Prisutnost gena za toksine bakterije Clostridium perfringens izdvojene iz deva i ljudi u Egiptu

Clostridium perfringens is a saprozoonotic bacterium which causes food poisoning and wound infections in humans and enterotoxemia in animals. Camels are a common food animal in Egypt. There is a lack of available literature on genotypes of C. perfringens strains recovered from camels and humans in Egypt. So, the present study aims to detect some toxins genes in the circulating C. perfringens strains in man and camels. The multiplex PCR assay is effective and simpler and may be a useful alternative to standard in vivo typing methods. A total of 210 samples including 150 from camels (75 stool and 75 carcass swabs) and 60 human stools (40 diarrheic and 20 non- diarrheic) were collected from Zagazig Abattoir and Zagazig General Hospital, respectively. The samples were examined for isolation of C. perfringens then toxins genes were detected by multiplex PCR assay, using six pair primers to amplify the target genes. C. perfringens was isolated from camel stools, meat swabs, diarrheic and non-diarrheic human stool samples at the rate of 20/75 (26.7%), 2/75 (2.7%), 15/40 (37.5%) and 3/20 (15%), respectively. Multiplex PCR assay was performed to detect some toxin genes: alpha (cpa), beta (cpb), iota (iap), epsilon (etx) enterotoxin (cpe) and beta 2 (cpb2) in the isolates (No=40). The obtained results revealed that C. perfringens types A, B, C, D and E in the present study were detected at the rate of 26/40 (65.0%), 4/40 (10.0%), 1/40 (2.5%), 1/40 (2.5%) and 0/40 (0%), respectively. Eight C. perfringens isolates were negative to the toxin genes indicating that they are non-toxigenic. Two human enteritis strains of C. perfringens type A were positive to cpe and another two strains were cpb2 positive. The present study indicates that C. perfringens harboring toxin genes are prevalent in camels and humans in Egypt. The most common circulating C. perfringens strains in camels and humans were C. perfringens type A. Further research is needed to study the molecular relationship between C. perfringens from camels and human strains to trace the source of infection.Clostridium perfringens je saprozoonotska bakterija koja uzrokuje otrovanje hranom i infekcije rana u ljudi te enterotoksemije u životinja. Uobičajeno je da se deve u Egiptu rabe za prehranu ljudi. U literaturi nema podataka o genotipovima sojeva bakterije C. perfringens izdvojenima iz deva i ljudi u Egiptu pa je ovo istraživanje usredotočeno na neke gene za toksine u sojeva te bakterije koji kruže u ljudi i deva. Višestruka lančana reakcija polimerazom učinkovita je i jednostavna metoda koja se može rabiti umjesto standardnih metoda tipizacije in vivo. Ukupno je bilo prikupljeno 210 uzoraka, od čega 150 iz deva (75 uzoraka fecesa i 75 obrisaka iz trupala) na klaonici u Zalazigu te 60 uzoraka stolice ljudi (40 s proljevom i 20 bez proljeva) u Općoj bolnici u Zalazigu. Uzorci su bili pretraženi na prisutnost vrste C. perfringens, a u izolatima su dokazivani geni višestrukom lančanom reakcijom polimerazom upotrebom parnih početnica specifičnih za određeni gen. C. perfringens je bi izdvojen iz 20/75 (26,7%) uzoraka fecesa deva, 2/75 (2,7%) uzoraka mesa, 15/40 (37,5%) uzoraka stolice ljudi s proljevom i 3/20 (15%) uzoraka stolice ljudi bez proljeva. Višestruka lančana reakcija polimerazom rabljena je za dokaz gena za neke toksine: alfa (cpa), beta (cpb), jota (iap), epsilon (cpe) enterotoksin (etx) i beta 2 (cpb2) u ukupno 40 izolata. Rezultati pokazuju da je tip A bakterije C. perfringens bio dokazan u 26/40 (65,0%) uzoraka, tip B u 4/40 (10,0%), tip C u 1/40 (2,5%), tip D u 1/40 (2,5%), a tip E nije bio ustanovljen ni u jednom uzorku. Osam izolata je bilo negativno na toksinske gene što znači da nisu bili toksigeni. Dva soja izdvojena iz ljudi s enteritisom bila su pozitivna za gen cpe, a druga dva za cpb2. Istraživanje pokazuje da se C. perfringens nositelj toksinskih gena javlja u deva i ljudi u Egiptu. Najčešće dokazani sojevi u ljudi i deva bili su oni tipa A. Daljnja istraživanja potrebna su za određivanje srodnosti između sojeva bakterije C. perfringens iz deva i ljudi da bi se mogao ustanoviti izvor zaraze

Diagnosis of exudative pleural effusion using ultrasound guided versus medical thoracoscopic pleural biopsy

AbstractIntroductionMedical thoracoscopy increases the diagnostic yield in patients with non-diagnosed pleural effusion when thoracocentesis and closed pleural biopsy (CPB) are non-diagnostic. Chest ultrasound (US) is a very useful imaging method for pleural diseases and the technique of ultra sound-guided cutting biopsy with a tru-cut needle has been well described.Aim of the workThe aim of this work was to diagnose exudative pleural effusion using ultrasound guided versus medical thoracoscopic pleural biopsy.Subjects and methodsForty patients with, non-diagnosed exudative pleural effusion admitted to the chest department, Alexandria university hospital, were enrolled after obtaining informed consents. All patients were subjected to; full history taking, thorough clinical examination, laboratory investigations including prothrombin activity and INR, biochemical, pathological and microbiological evaluation of the pleural aspirate and radiological evaluation. Then the patients were divided (randomly) into 2 groups each containing 20 patients. Pleural biopsies were performed using medical rigid thoracoscopy on group 1 and ultrasound guided tru-cut pleural biopsy on group 2.ResultsThe mean age in-group I was 55.0±13.05years and in-group II was 52.60±17.77years. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding age, sex, smoking, marital status and past medical conditions. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding radiological findings. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the pleural fluid analysis. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the gross pleural findings. In group II non- specific pleurisy was found in 5 (25.0%) patients (by thoracoscopy 1 of them was finally diagnosed as metastatic deposits from adenocarcinoma of unknown primary, one was confirmed to be tuberculous pleurisy and the remaining 3 cases were confirmed to be non- specific pleurisy). As regards complications in-group I, local wound infection occurred in 1 (5.0%) patient, and empyema occurred in 1 (5.0%) patient. In-group II, local wound infection occurred in 1 (5.0%) patient, and empyema occurred in 1 (5.0%) patient.ConclusionIt is better to use thoracoscopy in cases of undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion presented with a sufficient amount of pleural fluid to avoid lung injury while inserting the trocar. Whereas, ultrasound guided tru-cut pleural biopsy may be used in cases of undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion presented with thickened pleura but with an insufficient amount of pleural fluid

An Investigation of the Sensing Capabilities of Magnetotactic Bacteria

We investigate the sensing capabilities of magnetotactic bacteria (Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense strain MSR1) to MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Cancer cells are allowed to grow inside a capillary tube with depth of 200 μ m and motion of magnetotactic bacteria is investigated under the influence of oxygen gradient and geomagnetic field. The influence of cancer cells is modeled to predict the oxygen gradient within the capillary tube in three-dimensional space. Our experimental motion analysis and count of motile magnetotactic bacteria indicate that they migrate towards less-oxygenated regions within the vicinity of cancer cells. Bands of magnetotactic bacteria with average concentration of 18.8±2.0% are observed in close proximity to MCF-7 cells (h = 20~ μ m), whereas the concentration at proximity of 190~ μ m is 5.0 ± 6.8%

Combination of Human Amniotic Fluid Derived-Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Nano-hydroxyapatite Scaffold Enhances Bone Regeneration

BACKGROUND: Human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells (hAF-MSCs) have a high proliferative capacity and osteogenic differentiation potential in vitro. The combination of hAF-MSCs with three-dimensional (3D) scaffold has a promising therapeutic potential in bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Selection of an appropriate scaffold material has a crucial role in a cell supporting and osteoinductivity to induce new bone formation in vivo. AIM: This study aimed to investigate and evaluate the osteogenic potential of the 2nd-trimester hAF-MSCs in combination with the 3D scaffold, 30% Nano-hydroxyapatite chitosan, as a therapeutic application for bone healing in the induced tibia defect in the rabbit. SUBJECT AND METHODS: hAF-MSCs proliferation and culture expansion was done in vitro, and osteogenic differentiation characterisation was performed by Alizarin Red staining after 14 & 28 days. Expression of the surface markers of hAF-MSCs was assessed using Flow Cytometer with the following fluorescein-labelled antibodies: CD34-PE, CD73-APC, CD90-FITC, and HLA-DR-FITC. Ten rabbits were used as an animal model with an induced defect in the tibia to evaluate the therapeutic potential of osteogenic differentiation of hAF-MSCs seeded on 3D scaffold, 30% Nano-hydroxyapatite chitosan. The osteogenic differentiated hAF-MSCs/scaffold composite system applied and fitted in the defect region and non-seeded scaffold was used as control. The histopathological investigation was performed at 2, 3, & 4 weak post-transplantation and scanning electron microscope (SEM) was assessed at 2 & 4 weeks post-transplantation to evaluate the bone healing potential in the rabbit tibia defect. RESULTS: Culture and expansion of 2nd-trimester hAF-MSCs presented high proliferative and osteogenic potential in vitro. Histopathological examination for the transplanted hAF-MSCs seeded on the 3D scaffold, 30% Nano-hydroxyapatite chitosan, demonstrated new bone formation in the defect site at 2 & 3 weeks post-transplantation as compared to the control (non-seeded scaffold). Interestingly, the scaffold accelerated the osteogenic differentiation of AF-MSCs and showed complete bone healing of the defect site as compared to the control (non-seeded scaffold) at 4 weeks post-transplantation. Furthermore, the SEM analysis confirmed these findings. CONCLUSION: The combination of the 2nd-trimester hAF-MSCs and 3D scaffold, 30% Nano-hydroxyapatite chitosan, have a therapeutic perspective for large bone defect and could be used effectively in bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Environmental, maternal, and reproductive risk factors for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Egypt : a case-control study

BACKGROUND\ud Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer. The exact cause is not known in most cases, but past epidemiological research has suggested a number of potential risk factors. This study evaluated associations between environmental and parental factors and the risk for ALL in Egyptian children to gain insight into risk factors in this developing country.\ud METHODS\ud We conducted a case-control design from May 2009 to February 2012. Cases were recruited from Children's Cancer Hospital, Egypt (CCHE). Healthy controls were randomly selected from the general population to frequency-match the cumulative group of cases by sex, age groups (<1; 1 - 5; >5 - 10; >10 years) and region of residence (Cairo metropolitan region, Nile Delta region (North), and Upper Egypt (South)). Mothers provided answers to an administered questionnaire about their environmental exposures and health history including those of the father. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using logistic regression with adjustment for covariates.\ud RESULTS\ud Two hundred ninety-nine ALL cases and 351 population-based controls frequency-matched for age group, gender and location were recruited. The risk of ALL was increased with the mother's use of medications for ovulation induction (ORadj = 2.5, 95 % CI =1.2 -5.1) and to a lesser extend with her age (ORadj = 1.8, 95 % CI = 1.1 - 2.8, for mothers ≥ 30 years old). Delivering the child by Cesarean section, was also associated with increased risk (ORadj = 2.01, 95 % CI =1.24-2.81).\ud CONCLUSIONS\ud In Egypt, the risk for childhood ALL appears to be associated with older maternal age, and certain maternal reproductive factors

Characterization of greater middle eastern genetic variation for enhanced disease gene discovery

The Greater Middle East (GME) has been a central hub of human migration and population admixture. The tradition of consanguinity, variably practiced in the Persian Gulf region, North Africa, and Central Asia1-3, has resulted in an elevated burden of recessive disease4. Here we generated a whole-exome GME variome from 1,111 unrelated subjects. We detected substantial diversity and admixture in continental and subregional populations, corresponding to several ancient founder populations with little evidence of bottlenecks. Measured consanguinity rates were an order of magnitude above those in other sampled populations, and the GME population exhibited an increased burden of runs of homozygosity (ROHs) but showed no evidence for reduced burden of deleterious variation due to classically theorized ‘genetic purging’. Applying this database to unsolved recessive conditions in the GME population reduced the number of potential disease-causing variants by four- to sevenfold. These results show variegated genetic architecture in GME populations and support future human genetic discoveries in Mendelian and population genetics

Measuring routine childhood vaccination coverage in 204 countries and territories, 1980-2019 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020, Release 1

Background Measuring routine childhood vaccination is crucial to inform global vaccine policies and programme implementation, and to track progress towards targets set by the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) and Immunization Agenda 2030. Robust estimates of routine vaccine coverage are needed to identify past successes and persistent vulnerabilities. Drawing from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020, Release 1, we did a systematic analysis of global, regional, and national vaccine coverage trends using a statistical framework, by vaccine and over time. Methods For this analysis we collated 55 326 country-specific, cohort-specific, year-specific, vaccine-specific, and dosespecific observations of routine childhood vaccination coverage between 1980 and 2019. Using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, we produced location-specific and year-specific estimates of 11 routine childhood vaccine coverage indicators for 204 countries and territories from 1980 to 2019, adjusting for biases in countryreported data and reflecting reported stockouts and supply disruptions. We analysed global and regional trends in coverage and numbers of zero-dose children (defined as those who never received a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis [DTP] vaccine dose), progress towards GVAP targets, and the relationship between vaccine coverage and sociodemographic development. Findings By 2019, global coverage of third-dose DTP (DTP3; 81.6% [95% uncertainty interval 80.4-82 .7]) more than doubled from levels estimated in 1980 (39.9% [37.5-42.1]), as did global coverage of the first-dose measles-containing vaccine (MCV1; from 38.5% [35.4-41.3] in 1980 to 83.6% [82.3-84.8] in 2019). Third- dose polio vaccine (Pol3) coverage also increased, from 42.6% (41.4-44.1) in 1980 to 79.8% (78.4-81.1) in 2019, and global coverage of newer vaccines increased rapidly between 2000 and 2019. The global number of zero-dose children fell by nearly 75% between 1980 and 2019, from 56.8 million (52.6-60. 9) to 14.5 million (13.4-15.9). However, over the past decade, global vaccine coverage broadly plateaued; 94 countries and territories recorded decreasing DTP3 coverage since 2010. Only 11 countries and territories were estimated to have reached the national GVAP target of at least 90% coverage for all assessed vaccines in 2019. Interpretation After achieving large gains in childhood vaccine coverage worldwide, in much of the world this progress was stalled or reversed from 2010 to 2019. These findings underscore the importance of revisiting routine immunisation strategies and programmatic approaches, recentring service delivery around equity and underserved populations. Strengthening vaccine data and monitoring systems is crucial to these pursuits, now and through to 2030, to ensure that all children have access to, and can benefit from, lifesaving vaccines. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types