NDRG4 methylation change, a promising biomarker in colorectal cancer diagnosis

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third common type of cancer with rising prevalence worldwide. Despite the diagnoses and treatments developed over the past four decades, the survival rate of patients has improved somewhat, but still has a 5-year survival rate of less than 50%.  In this study hypermethylation of NDRG4 gene was evaluated as a biomarker in screening of CRC.Method: A total of 70 individuals enrolled in this case-control study (45 CRC patients vs. 25 normal controls) and Methylation-Specific PCR was used to evaluate methylation status of NDRG4 in plasma samples.Result: Mean age in the control group and CRC patients was 58.4±3.4 years and 64.6±4.4 years respectively. Male to female ratio in the control group and CRC patients was 1.5:1 and 1.1:1 respectively. Gastrointestinal disease history was positive in 12% and 33% of patients in the control group and CRC patients respectively. 53.3% of CRC patients showed hypermethylation in NDRG4 gene vs. only 23.3% of controls.Conclusion: The results showed that NDRG4 can be a promising biomarker in screening and diagnosis of CRC as a noninvasive blood-based biomarker

Association of SARS-COV-2 Cycle Threshold Values with Clinical and Epidemiological Features of Children and Adolescents in Iran

Background: The associations between the epidemiological, clinical, and serological features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the nasopharyngeal viral load have not, yet, been understood completely. Methods: This cross-sectional single center study of outpatient children and adolescents was conducted between January and March 2021. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of nasopharyngeal swab specimens was positive for SARS-CoV-2. Nasopharyngeal Cycle threshold (Ct) values were measured for all patients considering different clinical features, age, and sex, in presence of covid-19 specific serum antibody. Results: The data of 70 individuals with confirmed COVID-19 were analyzed (mean (range) age: 9.6 (5-14) years; 29 females (41%)). Sixty-four children (91.4%) were symptomatic at the time of sampling (mean time of symptom onset, 3.9 days). There were no differences in mean Ct values between the symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (31.4 vs 28.8, p=0.247). Ct values were significantly lower in cases with diarrhea (p=0.044) and younger children (p=0.003). No correlation was found between Ct values and gender (p=0.415). Serum antibody was measured in 25 (36%) patients. Presence of antibody was not associated with Ct values (p=0.121). Fifty-nine cases (84.3%) reported exposure to a SARS-CoV-2 positive household. Conclusions: Higher nasopharyngeal Ct values, suggesting lower virus load, are related to older age, but there is no difference in Ct values between genders. Considering that diarrhea may predict lower Ct values in the respiratory system, the importance of early quarantine of children with atypical symptoms (such as gastrointestinal symptoms) or children in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 family member is highlighte