Accumulating evidence has indicated that immune regulatory cells are involved in the establishment of the anti-tumor activity, however; the role of regulatory B cells (B-regs) in breast cancer (BC) remains unclear. This study intended to assess the frequency of peripheral B-regs phenotypes in patients with BC, and to determine the relation between these phenotypes and the patient's clinicopathological characters. The expressions of the immune cell populations were analyzed by four-color flow cytometry in 40 naïve BC patients and 10 age-matched apparently healthy individuals as controls attending the department of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine at Assiut University Hospitals. The percentages of B-regs phenotypes CD19+IL10+ and CD19+CD24hiCD27+IL10+ were higher in BC patients than in the controls. The percentage of CD19+IL10+ B cells phenotype was significantly associated with the HER-2 expression levels, T, and N stages of BC. In conclusion, high percentage of B-regs phenotypes CD19+IL10+ and CD19+CD24hiCD27+IL10+ in BC patients indicates a possible role in immune suppression during the development of BC.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging multidrug-resistant global opportunistic pathogenand isacquiring increasing importance as a nosocomial pathogen. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nosocomial S. maltophilia infections and the important risk factors associated with such infections in Assiut University Hospitals. This study included 362 patients with nosocomial infections admitted to different wards and intensive care units (ICU) from March 2011 to March 2012. A total of 690 different clinical samples according to the site of infection were collected from them. The samples were processed and diagnosed by conventional bacteriological methods. A total of 35 strains of S. maltophilia were isolated from 362 patients (9.6%). The commonest clinical manifestations were lower respiratory tract infections (71.43%), wound infections (17.14%), bacteraemia (8.57%) and urinary tract infections (2.86%). The chest ICU showed the highest percentage of isolation (14.75%). Previous antibiotic intake was found to be a significant risk factor for nosocomial Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections. We conclude that nosocomial Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections are significant in Assiut University Hospitals with lower respiratory tract infections being the commonest and previous antibiotic intake an important risk factor.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB) infections are prevalent in cancer patients with weakened immune systems, causing significant morbidity and mortality. The empirical use of antimicrobials has reduced mortality but led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. In this study, identification and susceptibility testing were carried out using standard procedures (Kirby-Bauer and broth microdilution techniques), and phenotypic and genotypic detection of carbapenemase-producing GNB isolated from adult cancer patients was performed using conventional procedures. Methods: One hundred and eight Gram negative bacteria were recovered from various specimens, with the most common isolates being, Escherichia (E.) coli (45; 41.7%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (38; 35.2%), Acromobacter spp. (9;8.3%), Acinetobacter (A.) baumannii (5; 4.6%) and others including Enterobacter aerogenes, Raoultella ornithinolytica, Serratia fonticola, Citrobacter brakii, Comamonas testosteroni, Proteus mirabilis (11; 10.2%). Concerningly, 64 of 108 Gram-negative bacterial isolates (59.3%) were MDR. Furthermore, 91 out of 108 GNB isolates (84.3%) revealed a pattern of meropenem resistance using the broth microdilution method, which is a worrying rise in the rate of carbapenem resistance. Following the modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM), EDTA carbapenem inactivation method (eCIM), and combined disc test as phenotypic tests for the preliminary screening of carbapenemase producers (CPs), conventional PCR was performed on the 91 extracted DNA (Using 6 common carbapenemase primers). Results: It was found that blaNDM was the most common 60(66%), then blaOXA-48, VIM 47 (51.6%), blaIMP 32(35.2%), blaKPC 20(22.2%), and blaGES 12(13.2%). Conclusion: Based on these results, rapid and precise carbapenemase detection is crucial for clinical care, epidemiological investigations, and infection control.

Interleukin-35 (IL-35), is a recently identified cytokine that belongs to the IL-12 family, it is a potent antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokine which was first recognized to be produced by regulatory T cells (Tregs) cells, and recently was found to be produced by regulatory B cells (Bregs). The study aimed at determining whether plasma levels of IL-35 are associated with clinical characteristics of breast cancer (BC) patients. The study included 40 patients with breast cancer (BC), and 10 matched controls. The IL-35 cytokine was measured in plasma using ELISA. Results showed that plasma IL-35levels were significantly higher in BC than healthy controls (P˂ 0.05), and were significantly associated with BC grade 2 and HER-2 over expression level “3+”, suggesting that plasma IL-35 levels may be associated with the development and progression of BC.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic multidrug resistant pathogen causing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) with limited treatment options. We aimed to determine the prevalence of S. maltophila causing HAIs and environmental contamination in the intensive care units (ICUs) and wards of Assiut University Hospitals. We determined the antibiotic resistance profiles of, production of metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) by, and the presence of the sul II gene in these isolates. The study included 362 patients with HAIs and 4151 environmental samples from the ICUs and wards. Antibiotic sensitivities were tested by the disc diffusion method; imipenem minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the E-test. Metallo-β-lactamase enzymes (MBLs) were detected phenotypically by combined disc test (CDT) and double disc synergy test (DDST). The sul ΙΙ gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction. The percentages of S. maltophilia causing infections and environmental contamination were found to be 9.7% and 0.67% respectively. Respiratory tract infection was the most common infection (17.97%). Isolates were highly resistant to aztreonam, penicillins, carbapenems, quinolones, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol and tetracyclines, and least resistant to trimethoprim- sulfamethoxazole (SXT). All imipenem resistant isolates (82.54%) showed MBL phenotypically by both tests. For imipenem sensitive isolates (17.46%), MBL was detected by DDST and CDT in 36.36% and 18.18% respectively. Isolates resistant to SXT had sul II genes. In conclusion, S. maltophilia is a significant hospital pathogen at Assiut University Hospitals with high percentages of resistance to many antimicrobials, making the possibility of dissemination worrisome. In our setting, SXT is the agent of choice for the treatment of S. maltophilia infections