(1) Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the rapidly growing healthcare problems, and several vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms seem to modulate the risk of T2DM. Our research was designed to investigate the allelic discrimination of VDR polymorphisms and T2DM occurrence risk. (2) Methods: This case-control research included 156 patients with T2DM and 145 healthy control subjects. Most of the study population were males 56.6% vs. 62.8% in the case and control groups, respectively. Genotyping for VDR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs228570 (Fok1), rs7975232 (Apa1), and rs1544410 (Bsm1) was compared between both groups. (3) Results: There was a negative link between vitamin D levels and insulin sensitivity. A significant difference was noted in the allelic discrimination of VDR polymorphism rs228570 and rs1544410 between the study groups (p < 0.001). No difference was observed in the allelic discrimination of VDR polymorphism rs7975232 between the groups (p = 0.063). Moreover, T2DM patients had significantly higher levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin HbA1c, 2-h post-prandial blood sugar (PP), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), total cholesterol, and triglycerides (p < 0.001), while High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly decreased (p = 0.006). (4) Conclusions: VDR polymorphisms had a positive association with T2DM risk among the Egyptian population. Further large-scale research using deep sequencing of samples is strongly urged to investigate different vitamin D gene variants and interactions, as well as the influence of vitamin D on T2DM.

Background Apolipoprotein A1 and B and their ratio are considered a better biomarker for cardiovascular diseases than a lipid profile, but this previous finding is not proved to cerebrovascular ischemic diseases. The aim of this study is to assess the relation between apolipoprotien A1 and B and their ratio to intra- and extracranial carotid atherosclerosis in patients with ischemic acute stroke. Methods 90 Egyptian patients with acute ischemic stroke are included in the study, and they have been classified into 3 groups: group 1 includes 30 patients with intracranial stenosis, group 2 includes 30 patients with extracranial arterial stenosis, and group 3 includes 30 patients with non-arterial stenosis. Patients were subjected to clinical assessment, routine laboratory measures, and Color-Coded Duplex Sonography for extracranial and intracranial arteries. The measurement of serum levels of apolipoproteins A1 and B was done using enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). Results A statistically significant difference was found between patient groups as regards the frequency of abnormal serum LDL-cholesterol (p = 0.04), being elevated in patients with extracranial stenosis (p = 0.01). There was a significant difference between patients groups as regards the frequency of abnormal serum HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.02), being lower in patients with extracranial stenosis. High Apo B/A1 ratio was an independent risk factor for intracranial arterial stenosis (p = 0.045). An abnormal elevation of serum LDL cholesterol was an independent risk factor of extracranial arterial stenosis (p = 0.021). Conclusion Apo B/A1 ratio is an independent risk factor for intracranial arterial stenosis, while serum LDL cholesterol is an independent risk factor for extracranial arterial stenosis. Apo B/A1 ratio and serum LDL cholesterol are reliable serum biomarkers for cranial arterial stenosis in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Introduction: Children with various genetic backgrounds, including those carrying the NPHS2 gene, which encodes the protein podocin necessary for the maintenance of the glomerular permeability barrier, are more likely to develop idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), which is the most prevalent glomerular disease. Variations in this gene may influence the prognosis and steroid responsiveness in children with INS. Aim of the study: Our objective was to investigate the association of NPHS2 genetic variants rs61747728 and rs7415347 with susceptibility to INS in children and their response to steroid therapy. Methods: Fifty children with INS, 25 with steroid-sensitive (SSNS), 25 with steroid-resistant (SRNS), and 50 healthy controls of the same age and gender participated in a cross-sectional study. By the Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) approach, all participants were tested for NPHS2 (c.686G>A; rs61747728) and (c.538G>A; rs7415347) SNVs. Results: In the current study, all patients (SSNS and SRNS) and the control group had the homozygous common genotype (GG). In addition, when it came to NPHS2 686G>A and 538G>A, all patients and controls had the G allele, and no one had the harmful A variant Conclusion: We conclude that NPHS2 (c.686G>A; rs61747728) & (c.538G>A; rs7415347) variations do not influence the susceptibility and response to steroids in INS patients involved in our study.

Background: Around 130-170 million individuals are thought to be affected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is a viral pandemic and the leading cause of persistent liver illness. The frequency of HCV infections is greatest in Egypt, where more than 10% of the general population is affected. Objective: The purpose of the current study was to confirm any potential associations between cirrhosis and the XRCC1 rs25487 variant in chronic HCV patients. Patients and methods: A fibroscan was conducted on 80 HCV +ve patients and 40 control participants for a total of 120 people to determine the extent of hepatic fibrosis. Real-time PCR was used to examine the SNP genotyping in the XRCC1 gene (rs25487). Results: There were no substantial variation in the prevalence of different genotypes in XRCC1 A > G (GG and AG) between non cirrhotic and cirrhotic in chronic HCV Egyptian patients. Conclusion: By comparing the incidence of the various genotypes (AA, AG, and GG) in the analyzed groups, no clear pattern of relationship could be seen (p=0.225). (P = 0.410) There was no distinguishable pattern of connection between the AA genotype and the other genotypes (GG and AG). Comparing the frequencies of the two alleles (A and G alleles) in the three groups under study revealed no evidence of a connection.

Context Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is produced by many malignant tumors. It is responsible for most cases of hypercalcemia in patients with malignancy. Few published studies shed light on the relation between serum calcium levels and serum PTHrP levels in cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Aim The aim of the current work was to evaluate serum PTHrP in cirrhotic patients with HCC and a possible correlation between serum PTHrP levels and albumin-corrected serum calcium levels in these patients. Patients and methods This is a cross-sectional study. The study included 35 cirrhotic patients with HCC (diagnosed depending upon α-fetoprotein and abdominal imaging studies). Data about their serum albumin and albumin-corrected serum calcium levels were collected. Sera of the studied patients were collected for determination of PTHrP levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Numerical data were summarized in the form of mean±SD. Strength of association between variables was tested using Pearson correlation coefficient. Results Approximately 8.6% of studied patients were hypercalcemic, and no statistically significant positive correlation was detected between serum PTHrP determined by ELISA and albumin-corrected serum calcium in these patients. Conclusion Approximately 8.6% of studied cirrhotic patients with HCC were hypercalcemic. NO statistically significant positive correlation was detected between serum PTHrP determined by ELISA and albumin-corrected serum calcium in these patients. Studies involving a larger number of patients could clarify the exact role of PTHrP in the development of hypercalcemia in cirrhotic patients with HCC.