Borupmathiasen8055

05). Survival was significantly inferior in patients with an FLC ratio of ≥ 2.6 or ≤ 0.56 compared with those with an FLC ratio that was between 0.56 and 2.6 (P = 0.002).Retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gT (RORγT) is the orphan nuclear receptor that regulates the development of Th17 cells and the expression of IL-17. The differentiation of Th17 cells is associated with the upregulation of RORγT mRNA, and the mechanisms regulating that process in human cells are not well understood. RORγt as transcription factor was selectively expressed in Th17 cells and is regulated by STAT3. The relationship between Th17 cells and tumor immunopathology has been controversial. Aim of the study is to evaluate Th17 cells and RORγt transcriptional factor in cirrhotic, early and advanced HCC patients. Ninety patients were studied (30 cirrhotic, 30 early stage and 30 advanced stage HCC patients). They were recruited from the National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, and subjected to full clinical examination, investigations to detect liver cirrhosis, portal vein thrombosis and tumor staging. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with cytosim, ionomycin and monensin, and surface (CD4-PE)as well as intracellular staining for Th17 (IL-17 FITC) was performed. Analysis of cells was carried out using FACS Calibur. RORγt mRNA expression in PBMCs was measured by real time RT- PCR. Cirrhotic patients showed increased Th17% cells, without significant change in RORγt mRNA as compared to early stage HCC. Advanced stage HCC patients showed significant increase of Th17 cells% and RORγt mRNA compared to studied patients group. Positive correlation of Th17 and RORγtmRNA was found with aminotransferases and bilirubin levels while, negative with serum albumin in advanced stage patients group (P less then 0.001). Both markers were significantly increased with tumor size; RORγt mRNA increased with multiple tumor foci. In conclusion, Th17 cells and RORγt may be useful prognostic markers for advanced liver cirrhosis and HCC.Type 1 diabetes is one of the most common chronic childhood illnesses. Interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors is thought to provide the fundamental element for the disease. It has been shown that more than 40 genetic loci are associated with T1DM. Important one among these is the CTLA-4. This work aimed to detect Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene polymorphism in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus T1DM using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) to clarify its role in the susceptibility to T1DM. The study was carried out on forty unrelated Egyptian children with TIDM. Twenty unrelated healthy children were enrolled as a control group. Blood samples were collected from patients and control groups and subjected to CTLA-4 gene polymorphism analysis using polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). CTLA-4 G allele and GG homozygous genotype were significantly increased in T1DM patients than in control group (P less then 0.001, P = 0.002 respectively). There was significant association between the three CTLA-4 genotypes (AA, AG, GG) and diabetic complications (p = 0.002), AG and GG polymorphisms were associated with complications of diabetes with ratio 84.6% and 100% respectively. While no association was found with sex, weight, height, risk factors of diabetes or insulin treatment. AZD7648 cost It was concluded that there is a strong association between AG polymorphism and T1DM (P = 0.002).Growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6) belongs to a family of vitamin K-dependent coagulation proteins. Plasma levels of Gas6 are associated to altered glucose tolerance. This study aimed at determining whether c.843+7G>A Gas6 polymorphism is associated with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study included 50 patients with type 2 diabetes and 40 matched controls. The Gas6 protein was measured in serum using ELISA and Gas6 gene polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism. The GG genotype was the most prevalent in the diabetic patient. The frequency of A allele in the diabetic group was lower than the control group (P less then 0.05). Serum concentrations of Gas6 were lower among type 2 diabetes patients than controls (P less then 0.001). Since the AA genotype was expressed at a lower frequency in type2 diabetes patients compared to controls, a protective role for this Gas6 variant in type 2 diabetic patients may be concluded.Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an immune-mediated acquired disease with transient or persistent decrease of thrombocytes number in the blood. Cytokines play important roles in the immune regulation and are known to be deregulated in autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to investigate serum IL-16 levels in relation to reticulated platelets in children with ITP and platelet count. Twenty six children with ITP (11 with newly diagnosed ITP, 9 with persistent ITP and 6 with chronic ITP) and 12 age-matched healthy children controls were studied. Serum level of IL-16 and reticulated platelets count were assessed by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry respectively. Serum IL-16 levels were significantly higher in patients as compared to controls (P less then 0.001). Within patients, the levels were higher in newly diagnosed compared to persistent and chronic ITP (P less then 0.01) and (P less then 0.001) respectively. IL-16 levels were also significantly higher in persistent ITP compared to chronic ITP (P less then 0.001). Reticulated platelets were also elevated in patients compared to controls and the increase was significant in newly diagnosed group (P less then 0.05). Negative correlation was found between IL-16 level and reticulated platelets and platelets counts (r = -0.284, P = 0.028, r = 0.274 P = 0.25) respectively. It is concluded that IL-16 may be valuable in predicting the clinical course of pediatrics ITP. Measurement of reticulated platelets may provide significant information about thrombopoietic activity during the clinical course of ITP in children.Dysfunction of the immune system in colorectal cancer (CRC) can be due to a number of reasons including apoptosis of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). The aims of this study was to investigate TILs in colorectal cancer and characterize apoptosis of TILs using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay for detecting DNA fragments. We used monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to T lymphocytes to detect TILs and double immunohistochemistry to assess apoptosis. T lymphocytes were detected in the immune infiltrate in CRC. TUNEL staining disclosed a high level of cell death among TILs. Apoptosis of T lymphocytes showed significant correlation with Dukes' stage (P = 0.02), lymphatic metastasis (P = 0.03), vascular metastasis (P = 0.01), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.02) and age of patient (P = 0.01). In conclusion, CRC may elude immunological surveillance by inducing apoptosis of TILs.Bronchial asthma (BA) is one of the common chronic diseases of childhood. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with BA. Suppressor regulatory T cells (Treg) are important for the induction, maintenance of immunological tolerance to allergens. This study assessed serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) and the percentages of CD4+CD25+(high) Foxp3+ Treg, in peripheral blood, as predictors of asthma severity and level of clinical control. The study enrolled 72 children divided equally between asthmatic children (AC) and age and sex matched controls. Diagnostic criteria and level of asthma severity followed the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines. Serum vitamin D was determined by an immunoassay and the percentages of CD4+CD25+ig Foxp3+ Treg by flow cytometry. Serum vitamin D level and percentage of CD4+CD25+(high) Treg were lower in AC compared to controls (P less then 0.001) whereas Fox p3 expression was higher in AC compared to controls, P less then 0.001. Serum vitamin D levels were lower in severe asthma compared to mild and moderate forms (P = 0.008) and in uncontrolled attacks compared to partially or completely controlled children. No difference in percentage of Treg in relation to asthma severity and clinical control was observed. Since AC has decreased serum vitamin D with inverse relationship between its levels and asthma severity, we conclude that it can be used to predict severity of asthma.Breast cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy in the world. In Egypt, it ranks the first among female malignancies with incidence of 37.7%. Over the last decades, the integration of prognostic and predictive markers in treatment decisions has led to more individualized and optimized therapy. NY-BR-1 antigen has been shown to be frequently expressed in breast cancers. The study aimed to assess the tissue expression of NY-BR-1 antigen and serum IgG antibody to this antigen in Egyptian breast cancer females. The study was conducted on 60 females (10 healthy, 10 having benign breast lesions, 40 with malignant breast cancer). NY-BR-1 Ag expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and anti-NY-BR-1 IgG was assessed by ELISA. Results revealed a significant difference in NY-BR-1 Ag expression between benign and malignant breast cancer patients. There was a significant correlation between NY-BR-1 antigen expression and estrogen receptor's status (P = 0.019), stage of the disease (P = 0.008), menopausal status (P = 0.008), lymph node involvement (P = 0.022) and anti-NY-BR-1 IgG (P = 0.032) among the studied individuals. In addition, there was a statistically significant increase in anti-NY-BR-1 IgG O.D. results among malignant breast cancer group. It is correlated with tumor type (P less then 0.001) and progesterone receptor status (P = 0.038). In conclusion, our work may represent a step towards identification of a new prognostic marker specific for breast cancer.A 71-year-old man was referred to our department due to inflammation in the right scrotum. A tumor in the right spermatic cord was suspected on palpation, and abdominal computed tomography revealed a 4-cm mass in the tail of the pancreas and a low-density lesion in the liver segment 6. In addition, the patient's serum level of CA19-9 was high, at 135.7 U/mi. We referred the patient to our institution's Department of Gastroenterology, where he was diagnosed as having a liver metastasis from pancreatic cancer. Despite three courses of gemcitabine and erlotinib combination therapy for pancreatic cancer, his serum level of CA19-9 increased to 744.0 U/m, indicating no response to chemotherapy. Because uncontrollable pain developed in the right scrotum and right inguinal area during the course of treatment, inguinal orchiectomy was performed for pain management and pathological diagnosis. Careful examination revealed a hard, whitish tumor occupying the right spermatic cord and extending from the epididymis to the internal inguinal ring. Because a palpable mass in the peritoneum near the internal inguinal ring was detected, part of the peritoneum was resected concurrently. Pathological findings were remarkable with spermatic cord metastasis and peritoneal dissemination from pancreatic cancer. Pain subsided postoperatively and no analgesics were needed. Pancreatic cancer accompanied by spermatic cord metastasis and peritoneal dissemination is extremely rare. Surgical resection in the present case provided effective treatment of the intractable pain due to spermatic cord metastasis. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the 14th case reported in Japan of spermatic cord metastasis from pancreatic cancer as a primary cancer.