Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder of the proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, results in hyperglycemia. Abnormalities in the function of insulin on target cells, its release from beta cells, or both may contribute to DM. The purpose of this research was to assess the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) to the levels of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and biochemical parameters. The study included 44 normal control subjects, 44 diabetic participants, who were separated into four groups based on their diabetes status and the results of fundoscopic examination. A commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used to measure the levels of BDNF in the serum. The analysis revealed that diabetics had significantly lower serum BDNF levels than non-diabetics (p< 0.001). Also, there was a significant reduction in BDNF levels with the development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy in comparison with diabetics without DR (p < 0.001). In conclusion, serum BDNF levels decreased significantly in diabetics with and without DR compared to apparently healthy individuals, as well as with the progression of DR.

Background Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer that accounts for 7% of all cancers. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide with ∼600,000 new cases per year, and it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths alone. Aim The aim of this work was to study the clinical utility of miR-30e and miR-223 as early novel biomarkers for HCC in chronic viral hepatitis patients. Patients and methods In this study, we tested two serum microRNAs (miRNAs), 223 and 30e, that can be used as potential biomarkers to diagnose HCC. A total of 55 patients were divided into three groups. Group I included 20 newly diagnosed patients with HCC on top of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. The HCC group included 11 male patients and nine female patients with ages ranging from 55 to 65 years. Liver masses discovered on surveillance by abdominal ultrasound were further investigated by triphasic abdominal computed tomographic scan. Group II included 20 patients of chronic hepatitis C virus with no HCC (10 male patients and 10 female patients), with ages ranging from 53 to 63 years. Group III included 15 apparently healthy participants as a control group (five male individuals and 10 female individuals), with ages ranging from 55 to 61 years and who were selected from relatives and friends. The samples were analyzed by quantitative real time PCR to detect both miRNAs. Result Our study revealed that both miRNAs, 30e and 223, were expressed at significantly lower levels in the sera of patients with HCC compared with healthy participants. Conclusion Expression levels of miR-30e and miR-223 were reduced in HCC sera; they have potential as noninvasive biomarkers for diagnosis of HCC, with high specificity and sensitivity for miR-30e, although with moderate sensitivity and high specificity for miR-223.