Study of transforming growth factor beta 1 gene +869T/C polymorphism in Egyptian rheumatoid arthritis patients and its relation to disease activity.

This study intended to explore the relationship between the +869T/C polymorphism of the transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) gene and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) predisposition and activity in Egyptian patients. The study involved 30 patients suffering from RA and 30 apparently healthy participants as the control group. The +869T/C polymorphism of the TGF-ß1 gene was determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) process. The TGF-ß1 + 869 CT genotype and CT+TT genotypes in RA patients showed a significant increase than the control group (OR=3.782 and 3.824, CI=1.046-13.680 and 1.150-12.713, P=0.043 and 0.029, respectively). T allele showed a significant increase in patients than in controls (OR= 2.104, CI 1.015- 4.361, P = 0.046). The TGF-ß1 +869 CT+TT genotypes were accompanied by higher DAS-28 scores which express higher disease activity, and increased levels of RF, Anti-CCP, ESR, and CRP. In conclusion, the TGF-ß1 +869T/C gene polymorphism may be accompanied by an increased predisposition to RA and with its severity in Egyptian RA patients.

Study of Monocyte Subsets and Their Surface Expression of CD86 and Serum IL-17 Compared to Serum Procalcitonin as Markers of Early Neonatal Sepsis.

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal sepsis can quickly progress to multi-organ failure with high morbidity and mortality, making early diagnosis mandatory. Although being the gold standard, the long duration of blood culture may lead to hazardous neonatal complications. Sepsis activates monocytes and changes their subset distribution with the resultant activation of lymphocytes and adaptive immune cells changing the plasma cytokines levels. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Percentages of monocytes subsets, pattern of monocytes surface CD86 expression and serum IL-17 compared to serum procalcitonin were measured in 30 neonates with early sepsis and compared with age and sex matched 30 apparently health neonates as a control group. RESULTS: Gestational age, neonatal weight and hemoglobin concentration were significantly low in septic neonates vs the control group. Percentages of intermediate, nonclassical and CD86 positive monocytes, the mean fluorescence intensity of CD16 on CD16 positive monocytes, and serum levels of CRP, IL-17 and procalcitonin were significantly increased in septic neonates compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Early neonatal sepsis was associated with increasing the percentage of CD86 positive monocytes. Serum IL-17 levels were positively correlated with increased serum procalcitonin.