Wafaa Gaber

Magnetic resonance sialography of the parotid glands in chronic hepatitis C virus patients with and without vasculitis

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is sialotropic. The pathogenesis of sicca manifestations in patients with chronic HCV infection is not fully understood. We aimed to detect changes in magnetic resonance sialography (MRS) of HCV patients with and without vasculitis.

Role of Power Doppler Ultrasonography in Detection of Subclinical Hyperuricemia in Patients with Non - Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Objective: This study aimed to detect incidence of subclinical arthritis in patients with NHL and the diagnostic ability of PDUS in detecting subclinical hyperuricemia. Methods: We studied 100 NHL patients (divided into 2 groups depending on the presence of the double contour (DC) sign detected by PDUS) and 100 controls in a cross sectional study. Demographic, clinical and serological data were evaluated. PDUS was done to all patients and controls. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the presence of subclinical hyperuricemia in group (1)(p=0.008) who had higher s. creatinine and gouty nephropathy (p=0.002 and p=0.001 respectively). Conclusion: PDUS can detect subclinical hyperuricemia and subsequent inflammatory arthritis in NHL patients; also it serves as a non-invasive, bedside tool.

Elevated high-mobility group box1 level is associated with alterations of interferon gamma in Egyptians with lupus nephritis

High-mobility group box protein-1 (HMGB1) is identified as a pro-inflammatory mediator of tissue injury. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) dose dependently induced the release of HMGB1. The understanding of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cytokine networks is very important for SLE treatment strategy and drug development. The purpose of this study is to determine the association of HMGB1 and IFN-γ levels to lupus nephritis and their relation to disease activity, autoantibodies, and certain laboratory parameters. The study population consisted of 50 lupus nephritis patients compared to 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). HMGB1 and IFN-γ levels were measured by ELISA method. The plasma levels of HMGB1 and IFN-γ were significantly increased in lupus nephritis patients compared to HC (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Additionally, plasma HMGB1 was positively correlated with IFN-γ (P < 0.001), creatinine (P < 0.05), ESR (P < 0.05), 24-h urinary protein (P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with serum albumin (P < 0.05). HMGB1 and IFN-γ may contribute to the generation of lupus nephritis and may be a potential role for therapies targeting cytokines and HMGB1 in preventing or limiting lupus nephritis in the vulnerable SLE patients.