Enas S. Essa

sTREM-1 in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis

The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells‐1 (TREM‐1) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. TREM‐1 has been implicated as an amplifier of inflammation. Soluble TREM‐1 (sTREM‐1) was investigated in different clinical conditions, but not in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We aimed to investigate sTREM‐1 as a marker of inflammation in HD patients. We investigated 40 CKD patients undergoing chronic HD treatment and 15 controls. Routine laboratory investigations in addition to CRP measured by immunoturbidimetry, TNF‐ α, and sTREM‐1 measured by ELISA were assayed in post–hemodialysis patients’ blood samples and in controls’ blood samples. CRP, TNF‐α, and sTREM‐1 levels were significantly higher in HD patients than in controls (p < 0.001 for all). sTREM‐1 was positively correlated with CRP and TNF‐α (r = +0.50, p < 0.001 and r = +0.53, p < 0.001 respectively). It was negatively correlated with hemoglobin concentration (r = −0.69, p < 0.001). Hemoglobin concentration was the significant predictor of sTREM‐1 level (p < 0.001). In conclusion, sTREM‐1 level is significantly increased in HD patients as are other pro‐inflammatory markers.

Peripheral blood mammaglobin gene expression for diagnosis and prediction of metastasis in breast cancer patients.

Aim:  To evaluate the value of peripheral blood mammaglobin (MG) gene expression for diagnosis and prediction of metastasis in breast cancer patients.

Analysis of CD177 neutrophil expression in β‐thalassemia patients

Montaser LM, El‐Rashidi FH, Essa ES, Azab SM. Analysis of CD177 neutrophil expression in β‐thalassemia patients. APMIS 2011; 119: 674–80.

Association Between Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1-675 4G/5G Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

ABSTRACT Molecular pathology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is still being investigated to discover relationships with disease pathogenesis. Evidence of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) overexpression in the sputum and the blood of COPD patients is growing. We aimed to investigate the potential relation between PAI-1 promoter 4G/5G insertion/deletion polymorphism and COPD development. In a case-control study, we genotyped 117 COPD patients and 160 control subjects for PAI-1 promoter 4G/5G polymorphism by an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction analysis. All subjects were male smokers. In the co-dominant model, there was a significant difference in the distribution of 5G/5G, 4G/5G and 4G/4G genotypes between COPD patients and controls (p = 0.002). In the recessive model, carriers of 4G/4G genotype were significantly higher in COPD patients than controls (p = 0.01). Carriers of 4G/4G genotype were at higher risk to develop COPD than those carrying 5G/5G or 4G/5G genotypes (crude odds ratio (OR) = 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.19–3.73, adjusted OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.22–3.99). In conclusion, PAI-1 4G/5G genetic variations are associated with COPD development in males.

Association of MNS16A VNTR and hTERT rs2736098: G>A polymorphisms with susceptibility to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Purpose: Genetic studies of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) may serve to clarify disease pathogenesis and mark at-risk populations. Evidence of long telomeres and high telomerase activity have been demonstrated in DLBCL. We aimed to examine human telomerase gene (hTERT) MNS16A variable number of tandem repeats and hTERT rs2736098: G>A polymorphisms in relation to DLBCL susceptibility. Methods: In a case control study, 71 patients with DLBCL and 156 controls were genotyped for MNS16A using polymerase chain reaction and hTERT rs2736098: G>A using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: In both codominant and recessive models, there was a significant difference in the distribution of MNS16A genotypes between patients with DLBCL and controls (p = 0.047 and p = 0.018, respectively). In both models, carriers of S/S genotype were at higher risk to develop DLBCL (odds ratio [OR] 2.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-5.29 and OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.15-4.17, respectively). In the log-additive model, each copy of S allele significantly increased DLBCL risk in an additive form (p = 0.018, OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.08-2.29). The frequency distribution of MNS16A S alleles was significantly higher in patients than controls (p = 0.012). Carriers of S alleles were at higher risk to develop DLBCL than carriers of L alleles (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.12-2.49). hTERT rs2736098: G>A genotype distribution did not differ significantly between patients with DLBCL and controls. Conclusions: MNS16A genetic variations are associated with DLBCL susceptibility.

Increased expression of brother of the regulator of imprinted sites in peripheral blood neutrophils is associated with both benign and malignant breast lesions

BORIS, a paralog of the multifunctional CCCTC‐binding factor (CTCF) gene is restricted to testis and normally not present in females. It is aberrantly activated in various human cancers including cancer breast. Using immunohistochemistry, western blot and/or RT‐PCR, significantly higher levels of BORIS expression were reported in the neutrophils of cancer breast patients. We hypothesized that Flow Cytometry might be a better technique for objective quantitative evaluation of BORIS in neutrophils and we wanted to investigate if BORIS would discriminate between benign and malignant breast lesions.

Modulation the expression of natural killer cell activating receptor (NKp44) in the peripheral blood of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients and the correlation with clinic pathological features

NK cell activation is one strategy to improve the immunotherapy of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. So, we aimed to investigate expression of Natural killer cell activating receptor NKp44 in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and its correlation with clinic pathological data. In this study, 30 new cases with DLBCL in addition to 20 healthy control were involved. All were submitted to full history, clinical examination, histopathology, Routine laboratory investigations including CBC, LDH, β2microgloubine and bone marrow examination. Cell culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and expression of CD56 and NKp44 by flowcytometry was done. We demonstrated increased NK cell populations (CD 56 +ve NKp44 -ve, CD 56 -veNKp44 +ve, total CD 56 +ve) and NKp44 MFI after in-vitro activation in both healthy control and DLBCL cases except for CD 56 +ve NKp44 +ve which significantly increased in patients not in healthy control (p=0.005, 0.601) respectively. No significant difference between the DLBCL and healthy control regarding all NK cell populations without PHA stimulation. However, the culture with PHA in DLBCL showed significant increase in NK cell populations than the healthy control (CD 56 +ve NKp44 +ve 12.37±7.52vs 6.80±4.07, p=0.008), (Total CD 56 +ve 18.80±8.74vs 12.66±5.17, p=0.017), (MFI of NKp44 10.95±6.18vs 5.58±1.70, p=0.001). Regarding the association with clinic pathologic features, increased expression of NKp44 was associated with lower values of LDH and earlier stages of DLBCL (p<0.05). So, activating receptor NKp44 can be modulated by in-vitro activation, hence improvement of its function as an approach of immunotherapy of DLBCL.

Study of the role of ascitic fluid lactoferrin levels in the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Objectives: To study the role of ascitic fluid (AF) lactoferrin as a surrogate marker for the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Background: SBP is one of the most dangerous and life-threatening complications of liver cirrhosis and ascites. Its diagnosis is difficult, operator dependent, and time consuming. Materials and methods: This study was conducted on 60 patients with decompensated chronic liver disease and ascites admitted to the Tropical Medicine Department at Menoufia University Hospital. These patients were classified into two groups: group I (non-SBP group) and group II (SBP group). AF samples from both groups were examined for polymorphonuclear leukocyte cell count, AF culture, and lactoferrin levels. Results: The results showed a highly significant increase in AF lactoferrin in the SBP group and at a cut-off level of 255 ng/ml; the sensitivity and specificity of AF lactoferrin in the diagnosis of SBP were 100 and 88.9%, respectively. AF culture revealed the presence of organisms in 43.4% of patients in the SBP group; all organisms were gram negative. Conclusion: Our results support that AF lactoferrin could be used as a marker for screening and diagnosing SBP in patients with cirrhosis and ascites.