Comparative studies on the effect of environmental pollution on secondary metabolite contents and genotoxicity of two plants in Asir area, Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To investigate the phytochemical contents and genotoxic effects of Ficus carica and Schinus molle grown in healthy and polluted environments in Asir area, Saudi Arabia.Methods: Extracts of the aerial parts of the plants were screened for phytochemical constituents. Genotoxicity tests were carried out in mice using Comet assay, micronucleus test and chromosomal analysis.Results: Extracts of the two plants grown in polluted soil showed elevations in phytochemical and heavy metal contents, when compared with extracts from non-polluted sites. In genotoxicity tests, F. carica and S. molle extracts produced significant increases in the number of micro-nucleated cells in mice, compared to control. Cytotoxicity tests showed that extracts from plants grown in non-polluted environments did not decrease polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) to normochromatic erythrocytes (NCE) ratio in bone marrow cells, relative to control. Mice in the vehicle control group showed some aberrant metaphases and a few aberrations per hundred metaphases.Conclusion: Pollution has significant effects on phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, and genotoxic potential of the two plants.Keywords:  Ficus carica, Schinus molle, Pollution, Genotoxicity, Total phenolic compounds, Total flavonoid

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

Membrane endothelial protein C receptor expression in renal tissue of pediatric lupus nephritis patients

Background: Lupus nephritis (LN) is more common and more severe is pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE). Endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) is an inducer of anti-apoptotic pathways in endothelial cells. Recent studies have taken elevated anti-injury biomarkers as EPCR into consideration regarding their roles to antagonize LN.Objectives: to evaluate the membrane expression of endothelial protein C receptor (mEPCR) in the renal microvasculature in pediatric patients with LN.Methods: This study was conducted on 25 patients with pSLE following up at the Allergy and Immunology Clinic, Children’s Hospital, Ain Shams University. The 25 patients have LN proved by a previous renal biopsy. Medical history, clinical examination and routine laboratory investigations for assessment of disease activity were done for all patients. Paraffin blocks of patients’ renal biopsies were subjected to immunohistochemistry staining for the frequency of mEPCR.Results: mEPCR was mainly expressed in the endothelium of the peritubular capillaries. Our results showed that an equal number of patients had nil and mild marker expression (8 patients each, 32%) while 9 patients (36%) showed moderate/strong marker expression. We found that 9 out of 10 (90%) of patients with class II had nil/mild marker expression, 5 patients out of 9 (55.5%) with class III had mild/moderate marker expression, while 5 patients 0ut of 6 (83.3%) with class IV and V had moderate/strong marker expression. We only found a significant statistical difference between the different degrees of mEPCR expression regarding 24 hours urinary proteins. No statistical significance was found between the different degrees of mEPCR expression and different immuno-suppressive therapy dose/kg or renal outcome using the renal British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) score; in spite that most of the patients who got improved had nil/mild marker expression.Conclusion: mEPCR -bearing a statistically significant difference in relation to different LN classes- showed more expression in the more aggressive classes; a finding which might suggest a contribution of the endothelium of the renal parenchyma to the pathophysiology of more progressive LN. Hence the tissue marker might emerge as a potential new therapeutic target in the search for more selective treatment for SLE.Keywords: p SLE, mEPCR, renal biopsy, immunohistochemistry, BILAG, lupus nephriti

The role of hepatic progenitor cells in predicting response to therapy in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 4

Background: Interferon therapy is used as a line of treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in several areas of the world including Egypt.Objective: Our aim was to investigate the value of hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) in predicting response of patients with chronic HCV, genotype 4 to pegylated interferon (PEGIFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) therapy.Methods: Pre-treatment liver biopsies obtained from 110 patients with chronic HCV, genotype 4 were examined immunohisto- chemically for HPCs using cytokeratin19. The mean number of HPCs as ductular reaction (DR) and as isolated progenitor cells (IPCs) was counted in each case. The patients were classified into: those with sustained virological response (SVR) and those who did not achieve SVR. The results were compared between the two groups. Also, the relationships between HPCs and other clinico-pathologic variables were estimated using multivariate analysis.Results: The mean number of HPCs was the only independent predictor of therapeutic response, being significantly higher in non-responders (P = 0 for DR and P = 0.03 for IPCs). On the other hand, fibrosis stage and steatosis were the only independent factors which showed a significant direct association with the mean number of HPCs in the form of DR and IPCs (P = 0 for each).Conclusion: The number of HPCs provides prognostic information in chronic HCV since it is significantly associated with stage of fibrosis. More importantly, it can be used as a marker to predict response of patients with chronic HCV to PEGIFN plus RBV therapy.Keywords: Chronic hepatitis C, genotype 4, response to therapy, hepatic progenitor cells

The role of hepatic progenitor cells in predicting response to therapy in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 4

Background: Interferon therapy is used as a line of treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in several areas of the world including Egypt. Objective: Our aim was to investigate the value of hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) in predicting response of patients with chronic HCV, genotype 4 to pegylated interferon (PEGIFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) therapy. Methods: Pre-treatment liver biopsies obtained from 110 patients with chronic HCV, genotype 4 were examined immunohistochemically for HPCs using cytokeratin19. The mean number of HPCs as ductular reaction (DR) and as isolated progenitor cells (IPCs) was counted in each case. The patients were classified into: those with sustained virological response (SVR) and those who did not achieve SVR. The results were compared between the two groups. Also, the relationships between HPCs and other clinico-pathologic variables were estimated using multivariate analysis. Results: The mean number of HPCs was the only independent predictor of therapeutic response, being significantly higher in non-responders (P = 0 for DR and P = 0.03 for IPCs). On the other hand, fibrosis stage and steatosis were the only independent factors which showed a significant direct association with the mean number of HPCs in the form of DR and IPCs (P = 0 for each). Conclusion: The number of HPCs provides prognostic information in chronic HCV since it is significantly associated with stage of fibrosis. More importantly, it can be used as a marker to predict response of patients with chronic HCV to PEGIFN plus RBV therapy. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.14 Cite as: Helal T El A, Radwan NA, Mahmoud HA, Zaki AME, Ahmed NS, Wahib AAA, et al. The role of hepatic progenitor cells in predicting response to therapy in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 4. Afri Health Sci. 2019;19(1). 1411-1421. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.1

Overview of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) situation in Egypt from 2017 to 2022

African horse sickness (AHS) is a non-contagious arthropod-borne infectious disease of Equidae. Because of its severity and quick spread, It is cosidered as a notifiable disease. The current study intended to look into the current suitation of the vector-borne African horse sickness virus (AHSV) in Egypt, determine viral seroprevelance, and assess the associated risk factors. In this context, 2739 sera and 150 spleen samples were collected from different Egyptian governorates and tested for AHSV screening. The sera were investigated for presence of antibodies against AHSV whilst spleen samples were tested for AHSV Ag and RNA detection. The obtained results revealed that all 2739 sera samples tested negative for AHSV antibodies. Furthermore, using ELISA and conventional reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), to identify AHSV Ag and nucleic acid, the 150 tested spleen samples gave negative results with both assays. In conclusion, the recorded results indicated the absence of antibodies, antigen, and viral nucleic acid of AHSV in all tested samples which proved that there is no circulating virus in the investigated Egyptian governorates in the period from 2017 to 2022. Evenually, the effective control programs are recommended by carrying out further epidemiological investigations to understand the current situation of arboviruses in the country

Overview of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) situation in Egypt from 2017 to 2022

African horse sickness (AHS) is a non-contagious arthropod-borne infectious disease of Equidae. Because of its severity and quick spread, It is cosidered as a notifiable disease. The current study intended to look into the current suitation of the vector-borne African horse sickness virus (AHSV) in Egypt, determine viral seroprevelance, and assess the associated risk factors. In this context, 2739 sera and 150 spleen samples were collected from different Egyptian governorates and tested for AHSV screening. The sera were investigated for presence of antibodies against AHSV whilst spleen samples were tested for AHSV Ag and RNA detection. The obtained results revealed that all 2739 sera samples tested negative for AHSV antibodies. Furthermore, using ELISA and conventional reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), to identify AHSV Ag and nucleic acid, the 150 tested spleen samples gave negative results with both assays. In conclusion, the recorded results indicated the absence of antibodies, antigen, and viral nucleic acid of AHSV in all tested samples which proved that there is no circulating virus in the investigated Egyptian governorates in the period from 2017 to 2022. Evenually, the effective control programs are recommended by carrying out further epidemiological investigations to understand the current situation of arboviruses in the country

Healthcare Providers' Perspective about the Use of Telemedicine in Egypt: A National Survey.

Incorporation of telemedicine in general clinical practice is becoming a compelling need nowadays in the context of COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent burdens on the healthcare systems. Though telemedicine appears to be appealing and carries a lot of advantages, yet it is still faced by many challenges and barriers especially in developing countries. Our aim was to explore the impression of healthcare providers about telemedicine and its applicability in clinical practice in Egypt. A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare providers from different Egyptian governorates through a web-based survey. The survey gathered information about demographic, socioeconomic features of the enrolled healthcare participants; their knowledge, previous experience, impression about telemedicine, advantages of telemedicine over traditional medical services, barriers that may face telemedicine, and additional services that can be provided by telemedicine were also explored. Our study enrolled 642 healthcare providers from all over Egypt, 43.77% were females, of which 55.5% were physicians, 27.3% were nurses, 6.1% were technicians, 7.6% were administrative clerks, and 3.6% were medical directors. Sixty-four percent of participants reported that they have never used telemedicine. Smartphones were the most commonly used mean in the group who used telemedicine (65%), and smartphone applications were the favorable telemedicine service for about 50% of participants. Participants assumed that the use of telemedicine might not have a negative effect on the doctor-patient relationship but raised some concerns regarding the privacy and security of patients' data. Despite the fact that telemedicine appears to be appealing and widely accepted by healthcare providers, yet still, its implementation is confronted by some obstacles. Precise organizational guidelines need to be developed to clearly figure out the exact role of each healthcare provider to minimize their doubtfulness about telemedicine and to facilitate its adoption

The diagnostic value of arginase-1 immunostaining in differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma from metastatic carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma as compared to HepPar-1

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ability to distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from metastatic carcinoma (MC) involving the liver and cholangiocarcinoma (CC) by immunohistochemistry has been limited by the lack of a reliable positive marker for hepatocellular differentiation. Arginase-1 is a marker for HCC recently described in some literature.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>To examine the immunohistochemical staining of arginase-1 in cases of HCC, MC involving the liver and CC as compared to hepatocyte paraffin antigen -1 (HepPar-1) in an attempt to further define the diagnostic utility of arginase-1 in differentiating these tumors.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>A comparative immunohistochemical study of arginase-1 and HepPar-1expression was performed in 50 HCC cases, 38 cases of MC to the liver from varying sites, 12 cases of CC and 10 specimens of normal liver tissues. The predictive capacity of arginase-1 and HepPar-1 staining was determined using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value calculations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All normal liver tissues (no=10), non- neoplastic cirrhotic liver tissues adjacent to HCC (no=42) as well as those adjacent to MC (no= 9) showed diffuse and strong immunostaining for both arginase-1 and HepPar-1. Arginase-1 demonstrated positive immunoreactivity in 42 of 50 (84%) cases of HCC compared with 35 of 50 (70%) for HepPar-1. Only one of 38 (2.6%) cases of MC and one of 12 (8.3%) cases of CC showed positive immunoreactivity for arginase-1. In contrast, HepPar-1 immunoreactivity was detected in 6 of 38 (15.8%) cases of MC and in 2 of 12 (16.7%) cases of CC. Arginase -1 showed a significantly higher sensitivity for HCC diagnosis (84%) compared to HepPar -1(70%) (p=0.016). The specificity of arginase-1 for HCC diagnosis was higher (96%) than that of HepPar -1 (84%); nevertheless, this was not statistically significant (p=0.109). Howerver, the combination of both immunomarkers for the diagnosis of HCC, raised the specificity to 100%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Arginase-1 immunostaining has a higher sensitivity and specificity than HepPar-1 for HCC diagnosis. Furthermore, the combined use of arginase-1 and HepPar-1 can provide a potentially promising tool to improve the accuracy in distinguishing HCC from metastatic carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma.</p> <p>Virtual slides</p> <p>The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: <url>http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/9991436558072434</url>.</p