Background: Systemic sclerosis (Ssc) is an autoimmune disorder marked by excessive fibrosis, microvascular stenosis, and systemic clinical manifestations. An autoimmune process is believed to induce T-cell activation, mainly CD 4 T helper cells, and enhance production of proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines such as IL 4 and IL 13. These cytokines contribute to vasculopathy and excessive collagen synthesis. UBASH3a and TIGIT are coinhibitory receptors expressed on T cell to suppress T cell activation.

Objective: Our study aimed to explore UBASH3A and TIGIT mRNA expression levels in systemic sclerosis (Ssc) patients compared to healthy controls. 

Methodology: We detected the mRNA levels via real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in total RNA, isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 30 Ssc patients and 30 age and sex matched  healthy controls with RNA extraction kits.

Results: The expression level of UBASH3A and TIGIT mRNA was significantly high in PBMCs from Ssc patients in comparison with healthy subjects.

 Conclusion : increased expression of TIGIT and UBASH3A3 in SSc patients may indicaes that those patients express CO-IRs signatures reminiscent of immune cell exhaustion so they may be candidate for targeted therapy

Background: The hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) are considered master regulators of oxygen homeostasis and are oxygen level sensitive. Currently, there is no information regarding the expression of HIF-1α in pregnant women with COVID-19 infection and its potential involvement in the placentation of this condition. Objective: The current study aims to detect the expression of HIF-1α and possible molecular link between the expression of HIF-1α and PLGF. Methodology: A case-control study was conducted in a tertiary university hospital between January and September 2022. Placental tissue of post COVID-19 infected pregnant women (n= 34) and healthy control (n=16) were collected and processed for gene expression of HIF-1α and PLGF by Quantitative real-time PCR.

Results: There was a statistically significant higher median level of HIF-1α among cases compared to controls (P<0.001). Moreover, there was a statistically significant higher median level of PLGF among cases compared to controls (P<0.001). There was statistically significant moderate positive correlation between HIF-1α and PLGF gene (r=0.636, P <0.001) among studied samples, however no statistically significant correlation between the two genes among cases and controls groups separately.

Conclusion: the higher levels of HIF-1α and PLGF in the placentas of post COVID-infected pregnant women compared to normal pregnant women indicate that COVID-19 hypoxia did not affect the process of placentation. This is confirmed also by the positive correlation between HIF-1α and PIGF in placental tissues among total studied samples.

Background: Cytokines play a major role in the pathogenesis and progression of psoriasis. Interleukin (IL)-30 is a multifunctional cytokine. It binds to glycoprotein 130 (GP130) and inhibits the GP130 signaling pathways of psoriasis associated cytokines such as IL-6, IL-11, and IL-27.

Objective: The study intended to assess associations of IL-30 and GP130 with the risk of psoriasis and Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score. Methodology: The serum levels of IL-30 and GP130 in psoriasis patients and in a control group were measured by ELISA in the serum of 43 patients and 43 normal controls. Statistical analysis of IL-30 and GP130 serum levels among patients and control groups and their correlation with PASI scores were performed

Results: IL-30 serum levels showed a significant increase in patients with psoriasis compared with controls (p<0.001) and a positive correlation with PASI scores. While serum levels of GP130 were not different in psoriatic patients and in the control group. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that IL-30 had diagnostic ability for prediction of psoriasis in comparison to controls, at cut of point of >14.34 showed a sensitivity of 97.7%, 100% specificity.

Conclusion: IL-30 was elevated in psoriasis patients than controls, therefore, it can be considered a sensitive biomarker for diagnosis of psoriasis.

Background: New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae poses significant risks, particularly for Egyptian pediatric patients who frequently use carbapenems without adequate diagnostic resources. The presence of efflux pump genes like OqxAB exacerbates antimicrobial resistance. This study investigated NDM variants, efflux pump genes, and molecular characteristics of blaNDM-5-positive K. pneumoniae in pediatric patients in Egypt.

Methods: Fifty-six K. pneumoniae isolates underwent carbapenemase testing via modified carbapenem inactivation methods (mCIM). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for meropenem and colistin were determined, and PCR was used to detect resistance genes (blaCTX-M, blaNDM, blaKPC, mcr1, mcr2) and efflux pump genes (oqxA, oqxB). Sequencing of blaNDM and plasmid analyses were conducted. Efflux pump activity in blaNDM-5-positive isolates was assessed using carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), and horizontal gene transfer was evaluated through liquid mating assays.

Results: revealed 29 isolates with blaNDM-1, 9 with blaNDM-5, and 15 with blaKPC. MIC values for meropenem were higher in blaNDM-5-positive isolates compared to blaNDM-1. Additionally, 38 isolates were positive for blaCTX-M, and 15 for mcr1. Efflux pump genes OqxA and OqxB were detected in 26 isolates, while others had either gene independently. All but one blaNDM-5-positive isolate successfully transferred plasmids via conjugation. Plasmid replicon typing indicated that the FII plasmid group predominated in blaNDM-5 isolates.

Conclusion: This is the first report of highly resistant blaNDM-5-producing K. pneumoniae in Egyptian pediatric patients. The findings emphasize the urgent need for robust infection control and a national antimicrobial stewardship plan to combat the risk of horizontal gene transfer and increased resistance to carbapenems.

Background: Results of most epidemiological studies found that approximately 65% of removable denture wearers suffer from candida associated denture stomatitis. Adhesion and biofilm formation of C. albicans was regarded as essential for such condition.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotics on C. albicans metabolic activities and to compare this effect with a different concentration of miconazole nitrate on denture base resins.

Materials and methods: Biofilms were developed on 50 heat-cured PMMA discs (5 mm diameter × 1.5 mm thick) that were polished with waterproof silicon carbide paper (grit p600), submerged in candida cell suspension discs were washed with PBS to remove non adherent cells. Antifungal susceptibility probiotics and a different concentration Miconazole nitrate (0.5, 5, 50, 100 μg/ml) was measured by the XTT reduction assay.

Results: Lactobacillus probiotics possess an inhibitory effect against C. albicans biofilm and this effect is comparable to a different concentration miconazole.

Conclusions: Lactobacillus probiotics can be considered effective alternative antifungal treatment to prevent denture-associated stomatitis.

Background: Trappin-2/Elafin, a 9.9 kDa molecule derived from Preproelafin, is primarily found in immune cells, skin, lungs, and other organs. Clusterin, a heterodimeric glycoprotein, is involved in processes like lipid interaction, apoptosis regulation, complement system modulation, and response to stress and autoimmune damage. Both proteins have been studied in various diseases with immune involvement, but their role in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) remains unclear.

Methods: This study aimed to investigate the serum levels of Trappin-2/Elafin and Clusterin in PV patients and their potential correlation with disease severity using the pemphigus disease area index. Serum levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 50 PV patients and 40 healthy controls.

Results: showed significantly higher serum levels of Trappin-2/Elafin and Clusterin in PV patients compared to controls (P<0.001). However, no correlation was found between these levels and disease severity. The elevated Trappin-2/Elafin levels suggest chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, and tissue damage, while increased Clusterin levels indicate autoimmune damage, stress, or transforming growth factor stimulation.

Conclusion: While Trappin-2/Elafin and Clusterin are elevated in PV patients, their increase is not disease-specific, nor are they reliable markers of disease severity. These findings highlight their roles in broader inflammatory and autoimmune processes rather than PV-specific pathogenesis.