Associations of galectin-3 expression and LGALS-3 (rs4652) gene variant with coronary artery disease risk in diabetics.

BACKGROUND: Galectin-3 protein encoded by lectin galactoside-binding soluble-3 (LGALS-3) gene is an important genetic factor in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its cardiovascular obstacles in various populations. We aimed to elicit the pro-inflammatory effect of galectin-3 as determined by interleukin-6 (IL-6) serum levels and to explore the relationship between galectin-3 (LGALS-3 rs4652) gene variant and its expression levels with coronary artery disease (CAD) risk among T2DM Egyptian patients. METHODS: 112 lean subjects were compared to 100 T2DM without CAD and 84 T2DM with CAD. A tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction was used to test LGALS-3 (rs4652), and galectin3 expression was tested with a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Serum IL-6 was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: We found that the prevalence of LGALS-3 (rs4652) AC genotype and galectin-3 gene expression levels in T2DM with CAD were significantly higher than the additional 2 groups and were correlated positively to IL-6 circulating levels. Also, the C allele carriers (AC+CC) had significantly higher relative Galectin-3 expression levels compared to the A allele carriers (AA). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that galectin-3 expression levels and LGALS-3 (rs4652) AC genotype were coronary artery disease risk factors in people with type two diabetes among an Egyptian sample.

PCSK9 E670G (rs505151) Variant and Coronary Artery Disease Risk Among Diabetics.

Background: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is an enzyme in the family of proprotein convertases implicated in lipid metabolism and is a significant genetic risk factor in cardiovascular diseases among various populations. Aim of the Study: This study explored the correlation between the alleles of the rs505151 (E670G) locus of the PCSK9 gene and its expression levels with coronary artery disease (CAD) risk in Egyptian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Subjects and Methods: A case-control study was performed on 112 lean subjects compared to 100 T2DM patients without CAD and 84 T2DM patients with CAD to investigate the relationships among PCSK9 expression levels, the E670G (rs505151) gene variant, lipid concentrations, and CAD risk in an Egyptian diabetic population. A restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to assess the gene polymorphism, and PCSK9 mRNA expression was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: The prevalence of the E670G (rs505151) AG genotype in diabetics with CAD was significantly greater than the other two groups. The PCSK9 gene expression levels in diabetics with CAD were significantly greater than the other two groups. G allele carriers (AG+GG) had a higher relative PCSK9 expression than A allele carriers. Conclusion: PCSK9 relative expression levels and the E670G (rs505151) AG genotype are CAD risk factors among Egyptian diabetics and are linked positively to the atherogenic index of plasma.

Comparative study between intersphinecteric ligation of perianal fistula versus conventional fistulotomy with or without seton in the treatment of perianal fistula: A prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Fistula-in-ano is one of the most common benign anal conditions in daily surgical practice.The goals in the treatment of an anal fistula are to eradicate sepsis and to eliminate the primary fistula opening, any associated tracts, and any secondary openings without a change in continence. Conventional fistulotomy (lay open of the fistula tract) is a commonly used procedure and is still relied on by the majority of surgeons as the gold standard for the treatment of perianal fistula. Ligation of the Intersphincteric Fistula Tract (LIFT) is a new sphincter-preserving technique for the treatment of anal fistula. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of open fistulotomy and ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) procedure based on its post-operative outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Present study is A prospective randomized controlled trial which included 30 patients presented with low transsphincteric perianal fistula 27 (90%) males and 3 (10%) females divided into two groups each group consisted of 15 patients. Group, I subjected to inter sphincteric ligation of perianal fistula (LIFT) procedure. Group II patients subjected to conventional fistulotomy. The study lasts 2 years from May 2017 to May 2019 with Follow up for 6 months duration. Operative time in our study was significantly higher in group (I) Managed by LIFT with a mean of 32.53 min than group (II) managed by fistulotomy with a mean of 20.87mins. Wound healing was faster in a group (I) managed by LIFT than group (II) managed by fistulotomy, as the mean time for complete wound healing was (4.53) weeks after LIFT and (5.67) weeks after fistulotomy. RESULTS: There was no case of incontinence after performing the LIFT technique in all our patients in group I. there were 2 cases of incontinence to gases only after fistulotomy in group II. The healing rate after LIFT was 80% (12/15 patients). The healing rate after fistulotomy was 93.3% (14/15 patients). CONCLUSION: LIFT procedure is an effective and preferred sphincter-saving technique for fistula-in-ano with shorter healing time and lower incidence of postoperative anal incontinence, as compared to open fistulotomy.