Alopecia areata is a chronic relapsing autoimmune inflammatory hair disorder with no novel therapy. The objectives of this study are to compare the efficacy of topical calcipotriol vs narrow band ultraviolet B phototherapy (NB-UVB) in the treatment of alopecia areata and its correlation with serum vitamin D₃ levels. A randomized-controlled trial has been conducted on 60 patients with scalp alopecia areata randomized into four groups; topical calcipotriol, NB-UVB, both and placebo. All patients were evaluated by assessment of severity of alopecia areata by severity of alopecia tool (SALT) score at baseline and 3 months after treatment and vitamin D₃ levels at baseline and after 3 months. SALT score and vitamin D₃ levels were significantly improved in all groups except placebo after treatment with (P = 0.026, P = 0.005, P = 0.004, P = 0.140) and (P = 0.028, P = 0.011, P = 0.003, P = 0.725 …

Background

Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) represents an important etiology of acute gastroenteritis in children. Among the pathogenic E.coli, enteropathogenic E.coli  (EPEC) is associated with acute gastroenteritis in children.

Objectives

The present study aims to detect the presence of t typical EPEC and atypical EPEC in children with community acquired diarrhea in age ≤ 5 years old by polymerase chain reaction for eae, bfp, Stx genes Also, to determine the presence of ESBL by phenotypic method and by polymerase chain reaction for TEM, PER, CTX-M genes.

Methodology

  The isolated E.coli  were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test by  the disc diffusion method according to clinical laboratory standard guidelines (CLSI) .  E.coli  with resistance to cefotaxime were examined  for the presence of ESBL by the double discs method. Polymerase Chain Reaction was done to detect EPEC; eae, bfp, Stx genes and ESBL; TEM, PER, CTX-M genes.

Results

A total of 290 isolates of E. coli were isolated from children with community acquired diarrhea, EPEC was identified by the presence of eaeA gene in 115 isolates of E.coli. Typical EPEC with eaeA+, bfp +, stx – genotype profile was detected in 81 (70.4%) of EPEC and atypical EPEC with eaeA+, bfp –, stx –   genotype profile was detected in 34 (29.6%) of EPEC isolates. The most frequent detected ESBL genes in EPEC were CTX-M (46.9%) followed by PER (11.3%) and TEM (9.6%.). There was a significant increase in resistance to ampicillin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, amikacin in EPEC compared to non EPEC. Moreover, there …

Background: Pediatric sepsis due to Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Accessory-Gene-Regulator (agr) has a role in the pathogenesis of S. aureus through controlling and regulating the expression of virulence genes. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of genotypes of the agr system in S. aureus isolated from children with sepsis and to assess their relationship to biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Methods: The study was a retrograde cross-sectional study that included 131 children with health care associated sepsis due to S. aureus. The isolated S. aureus was investigated for their ability to form biofilm by microplate method, antibiotic susceptibility pattern by disc diffusion method, and molecular determination of agr genotypes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was …

Background

Genetic alterations and high levels of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are presumptive risk factors for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).

Objective

This work aims to study the presence of − 634G/C polymorphism of vascular endothelial growth factor (rs2010963) and its’ serum level in patients with DTC and comparing these results with those of the control subjects.

Material and method

The study was a retrograde case–control study that included seventy patients with DTCin addition to seventy apparently healthy control subjects. Blood sample was taken and subjected to study of − 634G/C VEGF polymorphism (rs2010963) by real time PCR and measurement of its’ plasma level by immunoassay kit (ELISA).

Results

Regarding genotyping of VEGFA − 634G/C (rs2010963) polymorphism, there was significant increase in CG and GG genotypes (28.6%, 18.6% respectively) among patients …

CX3CL1-CX3CR1 pathway may be one of the future treatment targets to delay the progression of end-stage renal diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the CX3CR gene polymorphism in Egyptian patients with ESRD and its relation to fractalkine blood level. The study included 100 patients with ESRD on dialysis, 61 males and 39 females with mean age 51.02 ± 7.8 years. The V2491 genotype revealed a significant increase in the frequency of GG genotype in healthy control (83%) compared to patients [69%] with a significant increase in GA in patients [30%] compared to control subjects [15%],  = 0.03. T280M study showed a statistically significant prevalence of TT genotype in healthy control subjects [86%-OR 95% CI 1.7] compared to patients [70%] with a significant increase in the prevalence of TA in patients [29%] compared to control subjects [13%],  = 0.01. There was a significant increase in fractalkine levels in genotypes GA + AA [503.04±224.1] pg/ml compared to genotype GG [423.6 210.3],  = 0.03. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the blood level of fractalkine in genotype TA + AA [498.8 219.6] compared to genotype TT [426.8±212.8],  = 0.05. In conclusion, our study showed that both V2491-GA genotype and T280M-TA are associated with potential risk for end-stage renal disease in Egyptian patients.

Methods:

The study was a case-control study carried out on 100 recently diagnosed SLE patients compared to 100 control subjects. The study of XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism was performed by a polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Results and Discussion:

A higher frequency of ‘G’allele in SLE (38.5%) versus control (32%) was noticed; however, this difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.174). Besides, a slightly higher frequency of G/G genotype was found in SLE (22%) vs. control (12%); again, this difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.157). A statistically significantly higher proportion of arthritis, serositis, and thrombocytopenia was observed in the A/A genotype (p= 0.010, 0.032, and 0.036, respectively). Furthermore, we noticed a statistically significant lower hemoglobin level in G/G genotype (p= 0.027). Otherwise, there was no statistically significant difference between the three genotypes regarding other parameters: photosensitivity, malar rash, oral ulceration, ANA, anti-dsDNA antibody, anemia, leucopenia, neurologic manifestations, and all lab parameters except hemoglobin level. Similar results were reported previously.

Bronchial asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease affecting the airway. Cytokines have a pivotal role in regulation of the immune response, and in development of asthma. Interleukin 33 is a newly discovered member of cytokines, belongs to interleukin 1 family. Previous studies have reported that expression of IL33 is associated with bronchial asthma. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of interleukin 33 (IL33) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1929992 in asthmatic patients and determine the relation of IL33SNP to IL33 serum level. The Results of RFLP were validated by using sterile distilled water. This study included 100 patients from Egypt, Beni Suef governorate (Upper Egypt) and Mansoura governorate (Delta region), complaining of chronic asthma and 100 control subjects with matched sex and residence. Blood samples from study subjects were used for determination of serum IL33by ELISA and IL33 SNP rs1929992 by PCR-RFLP. There was no significant difference between the proportions of IL33 SNP rs1929992 genotypes in asthma patients and the control group. Allele ‘A’predominates in asthmatics though this did not achieve statistical significance (P= 0.071). IL33 level was compared in the three IL33 SNP rs1929992 genotypes; G/G, G/A, and A/A, and it revealed no significant difference (P= 0.958). The association between IL33 with asthma showed that the log-additive model is the best inheritance model which marks allele ‘A’as the risk allele. In contrast, IL33 serum level was significantly higher in severe asthma than the moderate asthma and the mild type (P< 0.0005). Spearman’s correlation test showed …

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder, categorized into various subtypes. Post-infection IBS may be attributed to the release of cytolethal distending toxin B (CdtB), which cross-reacts with the adhesion protein vinculin responsible for normal intestinal contractility.

Objective: This study aims to identify anti-CdtB and anti-vinculin levels in IBS patients compared to healthy control.

Subjects and methods: This retrospective case-control study was conducted on 100 subjects with IBS, as determined by a questionnaire based on Rome III criteria, recruited from the outpatient clinics of the Tropical Medicine at Mansoura University Hospital from January 2019 to January 2020.

Results: The optical density (OD) results of the anti-vinculin and anti-CdtB levels were significantly elevated in patients with IBS (1.58±0.496 OD, 2.47±0.60 OD) when compared to control subjects (1.13±0.249 …

Lupus nephritis is associated with a six-fold increase in mortality compared with the general population. MicroRNAs studies revealed that increased MicroRNA-21 and MicroRNA-155 levels represent risk factors for active LN patients. MicroRNAs can be used as biomarkers in the diagnosis of clinical stages of LN.

Objectives

The present study aimed to determine the level of miR-124 in patients with lupus nephritis by reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction compared to healthy control and correlate its levels with biochemical findings in those patients.

Methods

The study was a case-control study that included fifty patients with lupus nephritis in addition to fifty healthy controls. Blood samples from the participants were subjected to the determination of serological markers of SLE. Moreover, real-time PCR was used for the determination of miR-124.

Results

The comparison of Micro-RNA124 between patients and control subjects revealed a statistically significant decrease in Micro-RNA124 in patients (1.193±0.56) compared to the control (3.36±0.50, p< 0.001); the comparison of the level of MicroRNA 124 in the patients with different clinical and serological findings of SLE revealed a significant decrease in the level of MicroRNA 124 in patients with muscular findings (1.02±0.5) compared to the patients with negative manifestations (1.47±0.5, p= 0.005) Conclusion: In the present study, a comparison of MicroRNA-124 in LN patients with different stages compared to normal control showed a statistically significant decrease in Micro-RNA124 in patients with lupus nephritis p< 0.001 with significant correlation to the patients' …

Aims: To identify causes, clinical and laboratory characteristics, and the predictors of liver failure and mortality of acute non-AE hepatitis.

Methods: Patients with acute hepatitis, admitted to Al Rajhy and Sohag University Hospitals, Egypt, between October 2020 and July 2022 were included. Laboratory tests were performed including blood picture, liver function test, kidney function test, and international normalized ratio (INR). Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and alcoholic hepatitis were diagnosed through detailed history. Exclusion of hepatitis AE was done by HAV IgM, HBs Ag, HBc IgM, HEV IgM, and PCR for HBV and HCV. COVID-19 was excluded. Testing for other causes such as autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), Wilson disease, septicemia, cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM/PCR, Epstein Barr virus (EBV) IgM, herpes simplex type 1/2 (HSV) IgM, human adenovirus (HAdV) PCR, Coxiella burnetii PCR, and IgM/IgG for both