Human Papillomavirus Genotyping among Different Cervical Smears in Duhok/Iraq.

Background/Objective: Cervical cancer ranks the second among the most common gynecologic cancers. This study was established to determine the distribution of cervical HPV genotypes among different Pap readings in Duhok/Iraq. Methods: Between January and September-2016, HPV-DNA was tested in 64 women. Genotyping was carried out by the hybridization reverse blot technique. Cervical smears were taken, performed by ThinPrep technique and stained by Pap stain. Results: Twenty six (40.6%) cases were positive for HPV, 12 (46.2%) in normal and 14 (53.8%) in abnormal Pap smears. 39 (19 high-risk and 16 low-risk) genotypes were identified. The high risk group comprised 6 HPV16, 4 HPV18, 2 HPV66, 2 HPV52, 2 HPV39, 1 HPV56, 1 HPV31 and 1 HPV45. The 16 low risk strains encompassed 4 HPV6 strains, 4 HPV71, 2 HPV54 and 2 HPV83, HPV11, HPV61 HPV84, and HPV62. Mixed infections were described in 4 women (6.25%), limited to the NILM, ASC-US and LSIL smears. They included variable admixtures of 7 high risk genotypes, HPV39 (both copies), HPV66 (both copies), HPV52, HPV31, HPV45 and 6 low risk strains: HPV83, HPV6, HPV11, HPV54, HPV62 and HPV71. Conclusions: The higher frequency of HR-HPV than the LR-HPV with identification of 4 mixed cases indicates that our women are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Detection of HR-HPV in NILM and ASC-US smears with restriction of some strains to these 2 categories highlights the great value of HPV genotyping as a surrogate test to pick up unscreened women at risk of developing cervical malignancy particularly when a proper screening program is absent.

Hepatitis C in children with chronic kidney disease: A single-center, Egypt.

Prevalence of hepatitis C varies largely according to geographical distribution, and Egypt so far has the highest prevalence worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate hepatitis C infection in chronic kidney disease (CKD) children in our center with regard to its incidence and other morbidities. This is a cross-sectional study involving 50 children with CKD, not on dialysis. All patients underwent a thorough history taking including disease duration and mean duration of admission, clinical examination including blood pressure measurements, and routine laboratory examination such as hemoglobin level, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, and creatinine. The detection of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies was done in all patients based on the use of third-generation enzyme immunoassay (EIA) that detects antibodies directed against various HCV epitopes. Nine (18%) children were found to be hepatitis C positive and 41 were negative to hepatitis C. Infected cases were of older age group and had a longer duration of CKD, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), lower hemoglobin, higher ALT, higher serum urea, and creatinine. We conclude that 18% of children with CKDs have hepatitis C infection, and those with longer the duration of renal disease is more likely to be positive for HCV. Furthermore, HCV infection may predispose to higher deterioration of eGFR, lower hemoglobin level, and more days of admission. We recommend routine testing of HCV in all children with CKD.

Ecological Risk Assessment of Metal Pollution along Greater Cairo Sector of the River Nile, Egypt, Using Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, as Bioindicator.

The present work aims to evaluate seasonal metal pollution along Greater Cairo sector of the River Nile, Egypt, using wild Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, as bioindicator and to conduct a risk assessment for human consumers. Greater Cairo is the largest populated area along the whole course of River Nile with a wide range of anthropogenic activities. Effects of metal pollution on fish body indices were studied using condition factor (CF) and scaled mass index (SMI). Metal pollution index (MPI) showed that the total metal load in fish organs followed the follwoing order: kidney > liver > gill > muscle which gives a better idea about the target organs for metal accumulation. Metal concentrations in fish muscle (edible tissue) showed the following arrangement: Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Pb > Cd. Metal's bioaccumulation factor (BAF) in fish muscle showed the following arrangement: Zn > Cu > Fe > Mn > Cd and Pb. The hazard index (HI) as an indicator of human health risks associated with fish consumption showed that adverse health effects are not expected to occur in most cases. However, the metals' cumulative risk effects gave an alarming sign specifically at high fish consumption rates.