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We aimed to determine the level of miRNAs 16 and 135a in lifelong premature ejaculation (LPE) patients versus controls. Moreover, we evaluated the potential interplay between the studied miRNAs and fluoxetine in these patients after utilizing fluoxetine daily for 3 months. The study involved 60 consecutive LPE patients and 20 healthy age matched individuals as controls. The median miRNA16 was significantly higher in the controls (1.02) compared to the patients (0.31) (p < 0.001). Moreover, the median miRNA‐135a was significantly higher in the controls compared to the patients 1.02 and 0.35, p < 0.001, respectively. In addition, the median pre‐treatment miRNA16 in the responders was 0.29 that significantly increased to 0.66 (p < 0.001). The median pre‐treatment miRNA‐135a in the responders was 0.27 that significantly increased to 0.65 (p < 0.001). Furthermore, considering EXP(β) for the odds ratio evaluation, with a 95% degree of confidence, a 1 fold increase in pre‐treatment miRNA 135a fold change decreases the odds for being responsive to SSRI by 0.028. Meanwhile, there was non‐significant association between fluoxetine responsiveness and age, pre‐treatment miRNA 16, pre‐treatment PEDT and pre‐treatment IELT. The current study had shown that a lower pre‐treatment miRNA 135a was significantly associated with response to fluoxetine.

Objective: To evaluate the association of gene polymorphisms of the SNP of TNF-α gene -238G>A and IL-18 gene-607C>A with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma among Egyptian patients. Methods: One hundred and fifty patients were allocated to this study; eighty patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (Group A), seventy cancer-free HCV age, and sex-matched patients (Group B). We analyzed two Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (TNF-α-238G>A and IL-18-607C>A) by real-time polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). Results: Significant higher risk of HCC was associated with genotype IL-18-607AA (P<0.001), OR: 5(2.188-11.47), allele IL-18 -607⁄A (P=0.001), OR: 2.1(1.32-3.3). A significant association was found between the size of HFL in the HCC group and different genotypes of IL18 genes (P=0.013) where 62.5% of patients with tumor size >5 cm carried the risky (AA) genotype on the other hand the SNP of TNF-α gene -238G>A showed no statistically significant association between the two groups. Conclusion: The SNP -607C>A in the IL18 gene was associated with increased HCC risk in Egyptian patients suggesting its use as a potential diagnostic non-invasive tool that allows to identify a new group of HCC patients at an earlier stage.

IntroductionNew diagnostic tools are needed to accurately detect acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) presenting with ischemic chest pain. We aimed in this study to investigate circulating miR-122, -192 and -499 expression levels in patients with AMI on top of ESRD and evaluate the potential of these miRNAs as blood-based biomarkers for AMI in patients with ESRD.Material and methodsThe study included 80 ESRD patients without AMI, 80 patients with ESRD associated with AMI and 60 healthy subjects. Assessment of microRNAs was done using SYBR Green based real-time PCR.ResultsLevels of miR-122 were 28-fold and 20-fold higher in controls than in ESRD patients with or without AMI respectively (p < 0.001), while no differences were detected between the two patient groups (p = 0.9). Levels of miR-192 showed a marked increase in ESRD patients with and without AMI compared to the control group (> 500-fold, > 8000-fold respectively, p ≤ 0.001). Patients who developed AMI had lower expression than ESRD patients without AMI (p < 0.001). Non-significant miR-499 elevation was found in ESRD patients without cardiac disease compared to the control group, while highly significant elevation of miR- 499 was demonstrated in ESRD patients who developed AMI compared to other ESRD patients and the control group (> 100-fold, > 350-fold respectively, p = 0.001).ConclusionsAltered expression of miR-122 and -192 may contribute in pathogenesis of ESRD. MiR-192 and -499 may serve as potential biomarkers for AMI in ESRD. Further studies are needed to correlate these miRNAs with disease progression and outcome.