Urinary hepcidin level as an early predictor of iron deficiency in children: A case control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ideal screening test would be capable of identifying iron deficiency in the absence of anemia. We tried to detect role of urinary hepcidin-25 level in early prediction of iron deficiency in children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a case control study performed on 100 children in Hematology Unit of Pediatric Department, Zagazig University Hospital, Egypt. Our study included 25 cases of iron deficiency (ID) stage-1 (iron depletion), 25 cases ID stage-2 (iron-deficient erythropoiesis), 25 cases ID stage-3 (iron deficiency anemia) and 25 healthy children as a control group. Estimation of iron status parameters was done. Urinary hepcidin-25 level was detected.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Urinary hepcidin-25 level was significantly lower in all stages of iron deficiency than in control group, more significant reduction in its level was observed with the progress in severity of iron deficiency. Urinary hepcidin showed significant positive correlation with hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, hematocrit value, serum iron and ferritin and transferrin saturation. In contrary, it showed significant negative correlation with serum transferrin and total iron binding capacity.</p> <p>Urinary hepcidin at cutoff point ≤0.94 nmol/mmol Cr could Predict ID stage-1 with sensitivity 88% and specificity 88%. Cutoff point ≤0.42 nmol/mmol Cr could predict ID stage-2 with sensitivity 96% and specificity 92%. Cutoff point ≤0.08 nmol/mmol Cr could Predict ID stage-3 with Sensitivity 96% and specificity 100%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We can conclude that detection of urinary hepcidin-25 level was a simple and non invasive test and could predict iron deficiency very early, before appearance of hematological affections.</p

Assessment of Glutathione Peroxidase-1 (GPX1) Gene Expression as a Specific Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a malignant tumor of the mesothelial lining of the thorax. It has been related to frequent exposure to asbestos. Diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma is considered a criticizing problem for clinicians. Early diagnosis and sufficient surgical excision of MPM are considered the cornerstone success factors for the management of early MPM. Glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX1) is an intracellular protein found to be extensively distributed in all cells, and it belongs to the GPX group. In the current study, we included ninety-eight patients with MPM that underwent surgery at the Zagazig University Hospital in Egypt. We assessed GPX1 gene expression level as it was thought to be related to pathogenicity of cancer in a variety of malignant tumors. We observed a significant elevation in GPX1-mRNA levels in MPM relative to the nearby normal pleural tissues. It was found to be of important diagnostic specificity in the differentiation of MPM from normal tissues. Moreover, we studied the survival of patients in correlation to the GPX1 expression levels and we reported that median overall survival was about 16 months in patients with high GPX1 expression levels, while it was found to be about 40 months in low GPX1 levels

Evaluation of Serum and Pleural Levels of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin- 2 in Children with Transudative and Exudative Pleural Effusions

Objective: Angiopoietins are involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases. We tried to evaluate the application of pleural and serum Angiopoietin-1 and 2 in categorizing pleural effusions (PEs) into exudates and transudates in children. Methods: Pleural fluid (PF) and serum Angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and Ang-2 were measured in 80 children with PEs (40 transudative and 40 exudative) by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Findings: PF Ang-2 levels were significantly higher in pleural exudates than in transudates (P 0.012). PF Ang-2 levels were significantly higher than serum Ang-2 levels in patients with pleural exudates and transudates (P<0.001). PF Ang-2 levels were higher in tuberculous than in nontuberculous pneumonic PEs and empyema (P=0.01). PF Ang-2 levels correlate with serum Ang-2 levels (P<0.003). PF Ang-1 levels were significantly lower than serum Ang-1 levels both in patients with exudates and those with transudates (P<0.001). Cutoff points of serum and PF Ang-2, differentiating between transudative and exudative effusions were 3ng/ml and 8ng/ml respectively. Predictive potentials of serum and PF Ang-2 cutoff points were: Sensitivity 90% and 95% respectively, specificity 92.50% and 97.50% respectively, positive predictive value 92.30% and 97.40% respectively and negative predictive value 90.20% and 95.10% respectively. Conclusion: Ang-2 levels were elevated in exudative PEs and correlated with levels of markers of pleural inflammation and pleural vascular hyperpermeability. It could categorize PE to exudates and transudates with valuable discriminative properties. That was detected more obviously in pleural fluids than in serum

Prevalence of acute kidney injury in cardiac patients in the Intensive Care Unit

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) has consistently been associated with adverse clinical outcome after acute myocardial infarction (MI). In addition, AKI is well-known as a potent predictor of the clinical course in heart failure patients. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of AKI in patients with acute MI and congestive heart failure (CHF) in the ICU at Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt. Patients and methods This study included 100 patients with acute MI and 100 patients with CHF admitted to the ICU. They were subjected to careful history taking, thorough clinical examination, ECG and echocardiographic evaluation, and laboratory investigations, including cardiac enzyme evaluation, renal profile, and fasting blood glucose. Definitions of AKI depend on the measurement of serum creatinine as a surrogate marker for the glomerular filtration rate, in addition to the calculation of estimated glomerular filtration rate. Results The proportion of patients who experienced AKI was 47% in patients with CHF and 45% in patients with acute MI. They were significantly older in age (P=0.013 and 0.004, respectively). In CHF, patients with AKI had significantly higher fasting blood sugar (P=0.011), abnormal ECG changes (P=0.001), lower ejection fraction (P=0.034), and lower diastolic dysfunction (P=0.027). However, in acute MI, patients with AKI had significantly higher fasting blood sugar (P=0.013) and higher troponin I level (P=0.015). Conclusion The most important risk factors for AKI in patients with CHF are older age, higher frequency of diabetes mellitus, abnormal ECG changes, lower ejection fraction, and diastolic dysfunction. However, high troponin I and older age are the most important risk factors for AKI in patients with acute MI. Careful monitoring of susceptible patients in the ICU is recommended for early detection and management of AKI in those patients

Lignocellulosic Based Biochar Adsorbents for the Removal of Fluoride and Arsenic from Aqueous Solution: Isotherm and Kinetic Modeling

Eucalyptus wood is made up of lignocellulosic material; this lignocellulosic material contains two types of biopolymers, i.e., carbohydrate and aromatic polymers. In this study, this lignocellulosic material was used to prepare biochar. Three biochar, i.e., laboratory-based (B1), barrel-based (B2), and brick kiln-biochar (B3), were used for fluoride and arsenic removal from aqueous solution. Barrel-based biochar was prepared by using the two-barrel method&rsquo;s alteration. The highest fluoride removal (99%) was attained at pH 2 in the presence of B1, while in the presence of B2 and B3, maximum fluoride removal was 90% and 45.7%, respectively. At pH 10, the maximum arsenic removal in the presence of B1, B2, and B3 was 96%, 94%, and 93%, respectively. The surface characteristics obtained by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the presence of carbonyl group (C-O), and alkene (C=C) functional groups on all the three studied biochars. Isotherm studies showed that the adsorption was monolayered (all the adsorbed molecules were in contact with the surface layer of the adsorbent) as the Langmuir isotherm model best fits the obtained data. Adsorption kinetics was also performed. The R2 value supports the pseudo-second-order kinetics, which means that chemisorption was involved in adsorbing fluoride and arsenic. It is concluded that B1 gives maximum removal for both fluoride (99%) and arsenic (96%). The study shows that lignocellulose-based biochar can be used for arsenic and fluoride removal from water

Neutrophilia and its correlation with increased inflammatory response in COVID-19 in diabetic and pre-diabetic patients

Background: Hyperglycemic patients are at a high risk of COVID-19 severity. Neutrophils have been considered critical effector cells in COVID-19 development. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in hyperglycemic patients and was found to adversely associate with the neutrophil count. Aim: The goal of this work was to evaluate the characteristics of diabetic and pre-diabetic COVID-19 patients and discovered changes in neutrophils and their correlation, if any, with disease clinical presentation. Patients and Methods: The study included total of (514) Covid-19 positive patients confirmed by PCR and recruited from the Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Patient’s clinical characteristics were collected for all patients. Laboratory tests include HbA1c, neutrophil count, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), ferritin, D- dimer, 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), and folate. Results: The results found that 286 patients (55.6%) were diabetic, 77 patients (15%) were pre-diabetic and 151 (29.4%) were normoglycaemic. A significant difference was exhibited regarding the neutrophil count and inflammatory factors of COVID-19 severity. Furthermore, the neutrophil count was found to be directly correlated with the severity monitoring biochemical markers for Covid-19: CRP, ESR, ferritin, and D-dimer and inversely associated with vitamin D levels in diabetic and pre-diabetic patients. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the change of neutrophils in COVID-19 diabetic and pre-diabetic patients that was found to correlate positively with CRP, ESR, ferritin, and D-dimer, and negatively with 25(OH)D, but their correlation with the clinical presentation of the disease need further large investigations

Assessment of Glutathione Peroxidase-1 (GPX1) Gene Expression as a Specific Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a malignant tumor of the mesothelial lining of the thorax. It has been related to frequent exposure to asbestos. Diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma is considered a criticizing problem for clinicians. Early diagnosis and sufficient surgical excision of MPM are considered the cornerstone success factors for the management of early MPM. Glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX1) is an intracellular protein found to be extensively distributed in all cells, and it belongs to the GPX group. In the current study, we included ninety-eight patients with MPM that underwent surgery at the Zagazig University Hospital in Egypt. We assessed GPX1 gene expression level as it was thought to be related to pathogenicity of cancer in a variety of malignant tumors. We observed a significant elevation in GPX1-mRNA levels in MPM relative to the nearby normal pleural tissues. It was found to be of important diagnostic specificity in the differentiation of MPM from normal tissues. Moreover, we studied the survival of patients in correlation to the GPX1 expression levels and we reported that median overall survival was about 16 months in patients with high GPX1 expression levels, while it was found to be about 40 months in low GPX1 levels

Chemo-Blended Ag &amp; Fe Nanoparticles Effect on Growth, Physiochemical and Yield Traits of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

The application profile of nanotechnology is increasing due to its influential effects on the environment. Recently, this field has gained tremendous magnitude in the agriculture sector as a potential improving agent for plant growth, slow-release fertilizer, and targeted delivery of agrochemicals for sustainable crop productions. A study was designed with the aim to explore the potential effects of nanoparticles mixed with organic chemicals on the growth and physiochemical properties of wheat. Synthesized silver NPs and iron NPs were characterized through SEM and a particle analyzer, which confirmed the fine particles of a size &lt; 20 nm. The application of chemo-blended NPs enhanced plant height, shoot and root biomass and leaf area. Chlorophyll (a, b) and total chlorophyll contents were promoted with an application of blended NPs. Chemo-blended nanoparticles promoted total soluble sugars, total free amino acid contents and total protein contents of wheat. Antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase were significantly promoted with blended NPs. Yield related attributes were also promoted in response to nanoparticles blended with organic chemicals. These results suggest that the application of chemo-blended NPs may increase plant growth and development through the improvement of the physiochemical properties of wheat

Chemo-Blended Ag & Fe Nanoparticles Effect on Growth, Physiochemical and Yield Traits of Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i>)

The application profile of nanotechnology is increasing due to its influential effects on the environment. Recently, this field has gained tremendous magnitude in the agriculture sector as a potential improving agent for plant growth, slow-release fertilizer, and targeted delivery of agrochemicals for sustainable crop productions. A study was designed with the aim to explore the potential effects of nanoparticles mixed with organic chemicals on the growth and physiochemical properties of wheat. Synthesized silver NPs and iron NPs were characterized through SEM and a particle analyzer, which confirmed the fine particles of a size < 20 nm. The application of chemo-blended NPs enhanced plant height, shoot and root biomass and leaf area. Chlorophyll (a, b) and total chlorophyll contents were promoted with an application of blended NPs. Chemo-blended nanoparticles promoted total soluble sugars, total free amino acid contents and total protein contents of wheat. Antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase were significantly promoted with blended NPs. Yield related attributes were also promoted in response to nanoparticles blended with organic chemicals. These results suggest that the application of chemo-blended NPs may increase plant growth and development through the improvement of the physiochemical properties of wheat

Enhancing knowledge and practices toward Vitamin D deficiency through implementing awareness programs among medical science female students

Objectives Vitamin D (VD) deficiency has widespread prevalence worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, it is the most common form of public health problem with regard to malnutrition. This is because there is insufficient knowledge about negative VD practices. The current study aimed to evaluate VD deficiency knowledge and practices before and after the implementation of an awareness programme. Methods A quasi-experimental design was used for the study, which was conducted at the College of Applied Medical Science at Al-Baha University. A convenience sample encompassing all the female students in the Public Health Department was used ( n = 83 students). Two tools were used for data collection; the first was an intervention questionnaire to assess the students’ knowledge, and the second was a questionnaire concerned with students’ practices in preventing VD deficiency. Results The mean age of the students was 20.75 ± 7.85 years. Of the study’s subjects, 45.8% suffered from VD deficiency and 72.3% had a family history of VD deficiency. The study showed that there had been significant progress in students’ VD knowledge and behaviours following the programme. While 59% of the students had poor knowledge and 95.2% had unsatisfactory practices pre-intervention, 86.7% and 48.2% showed exemplary knowledge and a positive attitude towards VD, respectively, post-intervention. The scores achieved by the students had significantly changed ( p ≤ .01); compared to the knowledge and practice scores of 24.43 ± 7.21 out of 53 and 24.29 ± 5.23 out of 48, respectively, before the intervention, they were elevated to 46.89 ± 9.93 and 29.39 ± 14.23 following the awareness programme. Conclusion This type of health education programme can raise VD deficiency knowledge and improve practices. This study highlights the importance of holding public health awareness campaigns and recommends the creation of specifically designed booklets and leaflets for medical students and patients/visitors to hospital and public places