To determine level of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) in patients with Behçet’s disease (BD) and to assess its role in disease manifestations and activity. Patients and methods The study included 48 patients with BD and 38 matched controls. Disease activity was estimated by the BD current activity form. Serum IMA was measured. Results Mean age of the patients was 33.8±7.9 years. There were 42 males and six females, and the disease duration was 52.9±48.8 months. The serum IMA level was significantly increased in the patients with BD (50.9±12.9 U/ml) compared with the control (7.76±1.6 U/ml) (P

Noncoding RNAs are emerging biomarkers for many diseases including diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study aimed to measure the expression levels of serum miR-20b, miR-17-3p, HOTAIR, and MALAT1 in DR patients. A total of 80 patients diagnosed as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and 81 healthy subjects were recruited in this study. T2D patients were divided into three groups: nondiabetic retinopathy (NDR) group (30 patients), nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) group (30 patients), and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) group (20 patients). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assess the expression of serum miR-20b, miR-17-3p, HOTAIR, and MALAT1. We found a significant decrease in serum miR-20b and a significant increase in serum HOTAIR and MALAT1 in NDR patients compared to healthy subjects. Also, we revealed a significant decrease in serum miR-20b and miR-17-3p and a significant increase in serum HOTAIR and MALAT1 in each of NPDR and PDR groups when compared with healthy subjects. Furthermore, we reported a significant decrease in miR-20b and miR-17-3p and a significant increase in HOTAIR and MALAT1in DR as well as in PDR patients when compared with NDR patients. However, on comparing NPDR with NDR patients, no significant difference was observed regarding the expression levels of miR-20b and miR-17-3p, in contrast, significant elevation of serum HOTAIR and MALAT1 was found in NPDR. Moreover, we observed a significant decrease in serum miR-20b and miR-17-3p and a significant increase in serum HOTAIR and MALAT1 in PDR group relative to NPDR group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used for evaluating the diagnostic value of the examined serum noncoding RNAs as novel biochemical indicators detecting severity of DR. Our analyses suggested that the examined serum noncoding RNAs may discriminate DR (PDR and NPDR) from NDR. Furthermore, these noncoding RNAs (less importantly miR-17) can be used as promising novel biomarkers for prediction DR severity, distinguishing PDR from NPDR patients. We can conclude that serum miR-20b, miR-17-3p, HOTAIR, and MALAT1 may be used as noninvasive biomarkers for screening of DR and early diagnosis of PDR. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 71(3):310-320, 2019.

Helicobacter pylori is a ubiquitous Gram-negative bacterium, that is responsible for gastric mucosal inflammation. It is the most common risk factor for gastric cancer (GC). The current study aimed...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease. We aimed to measure the level of miR-155 and its genetic variant rs767649 in patients with RA and to evaluate their relationship with ischemia-modified albumin (IMA). The study was performed on 79 patients with RA (group I) and 78 healthy control participants (group II). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to assess the expression of serum miR-155 in addition to its functional variant rs767649. IMA levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Significant overexpression of miR-155 and higher levels of IMA were detected in patients with RA compared with those in controls (

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent form of cancer. Various long non coding RNA (lncRNAs) and micro RNA have been confirmed to have a role in the progression of HCC. Our aim was to investigate for the first time the expression profile of serum level of LNC NEAT (nuclear enrich abundant transcript) and MiR-129-5p in HCC patients and their relations with patient's clinical and biochemical investigations rather than previous studies on tissue cell lines. Our study includes 72 subjects divided into 36 as control subjects and 36 patients with HCC. Complete physical and laboratory investigations were done on all subjects. RNAs were extracted from sera of all subjects. RNAs were reversed transcribed into cDNAs using Qiagen, Valenica, CA. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed using Rotor gene Q System (Qiagen). Relative NEAT1 expression level was significantly increased in serum of HCC patients 4.7 (1.31-6.82) (p < .0001). Meanwhile MiR-129-5p relative expression level was significantly decreased in serum of HCC patients 0.17 (0.14-20) (p < .0001). Also there was negative significant correlation between the expression level of LNC NEAT and MiR-129-5p in HCC group (p < .0001). ROC curve analysis revealed that LNC NEAT; AUC = 0.981, p < .0001, cutoff value (1.02), sensitivity 100%, specificity 88.9%. MiR-129-5p; AUC = 0.997, p < .0001, cutoff value (0.43), sensitivity 100%, specificity 97.2%. Serum LNC NEAT and MiR-129-5p could be used as potential biomarkers for HCC cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represented the second cause of mortality among cancer patients. Long noncoding RNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) serve as noninvasive biomarkers for CRC surveillance and introduce new therapeutic approaches. LINC00657 and miR-106a expression levels play a pivotal role in CRC. This study included 190 Egyptian subjects, and the expression levels of LINC00657 and miR-106a in serum were measured by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. We found that upregulation of LINC00657 and downregulation of miR-106a are significantly associated with the development of CRC. Also, a positive correlation was detected between their serum levels. In addition, serum LINC00657 can distinguish adenomatous polyposis (AP) patients and/or ulcerative colitis (UC) patients from controls. Also the miRNA-106a expression level discriminates AP but not UC from healthy individuals. Our study cited new diagnostic biomarkers for CRC, AP, and UC among Egyptians in addition to be noninvasive screening tools for CRC in both healthy subjects and those having precancerous lesions. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 71(9):1322-1335, 2019.

The original version of this Article contained an error in the author affiliations. The affiliation of Marjan Enayati with ‘Ludwig Boltzmann Cluster for Cardiovascular Research at the Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Austria' was inadvertently omitted. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in gene regulation and show greater tissue specificity and complexity of biological functions. There is on-going research in their contribution in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). Our study aimed at the evaluation of serum levels of lncRNAs, MALAT1 and lnc-DC in MS patients and the investigation of the association between these lncRNAs and the disease activity. Serum from 45 MS patients and 45 healthy controls was separated. MALAT1 and lnc-DC expression levels were assayed by qRT-PCR. MALAT1 and lnc-DC were significantly increased in MS patients (P=0.004 and P=0.006, respectively) in comparison with controls. There was a significant increase in expression of MALAT1 in secondary progressive MS (SPMS) subgroup compared with controls (P

Background Different combinations of Direct Antiviral Agents (DAAs) have been used against different Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotypes and in different types of patients. Despite being effective and characterized by a very low rate of adverse effects in clinical trials, few data are available on adverse events in real life studies. Objectives The aim of this study was to identify the incidence and pattern of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) caused by DAAs; daclatasvir and sofosbuvir and their combination with ribavirin and to assess the causality and the severity of the reported ADRs. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted over six months at treatment HCV center of Health Insurance Hospital in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt. A pre-tested, interviewed structured questionnaire was used by authors to gather required data from 345 enrolled patients regarding demographics, co-morbidity and ADRs. Causality and severity of ADRs were assessed. Results According to our data. we have found that 75.7% (261out of 345) patients reported 36 different ADRs involving different systems, of these 1.2% experienced Serious Adverse Events (SAEs), including three deaths (0.9%). A majority of ADRs were more significantly reported with ribavirin-containing regimen. Out of 345 patients, 23.5% have comorbidities. Among them, 92.6% reported ADRs. Causality assessment of ADRs by WHO-UMC criteria revealed that 38.89% were probable while 61.11% were possible. Conclusion New antiviral drugs require careful follow-up of any significant adverse event that may occur and can affect adherence. Special population as the elderly and those with comorbidities should always be managed with caution to avoid development of serious side effects.