ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to determine the microbiological etiology, epidemiological factors, and clinical profile and treatment outcomes of infective keratitis in Ophthalmology department, Minia University, Egypt. METHODS: Prospective, nonrandomized, observational clinical series of cases, including 150 patients with mean age 30 (range 12 to 85 years), 90 patients (60%) were males and 60 (40%) were females, clinically diagnosed as infective corneal ulcer, attending the Ophthalmology Department-Faculty of Medicine. Minia University, Minia, Egypt. From December 2018 to December 2020. Detailed history taking and all clinical findings were collected. Corneal scrapings were obtained from patients and subjected to staining and culture for bacterial and fungal pathogens; Bacterial and fungal growth were identified by standard laboratory procedures. RESULTS: Corneal trauma by a vegetative matter was the commonest risk factor associated with infective keratitis in 92 cases (61.3%). Smear and culture was positive in 83 cases (58.4%) of 142 corneal scrapings obtained, of which 60 cases were fungal (72.3%), 21 cases were bacterial (25.3%) and two cases were mixed bacterial and fungal (2.4%), Aspergillus species was the commonest fungal species isolated in fungal keratitis. One hundred forty-two cases (94.67%) healed completely with scar. Only six cases (4%) required evisceration due to aggressive presentation from the start and keratoplasty was performed for two cases (1.33%). CONCLUSIONS: Fungal keratitis was the commonest type in cases attending to our department. Adequate diagnosis, management and follow-up helped in achieving high successful curative outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Clinical Trials.gov ID: NCT04894630. Time of registration 1 December 2018.
Subject(s)
Corneal Ulcer , Eye Infections, Fungal , Keratitis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Bacteria , Child , Corneal Ulcer/diagnosis , Corneal Ulcer/epidemiology , Corneal Ulcer/therapy , Eye Infections, Fungal/diagnosis , Eye Infections, Fungal/epidemiology , Eye Infections, Fungal/therapy , Female , Humans , Keratitis/diagnosis , Keratitis/epidemiology , Keratitis/therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Retrospective Studies , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
Genetic variants in microRNAs (miRNAs) can alter the miRNAs expression and/or function, accordingly, affecting the related biological pathways and disease risk. Dysregulation of miR-155 and miR-146a expression levels has been well-described in viral hepatitis B (HBV). In the current study, we aimed to assess rs767649 T/A and rs57095329 A/G polymorphisms in miR-155, and miR-146a genes, respectively, as risk factors for Chronic HBV (CHBV) in the Egyptian population. Also, we aimed to do in silico analysis to investigate the molecules that primarily target these miRNAs. One hundred patients diagnosed as CHBV and one hundred age and sex-matched controls with evidence of past HBV infection were genotyped for miR-155 (rs767649) and miR-146a (rs57095329) using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The rs767649 AT and AA genotypes in CHBV patients confer four folds and ten folds risk respectively, as compared to control subjects [(AOR = 4.245 (95%CI 2.009-8.970), p<0.0001) and AOR = 10.583 (95%CI 4.012-27.919), p<0.0001, respectively)]. The rs767649 A allele was associated with an increased risk of developing CHBV (AOR = 2.777 (95%CI 1.847-4.175), p<0.0001). There was a significant difference in the frequency of rs57095329 AG and GG genotypes in CHBV patients compared to controls. AG and GG genotypes showed an increase in the risk of developing CHBV by about three and six folds respectively [AOR = 2.610 (95%CI 1.362-5.000), p = 0.004] and [AOR = 5.604 (95%CI 2.157-14.563), p<0.0001].We concluded that rs57095329 and rs767649 SNPs can act as potential risk factors for the development of CHBV in the Egyptian population.
