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Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical clinical event characterized by a reduction in the excretory function of the kidneys. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), N-acetylmethionine (NAM) and N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) are antioxidants with scanty known genetic mechanisms. We aimed to assess both kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and growth-arrested DNA damage-inducible gene-153 (GADD-153) genes expression in paracetamol (PA) induced AKI. Also, to recognize whether NAC, NAM and/or NAG have roles in altering the expression of these genes for ameliorating the AKI induced by PA.

The present study aimed at evaluating the potential contribution of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN) and its gene polymorphism (PTEN rs701848 T/C) in relation to Wingless/integrase-1 (Wnt) signaling in childhood epilepsy and the impact of antiepileptic medications on their serum levels. This study included 100 children with epilepsy (50 pharmacoresistant and 50 pharmacoresponsive) and 50 matched controls. All subjects had their genotypes for the PTEN rs701848T/C polymorphism assessed using TaqManTM assays and real-time PCR. By using the sandwich ELISA technique, the blood concentrations of PTEN and Wnt3a were measured. Serum Wnt3a levels in epileptic patients were significantly higher than in the control group, p < 0.001. Children with epilepsy who received oxcarbazepine had considerably lower serum Wnt3a levels than those who didn't, p < 0.001.With an AUC of 0.71, the cutoff value for diagnosing epilepsy as serum Wnt3a > 6.2 ng/mL has a sensitivity of 55% and a specificity of 80%. When compared to controls, epileptic children had considerably more (TT) genotype and less (TC and CC) genotypes, p < 0.05 for all. Epileptic children had significantly higher (T) allele frequency than controls, p = 0.006 with OR (95%CI) = 1.962(1.206–3.192). Pharmacoresistant epileptic children had significantly higher (TT) genotype compared to pharmacoresponsive type (p = 0.020). We originally found a strong association between PTEN rs701848 T/C and childhood epilepsy, in particular pharmacoresistant type. Serum Wnt3a levels increased in epilepsy, but were not significantly different between different alleles of PTEN. In pharmaco-responsive children Wnt3a levels differed significantly between the different PTEN genotypes. Antiepileptics may affect Wnt3a levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifty diabetic nephropathy (DN) children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and 50 healthy matched controls were included. Chromatographic assays of 14 amino acids, free carnitine and 27 carnitine esters using high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization–mass spectroscopy, and genetic testing for JAK2v617f mutation using real‐time PCR were performed. Patients had significantly lower levels of tyrosine, branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), and BCAA/AAA (aromatic chain amino acids) ratios, glycine, arginine, ornithine, free carnitine and some carnitine esters (C5, 6, 12 and 16) and higher phenylalanine, phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio and C18 compared with the controls and in the macro‐albuminuria vs. the microalbuminuria group (p < 0.05 for all) except for free carnitine. Plasma carnitine was negatively correlated with eGFR (r = −0.488, p = 0.000). There were significant positive correlations between tyrosine with UACR ratio (r = 0.296, p = 0.037). The plasma BCAA/AAA ratio showed significant negative correlations with UACR (r = −0.484, p = 0.000). There was a significantly higher frequency of the JAK2V617F gene mutation in diabetic nephropathy patients compared with the control group and in macro‐albuminuria than the microalbuminuria group (p = 0.000) for both. When monitoring children with T1DM, plasma free amino acids and acylcarnitine profiles should be considered, especially if they have tested positive for JAK2V617F for the early diagnosis of DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alterations in zinc and copper homeostasis may contribute to seizure susceptibility, development, termination, and response to antiepileptic medications. The current study examined the profile of zinc, copper, and their ratio in childhood epilepsy and its pharmacological variants (pharmacoresistant and pharmacoresponsive). Methods: The study included 100 epileptic children (50 pharmacoresistant and 50 pharmacoresponsive) and 50 healthy, age- and gender-matched controls. History, clinical examination, and assays of serum zinc and copper were performed. Zinc/copper ratio was calculated. Results: Serum zinc and the zinc/copper ratio were significantly lower in epileptic children than in controls (p < 0.001). Significantly lower zinc and zinc/copper ratio and higher copper levels were found in children treated with levetiracetam/sodium valproate/oxcarbazepine than those treated with levetiracetam alone or combined with sodium valproate (p < 0.05 for all). Epileptic children, particularly pharmacoresistant, exhibited significant negative correlations between the serum levels of zinc and copper (r = -0.279, p = 0.005, and r = -0.363 and p = 0.010, respectively). At cutoff value of zinc/copper ratio < 1.118 in diagnosing children with epilepsy, it gives a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 85% with the AUC = 0.8092. At cutoff value of zinc/copper ratio ≤ 0.7826 in distinguishing pharmacoresistant epilepsy, it produced 52% sensitivity, 64% specificity with AUC = 0.576 Conclusions: Low zinc and high copper levels were associated with childhood epilepsy especially those with pharmacoresistant type and treated with Oxcarbazepine. Zinc/copper ratio might be a potential biomarker in diagnosing childhood epilepsy and to some extent in predicting pharmacoresistant type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitiligo pathogenesis is related to the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) protein. This study aimed to assess the lesional MIF levels and gene polymorphisms (rs755622G>C) in patients with vitiligo. To assess the consequences of combining narrow-band ultraviolet B with oral minipulse prednisolone as opposed to a combination with oral methotrexate on MIF levels in vitiligo patients, 50 unstable vitiligo patients and 50 controls were randomly chosen for comparison. MIF levels in skin homogenates and MIF (rs755622G>C) single nucleotide polymorphisms were assessed using the ELISA and the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP-PCR) techniques. We found significantly higher lesional MIF levels, a higher frequency of both (GC) and (CC) genotypes, and a significantly more frequent mutant allele (C) in patients than in controls. In addition, there was a significantly lower frequency of the allele (C) among patients who exhibited moderate to marked therapeutic improvement than among those who showed minimal to mild improvement. In conclusion, tissue MIF and gene polymorphisms were associated with vitiligo. In addition, oral corticosteroids, narrow-band ultraviolet B, methotrexate-targeted tissue MIF, and gene polymorphisms can improve unstable vitiligo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa roots are infected with several fungal pathogens under salinity conditions. The effect of two salts of NaCl and CaCO3 at three concentrations was studied in vitro. Mycelial growth and disease severity (DS%) were estimated to determine the relationship between (DS%) and water salinity. The highest effect on mycelial growth was detected at the electrical conductivity (ECW value) of 18.75 ds/m2 which ranged from 8.80 and 9.44% with NaCl and CaCO3, respectively. Furthermore, Exserohilum sp. was the most affected by water salinity. With the different levels of water salinity, the DS% of alfalfa root rot increased gradually with the increased water salinity level. The highest level of water salinity with NaCl and CaCO3 ECW value at 18.75 ds/m2 ranged (42.76 and 43.53% severity for NaCl) and (44.04 and 44.42% severity for CaCO3, respectively). Moreover, with water salinity NaCl and CaCO3, Fusarium sp. was the highest (DS%) with NaCl. Alfalfa root rot prediction model based on information gathered from the interaction of pathogen, water salinity, disease severity, and root and shoot length. It was found the relation between DS% with fungi, salt type, salt concentration, root and shoot length in the multiple regression model (r² =88.83%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]