Plasma long non-coding RNAs as biomarkers for bone marrow infiltration and stage in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

We aimed to evaluate the expression profiles of five circulating lncRNAs (HOTAIR, MALAT-1, XIST, SNHG15, and H19) in DLBCL patients and explore potential associations between their expression and different clinicopathological features. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), exhibits marked genetic and clinical heterogeneity, emphasizing the need for improved tools for risk stratification. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) emerged as regulators in different cellular processes and have been linked to cancer pathogenesis. Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate lncRNA expression in the plasma of 65 newly diagnosed adult DLBCL patients and 30 age-matched controls. HOTAIR expression was significantly elevated in DLBCL patients, while SNHG15 was significantly downregulated. Interestingly, both HOTAIR and SNHG15 demonstrated robust discriminatory power between DLBCL and healthy individuals, achieving area under the curve (AUC) values of 69% and 71%, respectively. H19 expression displayed a significant association with early-stage (stage I) DLBCL. While upregulated HOTAIR was a significant independent predictor of poor prognosis, high SNHG15 expression appeared to have a protective effect on mortality rates. Our findings suggest that circulating lncRNA expression patterns are promising tools as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosis of DLBCL. Specific lncRNAs, such as HOTAIR, SNHG15, and H19, could offer potential for disease staging and patient prognosis. Long-term follow-up studies are recommended to further elucidate the interplay between these lncRNAs and survival rates, as well as their interactions with other genetic and pathological features of DLBCL.

Investigating dynamics, etiology, pathology, and therapeutic interventions of Caligus clemensi and Vibrio alginolyticus co-infection in farmed marine fish.

This study investigated a disease outbreak characterized by caligid copepod infestations and subsequent secondary bacterial infections in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) cultivated at a private facility in the Deeba Triangle region of Egypt. Moribund fish displayed brown spots on the skin, tongue, and gills, along with lethargy and excess mucus. The fish suffered severe infections, exhibiting external hemorrhages, ulcers, and ascites. The fish had pale, enlarged livers with hemorrhaging. Comprehensive parasitological, bacteriological, molecular, immunity and histopathological analyses were conducted to identify the etiological agents and pathological changes. Caligid copepod infestation was observed in wet mounts from the buccal and branchial cavities of all examined fish, and the caligids were identified as Caligus clemensi through COI gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Vibrio alginolyticus was confirmed as a secondary bacterial infection through biochemical tests, recA gene sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed resistance to ß-lactams, aminoglycosides, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in V. alginolyticus isolates. Upregulation of the inflammatory marker IL-1ß in gill and skin tissues indicated a robust cell-mediated immune response against the pathogens. Histopathological examination revealed severe tissue damage, hyperplasia, hemorrhage, and congestion in the gills, along with hepatocellular degeneration and steatosis in the liver, providing initial insights into this outbreak. A comprehensive therapeutic regimen was implemented, comprising prolonged hydrogen peroxide immersion baths, followed by the application of the nature-identical plant-based compound Lice-less and probiotic Sanolife Pro-W supplementation. This integrated approach effectively eliminated C. clemensi infestations, controlled secondary bacterial infections, and restored fish health, reducing morbidity and mortality rates to minimal levels.

Effective and Elaborative Induction Program for Mitigating Myths and Misconceptions Linked to Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in a Resource Limited Setting.

Since the first transplant in 1957 and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the curative modality for numerous hematological disorders. Nevertheless, it is not available for all patients. Besides unavailability of matched donors a lot of factors could hinder HSCT in a resource limited setting, as financial and administrative factors. In our daily practice we noticed other factors that hinder HSCT in our center, the common myths and misconceptions about HSCT and donation. This quasi-experimental study assessed, for the first time, common myths and misconceptions about HSCT among 218 medical and nursing students before and after an interventional educational program. The study tool was an investigators' developed self-administered questionnaire. Participants' male to female ratio was 1:2.5, and FAS was middle in 52.7%. Pretest high myths scores were reported in 53.4% and 90% of medical and nursing students that was reduced to 0% and 4% post-test, respectively. Pretest, 26.3% and 7% of medical and nursing students welling to donate HSC, that increased to 66% and 39% post-test, respectively. Rural residency, low and middle FAS associated with higher myths scores. Myths score is an independent effector of willingness to donate HSC among participants. In conclusion medical/nursing students had significant myths and misconceptions about HSCT that was corrected with the educational program. Thus, wide based educational programs about HSCT are mandatory to correct myths and augment HSC donation. www.clinicaltrrial.gov: clinical trial ID NCT05151406. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12288-023-01634-5.

Current insight into enteropathogens in flare-up ulcerative colitis. An observational study.

OBJECTIVE: Incidence of ulcerative colitis is globally increased. Enteric infections and their role in ulcerative colitis flares present a common health problem and a unique clinical challenge. We aimed to identify enteropathogens in flared ulcerative colitis patients and their antimicrobial susceptibilities and relation with the disease activity. METHODS: Stool samples were collected from 95 patients with ulcerative colitis (17 inactive cases and 78 active cases) according to the Mayo score assessment of ulcerative colitis severity. Enteropathogens were examined using an automated VITEK2 system and FilmArray gastrointestinal pathogen panel. RESULTS: Enteric infections were found in 81 patients (85.3%) with a significantly higher percentage in active ulcerative colitis (96.2% vs. 35.3%, P  < 0.001). In 78 symptomatic patients, (78.7%) of bacteria as enteroaggregative and enteropathogenic E. coli , (11.5%) parasitic as Cryptosporidium and (7.7%) viral as Norovirus were the most detected microbial pathogens. Mixed, multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) and opportunistic infections were reported in 70.7%, 52.9% and 46.7% respectively. Raoultella ornithinolytica was reported for the first time as an enteropathogen in ulcerative colitis flare. Multiple organisms, MDROs, extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing and AmpC-resistant bacteria were significantly associated with disease severity. CONCLUSION: Identifying enteropathogens especially opportunistic and MDR organisms as a cause of ulcerative colitis flare-ups is a matter of worry increasing their diagnostic and therapeutic burden. Periodic studies evaluating changes in microbial profiles and their antimicrobial susceptibilities are needed to achieve antibiotic stewardship and improve management.

Infection and Severity of COVID-19 Infection Among Healthcare Workers: A Report from Egypt.

Backgrounds & Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by Coronavirus. Knowledge of the fate of infection and risk factors among health care workers is essential to enforce special infection control measures. We aimed to determine the percentage of COVID-19 infection and the associated risk factors as well as the predictors of COVID- 19 among health care workers in Assiut University Hospital. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed that included one hundred health care workers that were confirmed by PCR to be COVID-19 cases admitted to Assiut University Hospital over six months between May 2020 and November 2020. All participants were subjected to thorough history taking and full clinical examination as well as investigations. RESULTS: Out of the 100 HCWs enrolled in the study, 52% were males, 26% were obese, 68% were doctors, and 38% were from the medical department. Fourteen percent of healthcare workers were admitted to ICU, of which 93% were cured. The predictors for severity of cases were as follows: being a doctor OR (6.804) P=0.037, old age OR (1.179) P=0.000, and hospital stay OR (0.838) P=0.015. CONCLUSION: Health care workers are at risk for severe COVID-19 infection. Being a doctor, old age, and duration of hospitalization were the predictors for the severity of cases of health care workers.

Nicorandil mitigates folic acid-induced nephrotoxicity in mice: Role of iNOS and eNOS.

Folic acid (FA)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is a commonly used model in experimental animals for studying renal injury. This study aimed to investigate the probable protecting impact of nicorandil against FA-induced renal dysfunction. A mouse model was executed by a single injection of FA (250 mg/kg). Nicorandil was orally administrated in two doses (50 and 100 mg/kg) for 10 days. Nicorandil repressed the progression of FA-induced AKI as evidenced by the improvement of histopathological alterations and the substantial decrease of serum levels of creatinine, urea, blood urea nitrogen, malondialdehyde (MDA), and urinary protein levels. Moreover, nicorandil resulted in a profound reduction in oxidative stress as manifested by decreased MDA and increased reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase in renal tissue. Notably, nicorandil suppressed FA-induced inflammation; it reduced renal levels of nuclear factor-κB, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6. Furthermore, nicorandil decreased renal levels of nitric oxide, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Lastly, nicorandil efficiently decreased expression of the proapoptotic protein (Bax) and caspase 3. Nicorandil confers dose-dependent protection against FA-induced AKI by alleviating oxidative stress, inflammation besides modulating nitric oxide synthase and reducing apoptosis.

Genetic polymorphisms in XRCC1, OGG1, and XRCC3 DNA repair genes and DNA damage in radiotherapy workers.

DNA damage may develop at any dose of ionizing radiation. DNA damage activates pathways that regulate cell growth and division or coordinate its replication and repair. The repair pathways, base excision repair (BER) and single-strand break repair (SSBR), can repair such damages efficiently and maintain genome integrity. Loss of this repair process or alteration of its control will be associated with serious outcomes for cells and individuals. This study aimed to determine the relationship between XRCC1 (Arg194Trp, Arg280His, and Arg399Gln), OGG1 (Ser326Cys), and XRCC3 (Thr241Met) SNPs and DNA damage and to identify high-risk individuals with reduced DNA repair capacity. This case-control study was conducted on 80 subjects; 50 subjects working in Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Department in Assiut University Hospital along with 30 controls. A total of 1 mL blood samples were collected for Single-Cell Gel Electrophoresis Technique (Comet Assay) for detection of DNA damage in those subjects. A total of 3 mL fresh blood samples were collected and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)-based technique. DNA damage detected by comet test was significantly high in IR-exposed workers than control. Statistically high significant difference was found in exposed subjects versus control subjects regarding the frequencies of the variant alleles of hOGG1326, XRCC1280 & 399, and XRCC3241. The level of DNA damage was not affected by OGG1326 SNPs when comparing subjects of wild genotype with those of (pooled) variants either in the exposed staff or in the control group while XRCC1280, 399 and XRCC3241 variant alleles had an influence on the studied DNA damage biomarker. Moreover, genotyping distribution pattern was highly variable in relation to gender. The present study indicated a relationship between DNA damage detected by comet test and single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes coding for DNA certain repair enzymes. Individuals occupationally exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation could be at great risk and more susceptible to the increased DNA damage if they have inherited genetic polymorphism.

Bacteriological Monitoring of Inanimate Surfaces and Equipment in Some Referral Hospitals in Assiut City, Egypt.

Hospital-acquired infections represent a serious public health problem in all countries. It is clear that monitoring of the hospital environment is an essential element in the control and a part of the policy for preventing nosocomial infections. It allows a better understanding of the microbial ecology for the purpose of conducting preventive and corrective actions. The aims of this work were to determine the percentage of bacterial contamination of environmental samples and to identify potential nosocomial pathogens isolated from environments of seven referral hospitals from 2009 to 2015. By using the swab technique, 12863 samples were collected. Qualitative and quantitative cultures were performed. The organisms were primarily identified by colony morphology, microscopy of Gram stain, and standard biochemical tests. 25.6% of total samples showed contamination (93% was monomicrobial and 7.0% was polymicrobial). The predominant species was coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS) (32%), followed by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) (26%) and then K. pneumonia (10.6%). The percentage of contamination varied among the covered hospitals and according to the year of monitoring with highly statistically significant difference (p value < 0.001). Direct contact with environmental surfaces or equipment transmits the majority of nosocomial infection. Major nosocomial pathogens have been identified. Hospital managers and healthcare bodies must be aware of the reality of the concept of environmental bacterial tanks and the need for respect of biocleaning procedures and choice of biocleaning tools.

Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Polymorphism In Hepatitis C Patients Treated With Interferon Based-Treatment As A Predictor of Early Virological Response.

HCV infection represented a foremost communal health trouble and Egypt has the largest epidemic of HCV in the world with prevalence of 14.7% for HCV antibody and 9.8% HCV-RNA. Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule participated in inhibiting of microbial diseases. Pro-inflammatory stimuli can trigger resting cells to produce inducible nitric oxide synthase ((iNOS) also referred to as (NOS2), which is very crucial for host response to contagious agents. NOS2A gene haplotypes has been associated with a number of diseases. This study aimed to assess the relation between NOS2A gene haplotypes and HCV treatment response in pegylated interferon alpha /ribavirin (PEG-IFN /RBV) in chronic HCV patients (CHC) in an attempt to find a predictor biomarker to detect poor responders to therapy. DNA was extracted from blood samples and subjected to detection of NOS2A gene haplotypes using real time PCR. Non-responder patients showed statistically significant higher percentages of unclassified haplotypes than responder patients (85.7% versus 58.6%, respectively) (P < 0.0001) and of haplotypes 4 and 5 (GTT and ATC) than non-responder patients (25.7% and 14.3% versus 0% and 0%, respectively) (P < 0.0001). The NOS2A gene haplotypes were not associated with response to PEG-IFN /RBV at 12th week Early Virological Response (EVR). In conclusion, NOS2A gene haplotypes are not considered predictors of response to PEG-IFN /RBV treatment. Further studies are required to elucidate predictor markers.

Health care-associated infections in pre-transplant liver intensive care unit: Perspectives and challenges.

BACKGROUND: Health care-associated infections (HAIs) threaten patient's safety worldwide especially in the intensive care units (ICU). In end-stage liver disease (ESLD), the condition is much more complicated. Data regarding HAIs among ESLD patients is lacking. We aimed to assess the incidence of HAIs, risk factors, causative micro-organisms, antimicrobial susceptibilities and mortality rates among patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) admitted to pre-transplant liver intensive care unit (LICU). METHOD: This prospective observational study included 337 ESLD patients admitted to LICU, Al-Rajhi liver center, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt between January 2016 and June 2016 and they were followed up for the development of HAI manifestations. The medical history, physical examination and severity of underlying disease were determined. Clinical samples were taken from patients who developed HAIs for microbiological diagnosis and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. RESULTS: A total of 57 (16.9%) ESLD patients developed HAIs with the incidence density of 26.8 per 1000 patient-days. Blood stream infection was the most common (49.1%). Escherichia coli (21.1%) followed by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (15.8%) were the commonest bacteria. Multidrug resistant organisms were reported in 52.6% of the isolates. Fungal causes were 15.8% with Candida species dominance. Sphingomonas paucimobilis and Achromobacter dentrificans were reported for the first time as pathogens for HAIs in LICU. Prolonged hospital stay, intravenous line duration, prolonged use of proton pump inhibitors and paracentesis were predictors for HAIs. No significant difference between ESLD patients with and without HAIs regarding mortality (36.8% vs. 48.6%, P=0.2). CONCLUSION: High HAI rate among ESLD patients is a matter of worry. Effective surveillance program, active infection control measures and national antibiotic policies are necessary to reduce the burden of HAIs.

German Muslims and their engagement in participatory culture: reflections on civic and artistic contributions to the public sphere.

This paper examines publics of young German Muslims. Case studies include the singer Huelya Kandemir, the theatre group Uma Lamo and the social network Zahnräder. By focusing on spiritual music publics, theatrical comedy publics and social publics, it tries a new approach to the way in which we understand minority public engagement. In addition to examining the concept of counterpublics, it utilizes the concept of participatory culture, which offers a relevant complement. The study argues that the publics of young German Muslims display multifaceted artistic and civic engagement, which can best be understood in terms of participation in cultural or civic productions and contribution to the wider German public. Features or effects of counterpublics, such as the countering of mainstream representations of minority identities and the offering of alternative discourses, are occasionally reflected in their activities.

Pediatric eye injuries in upper Egypt.

PURPOSE: To analyze the patterns, causes, and outcome of pediatric ocular trauma at Assiut University Hospital in Upper Egypt (South of Egypt). METHODS: All ocular trauma patients aged 16 years or younger admitted to the emergency unit of Ophthalmology Department of Assiut University between July 2009 and July 2010 were included in the study. The demographic data of all patients and characteristics of the injury events were determined. The initial visual acuity and final visual acuity after 3 months follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty patients were included. The majority of injuries occurred in children aged 2-7 years (50.7%). There were 106 (70.7%) boys and 44 (29.3%) girls. The highest proportion of injuries occurred in the street (54.7%) followed by the home (32.7%). Open globe injuries accounted for 67.3% of injuries, closed globe for 30.7%, and chemical injuries for 2%. The most common causes were wood, stones, missiles, and glass. LogMar best corrected visual acuity at 3 months follow-up was: 0-1 in 13.3%; <1-1.3 in 27.3%; <1.3-perception of light (PL) in 56%; and no perception of light (NPL) in 3.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric ocular trauma among patients referred to our tertiary ophthalmology referral center in Upper Egypt over a period of 1 year was 3.7%. Of these, 67.3% of cases had open globe injury, 30.7% had closed injury, and only 2% had chemical injury. In Upper Egypt, socioeconomic and sociocultural status, family negligence, and lack of supervision are important factors in pediatric eye injuries, as 92% of children were without adult supervision when the ocular trauma occurred. Nearly 86.6% of children with ocular trauma end up legally blind. Modification of these environmental risk factors is needed to decrease pediatric ocular morbidity.