Unveiling MicroRNA-21 as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-associated pulmonary hypertension: Comparative insights with NT-proBNP Hoda A. Eid, Rehab M. Hamdy, Mona A. Eldosoky, Sally S. Abd Elhamed, Omaima I. Abo-Elkheir, et al. Lung India, 2026 Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a fatal complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that worsens its prognosis. However, the associated diagnostic markers are uncertain. We assess the diagnostic utility of microRNA-21 (miR-21) and NT-proBNP for PH diagnosis in COPD patients. Methods: We selected three groups of participants: Group 1 consisted of 25 patients with COPD who did not have PH (COPD); Group 2 included 35 patients with COPD and PH (COPD-PH); and Group 3 comprised 30 healthy controls. Demographic, spirometric, echocardiographic-Doppler study, and biochemical variables were recorded and compared among these three groups. Serum miR-21 was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Serum miR-21 level in COPD-PH patients was significantly higher compared with that in COPD patients and controls ( P < 0.001). Compared with the COPD group, the COPD-PH group had greater miR-21 and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels but significantly reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), 6-minute walk test, and right ventricular (RV) functional parameters. Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis revealed that miRNA-21 had good diagnostic value for PH diagnosis in COPD patients, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 1.000, 100% sensitivity, and 100% specificity at a cutoff >7.94. While NT-proBNP demonstrated good accuracy, with an AUC of 0.936, sensitivity of 88.6%, and specificity of 88% at a cutoff >390.1 pg/mL. Conclusion: miR-21 may serve as a useful and reliable biomarker for diagnosing PH in COPD patients, outperforming the traditional biomarker NT-proBNP.
Relation between serum sclerostin and CTRP3 levels and bone mineral density in diabetic postmenopausal women Inass Hassan Ahmad, Sally Said Abd Elhamed Gbr, Basma Mohamed Mohamed Ali El Naggar, Marwa Khairy Abdelwahab, Entesar Omar Ahmad El-saghier, et al. BMC Women S Health, 2024 Background Osteoporosis (OP) is a common finding in diabetic patients especially high-risk populations such as postmenopausal women. Sclerostin is a glycoprotein chiefly secreted by mature osteocytes and is considered a main regulator of bone formation. The C1q/TNF-Related Protein 3 (CTRP3) was found to be significantly associated with OP in postmenopausal women. The effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on sclerostin and CTRP3 levels in postmenopausal women is rarely investigated. The present study aimed to assess the impact of T2DM on sclerostin and CTRP3 levels and their relation to OP in postmenopausal women. Methods The study included 60 postmenopausal women with T2DM and 60 age-matched postmenopausal non-diabetic women. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Serum levels of sclerostin and CTRP3 were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results Diabetic group expressed significantly higher serum levels of sclerostin when compared with non-diabetic group (110.0 ± 29.0 versus 51.5 ± 23.2 ng; p < 0.001). Oppositely, CTRP3 were significantly lower in the diabetic group (3.5 ± 3.5 versus 9.9 ± 3.7 ng/ml, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified HbA1c levels [OR (95% CI): 0.49 (0.26–0.93), p = 0.028], sclerotin levels [OR (95% CI): 1.06 (1.0-1.012), p = 0.041] and CTRP3 levels [OR (95%) CI: 1.64 (1.0-2.68), p = 0.047] as significant predictors of OP in diabetic patients. Conclusions Sclerostin and CTRP3 levels are involved in OP in postmenopausal diabetic patients.
Evaluation of circulating miR-16-5p and miR-223-5p in association with musculoskeletal ultrasonography seven-joint score in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis activity Egyptian Journal of Immunology, 2023
Detection of soluble urokinase type plasminogen activator receptors in children with gingivitis and normal subjects Mohamed Abd‑Ellatif El‑Patal, Mona A. Khalil, Walaa Shipl, Ibrahim Barakat, Eman M. I. Youssef, et al. BMC Oral Health, 2022 Background Gingivitis is a reversible condition; however, if left untreated, it progresses to periodontitis, which a serious infection that leads to bone destruction. Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) measurement may be of value in the early assessment of gingivitis in children, thereby minimizing risk of tooth loss. Objectives In this observational study, we assessed salivary and serum concentrations of suPAR for the diagnosis of gingivitis and correlation of salivary suPAR with the periodontal clinical parameters. Methods Ninety children participated in the study, with 20 healthy subjects as controls and 70 patients with gingivitis. The gingivitis group was divided into mild, moderate, and severe cases. According to the gingival index (GI), salivary and serum samples were analyzed for the suPAR and C-reactive protein levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The salivary suPAR was significantly higher in patients with gingivitis (10.8 ± 2.9 ng/mL) than in the control group (7.0 ± 1.1 ng/mL) as P < 0.001. SuPAR was correlated with gingivitis severity. It was 7.7 ± 1.5 1 ng/mL in mild cases, 10.9 ± 1.2 ng/mL in moderate cases, and 14.4 ± 0.9 ng/mL in severe cases. The difference was significantly high (P < 0.001) between the groups; however, the difference between the mild cases and the control was nonsignificant as P < 0.066. The salivary suPAR was correlated with periodontal clinical parameters, which included GI and simple oral hygiene index (SOHI). Conversely the serum suPAR was not correlated with the salivary suPAR or the periodontal clinical parameters. Conclusion The results of the present study demonstrated that the salivary suPAR is increased in proportionate with the degree of severity of gingivitis in children. Moreover, salivary suPAR was correlated with the periodontal clinical parameters.
Admission Levels of Serum P-Selectin and IL-6 Can Predict Development of Deep Venous Thrombosis in Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients Nehal Farouk, Walaa Mohamed Omar Ashry, Hanan A EL-Hagrasy, Eman F Mohamed, Heba H Eltrawy, et al. International Journal of General Medicine, 2022 Background and Aim Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities is common in Covid-19 patients. Interleukin (IL)-6 and P-selectin were found to be elevated in Covid-19 patients. The current study aimed to evaluate P-selectin and IL6 in Covid-19 patients with DVT and to explore its relation to clinical and laboratory parameters in those patients. Patients and methods The present retrospective study included 150 hospitalized COVID-19 patients diagnosed on the basis of a positive result of reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. Laboratory assessments were included for IL-6 and P selectin assessments via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The primary outcome of the present study was the development of DVT detected by Doppler ultrasound (DU) evaluation of the lower extremities during the admission. Results The present study included 150 hospitalized Covid-19 patients. DVT was developed in 59 patients (39.3%). DVP patients had significantly higher levels of P selectin [76.0 (63.0–87.0) versus 63.0 (54.3–75.0), p < 0.001] and IL-6 [37.0 (27.0–49.0) versus 18.5 (13.5–31.5), p < 0.001]. ROC curve analysis revealed good performance of P selectin [AUC (95% CI): 0.72 (0.64–0.81)] and IL-6 [AUC (95% CI): 0.79 (0.71–0.86)] in identification of DVT. Logistic regression analysis identified the presence of severe disease [OR (95% CI): 9.016 (3.61–22.49), p < 0.001], elevated P selectin [OR (95% CI): 1.032 (1.005–1.059), p = 0.018] and elevated IL-6 [OR (95% CI): 1.062 (1.033–1.091), p < 0.001] as significant predictors of DVT development in multivariate analysis. Conclusion The present study identified a probable role of elevated P-selectin and IL-6 levels in the DVT development in hospitalized Covid-19 patients.
