Genetic Polymorphism and Serum Levels of RORc2 in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

RORc2 is the master transcription factor of T helper 17 cells. We aimed to evaluate whether RORc2 genetic polymorphism and serum levels have association with the risk and activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RORC genetic polymorphisms were investigated by real time PCR. Serum RORc2 protein levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Protective effects of rs370515 CT, rs370515 CT + TT, rs3828057 CT, rs3828057 CT+TT and rs9826 GG genotypes were detected. The genotype-phenotype analysis showed no significant differences in the disease activity score 28 (DAS 28) under the recessive versus dominant genotypes. RORc2 protein serum levels were significantly higher in RA patients than controls (P= 0.001) and had a positive correlation with DAS-28. In conclusions, RORC genetic polymorphisms correlate with the risk but not activity of RA, whereas RORc2 serum levels have a positive correlation with both risk and activity of RA.

Molecular analysis of human metapneumovirus detected in patients with lower respiratory tract infection in upper egypt.

Introduction. Since 2001, when Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) was isolated in the Netherlands, the virus has been detected in several continents. Although reports have confirmed the prevalence of HMPV worldwide, data from Egypt remain limited. HMPV plays an important role in respiratory tract infections in individuals of all ages particularly in children. This study was aimed at estimating the prevalence of HMPV in patients with community-acquired lower respiratory infection in Upper Egypt and characterizing the circulating Egyptian HMPV strains for the first time. Materials and Methods. From 2005 to 2008, respiratory samples from 520 patients were analyzed for the presence of HMPV by real-time RT-PCR. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses were performed on partial fusion gene sequences of HMPV-positive patients. Results. HMPV-positive patients were detected in 2007-2008. The overall infection rate was 4%, while 57% of the patients were children. Sequence analysis demonstrated circulation of subgroup B viruses with predominance of lineage B2. Nucleotide sequence identity within lineage B1 was 98.8%-99.7% and higher than that in lineage B2 (94.3%-100%). Three new amino acid substitutions (T223N, R229K, and D280N) of lineage B2 were observed. Conclusion. HMPV is a major viral pathogen in the Egyptian population especially in children. During 2007-2008, predominantly HMPV B2 circulated in Upper Egypt.

A novel poly(vinyl chloride) matrix membrane sensor for batch and flow-injection determinations of thiocyanate, cyanide and some metal ions.

A poly(vinyl chloride) matrix membrane sensor for the selective determination of thiocyanate has been developed based on the use of copper(II)-2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol complex (Cu-PADAP) as a novel charged carrier, and o-nitrophenyloctyl ether (o-NPOE) as a solvent mediator. The sensor displays a significantly enhanced response towards SCN(-) ions over the concentration range 7.0 x 10(-6) to 1.0 x 10(-2) mol L(-1) with a detection limit of 5.6 x 10(-6) mol L(-1) and a calibration slope of -57.5 +/- 0.5 mV decade(-1). The sensor exhibits a long life-span, long-term stability, high reproducibility, and a fast response time. The selectivity coefficients of some anions were calculated using the separate solutions method, and found to be in the following order: SCN(-) > ClO(4)(-) > I(-) > Sal(-) > NO(2)(-) > Br(-) > NO(3)(-) = CH(3)COO(-) > Cl(-) > SO(4)(2-) = PO(4)(3-). The effects of the pH and ionic membrane additives (e.g. tridodecylmethylammonium chloride, TDMAC and potassium tetrakis[bis(3,5-trifluoromethyl)phenyl] borate, KTFPB) were examined. The sensor was used for the determination of SCN(-) ions in saliva and urine samples collected from some smoker and non-smoker donors. The developed sensor was also applied to determine the cyanide content in electroplating waste water samples after its conversion into thiocyanate. The application of the sensor to monitor the potentiometric titration of Ag(+) and Hg(2+) using SCN(-) resulted in sharp inflection breaks at the equivalent points. The data obtained using the proposed sensor correlate very well with results collected using the standard methods of thiocyanate, cyanide and metal analysis.