Sequencing of Rhinoviruses in Egyptian children with respiratory tract infections

Background: Human rhinoviruses (HRV) are one of the most common causes of upper respiratory tract infections among young children.  Human rhinoviruses have  a wide genetic diversity. They include three different species A, B and-C. Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) is considered to be  an important  cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates and children. Aim of the study:  To  detect  the common  subtypes of circulating HRV among Egyptian children with respiratory infections for  further epidemiological characterization. Methods: We enrolled 161 children admitted to Ain Shams Pediatric University Hospital complaining of respiratory tract infections.  Human rhinoviruses  were detected by RT-PCR. Sequencing of HRV was done based on viral proteins (VP4-VP2) genomic region analyses by RT-PCR. Results: HRV were detected in 54 cases (33.5%)with respiratory tract infections.Sixty-five (65) % of detected HRV was in children aged 5-10 years. Molecular sequencing  showed high prevalence of HRV-C (67%) followed by HRV-A (33%). Conclusion:  This study is from the first few studies that revealed diversity of HRV in Egypt. Different phylogenetic studies are needed to evaluate their diversity and to trace their spread and epidemiological origin

Prevalence of Sexual Long COVID (SLC) in Egypt: A Single Institute Study

Objectives: we conducted a cross section study to assess the prevalence and severity of ED among COVID-19 survivors presenting to andrology outpatients’ clinics, Kasr AlAiny hospital, faculty of medicine, Cairo university. Materials and Methods: a total of 1000 COVID-19 survivors were screened for ED using validated Arabic version of the international index of erectile function (ArIIEF-5) during the period between Jan 2022 till Jan 2023. All patients were previously diagnosed with positive PCR for COVID-19 infection at least 3 months before the time of data collection.   Result: we found that the prevalence of ED among COVID-19 survivors were 11.4%, mild ED in 7%, moderate in 3.2% and severe ED in 1.2%, severity of ED was not associated with demographic, clinical, laboratory and penile duplex characteristics. Conclusion: severity of ED among COVID-19 survivors showed no statistically significant association with demographics, depression, anxiety, penile duplex findings and hormonal disturbances

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10&nbsp;years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37&nbsp;years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Screening of strains of lactococci isolated from Egyptian dairy products for their proteolytic activity

International audienceA collection of cocci isolates (293) obtained from traditional Egyptian dairy products collected from four Egyptian regions yielded 151 Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) cocci isolates. Among them, 24 isolates were characterized as highly proteolytic. SDS-PAGE showed that 6 isolates were the most proteolytically active, which were classified into Enterococcus faecalis HH22 (4 isolates) and Enterococcus faecium DO623 (2 isolates). The proteolytic activity of Ent. faecalis was higher than that of Ent. faecium (particularly on [beta]-casein). The maximal degradation of milk proteins was achieved at pH 6.5-7.2 (Ent. faecalis) or pH 6.5 (Ent. faecium) and at 42 °C for both strains. The proteolytic activities of the two strains were inhibited mostly by the presence of EDTA, showing that their proteases belong mainly to metalloproteases. A slight inhibition of proteolysis by PMSF in the case of Ent. faecalis HH22 suggests a limited inclusion of serine proteases in its protease system

The effect of aromatase inhibitors on infertile men and its relation to sexual desire

Background: Aromatase inhibitors (AI) can boost endogenous testosterone production without increasing circulating estrogen levels, as shown with estrogen receptor modulators, Aim and Objectives: The study's goal was to determine the efficacy of aromatase inhibitor medication in improving spermatogenesis in oligozoospemic and azoospermic males, as well as its relationship to sexuality. Subjects and methods: This study was done on eighty man subjects joining the outpatient clinic of Andrology, Kasr El Aini Hospital, Cairo University during the peroid from April 2018 – April 2020, and they were divided into (2) groups, 40 subjects in each group. &nbsp;Results: There was a statistically significant difference in serum total testosterone measured before and after treatment in normal FSH patients with a p value ≤ 0.05. There was a notably not important change in sexual desire questionnaire measured before and after treatment in normal FSH patients with a p value &gt; 0.05, Conclusion: ERs and aromatase share topographic sites in the brain with pheromones, indicating that estrogen influences both early sexual maturation and sexual behavior in adults. Estrogen can maintain libido while also influencing the number of serotonin receptors in the brain, which modulates mood, mental state, cognition, and emotion

‘Poly phenolic phytoceutical loaded nano-bilosomes for enhanced caco-2 cell permeability and SARS-CoV 2 antiviral activity’: in-vitro and insilico studies

AbstractSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) predisposed to the emergence of worldwide catastrophe that impels the evolution of safe and effective therapeutic system. Polyphenols as resveratrol (RSV) exhibit a well evidenced antiviral activity. Unfortunately, like most phenolic nutraceuticals, RSV suffers from restrained solubility and massive degradation in GIT and liver which in turn prohibit its clinical use. Herein, PEGylated bilosomes (PBs) contain PEGylated edge activator along with the traditional components as (Span 60, cholesterol and bile salts) were proposed to boost both permeability and bioavailability of RSV. The investigation of the prominent effect of the diverse variables on the characteristics of the vesicles and picking of the optimum formula were conducted via construction of 23 factorial experiment. The appraisal of the formulae was conducted on the basis of entrapment efficiency percent (EE%), particle size (PS) and zeta potential (ZP). In addition, the spherical shaped optimal formula (F5) exhibited EE% of 86.1 ± 2.9%, PS of 228.9 ± 8.5 nm, and ZP of −39.8 ± 1.3 mV. The sorted optimum formula (F5) exhibited superior dissolution behaviors, and boosted Caco-2 cells cellular uptake by a round 4.7 folds relative to RSV dispersion. In addition, F5 demonstrated a complete in vitro suppression of SARS-CoV-2 at a concentration 0.48 μg/ml with 6.6 times enhancement in antiviral activity relative to RSV dispersion. The accomplished molecular modeling heavily provided proof for the possible interactions of resveratrol with the key residues of the SARS-CoV2 Mpro enzyme. Finally, F5 could be proposed as a promising oral panel of RSV for curation from SARS-CoV-2 infection

The effect of aromatase inhibitors on infertile men and its relation to sexual desire

Background: Aromatase inhibitors (AI) can boost endogenous testosterone production without increasing circulating estrogen levels, as shown with estrogen receptor modulators, Aim and Objectives: The study's goal was to determine the efficacy of aromatase inhibitor medication in improving spermatogenesis in oligozoospemic and azoospermic males, as well as its relationship to sexuality. Subjects and methods: This study was done on eighty man subjects joining the outpatient clinic of Andrology, Kasr El Aini Hospital, Cairo University during the peroid from April 2018 – April 2020, and they were divided into (2) groups, 40 subjects in each group.  Results: There was a statistically significant difference in serum total testosterone measured before and after treatment in normal FSH patients with a p value ≤ 0.05. There was a notably not important change in sexual desire questionnaire measured before and after treatment in normal FSH patients with a p value &gt; 0.05, Conclusion: ERs and aromatase share topographic sites in the brain with pheromones, indicating that estrogen influences both early sexual maturation and sexual behavior in adults. Estrogen can maintain libido while also influencing the number of serotonin receptors in the brain, which modulates mood, mental state, cognition, and emotion

Characterization of a new isolate of Lactobacillus fermentum IFO 3956 from Egyptian Ras cheese with proteolytic activity

International audienceMore than 200 isolates were obtained from 15 Egyptian traditional dairy products (Domiatti cheese, Ras cheese and Rayeb milk) collected from local markets of Alexandria, Tanta and Kafr El-Sheikh. Examination with optical microscope of these dairy samples allowed to classify 92 bacilli, 64 of which were identified as lactobacilli. The proteolytic activity of lactobacilli isolates was tested on skim milk agar. Eight isolates showing a high proteolytic activity were further tested on UHT skim milk. The strain showing the highest proteolytic activity was purified and identified as Lactobacillus fermentum IFO 3656. The specific proteolytic activity of this strain and the factors affecting it (pH, temperature and presence of inhibitors) were studied. The proteolysis targeted mainly caseins (73% of whole casein), especially beta-casein (85%). Smaller portions of whey proteins were proteolyzed (20%) essentially beta-lactoglobulin. The proteolysis process gave rise to medium-sized peptide populations. The optimum conditions for the proteolysis activity of the studied strains were pH 6.5 and 37 A degrees C. Proteolytic activities were very slightly affected by the increase of the temperature to 42 A degrees C or the pH to 8.2. The protease system of Lactobacillus fermentum IFO 3956 is most probably composed from a high amount of metalloproteases and small amount of cysteine and serine protease

The Effect of Aromatase Inhibitors on Infertile Men and Its Relation to Sexual Desire

Background: Aromatase inhibitors (AI) can boost endogenous testosterone production without increasing circulating estrogen levels, as shown with estrogen receptor modulators, Aim and Objectives: The study's goal was to determine the efficacy of aromatase inhibitor medication in improving spermatogenesis in oligozoospemic and azoospermic males, as well as its relationship to sexuality. Subjects and methods: This study was done on eighty man subjects joining the outpatient clinic of Andrology, Kasr El Aini Hospital, Cairo University during the peroid from April 2018 – April 2020, and they were divided into (2) groups, 40 subjects in each group. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in serum total testosterone measured before and after treatment in normal FSH patients with a p value ≤ 0.05. There was a notably not important change in sexual desire questionnaire measured before and after treatment in normal FSH patients with a p value &gt; 0.05, Conclusion: ERs and aromatase share topographic sites in the brain with pheromones, indicating that estrogen influences both early sexual maturation and sexual behavior in adults. Estrogen can maintain libido while also influencing the number of serotonin receptors in the brain, which modulates mood, mental state, cognition, and emotion