Structural Study of Basins Configuration in Mesopotamian Area

Mesopotamian Zone is a foreland basin formed by a collision between Arabian and Iranian plates. A subsurface structural study made for Mesopotamian area based on the information of the oil wells, which were used in the construction of five structural cross-sections. The sections reveal information about the difference in thickness of sedimentary formations in the basin during the geological time of Mesozoic and Cenozoic Era. As well as studied the most important reasons for the formation of surface and subsurface structures, which are attributed to three main reasons: the basement rocks and their longitudinal and transverse faults, tectonic movements that happened to the region as well as the role of salt layers or structures and their rush to the top

Knee Enthesitis and Synovitis on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Psoriasis without Arthritic Symptoms

Objective. This case-control study was designed to evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of knee joints in patients with psoriasis without clinical peripheral or axial joint involvement, and to correlate MRI findings with disease and demographic variables. \ud \ud \ud Methods. In total 48 patients with psoriasis and no clinical evidence of synovitis or enthesitis in any peripheral or axial joints were enrolled. A random sample of 20 healthy subjects without knee or other joint complaints and matched for age and sex served as controls. All patients and controls underwent enhanced MRI studies of both knee joints, and MRI findings were compared. \ud \ud \ud Results. Among 48 patients (96 knees), a total of 90 entheseal lesions were detected, with no enthesitis in 2 cases (6.3%). Signs of continuing inflammation bilaterally were frequently found: soft tissue edema (STE; n = 52), bone marrow edema (BME; n = 20), perientheseal BME (n = 3), cartilaginous erosions (n = 42), and bone erosions (n = 27). In controls, 2 (10%) subjects had BME and another 5 (25%) showed cartilaginous erosions. None showed evidence of enthesitis. Significant correlations were observed between the number of entheseal lesions of both knees vs STE (present vs absent; r = 0.314, p = 0.030) and STE (number of lesions; r = 0.351, p = 0.014). Enthesitis (unilateral vs bilateral) was significantly and positively correlated with STE (r = 0.304, p = 0.036), cartilaginous erosions (r = 0.304, p = 0.036), and villous projections (r = 0.347, p = 0.016). \ud \ud \ud Conclusion. Subclinical synovitis and enthesitis are frequently found in the knee joint of patients with psoriasis. These may be an early sign of psoriatic arthritis\u

Association of interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R) gene polymorphisms (rs11209026, rs2201841 and rs10889677) with Egyptian rheumatoid arthritis patients

AbstractAim of the workTo analyse interleukin 23 receptors (IL23R) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) (rs11209026, rs2201841, and rs10889677) and to detect their association with Egyptian rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.Patients and methodsThe study included 120 Egyptian RA patients and 120 healthy controls that were genotyped for the three SNPs by real time/polymerase chain reaction for the first SNP and restriction fragment length polymorphism/PCR (RFLP/PCR) in the last two SNPs. The disease activity score (DAS28) was assessed in the patients.ResultsThe studied patients had a mean age of 42.5±13.4years, a disease duration of 5.2±3.5years and consisted of 22 males and 98 females. Joint deformities were present in 35 and 66 patients had swollen joints. The rheumatoid factor (RF) was positive in 78.3% and the DAS28 was 3.2±1.2. Our data emphasize that the AA genotype of rs11209026 was significantly associated with RA patients compared to the controls (p=0.001). We did not find any significant association between either rs2201841 or rs10889677 and the development of RA (p=1, p=0.56 respectively). The AA allele in the 3 SNPs were remarkable frequent in those with deformities and positive RF.ConclusionOur results suggest that IL23 receptor AA genotype variant of rs11209026 contributes to the aetiology of RA and may be considered a genetic marker and shared the susceptibility gene. We need to address the subgroup of patients who will benefit from the selective suppression of the IL-23 signalling which would represent new perspectives towards a personalized therapy of RA patients by further studies

Role of glutathione S-transferases polymorphisms and monocyte CD64 expression in Egyptian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Aim of work: To study the genetic variants of glutathione S-transferases and monocyte CD64 expression in systemic lupus erythematosus patients and to evaluate their role in disease susceptibility, activity and damage. Patients and methods: Forty female SLE patients and 40 age matched controls were genotyped for GSTP1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, conventional PCR and were assessed for monocyte CD64 expression level using flow cytometry. SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and the systemic lupus international. collaborating clinics/damage index (SLICC DI) were considered. Results: The patients mean age was 28.13 ± 4.56 years and disease duration of 6.4 ± 4.9 with a SLEDAI of 14.4 ± 7.1 and SLICC/DI 3.7 ± 1.5. The frequency of GSTM1 null genotype tended to be higher (55%) in SLE patients compared to the controls (and 42.5%) (p = 0.09). The frequency of GSTT1 null genotype was significantly higher in SLE patients (25%) compared to controls (12.5%) (p < 0.001) and with a 1.7-fold risk. The genotypes frequencies of GSTP1 polymorphism were comparable between SLE patients and controls. The monocyte CD64 expression was significantly increased in the patients (MFI: 46.23 ± 4.56) compared to the control (MFI: 14.05 ± 2.01) (p = 0.001). The GSTM1 and GSTT1 as well as CD64 significantly correlated with the serum creatinine (p = 0.005, p = 0.01 and p-0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The GST gene polymorphisms together with monocyte CD64 expression level could have a significant relation with SLE and with increased risk in Egyptian patients. The GST gene polymorphisms and monocyte CD64 may form potential biomarkers for renal function

Caspase recruitment domains. New potential markers for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with HCV in Egyptian patients

Background and rational for the study. Chronic HCV is a major cause of HCC development. Caspase Recruitment Domains (CARD) is protein modules that regulate apoptosis and play an important role in various carcinogenesis processes, our aim is to assess the possible role of CARD9, CARD10 and Caspase only protein (COP) in progression of liver fibrosis and pathogenesis of HCC in Egyptian chronic HCV patients.Material and methods. 130 patients were recruited and classified into 4 groups; I: chronic HCV, II: chronic active hepatitis, III: liver cirrhosis, IV: HCV related HCC. Biochemical, virological studies, abdominal ultrasonography and liver biopsy were performed. Quantitative estimation of mRNA of CARD9, CARD10 and COP gene expression was performed by RT- PCR in liver biopsy from all patients.Results. In HCC patients; age, AFP and liver profile were significantly higher, HB and platelets were significantly lower (p value <0.01). The expression levels of mRNA of CARD9, CARD10 and COP in liver biopsies of HCC were significantly higher than other groups with direct correlation with age and no correlation with AFP, viral load, liver fibrosis or necroinflammatory activity. On differentiation between HCC and non HCC patients each CARD was assessed separately and combined, on combing the 3 CARDs, the sensitivity was 100%, specificity was 48%, positive predictive value 47% and negative predictive value 100%.Conclusions. CARD9, CARD10 and COP had no role in liver fibrosis but may be involved in hepatic carcinogenesis and they could be used as markers for HCC diagnosis and candid genes for molecular target therapy

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially