INCREASED URINARY 8-OXO-7,8-DIHYDRO-2′-DEOXYGUANOSINE EXCRETION IN A SAMPLE OF EGYPTIAN CHILDREN WITH BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR: MARKER FOR LIPID PEROXIDATION-INDUCED DNA DAMAGE

Objective: The objective of this research was to evaluate oxidative stress status in children with β-thalassemia major.Methods: Our study was conducted in children with β-thalassemia aged from 5 to 15 years. Investigate the urinary excretion of human 8-oxo-7,8- dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine, which will be analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To investigate serum levels of antioxidant enzymes include glutathione s-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT).Results: We found a significant elevation of the urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine level with p=0.001 compared to control group, a significant reduction of both GST and CAT p=0.05 and 0.03, respectively, compared to control group. There was a significant negative correlation between urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanisine and CAT level, r=−0.378, p=0.016, hemoglobin - r=−0.610, p=0.001, hematocrit (%) - r=−0.478, p=0.002, while a significant positive correlation between urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanisine and alanine aminotransferase - r=0.547, p=0.001, and serum ferritin - r=0.391, p=0.013. There was a significant negative correlation between CAT and serum ferritin - r=−0.320, p=0.44.Conclusion: We conclude that the strongly increased urinary excretion 8-oxo-7,8=dihydro-2′-deoxyguanisine indicates elevated lipid peroxidation induced DNA damage in internal organs such as the liver. These highly pro mutagenic lesions may contribute to the increased risk of thalassemia patients to develop hepatocellular carcinoma

Alarming Eating Behaviours among Adolescents in Egypt

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a phase of rapid growth and increased nutritional needs. It includes the stressful burden of pubertal changes, both physically and psychologically. Moreover, it is associated with the utmost need for independence and identity formation. An adolescent finds a great way to practice taking their own decisions by making personal food choices. But unfortunately, wrong dietary choices lead to unsatisfactory nutritional status. AIM: To investigate the prevalence of six eating behaviours among adolescents. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on ninety Egyptian adolescents from 10 to 18 years old. Anthropometric measurements were taken. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. The cases were forty-five children with body mass index ≥ 85th percentile. The control group involved forty-five of matched peers with body mass index ˂ 85th centile. A questionnaire form was constructed according to local customs in Egypt. RESULTS: Two unhealthy behaviours were mostly found in our study group. The first and the predominant one was multitasking while eating practised by 92.1% of candidates and showing the equal distribution in both groups. The second was skipping breakfast and was adopted by 51.7% of the study group with a significantly higher distribution in the ˂ 85th centile group. CONCLUSION: Faulty eating is a behaviour encountered in adolescence irrespective to BMI category. Thus, a normal BMI does not reflect healthy dietary behaviours

URINARY MARKERS OF OXIDATIVE DNA DAMAGE IN TYPE 1 DIABETIC CHILDREN: RELATION TO MICROVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS

  Objective: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a widespread metabolic disease, which frequently carries with it a significant impact on human health. Oxidative damage and tissue inflammation have been claimed to be a typical pathogenic component for the progression of diabetic complications. We aim in this study to explore the relation of urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) (as a marker of nucleic acid oxidation) to microvascular complications in T1DM.Methods: A case–control study, enrolling 45 T1DM children and an equivalent number of healthy subjects, was performed. Full clinical examination and anthropometric measurement were performed to all subjects. Urinary assessment for 8-oxodG and albumin was done in addition to blood sampling for lipid profile and glycated Hb (HbA1c) assay. Complete ocular examination for assessment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) was also done.Results: Levels of urinary 8-oxodG, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein in cases were significantly higher than non-diabetics; these levels were likewise higher in uncontrolled T1DM patients in comparison with well-controlled T1DM subjects. Urinary 8-oxodG and HbA1c were significantly higher in diabetic patients with albuminuria and DR compared to patients without complications. Significant positive correlation was found between 8-oxodG with HbA1c (r=0.8, p<0.01), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r=0.4, p=0.02), and cholesterol (r=0.4, p=0.05).Conclusion: Urinary 8-oxodG was found to be a reliable marker for assessing oxidative DNA damage in T1DM and can be used in the determination of microvascular complications related to diabetes

Vitamin D Status in Neonatal Pulmonary Infections: Relationship to Inflammatory Indicators

AIM: The study aimed to evaluate serum vitamin D concentrations among neonates with pneumonia. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled 33 neonates with pneumonia in addition to 30 healthy controls. CBC, CRP, Serum vitamin D and Pentraxin 3 levels were measured for all participants. RESULTS: There was significant difference between patients and controls regarding Hemoglobin levels, TLC and CRP (p value < 0.01, = 0.002, < 0.01 respectively). Patients with pneumonia showed significant lower levels of Vit. D (9 ± 2.1) compared to controls (14.1 ± 2.8), P value < 0.01. However, patient group had significant higher levels of Pentraxin 3 (29.1 ± 4.8) compared with controls (12.6 ± 3), P value < 0.01. Moreover, mechanically ventilated patients revealed significant lower vit D (7.7 ± 1.8) and higher pentraxin 3 (32.2 ± 2.6) compared to patients on free oxygen (9.1 ± 2.1, 26.4 ± 3.7 respectively), P value = 0.05, 0.02 respectively. Regarding hospital stay, it had significant positive correlation with serum pentraxin 3 (r = 0.6, P value < 0.01) and significant negative correlation with serum vit D (r = -0.4, P value = 0.04). Finally a significant negative correlation between serum levels of vitamin D and Pentraxin 3 was found (r = -0.4, P value = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Lower concentration of serum vitamin D may be significantly associated with neonatal pneumonia. It also can predict the need for mechanical ventilation and duration of hospital stay in neonatal pneumonia. Similarly, higher levels of Pentraxin 3 may be used as an indicator for mechanical ventilation need and a longer hospital stay in neonates with pneumonia

Potential Risk Factors of Developmental Cognitive Delay in the First Two Years of Life

BACKGROUND: The first two years of life constitute a critical period of rapid change. The events during this phase prepare the child for subsequent developmental competency.AIM: To determine the potential risk factors that affect an infant’s cognitive development in the first two years of life in a sample of Egyptian infantsSUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional comparative study included 655 male and female infants. Their age ranged from 3 – 24 months. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley III) were used for cognitive assessment. Perinatal and nutritional data were recorded. Levels of serum Zinc, Copper, Iron, vitamin B12 and complete blood count (CBC) were assessed in a subsample of 193 infants.RESULTS: Infants having below the average cognitive composite score (CCS) represented 38.47% of the whole sample. The risk of having a low average (CCS) was determined by multiple factors. Poor maternal education and low family income were the most significant social risk factors (OR = 2.19, p = 0.0003; OR = 1.64, p = 0.002 respectively). Prematurity and complicated labor represented significant perinatal risks (OR = 1.22, p = 0.005; OR = 2.39, p =0.001respectively). Bottle feeding versus breastfeeding in the first six months of life was the most significant nutritional predictor of low average (CCS) (OR = 1.79, p = 0.001). Infants with low average (CCS) had significantly lower levels of serum zinc and vitamin B12 than those with average scores. CONCLUSION: Multiple factors appear to interact affecting the early cognitive development of Egyptian infants. Prematurity, complicated labour, poor maternal education, low family income and micronutrient deficiency are the main risk factors. Studying these factors is of great value in directing governmental intervention efforts

The Interaction of Social, Physical and Nutritive Factors in Triggering Early Developmental Language Delay in a Sample of Egyptian Children

BACKGROUND: Language acquisition and child development during the early years of life depend on multiple interacting factors. AIM: To explore potential factors that can impact language development in 2 groups of Egyptian children, one with normal language development and the second with delayed development. Also, to explore to what extent can the involvement of impaired motor development potentiate the risk of developmental language delay. METHODS: This cross-sectional case-control study involved Egyptian children belonging to the middle socioeconomic class between 18 and 36 months of age. Children were classified according to their performance on language domain of Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III) into two groups, infants with the average or above score (control group) and those having below-average scores (cases). Motor development was assessed on the same scale. Factors affecting language development were tested, including socio-demographic, obstetric, and maternal medical factors in addition to Infant Feeding Practices. RESULTS: The independent factors lowering the language scores were early introduction of complementary food, low family income, history of delivery problems, pregnancy-related diseases of the mother, and maternal education. Impaired motor development appears as a further highly significant risk factor to the previously mentioned factors CONCLUSION: In Egyptian children, delayed language development is severely affected by the interaction of medical, social and nutritional factors. Providing adequate maternal health care during pregnancy and childbirth, regular developmental monitoring at each child visit, and screening for such risk factors, can reduce size of the problem and promote child’s social and psychological development

Serological Evidence of Human Infection with Avian Influenza A H7virus in Egyptian Poultry Growers.

Avian influenza viruses circulate widely in birds, with occasional human infections. Poultry-exposed individuals are considered to be at high risk of infection with avian influenza viruses due to frequent exposure to poultry. Some avian H7 viruses have occasionally been found to infect humans. Seroprevalence of neutralizing antibodies against influenza A/H7N7 virus among poultry-exposed and unexposed individuals in Egypt were assessed during a three-years prospective cohort study. The seroprevalence of antibodies (titer, ≥80) among exposed individuals was 0%, 1.9%, and 2.1% annually while the seroprevalence among the control group remained 0% as measured by virus microneutralization assay. We then confirmed our results using western blot and immunofluorescence assays. Although human infection with H7 in Egypt has not been reported yet, our results suggested that Egyptian poultry growers are exposed to avian H7 viruses. These findings highlight the need for surveillance in the people exposed to poultry to monitor the risk of zoonotic transmission of avian influenza viruses

Demographic and serological profile of H7 sero-positivie subjects.

<p>Antibody titers against H7 were tested using virus neutralization assay while antibodies against H1 and H3 were measured using hemagglutination inhibition assay.</p

Western blotting for H7 VMN positive sera and H7 seronegative sera against concentrated H7N7 virus.

<p>All H7 positive sera were positive by western blot and immunogenic peptides were visualized at 67, 56–50, and 45 kDa corresponding to viral HA, NP/NA and HA1 respectively. The molecular weights of such peptides were estimated by including a low molecular weight protein marker (M) in the same run. VMN seronegative samples were also negative by western blotting. 1–4 show examples of positive human sera, 5–6 show negative human sera. Positive and negative H7N7 rat seraresults are shown on the left.</p