We report a case of giant cell tumor of the temporal bone invading into the pterygoid muscle through the temporomandibular joint. The patient was a 43-year-old woman who developed left ear fullness 2 years earlier with a mass in the external auditory canal. Radiologic evaluation revealed extension into the infratemporal fossa and confirmed that the tumor was invading into pterygoid muscle. A middle cranial fossa approach along with tympanoplasty was used for total resection of the tumor. Once a tumor invades into muscle tissue, meticulous care is required to remove it because identification of tumor tissue becomes extremely difficult.

Abstract: Wolbachia is an obligatory intracellular endosymbiotic bacterium, present in over 20% of all insects altering insect reproductive capabilities and in a wide range of filarial worms which is essential for worm survival and reproduction. In Egypt, no available data were found about Wolbachia searching for it in either mosquitoes or filarial worms. Thus, we aimed to identify the possible concurrent presence of Wolbachia within different mosquitoes and filarial parasites, in Assiut Governorate, Egypt using multiplex PCR. Initially, 6 pools were detected positive for Wolbachia by single PCR. The simultaneous detection of Wolbachia and filarial parasites (Wuchereria bancrofti, Dirofilaria immitis, and Dirofilaria repens) by multiplex PCR was spotted in 5 out of 6 pools, with an overall estimated rate of infection (ERI) of 0.24%. Unexpectedly, the highest ERI (0.53%) was for Anopheles pharoensis with related Wolbachia and W. bancrofti, followed by Aedes (0.42%) and Culex (0.26%). We also observed that Wolbachia altered Culex spp. as a primary vector for W. bancrofti to be replaced by Anopheles sp. Wolbachia within filaria-infected mosquitoes in our locality gives a hope to use bacteria as a new control trend simultaneously targeting the vector and filarial parasites.

Abstract: Wolbachia is an obligatory intracellular endosymbiotic bacterium, present in over 20% of all insects altering insect reproductive capabilities and in a wide range of filarial worms which is essential for worm survival and reproduction. In Egypt, no available data were found about Wolbachia searching for it in either mosquitoes or filarial worms. Thus, we aimed to identify the possible concurrent presence of Wolbachia within different mosquitoes and filarial parasites, in Assiut Governorate, Egypt using multiplex PCR. Initially, 6 pools were detected positive for Wolbachia by single PCR. The simultaneous detection of Wolbachia and filarial parasites (Wuchereria bancrofti, Dirofilaria immitis, and Dirofilaria repens) by multiplex PCR was spotted in 5 out of 6 pools, with an overall estimated rate of infection (ERI) of 0.24%. Unexpectedly, the highest ERI (0.53%) was for Anopheles pharoensis with related Wolbachia and W. bancrofti, followed by Aedes (0.42%) and Culex (0.26%). We also observed that Wolbachia altered Culex spp. as a primary vector for W. bancrofti to be replaced by Anopheles sp. Wolbachia within filaria-infected mosquitoes in our locality gives a hope to use bacteria as a new control trend simultaneously targeting the vector and filarial parasites.

Abstract: Wolbachia is an obligatory intracellular endosymbiotic bacterium, present in over 20% of all insects altering insect reproductive capabilities and in a wide range of filarial worms which is essential for worm survival and reproduction. In Egypt, no available data were found about Wolbachia searching for it in either mosquitoes or filarial worms. Thus, we aimed to identify the possible concurrent presence of Wolbachia within different mosquitoes and filarial parasites, in Assiut Governorate, Egypt using multiplex PCR. Initially, 6 pools were detected positive for Wolbachia by single PCR. The simultaneous detection of Wolbachia and filarial parasites (Wuchereria bancrofti, Dirofilaria immitis, and Dirofilaria repens) by multiplex PCR was spotted in 5 out of 6 pools, with an overall estimated rate of infection (ERI) of 0.24%. Unexpectedly, the highest ERI (0.53%) was for Anopheles pharoensis with related Wolbachia and W. bancrofti, followed by Aedes (0.42%) and Culex (0.26%). We also observed that Wolbachia altered Culex spp. as a primary vector for W. bancrofti to be replaced by Anopheles sp. Wolbachia within filaria-infected mosquitoes in our locality gives a hope to use bacteria as a new control trend simultaneously targeting the vector and filarial parasites.

Abstract: Wolbachia is an obligatory intracellular endosymbiotic bacterium, present in over 20% of all insects altering insect reproductive capabilities and in a wide range of filarial worms which is essential for worm survival and reproduction. In Egypt, no available data were found about Wolbachia searching for it in either mosquitoes or filarial worms. Thus, we aimed to identify the possible concurrent presence of Wolbachia within different mosquitoes and filarial parasites, in Assiut Governorate, Egypt using multiplex PCR. Initially, 6 pools were detected positive for Wolbachia by single PCR. The simultaneous detection of Wolbachia and filarial parasites (Wuchereria bancrofti, Dirofilaria immitis, and Dirofilaria repens) by multiplex PCR was spotted in 5 out of 6 pools, with an overall estimated rate of infection (ERI) of 0.24%. Unexpectedly, the highest ERI (0.53%) was for Anopheles pharoensis with related Wolbachia and W. bancrofti, followed by Aedes (0.42%) and Culex (0.26%). We also observed that Wolbachia altered Culex spp. as a primary vector for W. bancrofti to be replaced by Anopheles sp. Wolbachia within filaria-infected mosquitoes in our locality gives a hope to use bacteria as a new control trend simultaneously targeting the vector and filarial parasites.

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BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an immune mediated systemic inflammatory disease associated with an enhanced cardiovascular risk. The development of atherosclerosis is believed to be partly related to long lasting inflammatory process seen in psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: We assessed serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers: psoriasin (S100A7) and koebnerisin (S100A15) and examined their relationship with carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in psoriatic patients as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis METHODS: Forty-five patients with plaque type psoriasis and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included. The clinical severity of psoriasis was estimated using the psoriatic area and severity index (PASI) score. For all participants, the traditional cardiovascular risk factors were assessed. Serum levels of S100A7 and S100A15 were measured with ELISA and intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries was measured to detect subclinical atherosclerosis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between patients and controls regarding body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar or triglyceride levels. However, total cholesterol and LDL levels were higher (p 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) and HDL levels (p = 0.02) were lower in patients compared to controls. Patients with psoriasis showed significantly higher levels of S100A7 (26.61 ± 22.45 ng/ml vs. 6.31 ± 1.68ng/ml, p 0.001) and S100A15 (21.2 ± 13.12 ng/ml vs. 12.2 ± 4.67 ng/ml, p = 0.001) as well as increased IMT values (1.07 ± 0.4 mm vs. 0.61 ± 0.1 mm, p 0.001) as compared with controls. A positive correlation was observed between IMT and PASI score (r = 0.782, p 0.001), serum S100A7 (r = 0.475, p = 0.004) and S100A15 levels (r = 0.478, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Elevated S100A7 and S100A15 serum levels are associated with increased carotid intima media thickness and might contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis in psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an immune mediated systemic inflammatory disease associated with an enhanced cardiovascular risk. The development of atherosclerosis is believed to be partly related to long lasting inflammatory process seen in psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: We assessed serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers: psoriasin (S100A7) and koebnerisin (S100A15) and examined their relationship with carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in psoriatic patients as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis METHODS: Forty-five patients with plaque type psoriasis and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included. The clinical severity of psoriasis was estimated using the psoriatic area and severity index (PASI) score. For all participants, the traditional cardiovascular risk factors were assessed. Serum levels of S100A7 and S100A15 were measured with ELISA and intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries was measured to detect subclinical atherosclerosis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between patients and controls regarding body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar or triglyceride levels. However, total cholesterol and LDL levels were higher (p 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) and HDL levels (p = 0.02) were lower in patients compared to controls. Patients with psoriasis showed significantly higher levels of S100A7 (26.61 ± 22.45 ng/ml vs. 6.31 ± 1.68ng/ml, p 0.001) and S100A15 (21.2 ± 13.12 ng/ml vs. 12.2 ± 4.67 ng/ml, p = 0.001) as well as increased IMT values (1.07 ± 0.4 mm vs. 0.61 ± 0.1 mm, p 0.001) as compared with controls. A positive correlation was observed between IMT and PASI score (r = 0.782, p 0.001), serum S100A7 (r = 0.475, p = 0.004) and S100A15 levels (r = 0.478, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Elevated S100A7 and S100A15 serum levels are associated with increased carotid intima media thickness and might contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis in psoriasis.