Summary Background Many dermatological diseases have a great impact on the psychological state of patients, like urticaria, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and acne vulgaris. Finding a “gold standard” biomarker for chronic stress in acne patients is challenging because of the complex etiology of the chronic stress and its variable manifestations. Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between serum levels of BDNF and the presence and severity of acne vulgaris and to assess the relationship of this biomarker to both the degree of psychological stress and the quality of patients’ lives (QoL). Patients and Methods Sixty patients with acne vulgaris were included, together with twenty apparently healthy, age‐, and sex‐matched individuals as a control group. Patients filled a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire; both patients and controls filled a Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) and perceived stress scale‐10 (PSS) questionnaires. Serum levels of BDNF were measured for patients and controls using ELISA technique. Results Patients with acne had significantly lower levels of BDNF and significantly higher HADS and PSS‐10 questionnaires scores. A significant negative correlation was found between serum levels of BDNF and PSS questionnaire scores. Conclusion Patients with acne are at a high risk to develop chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. BDNF is a good predictor for assessment of chronic stress in such patients.

Background:Although advancements have been made in the management of thalassemic patients, many unrecognized complications have emerged, such as renal abnormalities. Aim: To measure serum levels of cystatin-C and β-2 microglobulin in children with betathalassemia major (β-TM) and investigate their significance as early markers of glomerular and tubular dysfunctions. Subjects and methods:The study was performed on 70 children with (β-TM) and 20 apparently healthy children matched for age and sex as a control group. For all the enrolled children, a comprehensive medical history was obtained and complete physical examination was performed, blood urea, serum creatinine, serum ferritin, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by Schwartz formula and creatinine clearance, albumin/creatinine ratio in urine, serum cystatin-C levels and β-2 microglobulin were measured. Results: Thalassemic children had significantly higher cystatin-C and β-2 microglobulin levels compared with control. In addition, serum cystatin-C and β-2 microglobulin were positively correlated with urea, creatinine, serum ferritin, albumin/creatinine ratio, duration of chelation therapy and frequency of blood transfusion/year and negatively correlated with creatinine clearance, hemoglobin, and eGFR. Our data demonstrated that cystatin-C and β-2 microglobulin had higher sensitivity and specificity (91.4%, 90.0%, and 85.7%, 100%, respectively) than serum creatinine and creatinine clearance (83.0%, 100% and 81.4%, 100%, respectively) for small changes in GFR. Conclusion: Cystatin-C and β-2 microglobulin are specific and sensitive early biomarkers for monitoring glomerular and tubular dysfunction in children with β-TM.

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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of one dose of intra-articular injection of (PRP) in the knee joint on a specific osteoarthritis (OA) serum biomarker of cartilage degeneration, Collagen 2-1 (Coll2-1), over a short period of 3 months. The aim extended to clarify the effect of PRP on the functional status of the osteoarthritic knee joint. Material and Methods:Sixty patients with primary unilateral knee OA were enrolled in this study. They were subdivided according to Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale (KL) into (Group Ι): including patients with KL grade < 3 and (Group ΙΙ): including patients with KL grade ≥3. Patients were asked to complete the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) Score. PRP was prepared and injected immediately into the affected knee. Serum Coll2-1 (S.Coll2-1) concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit pre and 3 months after PRP injection.Results: Significant reduction in S.Coll2-1 concentration in primary knee OA patients; (p<0.001) and (p<0.05) in group Ι and group ΙΙ respectively as well as significant improvements in WOMAC total and WOMAC sub-scores values were noted after single intra-articular PRP injection with maximal functional improvements were achieved after 3 months (p<0.001). Mild cases experienced favorable results with no remarkable adverse reactions were observed. Conclusion:Reduction in specific OA biomarker S.Coll2-1 following intra-articular PRP injection emphasize that PRP could be a promising safe and tolerable effective therapeutic option which improves function from basal states in primary knee OA patients.