Background: Owing to high burdens of chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide, research targeting early detection of impaired kidney function merits attention. Transforming growth factor-β1 levels (TGF-β1) regulates renal fibrosis and rises in different kidney diseases. Objectives: The present study aimed at evaluating the serum level of TGF-β1 in relation to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in elderly healthy individuals. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 55 individuals, aged above 60 years. Serum level of TGF-β1, microalbuminuria and eGFR were estimated. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured. Results: There was a significant negative correlation between GFR and TGF-β1 values (r value= -0.731, P = 0.001). Twenty-four hours urinary proteins and TGF-β1 levels showed a positive significant correlation (r-value = 0.713, p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in TGF-β1 values between males and females (P = 0.832). TGF-B showed good sensitivity: 90.7%; poor specificity: 41.7% at a cut-off of 41.5 with AUC: 0.85; p value < 0.001 to be an indicator for reduced e GFR. Conclusions: TGF-β1 levels could be a potential marker for early detection of renal diseases in elderly individuals.

Background and study aim: Liver biopsy couldn't be utilized for screening of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as it is considered invasive, and has many complications. The study aims to investigate the value of serum levels of CK-18 fragments as a diagnostic biomarker for NASH and NAFLD and its correlation with severity of NASH as measured by NAFLD activity score (NAS) of liver biopsies. Patients and methods: A total number of 46 subjects with biopsy-proven non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH group) and 54 subjects with borderline NASH, simple steatosis and normal liver tissue (non-NASH group) as well as 30 age-matched healthy volunteers were included in the study. Scoring of liver biopsies using the NAFLD activity score (NAS) and measurement of CK-18 in sera was done. Results: The serum level of cytokeratin-18 was significantly higher in the NASH group when compared to non-NASH group (P=0.0123) or controls (P=0.00001). Using the ROC curve, the optimal value of cytokeratin-18 was 487U/L, with sensitivity 69 % and specificity 84.5 % in detecting NASH. Serum CK-18 levels were significantly correlated to the disease severity as measured by liver biopsy (degree of steatosis, fibrosis, lobular inflammation, and ballooning) in NASH patients. Conclusions: Serum CK-18 could be used as a non-invasive diagnostic serum marker for patients of NAFLD and NASH.

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