Qualitative analysis of biological tuberculosis samples by an electronic nose-based artificial neural network.

OBJECTIVE: To apply an e-nose system for monitoring headspace volatiles in biological samples from Egyptian patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and healthy controls (HCs) and compare them with standard sputum analysis. DESIGN: The study population comprised 260 (140 males, 120 females) newly diagnosed TB patients and 240 (120 males, 120 females) HCs matched by age and socio-economic level admitted to hospitals specialising in chest diseases in Alexandria, Behera, Giza and Damietta Governorates, Egypt. Participants provided a history of TB and underwent clinical examinations, chest X-ray, and microbiological and e-nose analyses. Biological samples (blood, breath, sputum and urine) were collected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Being a confirmed TB patient was directly proportional to e-nose 10-sensor responses. Principal component analysis clusters showed a clear distinction between TB and HC groups, with variances of 93%, 85%, 75% and 95% for blood, breath, sputum and urine samples, respectively. Overall accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the artificial neural network (ANN) analysis for classifying samples were >99%. The e-nose successfully distinguished TB patients from HC participants for all measured biological samples with great precision. With urine samples gaining broader acceptance for clinical diagnosis, an e-nose-based ANN can be a very useful tool for low-cost mass screening and early detection of TB patients in developing countries.

Virocidal activity of Egyptian scorpion venoms against hepatitis C virus.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major global health problem, causing chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Development of well-tolerated regimens with high cure rates and fewer side effects is still much needed. Recently, natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are attracting more attention as biological compounds and can be a good template to develop therapeutic agents, including antiviral agents against a variety of viruses. Various AMPs have been characterized from the venom of different venomous animals including scorpions. METHODS: The possible antiviral activities of crude venoms obtained from five Egyptian scorpion species (Leiurus quinquestriatus, Androctonus amoreuxi, A. australis, A. bicolor and Scorpio maurus palmatus) were evaluated by a cell culture method using Huh7.5 cells and the J6/JFH1-P47 strain of HCV. Time-of-addition experiments and inactivation of enzymatic activities of the venoms were carried out to determine the characteristics of the anti-HCV activities. RESULTS: S. maurus palmatus and A. australis venoms showed anti-HCV activities, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) being 6.3 ± 1.6 and 88.3 ± 5.8 µg/ml, respectively. S. maurus palmatus venom (30 µg/ml) impaired HCV infectivity in culture medium, but not inside the cells, through virocidal effect. The anti-HCV activity of this venom was not inhibited by a metalloprotease inhibitor or heating at 60°C. The antiviral activity was directed preferentially against HCV. CONCLUSIONS: S. maurus palmatus venom is considered as a good natural source for characterization and development of novel anti-HCV agents targeting the entry step. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing antiviral activities of Egyptian scorpion venoms against HCV, and may open a new approach towards discovering antiviral compounds derived from scorpion venoms.

Adult mesenchymal stem cells explored in the dental field.

During the last decade it was realized that stem cell-based therapies hold an enormous therapeutic potential, improving the life of patients with conditions ranging from neurodegenerative and traumatic diseases to regenerative medicine requiring replacement of complex structures such as bones and teeth. Based on their ability to regenerate and/or repair damaged tissue and eventually restore organ function, multiple types of stem/progenitor cells have been discovered. In the field of periodontal regeneration and tooth engineering, several types of adult multipotent mesenchymal stem cells from various sources are currently being investigated. These include the bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSSCs), adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs), dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs), stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs), stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAP), periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), alveolar bone proper-derived stem cells, and gingival stem cells. The potential of these different MSCs as precursors for regenerative purposes in the dental field is discussed in this chapter.

"My two-week-old daughter is throwing up blood".

Swallowed maternal blood at the time of delivery or from cracked nipples during breastfeeding is the most common cause of suspected gastrointestinal bleeding in the neonate. In this case, the Apt-Downey test is a useful diagnostic tool. The Apt-Downey test can effectively differentiate neonatal from maternal hemoglobin based on the conversion of oxyhemoglobin to alkaline globin hematin when mixed with alkali.