Background: Circulating non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been implicated in health and disease. This study aimed to evaluate the serum expression profile of microRNA-499a (miR-499a) and its selected bioinformatically predicted partner long-ncRNA MALAT1 (metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1) in diabetes-related end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and to correlate the expressions with the patients' clinicolaboratory data. Subjects and methods: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was applied in diabetics with and without ESRD (n = 90 for each). Results: Serum MALAT1 expression levels were increased in the ESRD group relative to diabetics without ESRD with median (quartile) values of 10.5 (1.41–126.7) (p < .001). However, miR-499a levels were decreased in more than half of ESRD patients with a median of 0.96 (0.13–3.14). Both MALAT1 and miR-499a expression levels were inversely correlated in the ESRD patient-group. Conclusions: MALAT1 up-regulation and miR-499 down-regulation might be involved in diabetic nephropathy-related ESRD pathogenesis. Functional validation studies are warranted to confirm the MALAT1/miR-499a partnership.

Background: Despite the recent improvement in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment, it still has a poor prognosis with a low survival rate. Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms have proved to play a substantial role in CRC tumorigenesis and progression. According to Gene Ontology and TargetScan analyses, the B‐Raf proto‐oncogene (BRAF) gene is one of the microRNA‐17 (miR‐17) targets. We aimed to explore the prognostic value of B‐Raf protein andBRAF/microRNA‐17 (MIR‐17) gene expression signature in CRC archived samples.Methods: B‐Raf protein expression was identified by immunohistochemistry, while gene expression studies were quantified by real‐time qPCR in 53 paired archived CRC specimens.Results: TheBRAFshowed higher expressions in CRC specimens relative to non‐cancer tissues (p = 0.006). MIR17 expression was inversely and significantly correlated with both B‐Raf protein (r = −0.79,p < 0.001) and gene expression (r = −0.35,p = 0.010) and showed a significant direct correlation with a high rate of relapse (p = 0.020).BRAF/miR‐17 expression in CRC was associated inversely with tumor size, high grade of colonic carcinoma, lymph node metastasis, and carcinoma subtype. Spearman correlation and Kaplan‐Meier survival curve analyses revealed that disease‐free survival and overall survival were inversely and significantly correlated with positive B‐Raf protein expression (r = −0.31 and −0.35,p = 0.023 and 0.011, respectively) and directly correlated with logBRAF/MIR17 ratio (r = 0.50 and 0.41,p < 0.001 and = 0.003, respectively). Cox hazard regression analysis revealed theBRAF/MIR17 ratio could predict both types of patients' survival, among other variables.Conclusion: BRAF/MIR17 ratio could have prognostic utility in patients with CRC. Further larger‐scale studies are warranted to confirm this utility.

Background: Emerging evidence indicates group-specific component (GC) variants are associated with ethnicity. We aimed to investigate the association of GC variants and protein expression level with T2DM and diabetic nephropathy (DN) in Saudi patients. Subjects and methods: A total of 200 participants (120 T2DM/80 controls) were genotyped for GC-rs7041/GC-rs4588 by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Serum GC was assessed by ELISA and in silico analysis was executed. Results: GC-rs7041 frequency distribution showed no difference between the study groups, while GC-rs4588 showed association with T2DM under all genetic models. rs4588*AA variant was correlated with higher serum GC globulin, albuminuria, and poor glycaemic control. A higher frequency of rs7041*TT and rs4588*AA was evident in macroalbuminuria vs. normoalbuminuria group. Carrying GC-2 haplotype was 2.5 more likely to develop diabetes and correlated with the levels of albuminuria. Conclusions: GC variants could have independent effects on the risk of T2DM and DN in the study population.

Background: MicroRNA (miRNA) processing machinery gene variant was associated with several diseases. We aimed to explore for the first time the association of machinery gene (DROSHA rs10719A/G; DICER1 rs3742330A/G; RAN rs14035C/T; and XPO5 rs11077T/G) variants with the susceptibility and phenotype of end‐stage renal disease (ESRD).Method: A total of 281 participants (98 ESRD patients and 183 healthy volunteers) were enrolled. Real‐Time TaqMan allelic discrimination assay was applied for the genotyping of the specified variants. Multiple logistic regression models, univariate, multivariate, and principal component analyses were carried out.Results: Carrying one DICER1 rs3742330*G allele conferred protection against developing ESRD [heterozygote comparison: OR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.15‐0.62, dominant model: OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.17‐0.70]. Similarly, for XPO5 rs11077T/G, homozygote and heterozygote carriers of G variant were less likely to develop ESRD [homozygote comparison: adjusted OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.11‐0.50, and heterozygote comparison: OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.22‐0.92, and allelic model: OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.34‐0.70]. RAN rs14035*TT subjects were 5 times more likely to develop ESRD while being heterozygote (CT) have twice the risk [homozygote comparison: 5.18, 95% CI = 2.28‐11.8, heterozygote comparison: OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.10‐409]. Subgroup analysis also detected DICER1 rs3742330*A, XPO5 rs11077*T, and RAN rs14035*T as genetic risk determinants for ESRD development in both sex and age categories. Two genotype combinations of DROSHA/DICER1/XPO5/RAN were associated with increased susceptibility to ESRD [A‐A‐T‐T: OR = 9.49, 95%CI = 2.48‐36.31 (P = .001) and G‐A‐T‐T: OR = 5.92, 95%CI = 1.77‐19.83 (P = .004), respectively].Conclusion: Variants and combined genotypes of DICER1 rs3742330, XPO5 rs11077, and RAN rs14035 might be associated with ESRD development in the study population. Integrating molecular analysis in ESRD risk stratification is warranted.

Objective: To assess gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) awareness among women in the Northern Borders Province of Saudi Arabia and identify factors associated with knowledge levels. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 461 women using a structured, validated online questionnaire assessing demographics, medical history, and knowledge of GDM’s effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Associations between demographic factors and GDM awareness were analyzed using chi-square tests. Results: Most participants (98.5%) were Saudi nationals, with a mean age of 34.5 ± 10.0 years; 82.6% had university-level education. Overall, 42.3% demonstrated fair awareness of GDM, 34.3% had good awareness, and 23.4% had poor awareness. Knowledge of GDM’s maternal complications varied: 70% recognized the risk of emergency cesarean section, but only 8.2% were aware of increased preeclampsia risk. For neonatal outcomes, 58.4% identified high birth weight as a risk, while only 31.9% recognized the risk of congenital anomalies. Higher awareness was significantly associated with education level (p = 0.02), pregnancy status (p = 0.001), trimester (p = 0.002), and family history of relevant conditions (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Although many women showed fair-to-good awareness of GDM, notable gaps remain, especially regarding specific complications. Targeted educational interventions, particularly for less-educated and non-pregnant women, are recommended to improve GDM awareness and pregnancy outcomes.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the possible relations between serum uric acid (UA) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in a Saudi adult population sample. Methods and Results: This cross-sectional study enrolled consecutive adult MetS and non-MetS subjects (90 subjects in each group). Glycemic control indices (fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1c, insulin, HOMA-IR index), lipid profile/ratios, and renal function tests were also evaluated. Findings showed that serum UA was significantly higher in the MetS group (322±98.9) than non-MetS group (286±61.2) μmol/L. The fourth quartile of serum UA showed a higher frequency of MetS (73.3%) and central obesity (82.2%), and higher mean values of TG and FBS as well as lower mean values for HDL-C relative to the first quartiles. Data stratification by sex showed consistent associations of BMI, abdominal obesity, HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, and serum creatinine levels with serum UA in both men and women. Serum UA at 310 μmol/L concentration might be a good predictor for MetS/its components in men. In contrast, at a cut-off level of 275.0 μmol/L, it could significantly predict only obesity and high FBS in women. Conclusion: Serum UA levels are associated with MetS and may predict MetS and/or its components at specific levels in a sex-dependent pattern in the study population.