IL-13 R130Q single nucleotide polymorphism in asthmatic Egyptian children

Background: Asthma and its associated phenotypes are under a substantial degree of genetic control. The common variant IL-13 gene polymorphism R130Q is reported to be associated with the risk of development of asthma in some populations. Objective: We sought to study the association of IL-13 genetic variant R130Q with bronchial asthma in Egyptian children and its relation to various clinical and laboratory phenotypes of the disease. Methods: IL13 gene polymorphism (R130Q) was detected by PCR amplification followed by sequencing using pure script total DNA in 20 asthmatic patients in acute exacerbation. The results were compared to 20 healthy age and sex matched children. Results: Asthmatic children had significantly higher frequency of distribution of R130Q genotype (50%) than controls (15%). The serum total IgE as percent of high normal for age was significantly higher in asthmatic patients as compared to controls with a mean of 208.77 ±237.06% and 14.21 ± 8.08% respectively. No significant difference was observed in the mean AEC(as a percent of high normal for age) of both groups (80.85 ± 116.4% and 82.50 ± 81.4% respectively). No significant differences were observed between patients with IL-13 polymorphism R130Q and those without such polymorphism as regards family history, relation of exacerbations to upper respiratory tract infections, history of food allergy or asthma grading. Serum total IgE was significantly higher in asthmatics with GA genotype as compared to those with GG genotype with a mean of 373.25 ± 238.11% and 44.28 ± 42.65% respectively. A similar finding was also observed among the control group with a mean of 28.03 ± 9.12% and 11.77 ± 5.00% respectively. Finally a significantly higher AEC was observed in controls with GA as compared to GG genotype with a mean of 250.00 ± 51.96% versus 52.94 ± 36.87% respectively. Conclusion: The common variant IL-13 gene polymorphism R130Q is frequently associated with pediatric asthma. This variant is more active than the wild type in inducing allergic inflammation as reflected by the higher serum total IgE and AEC. Hence, IL-13R130Q may be candidate for future gene therapy targeted at reducing the ill-effects of this polymorphism.Keywords: IL-13R130Q – bronchial asthma - pediatricsEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2010;8(1):9-1

CXCR3 renal expression in glomerulonephritis in children: is there a connection with the course of the disease?

Background: Glomerulonephritis (GN) is a common childhood disease that may represent a significant cause of chronic kidney disease at one point of its course. The role of chemokines in glomerulonephritis, has been long anticipated and studied and the possible link between certain chemokines and different renal pathologies, if proved, can pave the road for future use of such markers for early prognosis and possible therapies for this common disease.Objective: in this study, we aimed at detecting CXCR3 in the renal biopsies done for children with glomerulonephritis and to correlate it to the nature of renal pathology and response to therapy.Methods: The glomerular and interstitial expression of CXCR3 in renal biopsies done for 22 patients with glomerulonephritis was studied using immunohistochemical staining. Pathologies already diagnosed in these biopsies were proliferative GN (mesangioproliferative GN, diffuse proliferative GN, focal proliferative GN, IgA nephropathy and crescentic GN) as well as non-proliferative GN (Minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, diffuse mesangial sclerosis and advanced hypertensive nephrosclerosis). History, clinical findings and laboratory investigations in the initial presentation and at the time of the study were obtained.Results: The degree of glomerular and interstitial CXCR3 expression did not vary with gender, age of presentation, response to steroids, or cumulative doses of steroids. Percentage of strong glomerular CXCR3 expression was much higher in proliferative GN compared to non-proliferative GN although the difference was not statistically significant, percentage of renal dysfunction was more among strong glomerular and mild/moderate interstitial CXCR3 expression with no statistically significant difference from the counterparts.Conclusion: Our study revealed that enhanced CXCR3 renal expression on glomerular and interstitial levels did not affect the response to steroids along the course of the disease and so can probably act as a therapeutic target rather than a prognostic marker.Keywords: glom. CXCR3, int. CXCR3, glomerulonephritis, renal biops

Liquidity Risk in the Mena Region Banking Sector: Does Bank Type Make a Difference?

Liquidity risk is a challenge facing banks in their efforts to maintain financial stability. Islamic banks are under added pressure with the constraint of having to adhere to Sharia\u27h principles. The goal of this paper is to investigate the determinants of liquidity risk in Islamic and conventional banks in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region. The generalized, least squares model is utilized to estimate the determinants of liquidity risk in 257 banks (90 Islamic and 167 Conventional) over the period 2009–2016, in which the struggles of both types of banks to mitigate the impacts of the global financial crisis were observed. A dummy variable representing the bank type is included to allow for comparison between liquidity risk determinants in both types of banks. The model investigated the impact of four bank specific variables and a macroeconomic one on bank liquidity represented by five alterative ratios. The results show a positive effect of bank size on liquidity risk of all sample banks, thus demonstrating that both bank types follow the too big to fail rule. Capital adequacy has a positive impact on the liquidity risk of all sample banks irrespective of bank type. Return on assets has no significant effect while credit risk has a negative impact on liquidity risk of both bank types. That is, higher credit risk encourages a more conservative liquidity management policy in both bank types, despite the theoretical fact that Islamic banks have higher credit risk due to the risk sharing principle . Similarly, real per capita GDP has a positive impact on liquidity risk of conventional and Islamic banks, reflecting their procyclical lending behaviour. Evidently, bank type in the MENA region does not affect the determinants of a bank\u27s liquidity risk; Islamic and conventional banks use different terms for their practices, but in reality mobilize funds the same way. This is due to the fact that both banks operate under the same micro- and macroeconomic conditions and are both influenced by the same domestic and international liquidity regulations. Introducing more efficient financial products and having a unified regulatory and supervisory framework can offer Islamic banks better opportunities

The diagnostic and monitoring value of serum anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (anti-MCV) in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Background: JRA is currently diagnosed using the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987 revised criteria that are primarily based on clinical parameters. The criteria may be insufficient for the diagnosis of early RA as they are based upon measurements of disease classification predominately featuring manifestations typical of later-stage disease. Measurement of serum anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (MCV) has been shown to be a better marker for early adult RA, and it correlates well with the disease activity score (DAS). Objectives: The aim of this work is to evaluate the role of antimutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (anti-MCV) in the diagnosis, and in monitoring disease activity in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The study included 40 children with JRA fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology criteria for diagnosis of JRA: 4 children with oligoarticular JRA, 12 with polyarticular JRA and 24 children with systemic onset JRA. Fifty healthy children, matching the patients in age and sex served as a control group. The studied children with JRA were subjected to laboratory tests including CBC, ESR, CRP, ANA and rheumatoid factor (RF). Serum samples from both patients and controls were assayed for anti-MCV levels using an ELISA technique. Results: The study showed high mean serum anti-MCV antibodies level in JRA patients when compared to controls (P= 0.00). In addition, there were no significant correlations between anti-MCV antibody levels and parameters of disease activity, namely, number of swollen joints, number of tender joints, ESR and CRP. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn and it showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was (0.896). At a cutoff level > 17 u/mL, anti-MCV antibodies had diagnostic specificity of 88%, diagnostic sensitivity of 87.5%, negative and positive predictive values of 89.8% and 85.4%, respectively and diagnostic efficacy of 87.8%. We also reported 3/40 of JRA patients to be positive for RF and 2/40 of JRA patients to be positive for ANA. Conclusion: Measurement of serum anti MCV antibody level holds promise as a diagnostic tool in JRA. However, they failed to show a significant efficacy in determining disease activity.Keywords: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, MCVEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2012;10(2):75-8

High resolution computed tomography and pulmonary function tests in childhood systemic lupus erythematosus and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Alveolar and airway injury represent one of the most common features of rheumatological diseases and is believed to have a significant impact on the course of these diseases. Objective: This work aimed at evaluating airway and alveolar involvement in children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Methods: Thirty four children (21 with SLE and 13 with JRA) were assessed by pulmonary function tests (PFTs) namely spirometry and carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO) in comparison to 10 healthy controls, as well as by plain roentgenography and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest. Results: The studied patients had significantly lower mean PFT values as compared to controls. A restrictive pattern of PFTs was more common as it was detected in 62% of patients with SLE and 23% of those with JRA whereas an obstructive pattern was detected in 14% and 8% respectively. Significantly lower FEF 25-75% values were detected in symptomatic patients. Low values of DLCO (less than 80% of predicted) were recorded in 60% of the studied patients. Chest HRCT was abnormal in 68% of studied patients. In SLE, ground glass appearance and pleural irregularity were the most common findings whereas in JRA, bronchial wall thickening, mosaic appearance and air trapping were prominent. Abnormal findings were detected in 5/9 of asymptomatic patients. Conclusion: airway and alveolar abnormalities are frequently encountered in children with SLE (95%) and JRA (85%) even if they are asymptomatic. HRCT and pulmonary function tests including diffusion studies are recommended as useful tools for the diagnosis and early detection of pulmonary involvement in these patients.Keywords: JRA, SLE, HRCT, PFTs, DLCOEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2004; 2(1): 8-1

Serological and Molecular Identification of Brucella spp. in Pigs from Cairo and Giza Governorates, Egypt

Brucellosis is considered as endemic disease of animals and humans since thousands of years in Egypt. However, brucellosis in pigs has never been reported in Egypt. Thus, serological and molecular assays were applied to detect anti-Brucella antibodies and DNA in serum samples collected from pigs. In total 331 blood samples collected from male and female pigs at slaughterhouses of Cairo and Giza governorates were investigated using Brucella c- and i-ELISA and Brucella real-time PCR. Anti-Brucella antibodies were detected in 16 (4.83%) and 36 (10.8%) sera by i-ELISA and c-ELISA, respectively. Brucella DNA was detected in 10 (3.02%) seropositive samples and identified as Brucella melitensis (7/10) and Brucella suis (3/10). A higher prevelance was found in boars. This is the first study investigating pig brucellosis in Egypt. The results of this study will raise awareness for brucellosis in these farm animals and will help to develop effective control strategies

Epigenetic harnessing of HCV via modulating the lipid droplet-protein, TIP47, in HCV cell models

AbstractThis study aimed at identifying potential microRNAs that modulate hepatic lipid droplets (LD) through targeting the Tail interacting protein of 47kDa (TIP47) in HCV infection.Bioinformatics analysis revealed that miR-148a and miR-30a potentially target TIP47. Expression profiling showed that both microRNAs were downregulated, while TIP47 was upregulated in liver biopsies of HCV-infected patients. Forcing the expression of both microRNAs in JFH-I infected, oleic acid-treated Huh7 cells, significantly suppressed TIP47 expression and reduced cellular LDs with marked decrease in viral RNA. This study shows that miR-148a and miR-30a, regulate TIP47 expression and LDs in HCV infected cells

2019 ARIA Care pathways for allergic rhinitis – Egypt

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CXCR 3 expression on CD4+T cells and in renal tissue of pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Background: Pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE) accounts for about 20% of all cases of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), with nephritis occurring in approximately 50% of the patients. Objective: to evaluate the expression of CXCR3 in the kidneys and on CD4+ T cells in pSLE. Methods: This study was conducted on 45 patients with pSLE following up at the Allergy and Immunology Clinic, Children’s Hospital, Ain Shams University and 45 age and sex matched healthy children as a control group. Medical history, clinical examination and routine laboratory investigations for assessment of disease activity were done for all patients, the frequency of CXCR3, CD4+ T cells was determined in all patients and controls. Twenty-five Paraffin blocks of patients with lupus nephritis (LN) (available at the time of the study) underwent immunohistochemistry staining for the frequencies of Chemokine C receptor (CXCR3). Results: The absolute level and percentage of serum CD4+CXCR3+ were significantly lower among our patients as compared to healthy controls. A significant direct correlation was found between serum CD4+CXCR3+ and both the lymphocytic count and quantitative Systemic Lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI), as well as a significant inverse correlation between it and 24 hours urinary proteins. Variable degrees of CXCR3expression seemed to have no impact on laboratory tests, British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) score and cumulative doses of Immunosuppressives. Conclusion: Serum CD4+CXCR3+ and not renal CXCR3 may be a potential marker of LN activity