Doaa Ghaith

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Vitamin D supplementation with standard treatment yielded positive clinical outcomes in mild and moderate atopic dermatitis; however, the potential benefit of vitamin D in severe cases remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on response to standard treatment in pediatrics with severe atopic dermatitis. The patients were randomized to receive either vitamin D 3 1600 {IU}/day or placebo, plus baseline therapy of topical 1% hydrocortisone cream twice daily for 12 weeks. The primary endpoints were the change in mean Eczema Area and Severity Index ({EASI}) score at the end of the study and the mean percent change in {EASI} score from baseline to week 12. Eighty-six subjects completed the study. The treated group achieved a significant higher level of 25 hydroxy vitamin D (P {\textless} .001) compared to control group at week 12. The mean {EASI} score was significantly lower in the treatment group compared to placebo group (P = .035). The percent change in {EASI} score from baseline differed significantly between the supplementation (56.44 ± 29.33) and placebo (42.09 ± 19.22) groups after intervention (P = .039). Vitamin D supplementation could be an effective adjuvant treatment that improves the clinical outcomes in severe atopic dermatitis.

Background & Aims: Hepatocellular Carcinoma ({HCC}) is the most common primary liver tumor. It is the second most common cancer in men and the sixth in women in Egypt. One of the proteins participating in the trans-endothelial migration is Talin-1. It also has a role in the formation and metastasis of different types of cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic impact of Talin-1 gene expression in {HCC} Egyptian patients. Methods: Our study included forty {HCC} patients, thirty liver cirrhosis patients without {HCC} and thirty healthy subjects. For all groups, clinical and biochemical parameters were investigated. Tumor characteristics were assessed and tumor staging was done using Okuda, {CLIP}, {VISUM} and Tokyo staging systems. In addition, Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein ({AFP}) levels were assayed using Enzyme Immunoassay ({EIA}) and Talin-1 gene expression was assessed in the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells ({PBMCs}) via quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction ({PCR}). Results: Talin-1 gene expression was significantly upregulated in {HCC} patients in comparison to cirrhotic and control subjects. The Receiver Operating Characteristic ({ROC}) analysis indicated that Talin-1 gene expression surpasses serum levels of {AFP} in the diagnosis of {HCC}. In particular, the cut off value of 9.5 (2 -∆∆Ct ) recorded an {AUC} of 85.7% with a sensitivity of 93.3% and specificity of 80%. Conclusion: Our data confirmed an évident diagnostic role of Talin-1 gene expression for {HCC} detection.

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