Effect of immunogenetics polymorphism and expression on direct-acting antiviral drug response in chronic hepatitis C.

The prevalence of HCV infection in Egypt has decreased following the introduction of direct-acting antiviral therapy. However, treatment response is influenced by various factors, particularly host immunogenetics such as IL-28B and FOXP3 polymorphisms. The current study examined the impact of SNPs in the FOXP3 gene promoter region on HCV-infected Egyptian patients, along with SNPs in the IL28B gene.This study involved 99 HCV patients who achieved SVR12 after a 12 week DAA treatment while 63 HCV patients experienced treatment failure. IL28B rs12979860 SNP was identified using real-time PCR, while IL28B rs8099917, FOXP3 rs3761548, and rs2232365 SNPs were analyzed using RFLP-PCR. Serum levels of IL28B and FOXP3 were quantified using ELISA technique in representative samples from both groups. The IL28B rs12979860 T > C (P = 0.013) and FOXP3 rs2232365 A > G polymorphisms (P = 0.008) were found to significantly increase the risk of non-response. Responders had higher IL28B serum levels (P = 0.046) and lower FOXP3 levels (P < 0.001) compared to non-responders. Regression analysis showed an association between IL28B rs12979860 and FOXP3 rs2232365 with treatment response, independent of age and gender. A predictive model was developed with 76.2% sensitivity and 91.9% specificity for estimating DAAs response in HCV patients.Our findings confirmed the IL28B rs12979860 T > C and FOXP3 rs2232365 A > G polymorphisms significantly affect DAA treatment response in HCV Egyptian patients. Lower levels of IL-28B along with higher levels of FOXP3 are linked to poor response. Our results may lead to new insights into DAA responsiveness contributing to personalized medicine and improving therapeutic decision-making for HCV patients.

Work-related musculoskeletal complaints: risk factors and impact on work productivity among university administrative employees.

BACKGROUND: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a significant workplace problem leading to loss of productivity and disability. Administrative workers perform computer-based tasks for long periods. Consequently, they are at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. The objective of this study was to explore the frequency and risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal complaints and their impact on work productivity among administrative employees of Suez Canal University, Egypt. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 administrative employees through simple random sampling. Data were collected by an interview questionnaire including sociodemographic, work-related data, ergonomic and psychological risk factors, the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), and the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ). RESULTS: The frequency of work-related musculoskeletal complaints in at least one anatomical region over the past year was 74.7%. Neck (47.1%), lower back (40.7%), and shoulder (36.3%) were the most reported sites of complaints. Risk factors significantly associated with work-related musculoskeletal complaints were gender, age, physical activity, work experience, workplace stress, sustained body position, awkward posture, and inadequate rest breaks. Logistic regression revealed that older age (OR = 1.039, p = 0.023), being female (OR = 2.175, p = 0.011), and not having adequate rest breaks (OR = 1.979, p = 0.019) were significant predictors for the occurrence of WMSDs. The risk factors of absenteeism include gender, age, marital status, educational level, physical activity, BMI, work experience, and musculoskeletal complaints. CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal problems were highly prevalent among administrative employees. Being female and not having adequate rest breaks were significant predictors for the occurrence of WMSDs. Ergonomic interventions and improvement of working conditions are recommended to reduce WMSDs.

Risk assessment of some toxic metals in canned fish products retailed in Mansoura, Egypt.

Background: Canned fish products are widely consumed in Egypt, particularly for protein-rich meals that are quick to prepare and low in calories. Canned fish products are contaminated with toxic metals from the fish itself or from canning materials during processing. Aim: To determine the residual levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), aluminum (Al), and Tin (Sn) in some canned fish products obtained from retail shops in Mansoura, Egypt. Furthermore, noncarcinogenic health risks evaluation for the Egyptian population due to hazardous metal oral intake. Methods: One hundred canned fish products (20 each of herring, mackerel, salmon, sardine, and tuna) were collected from May to September 2023, and canned fish products were obtained from Mansoura city markets in Egypt. Samples were digested in a solution composed of 60% nitric acid and 40% perchloric acid, and then an atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used for the detection of selected toxic metals. Results: It was found that the residual level of hazardous metals exceeded the acceptability level established in the European Union for Pb, Cd, and Hg by 20%, 10%, and 10%, 15%, 5%, and 20%, 35%, 30%, and 45%, 25%, 25%, and 40%, in examined herring, mackerel, sardine, and tuna, respectively. In contrast, all salmon samples were accepted for Pb and Hg, and only 5% were not accepted due to a higher Cd level than the maximum permissible limit. The average estimated daily intake of (EDI) is below the tolerable daily intakes (TDIs) for all metals. Comparatively, the EDI of Hg was 0.265 µg/kg body weight (B.W) exceeded TDIs 0.228 µg/kg B.W. The hazard index for canned tuna and sardines is more than one. Conclusion: Canned fish products are contaminated with a variety of toxic metals, especially sardine and tuna. Therefore, it is advised to decrease the consumption rate of such fish products.

Effects of highly effective modulator therapy on the dynamics of the respiratory mucosal environment and inflammatory response in cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: While the widespread initiation of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) has led to dramatic clinical improvements among persons with cystic fibrosis (pwCF), little is known about how ETI affects the respiratory mucosal inflammatory and physiochemical environment, or how these changes relate to lung function. METHODS: We performed a prospective, longitudinal study of adults with CF and chronic rhinosinusitis (CF-CRS) followed at our CF center (n = 18). Endoscopic upper respiratory tract (paranasal sinus) aspirates from multiple visit dates, both pre- and post-ETI initiation, were collected and tested for cytokines, metals, pH, and lactate levels. Generalized estimating equations were used to identify relationships between ETI and upper respiratory tract (URT) biomarker levels, and between URT biomarkers and lung function or clinical sinus parameters. RESULTS: ETI was associated with decreased upper respiratory mucosal cytokines B-cell activating factor (BAFF), IL-12p40, IL-32, IL-8, IL-22 and soluble tumor necrosis factor-1 (sTNFR1), and an increase in a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and IL-19. ETI was also associated with decreased URT levels of copper, manganese, and zinc. In turn, lower URT levels of BAFF, IL-8, lactate, and potassium were each associated with ~1.5% to 4.3% improved forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), while higher levels of IFNγ, iron, and selenium were associated with ~2% to 10% higher FEV1. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations suggest a dampening of inflammatory signals and restriction in microbial nutrients in the upper respiratory tract with ETI. These findings improve our understanding of how ETI impacts the mucosal environment in the respiratory tract, and may give insight into the improved infectious and inflammatory status and the resulting clinical improvements seen in pwCF.

Roflumilast 0.3% Cream: a Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitor for the Treatment of Chronic Plaque Psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Plaque psoriasis is a chronic dermatologic autoimmune disease that affects adults and children. Roflumilast 0.3% cream is currently the only topical phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor indicated for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in patients 12 years or older. PHARMACODYNAMICS AND PHARMACOKINETICS: Roflumilast inhibits phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor enzyme leading to the accumulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, which suppresses the inflammatory mediators interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α. Roflumilast, applied once daily, reaches steady state by day 15 and has a half life of approximately 4 days in adults. Roflumilast undergoes extensive hepatic metabolism by cytochrome P450 enzymes and conjugation. Roflumilast is 99% bound to plasma proteins. CLINICAL TRIALS: Roflumilast efficacy and safety were evaluated in the DERMIS-1 and DERMIS-2 clinical trials. These identically designed, double-blind, vehicle-controlled phase 3 trials randomized 881 patients to roflumilast 0.3% cream or vehicle, applied once daily for 8 weeks. In DERMIS-1, the Investigator Global Assessment success rate was 42.4% with roflumilast 0.3% cream compared with 6.1% with the vehicle (32.3%-46.9%; P <0.001). Similarly, in DERMIS-2, the Investigator Global Assessment success rate was 37.5% with roflumilast 0.3% cream compared with 6.9% with the vehicle (20.8%-36.9%; P <0.001). Of 881 participants, 1% discontinued treatment with roflumilast cream due to adverse reactions compared with 1.3% treated with vehicle. Urticaria at the application site (0.3%) was the most common adverse reaction that led to discontinuation of roflumilast. THERAPEUTIC ADVANCE: To date, topical corticosteroids are the most commonly used agents to treat mild plaque psoriasis. Sensitive areas are often challenging to treat with existing topical therapy, including corticosteroids. Topical roflumilast has shown to be effective in treating sensitive areas, including skin folds, and may be an alternative to systemic therapy for some patients. The Food and Drug Administration approved topical roflumilast for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, including intertriginous areas, for patients 12 years or older.

Anticancer evaluation and molecular docking of new pyridopyrazolo-triazine and pyridopyrazolo-triazole derivatives.

3-Amino-4,6-dimethylpyrazolopyridine was applied as a precursor for the synthesis of some new pyridopyrazolo-triazine and pyridopyrazolo-triazole derivatives through diazotization, followed by coupling with many 2-cyanoacetamide compounds, ethyl 3-(phenylamino)-3-thioxopropanoate, 3-oxo-N-phenylbutanethioamide, and α-bromo-ketone reagents [namely; 2-bromo-1-(4-fluorophenyl)ethan-1-one, 5-bromo-2-(bromoacetyl)thiophene, 3-(2-bromoacetyl)-2H-chromen-2-one and/or 3-chloroacetylacetone]. The prepared compounds were identified by spectroscopic analyses as IR, 1H NMR, and mass data. The anticancer activity of these pyrazolopyridine analogues was investigated in colon, hepatocellular, breast, and cervix carcinoma cell lines. The pyridopyrazolo-triazine compound 5a substituted with a carboxylate group gave a distinguished value of IC50 = 3.89 µM against the MCF-7 cell line compared to doxorubicin as a reference drug. Also, the pyridopyrazolo-triazine compound 6a substituted with the carbothioamide function gave good activity toward HCT-116 and MCF-7 cell lines with IC50 values of 12.58 and 11.71 µM, respectively. The discovered pyrazolopyridine derivatives were studied theoretically by molecular docking, and this study exhibited suitable binding between the active sides of pyrazolopyridine ligands and proteins (PDB ID: 5IVE). The pyridopyrazolo-triazine compound 6a showed the highest free binding energy (- 7.8182 kcal/mol) when docked inside the active site of selected proteins.

Evaluation of ABCA1 gene polymorphism as a prognostic index of fibrosis progression in NAFLD patients.

INTRODUCTION: It had been evident that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the new era epidemic. Despite emergence of many drugs on the pipeline that considered candidates to cure NAFLD/NASH, the critical need for defining the cohort liable to fibrosis progression is yet unmet. AIM: Evaluate ABCA1 (rs1800977) genotyping as a noninvasive predictor of liver fibrosis severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 118 liver biopsy-proven NAFLD-patients. According to Metavir-fibrosis-staging, cases were divided to early fibrosis (74 cases), and 44 cases with significant fibrosis (>F2), added to 49 healthy control subjects. All patients were subjected to liver function tests, lipids profile, triglyceride TG index, and hepatic steatosis index (HSI) and real-time PCR ABCA1 SNP (rs1800977). RESULTS: Significant differences in transaminases (p > .05), albumin (p < .009), cholesterol (p0.03), low density lipoproteins (LDL) (0.006), triglycerides (p < .001), HSI (p < .001), FIB4 (p < .001) and APRI (p < .001) were reported in those with significant than early fibrosis and control groups. CC was the most prevalent in significant (36.4%) than early fibrosis (13.5%) and control groups (8.2%), with prevalence of C allele in significant fibrosis (p ≤ .003). Univariate analysis revealed that DM (p ≤ .001), TG index (p ≤ .022), cholesterol (p ≤ .03), HSI (p ≤ .006), LDL (p ≤ .02), HDL (p ≤ .01), APRI (p ≤ .02) and CC genotype (p ≤ .005) were the main factors affecting fibrosis progression in NAFLD. However multivariate analysis proved only the role of HSI (p ≤ .005), LDL (p ≤ .02), HDL (p ≤ .003) and CC genotype (p ≤ .03) in predicting fibrosis severity. CONCLUSION: Dyslipidemias, hepatic steatosis index and ABCA1 (rs1800977) gene polymorphism CC genotype; were the only independent predictors of advanced fibrosis in NAFLD-patients.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking of new triphenylamine-linked pyridine, thiazole and pyrazole analogues as anticancer agents.

A new series of pyridine, thiazole, and pyrazole analogues were synthesized. The pyridone analogues 4a-e were synthesized by treating N-aryl-2-cyano-3-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)acrylamides 3a-e with malononitrile. Many 4-arylidene-thiazolidin-5-one analogues 6a-d were obtained by Knoevenagel reactions of 4-(diphenylamino)benzaldehyde (1) with their corresponding thiazolidin-5-one derivatives 5a-d. The structural elucidation of the products was proven by the collections of spectroscopic methods such as IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and MS data. Their anti-cancer activity was examined against two cell lines, MDA-MB-231 (mammary carcinomas) and A-549 (lung cancer). Compared with cisplatin as a reference standard drug, 6-amino-4-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-2-oxo-1-(p-tolyl)-1,2-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile (4b) and 6-amino-4-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile (4e) exhibited better efficiency against the A-549 cell line, with IC50 = 0.00803 and 0.0095 µM, respectively. Also, these compounds 4b and 4e showed the most potency among the examined compounds against MDA-MB-231 with IC50 = 0.0103 and 0.0147 µM, respectively. The newly synthesized compounds were docked inside the active sites of the selected proteins and were found to demonstrate proper binding. 2-Cyano-2-(4,4-(diphenylamino)benzylidene)-5-oxo-3-phenylthiazolidin-2-ylidene)-N-(p-tolyl)acetamide (6c) offered the highest binding affinity (- 8.1868 kcal/mol) when docked into (PDB ID:2ITO), in addition to 2-cyano-N-(4-(diethylamino)phenyl)-2-(4-(4-(diphenylamino)benzylidene)-5-oxo-3-phenylthiazolidin-2-ylidene)acetamide (6a) gave the highest energy score (- 9.3507 kcal/mol) with (PDB ID:2A4L).

Physicians' Knowledge, Attitude and Practice toward Ethical and Medical Issues of Palliative Care in Suez Canal University Hospital.

Objectives: Palliative care (PC) includes a varied range of medical and ethical aspects that should be considered. The role of physicians in PC is crucial so this work explores physicians' knowledge, attitude and practice toward PC in Suez Canal University hospital in Egypt. Material and Methods: A questionnaire survey investigating physician's knowledge, attitude and practice in PC in 30 questions besides their personal and professional data. Results: Nearly 31% of participants received education in PC. Only 5.5% realised that PC should be introduced to patients at all health-care levels. Most participants (70.9%) were not aware about the WHO three-step analgesic ladder. About 57.7% and 43.6% of participants preferred informing terminal patients about their diagnosis and prognosis, respectively. More than half of participants (58.6%) agreed that the medical intervention decision is the patient's right and 63.2% agreed that do not resuscitate choice is the patient or his family right if he is incompetent. Participants who do not have advance care plans discussions with their terminal patients represented 53.6%. Conclusion: This study indicated lack of knowledge and insufficient professionalism during management of terminal patients regarding some medical and ethical issues of PC. Formal education and training are urgently needed to improve the holistic vision and practice of PC in Egypt.

Synthesis of Novel Triphenylamine-Based Organic Dyes with Dual Anchors for Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

A new series of metal-free organic dyes (SM1-5) with dual anchors are synthesized for application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Here, a simple triphenylamine (TPA) moiety serves as the electron donor, while di-cyanoacrylamide and di-thiazolidine-5-one units serve as the electron acceptors and anchoring groups. To understand the effect of dye structure on the photovoltaic characteristics of DSSCs, the photophysical and electrochemical properties, as well as molecular geometries calculated from density functional theory (DFT), are used for dyes SM1-5. The extinction coefficients of the organic dyes SM1-5 are high (5.36-9.54 104 M-1 cm-1), indicating a high aptitude for light harvesting. The photovoltaic studies indicated that using dye SM4 as a sensitizer showed a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.09% (JSC = 14.13 mA cm-2, VOC = 0.624 V, FF = 68.89%). Interestingly, SM4 showed the highest values of VOC among all dyes, including N-719, due to its maximum dye coverage on the TiO2 surface, enhancing charge recombination resistance in the sensitized cell. The good agreement between the theoretically and experimentally obtained data indicates that the energy functional and basis set employed in this study can be successfully utilized to predict new photosensitizers' absorption spectra with great precision before synthesis. Also, these results show that bi-anchoring molecules have a lot of potentials to improve the overall performance of dye-sensitized solar cells.

Experiences and Perspectives of Individuals with Cystic Fibrosis and Their Families Related to Food Insecurity.

Food insecurity (FI) rates among people with cystic fibrosis (CF) are significantly higher than in the general US population. This study explored the experiences and perceptions of adults and parents of children with CF surrounding FI. We recruited parents of children with CF ages 0-18 years and adults with CF ages 18 years and older from a large, accredited U.S. CF care center and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Community Voice to participate in a qualitative study using semi-structured telephone interviews to explore experiences and preferences related to food insecurity. Two coders independently reviewed each transcript to apply the codebook and identify any emerging codes using an ongoing, iterative process to identify central themes. We interviewed 20 participants (six adults with CF and 14 parents of children with CF) and identified five major themes: (1) FI in CF is influenced by a variety of factors, ranging from nutritional demands to competing financial barriers; (2) FI impacts CF health outcomes; (3) Open patient-provider communication around FI is vital; (4) FI screening and discussions should be normalized in CF care; (5) Comprehensive FI resources are vital. FI is an important topic that should routinely be addressed with the CF care team to destigmatize and encourage individuals to be more forthcoming about their FI status. Results from this study will inform future larger investigations on the impact of FI on CF health and aid in the design and planning of targeted interventions and advocacy efforts.

Neurological Manifestations in a Cohort of Egyptian Patients with COVID-19: A Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has reached over 276 million people globally with 5.3 million deaths as of 22nd December 2021. COVID-19-associated acute and long-term neurological manifestations are well recognized. The exact profile and the timing of neurological events in relation to the onset of infection are worth exploring. The aim of the current body of work was to determine the frequency, pattern, and temporal profile of neurological manifestations in a cohort of Egyptian patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection. METHODS: This was a prospective study conducted on 582 hospitalized COVID-19 patients within the first two weeks of the diagnosis of COVID-19 to detect any specific or non-specific neurological events. RESULTS: The patients' mean (SD) age was 46.74 (17.26) years, and 340 (58.42%) patients were females. The most commonly encountered COVID-19 symptoms were fever (90.72%), cough (82.99%), and fatigue (76.98%). Neurological events (NE) detected in 283 patients (48.63%) and were significantly associated with a severe COVID-19 at the onset (OR: 3.13; 95% CI: 2.18-4.51; p < 0.0001) and with a higher mortality (OR: 2.56; 95% CI: 1.48-5.46; p = 0.019). The most frequently reported NEs were headaches (n = 167) and myalgias (n = 126). Neurological syndromes included stroke (n = 14), encephalitis (n = 12), encephalopathy (n = 11), transverse myelitis (n = 6) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (n = 4). CONCLUSIONS: Neurological involvement is common (48.63%) in COVID-19 patients within the first two weeks of the illness. This includes neurological symptoms such as anosmia, headaches, as well as a constellation of neurological syndromes such as stroke, encephalitis, transverse myelitis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Severity of acute COVID-19 illness and older age are the main risk factors.

Reduced fitness of the mosquito Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) after feeding on a blood meal with hepatitis C virus.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne virus. Given that mosquitoes can take blood meals from HCV patients, we aimed to test whether HCV in the blood meal can induce alterations in the biology of Culex pipiens. To address this aim, Cx. pipiens females were fed HCV-negative blood from healthy individuals or HCV-positive fresh blood samples harvested from viremic HCV patients. Replication of HCV in mosquitoes was confirmed by negative strand-specific RT-PCR and sequencing of RNA extracted from the mosquito bodies 7 days post-feeding. In addition, several parameters that determine the fitness of the mosquitoes were measured. Virus acquisition was associated with alterations in the architecture of the gut microvilli and the immune response, indicated by an increase in phenol oxidase activity. Interestingly, the mosquitoes that were fed the HCV-positive blood meal showed shorter median longevity (8 days) and laid fewer eggs than the control mosquitoes. Furthermore, the offspring of females fed the HCV-positive blood meal demonstrated a lower emergence rate than the controls. In sum, the results indicate that feeding on HCV by Cx. pipiens decreases fitness, which may, in turn, affect its potential as a vector.

Value of IFNL3 genetic polymorphism in the prediction of HCV treatment response to direct-acting antiviral drugs versus interferon therapy.

Background: Despite the outstanding results of direct-acting antiviral therapies (DAAs) of Hepatitis C infection (HCV), non-responders had to be more defined. Aim: assess the outcome of DAAs in linkage with Interferon lambda 3 (IFNL3) in HCV patients. Methods: This case-control-study was conducted on 495 chronic-HCV (genotype-4a), previously treated Egyptians by either DAAs (responders 195, 120 relapsers) or interferon/ribavirin (IFN/RBV) (140 responders, 60 relapsers), and 98 healthy controls. IFNL3 distribution, clinical and laboratory data were assessed. Results: CT was the most predominant genotype in Egyptians (51%). All genotypes were sensitive to DAAs mainly CT genotype (60%), even TT genotype (resistant to IFN/RBV 40%) had 29.2% sensitivity. CT genotype was predominant in sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir responders (67.6%) (OR = 0.66), while non-CT prevailed in relapsers (56.7%). TT genotype may respond to SOF/Ledi better than other regimens (66.7%). In IFN/RBV relapsers; CT genotype was commoner (50%) than others, while CC genotype predominated in responders (54.3%). The c allele was the commonest in responders to IFN/RBV (71.4%), while the T allele was resistant to treatment (65% in relapsers). Addition of RBV to SOF/DCV reported higher resistance with CT genotype (42.2%-50%) and TT genotype (17.8%-27.8%). Conclusion: This study recommended IFNL3 genotyping to be a prerequisite before stratifying treatment for HCV-4a Egyptians.

Predictive effects of low birth weight and small for gestational age status on respiratory and nutritional outcomes in cystic fibrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Prior literature shows that neonates with cystic fibrosis (CF) are more likely to be born low birth weight (LBW, <2500 grams) and/or small for gestational age (SGA, <10th percentile for weight) than non-CF counterparts. There is limited literature exploring the predictive effects of birth parameters on long-term outcomes. METHODS: The study population (CF Twin and Sibling Study) was recruited between 2000-2013 (n = 1677). Relationships between FEV1 percent predicted at 6, 12, or 18 years or BMI z-score at 2, 6, 12, or 18 years, and predictor variables (LBW or SGA status) were assessed using adjusted linear regressions. RESULTS: Mean birth weight was 3.3 ± 0.7 kg (Females: 3.2 ± 0.7kg; males: 3.4 ± 0.7kg) and mean gestational age was 38.4 ± 2.6 weeks, with 10.2% of participants classified as SGA. Predictors of LBW included female sex, pancreatic insufficiency, and prematurity. Predictors of SGA included female sex. After adjustment, LBW was associated with lower BMI at ages 2-12 years and SGA was associated with lower BMI at age 2 years. LBW was associated with lower FEV1 percent predicted only at age 6 years. SGA was not associated with FEV1. CONCLUSIONS: We did not observe higher rates of LBW or SGA in full term infants compared to the general population. We observed associations particularly between LBW and BMI or FEV1, but these associations decreased with age, suggesting that alternate factors contribute to outcomes over time. In lieu of the ability to target growth during gestation, efforts could be considered to optimize infant nutritional status, which may improve later life outcomes.

Circulating microRNA-301 as a promising diagnostic biomarker of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious consequence of persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and represents one of the most aggressive neoplasms globally. The implication of microRNA-301 (miR-301) in the initiation and progression of different types of cancers has been proved. We aimed to assess circulating microRNA-301 as possible biomarker for the early detection of HCC in patients with chronic HCV infection. miR-301 expression levels were estimated in plasma samples of 42 patients with newly diagnosed HCV-related HCC, 48 chronically HCV infected patients with liver cirrhosis and 40 healthy individuals by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique. In comparison with chronically HCV infected patients and healthy controls, miR-301 expression levels were significantly increased in HCC patients (P < 0.001). miR-301 levels distinguished HCC patients from chronic HCV patients, with area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.89 (95% CI 0.82-0.96), the sensitivity and the specificity were 78.57% and 89.58% respectively. Moreover, miR-301 levels were significantly linked with tumor size (P = 0.014), serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (P = 0.028) and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) score (P = 0.003). These results reveal that miR-301 can serve as a promising non-invasive biomarker for diagnosis of HCC in chronically HCV infected patients.

Workplace violence against emergency versus non-emergency nurses in Mansoura university hospitals, Egypt.

Workplace violence (WPV) against nurses is a common but neglected problem in Egypt. The objectives are to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of different types of violence against nurses working in the emergency hospital compared with those working in non-emergency clinics, circumstances of violence, type of perpetrators, and victims' response. This cross-sectional comparative study was carried out at Mansoura University Hospitals, Egypt, during January 2013. The data were collected through the adapted version of a self-administered questionnaire developed by the International Labor Office/International Council of Nurses/World Health Organization/Public Services International on WPV in the health sector. All types of WPV are common among nurses. Precipitating factors for violent incidents identified by respondents are emergency specialty, having work shift, and younger age. Violent incidents result in work dissatisfaction and consequently impair work productivity. Nurses working in emergency hospital experienced a higher level of different types of WPV. There is an urgent need to formulate and implement a policy for dealing with violent events.

Proanthocyanidin as a cytogenetic protective agent against adverse effects of plant growth regulators supplementation in rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective role of grape seed extract (containing proanthocyandin) against the adverse effects of plant growth regulators (GA3 (gibberellic acid) and IAA (indoleacetic acid)). The present data showed that the administration of either GA3 and IAA caused undesirable changes in both hepatic and testicular structure. This was evidenced by a disturbed hepatic strands, pyknotic nuclei, central vein with collapsed endothelium, dilatation in bile sinusoids, congested blood vessel, binucleatd hepatocytes, lymphocytic infiltration, vacuolation, giant hepatic cells, increased Kupffer cells and karyoryxis. Additionally, it was shown that degenerative changes in the testis, spermatogenic arrest, moderate tubular necrosis, Leydig cell degeneration and reduction in the number and size of the seminiferous tubules with some spermatogonia detached from the basement membrane. Concerning flow cytometric study of the liver a significant decrease in G0/1 % and a significant increase in S phase %, G2/M  %, P(53) % and apoptosis % (sub G1) were detected. However, in testis the data recorded a significant decrease in the percentage of mature sperm (percentage of haploid cells) and a significant increase in the percentage of spermatide, diploid cells, P(53) and of apoptotic cells. On the other hand, a distinct recovery of the mentioned hepatic and testicular histopathological and cytogenetic disorders was observed when proanthocyanidin was supplemented to rats administered either of the plant growth hormones (GA3 and IAA).