Background: MicroRNA molecules, among them the intensely studied miRNA-155 (miR-155), are regarded as potential biomarkers of chronic gastric inflammation and premalignant lesion progression. However, literature data are scarce in terms of pediatric studies and in the evaluation of the predictive role of miRNA in early gastric inflammation. This study aims to assess the differential expression of miR-155 in relation to pediatric gastritis. Methods: The present research was conducted on 192 patients with chronic dyspeptic symptoms who underwent upper digestive endoscopy. Bioptic samples were harvested for histopathological analysis and tissue miR-155 depiction. MiR-155 expression analysis was carried out through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The study population was divided into two groups: controls (93 patients) and study group (99 patients) with inflammatory modifications. Results: MiR-155 expression was augmented in patients with gastritis but did not differ significantly from controls (p = 0.16). An increase in miR-155 expression was noted in relation to chronic gastritis, H. pylori infection, or increase in gastritis severity, but these variations were not important (p = 0.30, p = 0.44, and p = 0.45, respectively). Conclusions: According to our study, pediatric gastritis increases, but does not greatly influence, miR-155 expression. Dynamic evaluation of miR-155 might enlighten its prognostic role in pediatric gastritis.

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy, with genetic factors playing an important role in its development and progression. This study investigated the association between nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) gene polymorphisms (−786T>C or rs2070744 and Glu298Asp or c.894T>G or rs1799983) and the clinical characteristics and outcomes of DTC, aiming to evaluate their potential as biomarkers for prognosis. A case-control study was conducted, enrolling 172 individuals from the Endocrinology Clinics of Târgu Mureș and Iași, Romania, between 2021 and 2023. This study included 88 patients with DTC and 84 healthy controls, matched for age and sex. DNA was extracted from blood samples, and the NOS3 polymorphisms were genotyped using TaqMan assays. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests with a significance level set at p < 0.05. The distribution of the rs2070744 and rs1799983 polymorphisms showed no significant differences between the patients with DTC and healthy controls (p = 0.387 and p = 0.329, respectively). Furthermore, no significant associations were found between these polymorphisms and key clinical outcomes such as biochemical control, structural control, or loco-regional metastases. Our findings indicate that NOS3 rs2070744 and rs1799983 gene polymorphisms do not significantly influence the clinical outcomes of DTC, suggesting their limited utility as biomarkers for DTC prognosis.

Distinguishing relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) from secondary-progressive disease (SPMS) remains a clinical challenge, as no single laboratory test reliably identifies the transition. We explored whether plasma extracellular-vesicle (EV) microRNAs could separate the two phenotypes. Four candidate EV-miRNAs: miR-30a-5p, miR-223-5p, miR-155-5p, and miR-146a-5p, were quantified by qRT-PCR in plasma-derived EVs from 13 healthy controls (HC), 7 RRMS, and 16 SPMS patients, normalized to miR-16-5p. EVs were characterized by electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential, confirming vesicles of expected morphology, size, and negative surface charge. Two miRNAs were informative. miR-155-5p was significantly downregulated in both RRMS and SPMS versus controls but did not differentiate the phenotypes (AUC 0.52), behaving as a disease-general marker. In contrast, miR-223-5p was selectively reduced in SPMS, to approximately one-quarter of control abundance, and provided the only signal distinguishing progressive from relapsing disease (AUC 0.73; rank-biserial −0.46). miR-30a-5p and miR-146a-5p were uninformative. These findings, consistent with the circulating/EV literature, suggest EV-miR-223-5p as a candidate marker of the progressive phenotype and EV-miR-155-5p as a disease indicator. Given the small cohort and near-detection-limit measurements, the study is hypothesis-generating and requires validation in larger, longitudinal cohorts.

Background: Infection and consequent limb amputations are complications of severe peripheral artery disease, especially in diabetic patients. Risk factors and prognostic markers are of particular importance in defining patient care. Methods: This study included 99 peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients admitted for surgical intervention in the 2020–2021 time interval. The included subjects were stratified by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) diagnosis (present/absent). Protein, albumin concentrations, blood-count-derived inflammatory markers, and cultures from gangrenous wounds were assessed. In the group of severe cases, needing lower limb amputation (n = 31), homocysteine level, and related methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutations were also investigated. Results: The mean age of patients was 68.36 ± 11.79 (SD) years and T2DM patients were significantly older (p = 0.0303). The measured inflammatory markers were at normal values in 20% of the subjects. In the cohort of infected patients, S. aureus, P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris, and S. agalactiae were the most commonly identified bacteria, with C. albicans prevailing as the most common fungal pathogen. The patient length of stay (LoS) was significantly longer in patients with pathological blood-count-derived biomarkers (p = 0.0283). A total of 58% of the severe cases presented hyperhomocysteinemia (mean 17.7 ± 10.6 (SD) μmol/L), and 19% of them presented homozygous mutation of the MTHFR gene (C677T), while 39% carried a heterozygous mutation. Compared to those with normal alleles, homocysteine levels were significantly higher in subjects with homozygous mutation (p = 0.0334). Discussion: Homozygous MTHFR mutation was associated with hyperhomocysteinemia. Blood-count-derived inflammatory markers may indicate an unfavorable outcome for PAD patients, guiding clinicians in identifying patients that are prone to complications.