Detection of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer using C8Magnetic Bead Separation and MALDI-TOF Plasma Proteome Profiling in Egyptian Females.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer in females with the highest mortality rate of all gynecological cancers due to its late discovery and ambiguous symptoms. Thus, there is a need for new promising strategies to diagnose ovarian cancer. We aimed at finding a characteristic plasma proteome pattern that could be used for the detection of epithelial ovarian cancer, in comparison with benign ovarian masses and healthy controls. We also aimed at differentiating between profiling of plasma proteins in early and advanced stages of ovarian cancer and between serous and non-serous histopathological types. METHODS: The combination of MagSi-proteomics C8 beads, Ultraflextreme MALDI-TOF and ClinPro Tools software was used to compare the plasma protein spectra from 50 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, 20 patients with benign ovarian masses and 50 age matched healthy females. RESULTS: A plasma proteome profile of 21 peaks differentiated patients with epithelial ovarian cancer from healthy controls with a sensitivity of 73 % and a specificity of 82.8% upon external validation, while a 5-peak profile differentiated patients with epithelial ovarian cancer from patients with benign ovarian masses with a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 73.7%. A 20 peak profile was generated to discriminate between early and late stages of the disease with 88.3% recognition capability and 70% cross validation. CONCLUSION: MALDI-TOF proteomic profiling represents a promising potential tool for diagnosing epithelial ovarian cancer, discriminating between early and advanced stages and between serous and non- serous types.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry rapid detection of carbapenamase activity in Acinetobacter baumannii isolates.

INTRODUCTION: Carbapenamase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii are an increasing threat in hospitals and Intensive Care Units. Accurate and rapid detection of carbapenamase producers has a great impact on patient improvement and aids in implementation of infection control measures. AIM: In this study, we describe the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS) to identify carbapenamase-producing A. baumannii isolates in up to 3 h. Isolates and Methods: A total of 50 A. baumannii isolates (of which 39 were carabapenamase producers) were tested using MALDI TOF MS. Isolates were incubated for 3 h with 0.25 mg/ml up to 2 mg/ml of imipenem (IMP) at 37°C. Supernatants were analysed by MALDI TOF to analyse peaks corresponding to IMP (300 Da) and an IMP metabolite (254 Da) using UltrafleXtreme (Bruker Daltonics, Bremen, Germany). RESULTS: All carbapenamase-producing isolates were evidenced by the disappearance or reduction in intensity of the 300 Da peak of IPM and the appearance of a 254 Da peak of the IPM metabolite. In isolates that did not produce carbapenamase, the IPM 300 Da peak remained intact. CONCLUSION: MALDI TOF is a promising tool in the field of diagnostic microbiology that has the ability to transfer identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing time from days to hours.

High prevalence of haemoglobin S in the closed Egyptian community of Siwa Oasis.

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell haemoglobinopathy, the most frequent of the hereditary anomalies of haemoglobin, occurs most commonly in individuals of African descent. With a population of about 23 000, Siwa Oasis is situated in the Western Desert of Egypt, close to the Libyan border. It is Egypt's most remote oasis town and the Siwans have developed their own distinct Berber culture. Siwans represent a closed isolated community suffering from various health problems, among which is haemolytic anaemia. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at screening primary school children of Siwa Oasis for abnormal haemoglobin (Hb) profiles and determining the prevalence of Hb S among them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive and analytic study included 349 primary school children of both sexes, 153 males and 196 females with a male to female ratio of 1:1.3. Their ages ranged between 6 and 12 years. All subjects were screened for abnormal Hbs using complete blood counts and capillary Hb electrophoresis. RESULTS: Out of a total of 349 primary school children screened, 22% (77/349) were having abnormal Hb profiles, of whom 88% (68/77) had Hb S (ie, sickle cell disorder) constituting 20% of the total population studied. 94% of those having Hb S (64/68) had sickle cell trait (ie, Hb S less than 50%) constituting 18% of the total population screened, while 6% had sickle cell disease, having more than 50% Hb S. CONCLUSIONS: The closed Egyptian community in Siwa Oasis has a high frequency of Hb S carriers and so represents one of the targets of prevention programmes to be implemented in Egypt in order to reduce the economic burden of health services for treating patients with sickle cell disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1-25/15-1-2014.

Usefulness of non-invasive serum markers for predicting liver fibrosis in Egyptian patients with chronic HCV infection.

Accurate monitoring of liver fibrosis changes in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection would be helpful in defining the need to intervene, implement the appropriate response in treatment and to minimize the use of liver biopsy. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of the different serum markers and indices in detecting liver fibrosis in study patients. Initial liver biopsy, routine liver function tests, estimation of hyaluronic acid, MMP-1, and PIIINP levels was performed for 30 Egyptian patients with HCV and 15 controls. Marker algorithms based on common laboratory such APRI score, Fibrotest and Actitest. PIIINP and MMP-1 serum markers were combined and entered into a stepwise logistic regression analysis with formulation of a score equation for fibrosis staging. Combined PIIINP and MMP-1 yielded different cut off scores to estimate two clinically relevant fibrosis stages: "significant fibrosis" versus "extensive fibrosis. Apri score also showed AUC of 1.0 with 100 % sensitivity and specificity to exclude the presence of cirrhosis and was significantly correlated to Metavair fibrosis stage in early fibrosis. On the other hand, PIIINP, Fibrotest and acti test were significantly correlated to Metavair fibrosis stage in both early and late fibrosis. In conclusion, integrating PIIINP/MMP-1 score was able to provide reliable information about the degree of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients using different cut-offs values. A combination of liver markers as well as its related indices is an emerging tool to differentiate early from advanced liver fibrosis in HCV patients.