Association of E-Cadherin Gene 3_-UTR C/T Polymorphism with Endometriosis

Endometriosis (EM) is one of the most frequent diseases in gynecology; endometriotic cells display invasive characteristics,despite their benign histological appearance. Epithelial-cadherin (Ecadherin)is a cell-cell adhesive molecule which maintains cell integrity and communication between the intracellular and extracellular world. We investigated the relation between E-cadheringene 3-untranslated region (3-UTR) C/T polymorphism and EM in100 Egyptian women with EM and 100 women without EM. Thepolymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to identify the digestible (C) and undigestible(T) polymorphism and compare the genotypes and allelic frequencies of this gene in both groups. The C allele frequency was significantly higher in the EM group than in the control group (odds ratio = 4.38,95% confidence interval = 2.78–6.90), and the C/C and C/T genotype frequencies were significantly higher in the EM group than in the control group. E-cadherin gene 3-UTR C/T polymorphism is a useful marker for predicting susceptibility to EM.Keywords: Endometriosis, Epithelial-cadherin, 3-untranslated regionC/T polymorphis

Adjunctive Green Thermal Laser Photocoagulation for Treatment of Resistant Infectious Keratitis

Mohamed H Nasef, Sharif Y El Emam, Amr F Sharaf, Waleed A Allam Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, EgyptCorrespondence: Mohamed H NasefOphthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, EgyptTel +201002826555Email [email protected]: To investigate the safety and efficacy of green thermal laser as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of resistant infectious keratitis (IK) in the Delta region of Egypt.Methods: A retrospective case series of 150 patients, within a 4 year duration, with resistant IK, who failed to respond to specific medical treatment alone for 7 days, were included. They all received green thermal laser photocoagulation treatment to the cornea as an adjunctive to medical treatment.Results: Forty-eight women and 102 men were included in this study with a mean age of 46.2 ± 7.7 years. Common risk factors associated with IK included trauma by material of plant origin and contact lens wear. The mean duration of healing was 2.87 ± 0.7 weeks. A single session of green thermal laser application was adequate in 138 IK cases (92%), while 12 cases (8%) required an additional session a week later. Supplementary amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) was required in 26 cases (17.3%). Two patients (1.3%) required tectonic keratoplasty for corneal perforation. The final corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was counting fingers (CF) or better in 78 patients (52%). No decrease of CDVA was reported throughout the study.Conclusion: Green thermal laser is a safe and effective adjunctive therapy for the treatment of resistant infectious keratitis.Keywords: laser, resistant keratitis, infectious keratitis, corne