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Aly A Yousef,1 Faisal Y Mohamed,2 Naglaa F Boraey,3 Nagwa E Akeel,4 Attia A Soliman,4 Nevin M Waked,5 Mustafa IA Hashem,4 Hassan Shehata,4 Dalia S Fahmy,6 Ali Ismael,7 Lamya M Ibrahim,8 Mohamed AM Ibrahim,9 Hanan F Salem,10 Sherif M Yousry,11 Sherif F Osman,12 Rania A Fouad,13,14 Eman T Enan,15,16 Mohammed A Attia,17,18 Mona R Afify,19 Nancy MS Zeidan,20 Mohamed Nashat21 1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Helwan, Egypt; 2Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 3Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt; 4Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 5Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, October 6 University, October 6, Egypt; 6Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 7Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 8Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; 9Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt; 10Department of Anesthesia, Faculty of Medicine, Banha University, Banha, Egypt; 11Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 12Department of Radiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA; 13Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, El-Mareefa University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 14Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 15Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, El-Mareefa University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 16Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt; 17Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine, El-Mareefa University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 18Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt; 19Department of Medical microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 21589, Saudia Arabia; 20Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 21Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan, EgyptCorrespondence: Faisal Y MohamedFaculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, EgyptTel +201113363638Email Faisalyousef69@gmail.comBackground: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a key molecule residing at the nexus between thrombosis and inflammatory processes. Recently, PAI-1 and its gene expression have emerged as a potential candidate for autoimmune disorders such as SLE.Objective: To investigate whether the PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism at position − 675 could be a genetic marker for susceptibility to childhood-onset SLE and development of lupus nephritis among Egyptian children and adolescents.Methods: Three hundred fifty patients diagnosed with childhood-onset SLE and 350 well-matched healthy controls were included in this multi-center study. All subjects were genotyped for the PAI-1 promoter 4G/5G polymorphism at position − 675 using PCR– restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Serum PAI-1 levels were measured by ELISA.Results: The PAI-1 (- 675) 4G/4G genotype was more represented in c-SLE patients, as compared to the control group (38% vs 23%; OR =2.7; [95% CI: 1.47– 2.9]; P < 0.001). Patients carrying the PAI-1 4G/4G genotype or 4G allele were more likely to develop lupus nephritis (OR: 3.38; [95% CI: 1.9– 5.9]; P < 0.001, for the 4G/4G genotype and OR: 2.6; [95% CI: 1.85– 3.67]; for the 4G allele; P < 0.01). The PAI-1 4G/4G genotype was associated with higher PAI-1 serum concentrations (mean; 86.6± 22.7 ng/mL) as compared to those with a 4G/5G genotype (mean; 48.3± 16.5 ng/mL) and the lowest for the 5G/5G genotype (mean; 34.7± 11.4 ng/mL); P = 0.004.Conclusion: The PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism may confer susceptibility to childhood-onset SLE and development of lupus nephritis among Egyptian children and adolescents. Moreover, the PAI-1 4G/4G genotype and 4G allele were associated with higher PAI-1 serum levels and higher disease activity scores.Keywords: plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, PAI-1, gene polymorphism, SLE, children, adolescents

BACKGROUND Pneumonia is the foremost cause of child death worldwide. M-ficolin is encoded by the FCN1 gene and represents a novel link between innate and adaptive immunity. OBJECTIVES To investigate the FCN1 -144 C/A (rs10117466) polymorphism as a potential marker for pneumonia severity and adverse outcome namely complications or mortality in the under-five Egyptian children. METHODS This was a prospective multicenter study that included 620 children hospitalized with World Health Organization-defined severe pneumonia and 620 matched healthy control children. Polymorphism rs10117466 of the FCN1 gene promoter was analyzed by PCR-SSP, while serum M-ficolin levels were assessed by ELISA. RESULTS The FCN1 A/A genotype and A allele at the -144 position were more frequently observed in patients compared to the control children (43.4% vs 27.6%; odds ratio [OR]: 1.62; [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.18-2.2]; for the A/A genotype) and (60.8% vs 52.5%; OR: 1.4; [95% CI: 1.19-1.65]; for the A allele); P

BackgroundRecently, the interleukin-17A ( IL-17A) gene has emerged as a potential candidate gene for autoimmune disorders, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate whether IL-17A polymorphisms at rs2275913 G/A, rs8193036 C/T and rs3748067 C/T could be susceptibility markers for juvenile-onset SLE (JSLE) and lupus nephritis (LN) in Egyptian children and adolescents.MethodsIn this multi-centre study, we genotyped 320 patients diagnosed with JSLE and 320 matched control children for three IL-17A polymorphisms at rs2275913 G/A, rs8193036 C/T and rs3748067 C/T using TaqMan probe-based real-time polymerase chain reaction. Meanwhile, IL-17A serum levels were assessed using ELISA.ResultsThe IL-17 rs2275913 A/A genotype and A allele were more represented in JSLE patients compared to the control group (21% vs. 7%, odds ratio (OR) = 3.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.78–5.5, p = 0.001, pBonf = 0.003 for the A/A genotype; 37% vs. 29%, OR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.11–1.8, p = 0.003, pBonf = 0.009 for the A allele. No significant difference was found for IL-17 rs8193036 and rs3748067 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genotype distribution or allele frequencies ( p>0.05). Patients carrying the IL-17 rs2275913 A/A genotype and A allele were more likely to develop LN (OR = 5.64, 95% CI 2.39–13.77, pBonf = 0.001 for the A/A genotype; OR = 2.73, 95% CI 1.84–4.07, pBonf = 0.02 for the A allele).ConclusionThe IL-17 rs2275913 A allele and A/A genotype were associated with high IL-17 serum levels and may contribute to susceptibility to JSLE and the development of LN in Egyptian children and adolescents. However, no significant association was evident between the studied IL-17A SNPs and other clinical phenotypes, disease activity scores or laboratory profile of JSLE.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a key molecule residing at the nexus between thrombosis and inflammatory processes. Recently, PAI-1 and its gene expression have emerged as a potential candidate for autoimmune disorders such as SLE.To investigate whether the PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism at position -675 could be a genetic marker for susceptibility to childhood-onset SLE and development of lupus nephritis among Egyptian children and adolescents.Three hundred fifty patients diagnosed with childhood-onset SLE and 350 well-matched healthy controls were included in this multi-center study. All subjects were genotyped for the PAI-1 promoter 4G/5G polymorphism at position -675 using PCR- restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Serum PAI-1 levels were measured by ELISA.The PAI-1 (- 675) 4G/4G genotype was more represented in c-SLE patients, as compared to the control group (38% vs 23%; OR =2.7; [95% CI: 1.47-2.9];The PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism may confer susceptibility to childhood-onset SLE and development of lupus nephritis among Egyptian children and adolescents. Moreover, the PAI-1 4G/4G genotype and 4G allele were associated with higher PAI-1 serum levels and higher disease activity scores.

Background Pediatric-onset SLE (pSLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease. Recently, the ficolin-2 (FCN2) gene has emerged as a potential candidate gene for susceptibility to SLE. Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of the FCN2 gene polymorphisms at positions −986 (G/A), −602 (G/A), −4 (A/G) and SNP C/T (rs3124954) located in intron 1, with susceptibility to pSLE in Egyptian children and adolescents. Methods This was a multicenter study of 280 patients diagnosed with pSLE, and 280 well-matched healthy controls. The FCN2 promoter polymorphisms at –986 G/A (rs3124952), −602 G/A (rs3124953), −4 A/G (rs17514136) and SNP C/T (rs3124954) located in intron 1 were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction, while serum ficolin-2 levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The frequencies of the FCN2 GG genotype and G allele at −986 and −602 positions were significantly more represented in patients with pSLE than in controls ( p Conclusion The FCN2 promoter polymorphisms may contribute to susceptibility to pSLE in Egyptian children and adolescents. Moreover, the FCN2 GG genotype at position −986 and AA genotype at position −4 were associated with low serum ficolin-2 levels and may constitute risk factors for lupus nephritis in pSLE.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic autoimmune disease. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene is a candidate gene for susceptibility to autoimmune disorders. To date, only a few studies concerned the association of the VDR gene polymorphisms with childhood-onset SLE. In this study, we aimed to investigate the BsmI polymorphisms in the VDR gene, for the first time in Egyptian children and adolescents with SLE, to determine whether this polymorphism could be a marker of susceptibility to or severity of SLE and we also measured the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH] D) to assess its relation to such polymorphism. This was a case–control study including 100 patients with SLE and matched with age, sex, and ethnicity and 100 healthy controls. All subjects were genotyped for the VDR gene BsmI polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), whereas the serum 25(OH) D levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Compared to the contros subjects, the VDR BsmI BB genotype and B allele were overrepresented among SLE patients (odda ratio [OR]: 5.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9–15.9; P = 0.002 and OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.21–2.80; P = 0.003; respectively). We found a significant association between VDR BsmI BB genotype with lupus nephritis (OR: 6.8; 95% CI: 1.18–50.5; P = 0.001). However, we did not observe any significant association of studied polymorphisms with other clinical manifestations, laboratory profiles of SLE, or disease activity score. Our data revealed no association between VDR BsmI genotypes or alleles and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels among studied patients with SLE (all P > 0.05). We demonstrate for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that the VDR BsmI gene polymorphisms may contribute to susceptibility to SLE in Egyptian children and adolescents. Moreover, we found that the BB genotype constituted a risk factor for the development of nephropathy among studied patients with SLE. However, we did not find any significant association of the VDR BsmI gene variants with other clinical manifestations, laboratory profiles of SLE, disease activity index score, or serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) on Coronary Flow Reserve (CFR) and incipient myocardial dysfunction in patients with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) without risk for coronary artery disease. Methods and results: We analyzed clinical, hematologic, echocardiographic and CFR data of 68 patients (mean age 41.5 ± 8.2years), who had no risk factor for coronary artery disease. Sixty-two healthy subjects were served as control group. NLR was significantly higher in patients with PsA versus control subjects (7.86 ± 0.6 vs. 1.39 ± 0.6, P

Background Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic arthritis in children worldwide. Among anti-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a key immunosuppressive cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of JIA. To date, only a few studies concerned the association of interleukin-10 gene polymorphisms with JIA. In this study, we aimed to investigate 3 cytokine single-nucleotide polymorphisms situated at positions -1082(G/A), −819(C/T), and −592(C/A) in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene to determine whether this polymorphism could be a marker of susceptibility to JIA in Egyptian children and adolescents. We also measured the serum level of IL-10 to assess its relation to such polymorphism. Methods This was a case-control study included 100 patients diagnosed with JIA, and matched with age, gender, ethnicity 100 healthy control subjects. Interleukin-10 −1082(G/A), −819(C/T), and −592(C/A) polymorphisms were genotyped by amplification refractory mutation system- polymerase chain reaction (ARMS)-PCR methodology, while the serum IL10 levels were measured by ELISA method. Results Compared to the controls subjects, the frequency of IL-10- AA genotype and A allele at the –1082 position were overrepresented in patients with JIA (OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.1–6.4 for the AA genotype; P