High cord blood and day 3 MPV can be used as surrogate marker for prediction of EOS and associated mortality in preterm neonates.

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Background: Natural-killer group 2 (NKG2), a characteristic receptor of natural killer (NK) cell family, assumes a vital role in modulating NK cytotoxic function. We aimed to detect mRNA expression of both NKG2A and NKG2D in serum NK cells obtained from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Methods: We enrolled 36 patients with newly diagnosed CRC, as well as 15 group matched healthy individuals. The patients were further classified into: 23 non-metastatic CRC (group 1) and 13 metastatic CRC (group 2). We detected the expression of NKG2A and NKG2D serum levels for all participants utilizing real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: NKG2D and NKG2A mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were significantly elevated in patients with CRC compared to controls (P<0.01). NKG2D or NKG2A showed sensitivity (77.8, 83.33%) and specificity (73.33, 100%) respectively using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for discrimination between patients and controls, whereas group 1 and group 2 showed no statistical significant difference in NKG2D and NKG2A levels (P>0.05). Conclusions: Our work is one of the first research that could detect an increase in NKG2D in CRC. In spite of their defensive role in tumor immune surveillance, NKG2D and NKG2A and their ligands could have misused as tumor survival tool, empowering immune avoidance and suppression.

BACKGROUND: Soluble forms of RAGE (sRAGE) have been found circulating in plasma and tissues. Evidence is accruing in human subjects linking levels of sRAGE to oxidative stress in many disorders. Because sickle cell disease (SCD) is a state of oxidative stress, we tested the hypothesis that circulating sRAGE levels may be involved in the vascular pathology of SCD. OBJECTIVES: To determine the sRAGE levels in children and adolescents with SCD and investigate their association with markers of hemolysis, iron overload, and SCD-related organ complications. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The level of sRAGE was measured in 40 children and adolescent with SCD compared with 40 healthy controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: sRAGE was significantly higher in patients compared with controls (p < 0.001) and was elevated in patients with history of stroke, acute lung syndrome, and frequency of sickling crisis or serum ferritin > 2500 (p < 0.05). Patients with high sRAGE levels are candidates for chelation. sRAGE was positively correlated with HbS% (r = 0.422, p = 0.007), LDH (r = 0.329, p = 0.038), and serum ferritin levels (r = 0.516, p = 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis proved that both HbS% and serum ferritin were significant independent factors affecting sRAGE level (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that sRAGE may be considered as a marker for vascular dysfunction in SCD patients.

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