Identification of serum biomarker panel to differentiate malignant from benign thyroid nodules using multiplex bead assay.

BACKGROUND: The challenging target in the workup of thyroid nodule(s) is to exclude or diagnose thyroid cancer efficiently prior to surgical intervention. The present work studied a panel of eight serum biomarkers to differentiate benign from malignant thyroid nodules, aiming at reducing unnecessary thyroidectomy performed for inconclusive preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology. Serum interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-8 (IL-8), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), angiopietin (Ang1), nonokine induced by interferon gamma (MIG), galectin (Gal-3), and vitamin D-binding protein (VDRP) were quantified by multiplex bead assay using Luminex xMAP technology. The study was conducted on 60 subjects of three groups (20 each; healthy controls, benign thyroid nodule, and malignant thyroid nodule). RESULTS: Significant increase of the following biomarkers in the malignant group compared to the benign group was found; IL-8: 29.7 vs 8.75 pg/ml, p < 0.001, EGF: 128.7 vs 6.72 pg/ml, p < 0.001, HGF: 173.2 vs 112.2 pg/ml, p = 0.012, MIG: 776.7 vs 438 pg/ml, p = 0.023, and Ang-1: 95016 vs 33327.5 pg/ml, p = 0.014. No significant differences were detected for IL-5, Gal-3, and VDBP. Serum IL-8 and EGF showed the highest diagnostic performance individually with area under the curve (AUC) 0.849 and 0.848, respectively. The combined biomarker panels of IL-8 and EGF and IL-8, EGF, and MIG have reached a sensitivity and specificity of 95% and 65%, respectively, with a negative predictive value of 92.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Serum IL-8 and EGF individually or the combined biomarker panel of IL-8, EGF, and MIG are promising tests that can help to exclude malignancy in thyroid nodule workup.

Melatonin Receptor 1ß Gene Polymorphism rs10830963, Serum Melatonin, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, in Egyptian Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease affecting all organ systems due to alterations of both innate and adaptive immune systems. Given the importance of several factors that may be incriminated in deregulation of immune system in SLE, we aimed to study MTNR1ß gene polymorphisms rs10830963 C/G, serum levels of melatonin and pro-inflammatory cytokines; TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß in SLE patients and the correlation of these parameters to SLE disease activity and damage index at time of study. Subjects were subdivided into 2 groups: group I: 40 SLE patients attending Alexandria main university hospital and outpatient clinic, and group II: 40 control cases of apparently healthy individuals matched for age and sex. For all cases, MTNR1ß gene polymorphism rs10830963 was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR, serum levels of melatonin, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß were detected by ELISA. Activity index (SLEDAI) and damage index (SLEDDI) were assessed in SLE patients. MTNR1ß gene polymorphism rs10830963 genotype in SLE patients showed that 50% had GG, 35% CG and 15% CC. The control group had significantly lower ratios, 5% had GG, 15% CG and 80% CC (P < 0.001). Serum melatonin level was decreased in SLE patients (P < 0.001). Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß were increased in SLE patients compared to controls (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001 respectively). There was no correlation between serum melatonin level, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß with SLEDAI or SLEDDI. In conclusion, MTNR1ß gene polymorphism rs10830963 G allele may contribute in SLE pathogenesis. Inflammatory cytokines; TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß may have role in SLE disease manifestations. Targeting immunoregulators as melatonin and proinflammatory cytokines in SLE treatment strategy can be a promising way to SLE cure.

Catalytic, kinetic and thermodynamic properties of free and immobilized caseinase on mica glass-ceramics.

Bacillus megaterium 314 strain was able to utilize agricultural and industrial wastes for metallo-protease production. Orange peel and wheat bran were found as the most suitable carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Optimized production process enhanced the enzyme production by 5.1-folds. Glass and glass-ceramic with different particle sizes based on mica were used as inorganic carrier. Protease enzyme was immobilized by covalent bonding and physical adsorption methods on nanoparticle supports. Enzyme physically adsorbed on glass ceramic (particle size 0.71-1.0 mm) had the highest residual activity and the highest immobilization yield. Glass-ceramic was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Immobilized enzyme exhibited activation energy (E a ) and deactivation rate constant at 60 °C (k d ) about 1.29 and 1.46-times, respectively lower than free enzyme. Moreover, adsorbed enzyme had higher energy for denaturation (E d ), half-life (t 1/2 ), and decimal reduction time (D). The thermodynamic parameters of irreversible thermal denaturation for the protease enzyme indicate that immobilized enzyme had higher enthalpy (ΔH°), free energy (ΔG°), and entropy (ΔS°) than free one. There was a significant improvement in the maximum reaction velocity Vmax (2.5-fold), Michaelis constant Km (1.9-fold), and catalytic efficiency Vmax/Km (4.7-fold) values after immobilization indicating the efficiency and effectiveness of immobilization approach.