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Background:Diabetes mellitus is a known risk factor for stroke and may be linked to poorer post-stroke outcomes. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be fully identified. In this study we assessed the association of the lncRNA Nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1)'s expression and its target miRNA-124 with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in type II diabetic patients (T2DM).Methods and Results:Diabetic patients with stroke, non-diabetics with stroke, diabetics without stroke, and controls were recruited. NEAT1and miR-124 expression levels in plasma samples from the participants were investigated using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). C reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. In the DM+AIS group, NEAT1expression was considerably higher, compared with AIS group and with control group. In comparison to the AIS-only patients, DM patients and controls, miR-124 expression was considerably lower in the DM+AIS group. NEAT1was shown to have good predictive value for AIS risk in diabetics, based on Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. In both the DM+AIS and the AIS group, NEAT1 levels was strongly linked with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Also, a significant positive correlation was observed between NEAT1 expression and the inflammatory markers CRP and TNF-α and significant negative association with miRNA-124 in patient groups. Conclusion:In diabetic patients, the lncRNA NEAT1may influence the incidence, severity, inflammation, and prognosis of AIS. NEAT1expression levels could be used as a diagnostic marker of stroke in diabetic patients.

AbstractThree simple, accurate and precise spectrophotometric methods have been developed and validated for simultaneous determination of alogliptin benzoate and pioglitazone HCl in bulk and in tablet dosage form. Method I was area under curve method and it involved measurement of area at selected wavelength range; the selected wavelength range was 275-285 nm for ALG and 263-273 nm for PIO. Method II involved the use of first derivative of ratio spectra (1DD) using PIO (10 μg/mL) as a divisor for ALG determination, then peak amplitude at 300 nm was directly proportional to ALG concentration; and ALG 5 μg/mL as a divisor for PIO determination, then peak amplitude at 277 nm was directly proportional to PIO concentration. Method III was ratio difference method and it involved measurement of difference in amplitudes (ΔP) in the ratio spectra; ΔP292-238was directly proportional to ALG concentration and ΔP260-239was directly proportional to PIO concentration. The three proposed methods were linear over the range 5-30 μg/mL for ALG and 5-50 μg/mL for PIO. The methods were validated according to ICH guidelines. Statistical comparison of the proposed methods with the reported HPLC method using F and ttests showed no significant difference regarding both accuracy and precision.

The purpose of this study was to explore factors associated with marital satisfaction and attitudes toward seeking couples counseling among affluent Egyptian couples. A total of 411 married participants answered an online survey. The most common conflicts reported by participants were time spent together and lack of communication. Results showed that higher agreement among couples was related to higher marital quality. Given the importance of religion to Egyptian culture, this study examined the relationship between religious marriage and marital satisfaction, which was found to be significant. With regards to other factors that predict higher marital quality, none of the socio-demographic factors were significant. This study also explored factors associated with attitudes toward seeking couples counseling. Females were more willing to seek couples counseling than males. Also, those with Master's degrees showed significant positive attitudes toward couples counseling. For the barriers to couples counseling, not knowing a good mental health practitioner was the most frequently selected barrier. Findings of this study may help in designing better couples counseling services for Egyptian couples.