Detection of Helicobacter pylori vacA, cagA and iceA1 virulence genes associated with gastric diseases in Egyptian patients

Background: Helicobactor pylori [H. pylori] virulence markers would be useful to predict peptic ulcer disease [PUD] or gastric cancer

Aim: In Egypt, since inadequate data are present regarding H. pylori virulence-related genes in different age group patients with gastro-duodenal diseases, it becomes crucial to study the clinical status of cagA, vacA and iceA1 genotypes of H. pylori strains recovered from patients with dyspepsia

Subjects and methods: The study included 113 dyspeptic patients who were exposed to upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination. Four antral biopsies were obtained from each patient for the analysis of H. pylori infection by rapid urease test and detection of 16S rRNA

Results: Sixty [53.1%] patients were confirmed to be infected with H. pylori. Upon endoscopy, gastritis was revealed in 27 patients [45%] and10 patients [16.7%] had PUD. Of the 60 H. pylori strains, 39 [65%] had at least one virulence gene. Six different genotypic forms were recognized; vacA [9/60], iceA1 [1/60], vacA/cagA [7/60], vacA/iceA1 [13/60], vacA/cagA/iceA1 [8/60] only one of cagA/iceA type and we could not detect cagA. The overall vacA, iceA1and cagA genes identified were 61.6%, 38.8%, 26.6% respectively, by PCR-based molecular testing. The vacA gene status was highly significant related to gastritis patient [P ? 0.036]. The vacA s1m1 and s2m2 alleles were significantly found in 50% of H. pylori infected patients with PUD and with gastritis 57.1% respectively [P

Conclusion: In conclusion, the main genotype combinations in the studied Egyptian patients were; vacAs2m2/iceA1, vacAs1m1/cagA, mostly associated with gastritis, and vacAs1/cagA/icA, mainly in PUD. The less virulent [s2, s2m2] H. pylori genotypes were found in patients aged over 43 years

Therapeutic effects of olive leaf extract or bone marrow Mesenchymal stem cells against lung damage induced in male albino rats exposed to gamma radiation

Aim of the work- This study aimed to investigate the histological and histochemical changes in the lung tissue of male albino rats post exposure to gamma radiation and the possible therapeutic effect of both olive leaf extract and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Matrerial and methods-The current study was carried out on 40 adult male albino rats [Sprague dawely strain]; they were divided equally into 5 groups [C group: control rats; O group: rats treated with olive leaves extract[15 mg /kg body weight/daily] ; R group: rats exposed to a single dose of gamma-radiation[3 Gy]; RO group: rats of this group treated with olive extract 15 mg /kg body weight/daily one week before and one week after irradiation; RS group: rats of this group irradiated with 3Gy then treated with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells [BMSCs] 3×10[6] cells/ml suspension through caudal vein about 5h post radiation exposure. Histopathological and histochemical changes were studied

Results: Rats exposed to gamma radiation showed numerous histological and histochemical changes, these changes were ameliorated by using either olive leaf extract or bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. BMSCs showed more obvious therapeutic effect than olive leaf extract

Conclusion: The present work showed that olive leaf extract or bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells [BMSCs] have lung tissue radiotherapeutic effects against whole body gamma radiation in male albino rats

Bacterial vaginosis and risk of early pregnancy loss

The aim this study was to assess the vaginal flora of pregnant women early in pregnancy [<13 wk] and to determine the possible link between bacterial vaginosis [BV] and subsequent spontaneous early pregnancy loss. 201 consecutive healthy pregnant women of less than 13 weeks' gestation were recrutied for this study through the year 2003. They underwent standardized vaginal speculum examination for microbiological flora of the vagina. Bacterial vaginosis was assessed using Amsel's criteria [1993] in addition to cullture study for BV associated organisms. Incidence of BV among pregnant females was 21.4%. BV was associated with late pregnancy loss [Relative Risk=1.8]. Those patients with intermediate flora were strongly associated with subsequent pretem labor. Among BV associated microorganisms, Gardnerella vaginalis was the most common organism. In conclusion, desspite no association was found between BV and early pregnancy loss, there was a striking relation with late abortion and pretern labor which makes proposing diagnosis and treatment of BV during pregnancy worthily