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1.
J Parasit Dis ; 47(4): 778-786, 2023 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38009154

ABSTRACT

Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide opportunistic protozoan causing life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients, while frequently asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals. The current study aimed to detect T. gondii; serologically and molecularly in ß. thalassemia patients and evaluate the association of infection with some hematological parameters in these patients. Blood samples were collected from 100 ß. thalassemia patients. Serological diagnosis of T. gondii using ELISA for IgG and IgM antibodies was performed. Molecular diagnosis by Real-Time (RE) PCR was performed using specifically designed primers amplifying 389 bp fragments of Toxoplasma genome. 45 patients (45%) had anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies with no detectable IgM antibodies while both anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies were noticed in 10 patients (10%). IgM only antibodies were discovered in two cases (2%). The total seropositivity rate among patients was 57%. RE PCR analysis revealed Toxoplasma DNA in 20% out of 100 patients. PCR and serological examination showed slight agreement. A statistically significant relation was observed between the results of IgG and IgM ELISA and PCR for the detection of T. gondii infection among patients with ß. thalassemia. None of the studied risk factors (age, gender, contact with cats, consumption of undercooked meat) or hematological parameters (ESR, anemia degree, ferritin level, type of blood transfusion, spleen status) showed statistically significant association with Toxoplasma infection. It can be concluded that patients with thalassemia have a high risk of infection with T. gondii. RE PCR should be used as a diagnostic method in association with serology especially in immunocompromised patients to increase sensitivity.

2.
J Egypt Natl Canc Inst ; 35(1): 4, 2023 Feb 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36847926

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy (RT) is an important part of the treatment of many tumors. Radiotherapy causes oxidative damage in all cellular compartments, including lipid membrane, on a random basis. Toxic lipid peroxidation accumulation has only lately been linked to a regulated type of cell death known as ferroptosis. Iron is required for ferroptosis sensitization in cells. AIM OF THE WORK: This work aimed to study ferroptosis and iron metabolism before and after RT in BC patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eighty participants were included divided into two main groups: group I: 40 BC patients treated with RT. Group II: 40 healthy volunteers' age and sex matched as control group. Venous blood samples were collected from BC patients (prior to and after RT) and healthy controls. Glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), serum iron levels and % of transferrin saturation were measured by colorimetric technique. Ferritin, ferroportin, and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) levels were assessed by ELISA. RESULTS: Serum ferroportin, reduced glutathione, and ferritin showed significant decrease after radiotherapy in comparison to before radiotherapy. However, there was significant increase in serum PTGS2, MDA, % of transferrin saturation and iron levels after radiotherapy in comparison to before radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy induced ferroptosis in breast cancer patients as a new cell death mechanism and PTGS2 is a biomarker of ferroptosis. Iron modulation is a useful approach for the treatment of BC especially if combined with targeted therapy and immune-based therapy. Further studies are warranted to be translated into clinical compounds.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms , Ferroptosis , Humans , Female , Breast Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Cyclooxygenase 2 , Ferritins , Transferrins
3.
Hemoglobin ; 46(2): 100-105, 2022 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35924733

ABSTRACT

Understanding the key regulator of iron homeostasis is critical to the improvement of iron supplementation practices in malaria-endemic areas. This study aimed to determine iron indices and hepcidin (HEPC) level in patients infected with Plasmodium falciparum compared to apparently healthy, malaria-negative subjects in Hodeidah, Yemen. The study included 70 Plasmodium falciparum-infected and 20 malaria-negative adults. Blood films were examined for detection and estimation of parasitemia. Hemoglobin (Hb) level was measured using an automated hematology analyzer. Serum iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Levels of serum ferritin (FER) and HEPC were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Data were stratified by sex and age. Comparable Hb levels were found in P. falciparum-infected patients and malaria-negative subjects in each sex and age group (p > 0.05). Compared to their malaria-negative counterparts, disturbed iron homeostasis in patients was evidenced by the significantly lower serum iron levels in females (p = 0.007) and those aged <25 years (p = 0.02) and the significantly higher TIBC in males (p = 0.008). Levels of serum FER and HEPC were significantly elevated in P. falciparum-infected patients compared to the corresponding malaria-negative participants (p < 0.001). Serum FER correlated positively with parasite density (p = 0.004). In conclusion, patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum in Hodeidah display elevated levels of serum HEPC and FER. Hemoglobin level may not reflect the disturbed iron homeostasis in these patients. The combined measurement of iron indices and HEPC provides comprehensive information on the iron status so that the right intervention can be chosen.


Subject(s)
Malaria, Falciparum , Malaria , Adult , Female , Ferritins , Hemoglobins/metabolism , Hepcidins , Humans , Iron/metabolism , Malaria, Falciparum/diagnosis , Malaria, Falciparum/parasitology , Male , Plasmodium falciparum/metabolism , Yemen/epidemiology
4.
Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus ; 38(2): 246-254, 2022 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35496957

ABSTRACT

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal myeloproliferative disorder. CML cells contain a BCR-ABL gene, not typically found in normal cells that produce a protein (BCR-ABL) causing CML cells to proliferate. CML occurs in three phases: chronic, accelerated and blast crisis. Disease staging is primarily based on percent of blasts in the blood and bone marrow. Most cases of CML are diagnosed in chronic phase (CP). The major objective in CML clinical management is to prevent progression from chronic to accelerated and blast crisis phases. While earlier treatments, such as cytoreductive chemo- and interferon therapies increased overall survival rates among patients, the advent of tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have changed the CML treatment landscape. Despite the widespread use of these therapies, there have also been associated side effects that could potentially affect its use. Also it is necessary to avoid all deaths and complications related to the treatment, by limiting as much as possible the side-effects of the treatment while ensuring the compliance of the patients. The aim of this work was to measure the serum estrogen and its soluble receptor levels in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in order to extrapolate their possible clinical significance. The present study included 40 (20 males and 20 females) healthy volunteers clinically free from any disease, 40 (20 males and 20 females) patients of newly diagnosed CML. Blood samples were collected from all subjects and the level of serum estrogen (E2) and serum soluble estrogen receptor (ER) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The level of serum E2 (pg/ml) in both male and female patients groups with CML was significantly higher than in control group. The level of serum ER (ng/ml) in both male and female patients groups with CML was significantly lower than in control group. Estimating the serum level of E2 and soluble ER is of informative diagnostic value. Estimation serum level of E2 and soluble ER in patients with CML is of value in deciding use of antiestrogen as therapeutic target in treatment protocol. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12288-021-01451-8.

5.
Med Princ Pract ; 31(3): 246-253, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35413718

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Immunocompromised patients are a high-risk group for developing mycobacterial infections with either pulmonary and/or extrapulmonary diseases. Low-cost/density DNA-microarray is considered an easy and efficient method for the detection of typical and atypical mycobacterial species. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty immunocompromised patients were recruited to provide their clinical specimens (sputum, serum, urine, and lymph node aspirates). Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA-microarray techniques were performed and compared to the conventional methods of Ziehl-Neelsen staining and Lowenstein Jensen culturing. RESULTS: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex was detected in all 30 clinical specimens (100% sensitivity) by real-time PCR and DNA-microarray. Additionally, coinfection with 4 atypical species belonging to nontuberculous mycobacteria was identified in 7 sputum specimens. These atypical mycobacterial species were identified as M. kansasii 10% (n = 3), M. avium complex 6.6% (n = 2), M. gordanae 3.3% (n = 1), and M. peregrinum 3.3% (n = 1). CONCLUSION: This study documents the presence of certain species of atypical mycobacteria among immunocompromised patients in Egypt.


Subject(s)
Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Tuberculosis , DNA , Egypt , Humans , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genetics , Nontuberculous Mycobacteria/genetics , Sputum/microbiology , Tuberculosis/diagnosis , Tuberculosis/microbiology
6.
Cancer Treat Res Commun ; 25: 100215, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33091734

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Vascular injuries caused by irradiation include acute vasculitis with neutrophil invasion, endothelial cell (EC) swelling, capillary loss, and activation of coagulator mechanisms, along with local ischemia and fibrosis. The circulating endothelial cells (CECs), increase dramatically in diseases with vascular damage. AIM: The aim of this study is to provide data on the endothelial dysfunction due to occupational exposure to low dose ionizing radiation versus high dose exposure during radiotherapy (RT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 100 subjects divided into three main groups: Group I: High dose exposure group: 50 breast cancer patients treated with post-operative radiotherapy. Group II: Low dose exposure group: 25 hospital radiation workers. Group III: 25 healthy volunteers' age and sex matched as control group who had never worked in radiation-related jobs. TM levels measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Circulating endothelial cells (CEC) enumerated in peripheral blood by flow cytometric analysis of their signature receptor CD146. RESULTS: % CD146+ cells and plasma TM were significantly increased in radiation workers and after exposure to radiotherapy treatment in breast cancer patients. When comparing patients group with radiation workers group, we found significant elevation in plasma TM in radiation workers while insignificant difference was found in % CD146+ cells. CONCLUSION: CECs and plasma TM both are increased in radiation workers and patients treated with radiotherapy. They may constitute valuable markers of endothelial injury. Workers exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation may develop significant endothelial dysfunction predisposes them to cardiovascular complications namely thrombosis, mostly due to oxidative stress among other causes.


Subject(s)
Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Radiation, Ionizing , Radiotherapy/adverse effects , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged
7.
Lab Med ; 46(1): 8-13, 2015.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25617386

ABSTRACT

ß-thalassemia is a common hereditary disorder, particularly in Middle Eastern countries. More than 200 mutations in the ß globin gene have been reported; most are point mutations in functionally important regions (HBB; OMIM #141900)). The spectrum of mutations varies significantly between different geographical regions; only a few common mutations of ß-globin cause ß-thalassemia in each population. The aim of this study was to determine the spectrum of mutations that cause ß-thalassemia in the North Coast of Egypt and to investigate their correlation with the phenotypic severity of ß-thalassemia. We carried out our study with a total of 47 Egyptian patients (25 male and 22 female) confirmed to have ß-thalassemia. Evaluation of ß-thalassemia mutations revealed the presence of 10 ß-globin mutations. The most frequently encountered mutations were intronic: IVS 1.6 [T>C] (27.66%) and IVS 1.110 [G>A] (22.35%), followed by IVS 2.848 [C>A], IVS 1.1 (G>A), and IVS 2.745 [C>G]. We observed the exonic and promoter mutations less frequently. A homozygous mutation was found in 24 patients (51%) and compound heterozygous mutations were found in 13 patients (28%). However, in 9 patients (19%), we identified only 1 mutation. In 1 patient (2%), we detected no mutation. The detection rate of the method that we used in our population was 88% (83 of the tested 94 alleles). The results we obtained did not reveal any correlation between genotype and phenotype among patients with ß-thalassemia.


Subject(s)
Mutation/genetics , beta-Globins/genetics , beta-Thalassemia/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Cohort Studies , DNA Mutational Analysis , Egypt , Female , Genotype , Humans , Male , Phenotype , Young Adult
8.
J Egypt Public Health Assoc ; 81(5-6): 321-36, 2006.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18706304

ABSTRACT

With the increasing number of immune compromised patients suffering from hematological disorders, invasive fungal infections have emerged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality among these patients. This study evaluated the use of conventional blood culture and PCR techniques in the isolation and identification of fungi from patients with different hematopoietic disorders. Ninety blood samples were tested by both techniques, conventional blood culture detected fungal infections in only five (5.6%) samples, which were further identified to be of Candida spp. While PCR technique detected fungal infections in 56 (62.2%) samples, which were further subjected to nested PCR technique giving final identification of Candida spp. infections in 36 (40%) samples and Aspergillus spp. in 16 (17.8) samples. The sensitivity of PCR technique was 100% and the specificity ranged from 40% to 100%. Thus, the use of nested PCR technique was an efficient and sensitive method for detection of invasive fungal infections among patients with hematopoietic disorders.

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