Relation between interleukin-13 and annexin-V levels and carotid intima-media thickness in nephrotic syndrome.

Background and aim: The aim of the current study is to assess the relation between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurements, renal Doppler resistive index (RI) and serum levels of interleukin-13 (IL-13) and annexin-V (An-V) in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). Materials and methods: The present case-control study was conducted on 60 children with INS and 60 age- and sex-matched healthy children. All participants were subjected to evaluation of serum levels of IL-13 and An-V and ultrasound Doppler measurement of CIMT and renal RI. Results: Patients expressed significantly higher An-V (5.9 ± 2.6 vs. 2.1 ± 0.8 ng/mL, p<0.001) and IL-13 (19.2 ± 7.6 vs. 3.4 ± 1.4 ng/L) levels when compared with healthy counterparts. Moreover, it was shown that patients had significantly higher CIMT (0.49 ± 0.06 vs. 0.35 ± 0.03, p<0.001) as compared to controls. No significant differences were noted between the studied groups regarding right or left RIs. Correlation analysis identified significant direct correlation between serum An-V levels and albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) (r = 0.55), cholesterol (r = 0.48), triglycerides (r = 0.36), IL-13 (r = 0.92) and CIMT (r = 0.53). Similar correlations could be found between serum IL-13 levels and CIMT measurements and the corresponding parameters. Conclusions: The present study suggests an association between higher early atherosclerosis expressed as elevated CIMT measurements in children with INS and elevated serum levels of An-V and IL-13.

Assessment of the natural killer cell, IFN- and IL-10 blood levels in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, affects millions of youngsters and typically persists into adulthood. The pathophysiology of ADHD may be due to an impaired immune response, common genetics, and environmental linkages, as all have been suggested as potential underlying mechanisms for ADHD. During systemic inflammation, natural killer (NK) cells can produce pro-inflammatory cytokines like interferon (IFN- ) and anti-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin (IL-10); this demonstrates the importance of both of their roles as regulators to counteract inflammation and prevent immune-mediated host damage. In this work we aimed to determine the role of inflammation in children with ADHD by measuring the level of NK cells in peripheral blood compared to typically developing children besides estimating the inflammatory cytokines INF- and IL -10 in both groups. This study included 50 children diagnosed with ADHD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th edition and 50 age and sex- matched normally developed children, as controls. The estimation of NK was done using flow cytometry, while the studied cytokines were measured using the ELISA technique. We found that children with ADHD had a significantly higher level of NK cells in peripheral blood compared to controls (p < 0.001). Furthermore, increased IFN -, while decreased IL-10 serum levels were observed in children with ADHD compared to their control group. In conclusion our findings suggested that children with ADHD may have impaired immune responses, as NK cells were increased in peripheral blood compared to the control group. Also, the serum level of IFN - was higher, while the serum level of IL-10 was lower in ADHD children as compared to controls.

Serum metabolomic profiles and semaphorin-3A as biomarkers of diabetic retinopathy progression.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a typical microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and it remains one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide. Studies postulated that a distinct metabolic signature of DR exists and can be resolved from that of diabetes alone. Serum Semaphorin3A (Sema3A) levels have also been found to be correlated with the phenotypes of diabetic retinopathy. We aimed to analyze and identify serum metabolites and serum Sema3A levels that could be useful biomarkers of DR progression. This cross-sectional study included 45 type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. Diabetic patients were divided into three groups based on the status of their complications: non-DR (NDR, n=15), non-proliferative DR (NPDR, n=15), and proliferative DR (PDR, n=15) groups. Serum metabolomic profiles of these patients were determined by using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), and serum Sema3A levels measured by ELISA. Metabolomics analysis revealed a set of metabolites that were altered in the serum of PDR patients as compared with NPDR and NDR groups. Among these metabolites total asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and Kynurenine were potential predictors of PDR patients. Significantly higher serum levels of Sema3A in PDR patients as compared with NPDR and NDR groups (p < 0.001), their serum levels were positively correlated with the central macular thickness (r= 0.952, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with the superficial macular density (r=-0.952, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the metabolite signatures identified in this study and serum Sema3A levels could be proposed as biomarkers for DR development and progression in T2D patients. However, Sema3A was superior to metabolomics in the prediction of the severity of DR.

Maternal serum perlecan and ischemia modified albumin levels as biomarkers of preeclampsia severity.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy disorder characterized by hypertension and end-organ damage. Reliable biochemical markers for diagnosis and prediction of PE severity can improve maternal health, and several of these markers have been suggested till now. The goal of our study was to evaluate maternal serum levels of Perlecan and Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) in PE patients, and to investigate their relationship with the severity. This study included 45 pregnant women, who were divided into three groups: mild PE (n=15), severe PE (n=10), and normal pregnant females (n=20) as a control group. Maternal serum levels of Perlecan and IMA were determined by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Preeclamptic women with severe features have significantly higher serum Perlecan and IMA levels than women with mild PE and control (P0.001 for both). Serum levels of Perlecan and IMA were significantly increased in patients with mild PE as compared with control (P0.001 for both). Serum Perlecan levels were positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), ALT, AST, creatinine, urea, uric acid, and proteinuria, but negatively correlated with platelet count and fetal birth weight. Serum IMA level was positively correlated with SBP, DBP, but negatively correlated with Albumin, and fetal birth weight. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Perlecan and IMA in the prediction of PE severity. Serum Perlecan had greater sensitivity and lower specificity for severe PE than for mild PE. Serum IMA had greater sensitivity and lower specificity for severe PE than for mild PE. In conclusion, maternal serum Perlecan and IMA levels were biomarkers for monitoring PE and the increase in serum Perlecan levels was in accordance with the severity of PE. Also, Perlecan was superior to IMA as a predictor for PE severity.