Relationship between soluble F11 receptor and ischemic heart disease in hemodialysis patients

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause ofmorbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients, there isincreasing evidence that platelets are major contributorsto atherosclerosis, which is mediated through F11receptors.Methods: Our study included 40 hemodialysis patientsdivided into two groups:Group 1: included 20 hemodialysis patients withischemic heart disease (IHD), Group 2: included 20hemodialysis patients without ischemic heart disease,they were compared with 20 age and sex matchedcontrols, soluble F11 receptor (sF11R) and highsensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measuredby enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: sF11R was significantly higher in hemodialysispatients than controls; it showed significant differencebetween group 1, group 2 patients and controls. sF11Rshowed significant positive correlation with hs-CRP.Conclusion: sF11R can be considered a marker of IHDin hemodialysis patients

Soluble TWEAK and Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in chronic kidney patients (CKD). The aim of this study was to demonstrate the role of soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) as a marker of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in CKD patients.Methods: The study included 75 CKD patients classified according to eGFR into three groups; group-1 included 15 patients with stage-1 CKD, group-2 included 30 patients with stage-2 and stage-3 CKD, and group-3 included 30 patients with stage-4 and stage-5 CKD. The three groups were compared to 20 matched controls. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and sTWEAK were measured using ELISA and chemiluminescent techniques respectively. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was also measured.Results: We found that IL-6 showed significant difference between patient groups and controls, being highest in stage 4 and 5 CKD patients and lowest in controls. Soluble TWEAK showed significant difference between patient groups and controls, being lowest in stage 4 and 5 CKD patients and highest in controls. Soluble TWEAK level showed significant negative correlation with IL-6 (r = -0.68; P<0.01) and carotid IMT (r = -0.95; P<0.01). After two years follow up, nine out of 75 CKD patients developed ischemic heart disease (IHD). Two patients developed cerebrovascular stroke and another patient developed peripheral arterial disease. These patients had significantly lower levels of sTWEAK at baseline compared to other patients (160.5± 60.2 versus 274.8±90 pg/mL; P < 0.05).Conclusion: Soluble TWEAK can be a novel biomarker of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction as well as cardiovascular outcome in CKD patients

Molecular markers as a prognostic system for hepatocellular carcinoma

AbstractThe gene expression profile p16, c-erbB-3 and bcl2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with and without associated HCV infection, was assessed. Forty-eight subjects were included in the study and divided equally into two groups: HCC with and without HCV associated infection. Adjacent paracancerous tissues were assessed as control samples. Correlations with various clinico-pathological parameters of the tumour were assessed: stage, grade, and tumour size. The c-erbB-3 oncogene was expressed in 83.33% (40/48) of the total HCC sample and in 31.25% (15/48) of the noncancerous lesions. C-erbB-3 was expressed in 87.5% (21/24) of the HCC cases with associated HCV infection and in 79.16% (19/24) of the HCC cases without associated HCV infection. Gene expression of c-erbB-3 was significantly correlated with the clinico-pathological parameters of the tumour. P16 gene expression was found in 12.5% (6/48) of the total HCC sample and in 25% (12/48) of the para-cancerous lesions. P16 was expressed in 12.5% (3/24) of HCC cases with and without associated HCV infection. Gene expression of p16 exhibited significant negative correlation with clinico-pathological parameters of the tumour. Bcl2 gene expression was found in 20.8% (10/48) of the total HCC sample and in the para-cancerous lesions. Bcl2 was expressed in 20.8% (5/24) of the HCC cases with and without HCV associated infection. Gene expression of bcl2 did not show significant correlations with the clinico-pathological parameters of the tumour. In conclusion, gene expression profiles of p16 and c-erbB-3 could be used as prognostic molecular markers in HCC

L'investissement direct étranger à la recherche d'actifs : le rôle des utilisateurs à l'avant-garde du marché

La littérature de l’IDE à la recherche d’actifs ignore le rôle des utilisateurs à l’avantgardedu marché («lead users»). La thèse, à travers deux modèles de théorie des jeux,montre l’impact des «lead users» sur l’arbitrage entre l’IDE et l’exportation. Touteschoses égales par ailleurs, selon le 1er modèle, l’IDE est plus profitable dans uneinnovation poussée par l’offre, pour apprendre sur les besoins avancés des «lead users»,mais plus élevé est le risque de spécification erronée du produit par rapport aux besoinslocaux. La probabilité de spécification erronée augmente avec la radicalité de latechnologie et la différence entre l’environnement d’usage des deux pays. Selon le 2èmemodèle, le «lead user» révélant son innovation attire l’IDE en augmentant laconnaissance tacite incorporée dans l’innovation. Pour pousser l’investisseur àdévelopper l’innovation, le «lead user» maximise la généralité de l’innovation et sacomposante tacite. Si la multinationale a un niveau élevé d’actifs spécifiques, unarrangement l’avantagera par rapport à ses concurrents potentiels. Pour un équilibre dePareto, l’investisseur maximise l’amélioration qu’il apporte à l’innovation et privilégiele «lead user» par rapport aux autres utilisateurs. En Egypte, des obstacles interviennententre la volonté d’adopter la technologie de l’information et de la communication (TIC)et son adoption effective. Des filiales intégrées dans les réseaux d’innovation locauxcontribuent à la réduction de la fracture numérique liée à l’usage. Les entretiens avec lesresponsables du gouvernement électronique montrent que le gouvernement voulantdiffuser les TICs peut devenir un «lead user» innovateur.Literature on asset seeking foreign direct investment (FDI) ignores the role of the hostcountry’s lead users. The thesis through two game theoretic models shows the impact oflead users on FDI decision versus exports. All other things equal, the 1st model proposesthat, FDI is more profitable in a technology push innovation, in order to learn about leadusers’ advanced needs, the higher the risk of product misspecification relative to localneeds. The probability of misspecification increases in the radicalness of the technologyand in the difference in the use environment between the two countries. The 2nd modelstudies the impact of lead users’ innovation. All other things equal, lead users whoreveal their innovation attract FDI, the higher the tacit knowledge incorporated in theirinnovation. To push the foreign investor to develop their innovation, lead users shallmaximize its generality and its tacit component. If the multinational has high firmspecificassets, then an arrangement to privilege the foreign investor relative to hispotential competitors would arise. To have a Pareto optimum equilibrium, the foreigninvestor shall maximize the improvements he brings to lead users’ innovation and shallprivilege lead users relative to other users. The thesis observes Egyptian informationand communication technology sector (ICT). There are obstacles interfering betweenthe adoption decision and actual adoption. Integrated subsidiaries within localinnovation networks can play a role in reducing the digital divide related to usage.Interviews with electronic government’s executives show that the government in orderto diffuse ICT may become an innovator lead user

NAFLD mark: an accurate model based on microRNA-34 for diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients

Abstract Background It remains essential for non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) patients, to develop a sensitive and specific diagnostic model. Data regarding the use of micro (mi)RNA-34 for NAFLD diagnosis are few. Routine clinical assessment, laboratory tests were done for Egyptian individuals (n = 314) were included (100 healthy individuals and 214 NAFLD patients). Quantification of miRNA-34 was done using real-time PCR. Extremely significant variables were entered into stepwise logistic regression. The diagnostic power of variables was estimated by the area under the ROC (AUC). Results MiRNA-34 levels were higher in NAFLD patients than healthy individuals with a significant difference (P< 0.0001). The multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the NAFLD-associated variables (CRP, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), ALT had p< 0.0001 while mRNA-34 had (p=0.0004). The AUCs (CI) of candidate NAFLD markers were in the order of miRNA-34 0.72 (0.66–0.77) < ALT 0.73 (0.67–0.79) < BMI 0.81 (0.76–0.86) < cholesterol < 0.85 (0.79–0.90) < CRP 0.88 (0.84–0.92). We developed a novel index for discriminating patients with NAFLD named NAFLD Mark. AUC was jumped to 0.98 (0.93–0.99) when five markers were combined. The AUC of NAFLD mark for NAFLD detection was higher than the AUCs of seven common NAFLD indexes (0.44–0.86). Conclusions The NAFLD mark is a non-invasive and highly sensitive and specific model for NAFLD diagnosis