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Copyright of Egyptian Journal of Experimental Biology (Botany) is the property of Egyptian Society of Experimental Biology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper by Sayed et al.2020 presents detailed structural mapping of the Abu Roash Cretaceous outcrop (SW of Cairo) and integrates the mapping results with the tectonic evolution of the Kattaniya basin as one of the northern Egypt inverted basins. I present in this discussion a different age relationship between the folds and faults in the mapped area, where folds form after faults as push-up structures and faults form after folds as tear faults. I also comment on the relationship between the structural deformation of Abu Roash area and the deformation of the Kattaniya basin as the dextral wrenching of Abu Roash area is unique and does not represent the deformation of the northern Egypt inverted basins. Wrenching at Abu Roash formed a push-up structure at a stepover between ENE oriented faults whereas inversion in northern Egypt reactivated NE-SW oriented faults with predominant reverse slip and subordinate strike-slip. The main-bounding fault of Kattaniya basin is not located at Abu Roash outcrop but lies ~35 km to the NW. Basin inversion in northern Egypt continued to post-Early Miocene time, not earlier as suggested by Sayed et al. Other comments on Sayed et al.'s mapping are also highlighted. • Wrench structures of Abu Roash area do not represent Kattaniya Basin. • Inverted basins of northern Egypt have NE-SW orientation. • Basin inversion continued to post Early Miocene. • El-Ghigiga to El-Hassana SW plunging folds are push-up structures. • Abu Roash outcrop is a push-up structure between ENE oriented faults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Late Cretaceous–Early Tertiary Syrian Arc folds in northern Egypt include both inversion and non-inversion folds. These folds are well exposed in northern Sinai and the northern Eastern Desert but exist in the subsurface in the northern Western Desert. In northern Sinai, the Maghara, Yelleg, and Halal inversion folds are 45–50 km long. Similar size inversion folds with opposite vergence exist in the subsurface in the northern Western Desert and include the Kattaniya, Mubarak, Alamein-Razzak, and Matruh Basin folds. Smaller non-inversion compressional folds include the Falig and Meneidret El Etheili folds in northern Sinai as well as the Abu Gharadig Anticline in the subsurface in the northern Western Desert; among others. Detailed surface and subsurface structural mapping made use of the excellent exposures and good 2D and 3D seismic data and led to the identification of the fault patterns of the inversion and non-inversion Syrian Arc folds. Inversion folds have fault patterns that differ from the backlimb to the forelimb. The backlimbs are pervasively dissected by long NW-SE oriented normal faults that were formed by the regional stress field. On the contrary, the forelimbs of inversion folds as well as the two limbs of non-inversion folds are affected by the local stress in the folded areas and are dissected by three shorter fault sets; a set of hinge-transverse normal faults and two conjugate sets of hinge-oblique faults that have oblique-slip. The hinge-oblique faults dominate the steeper limbs of asymmetric non-inversion folds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

While exploration activities are flourishing in both the offshore Nile Delta Basin and the Levant Basin, Herodotus Basin remains unexplored. The study of the complex tectonic evolution of this basin is mainly hindered by large water depths, insufficient and poor seismic imaging, as well as the scarcity of well penetrations. The present study offers a new insight into the tectonic history of the eastern margin of Herodotus Basin through detailed structural study of the Rosetta Fault. Detailed structural mapping of Rosetta Fault using 3D seismic and borehole data reveals its complicated deformation history. Together with other NE-SW oriented faults in the Levant Basin and the northern Egypt onshore area, Rosetta Fault experienced different phases of slip at different times including normal slip due to extensional deformation at Triassic to early Cretaceous times and reverse slip at Late Cretaceous to Tortonian times due to the convergence of Eurasia and Afro-Arabia. Contrary to the findings of some plate tectonic models, which consider NE-SW drift of Afro-Arabia and Eurasia, the present study suggests that the direction of Mesozoic extension in Herodotus Basin (as well as the Levant Basin and the northern onshore areas of Egypt) was NW-SE based on the orientations of Mesozoic active faults. Rosetta Fault also shows deformation by sinistral transtension at Messinian and Holocene times intervened by Plio-Pleistocene normal slip. When the Rosetta Fault was affected by normal slip and transtensional deformation at Messinian to Holocene times, the Herodotus Basin lying to the NW of it was affected by NW-SE shortening associated with the Hellenic subduction. The obvious contrast in the deformation style of Rosetta Fault and the Herodotus Basin is attributed to the irregular shape of the convergent plate boundary extending from south Cyprus to SE Crete. • Rosetta Fault lies at the eastern margin of Herodotus Basin. • Several phases of slip affected Rosetta Fault Since early Mesozoic. • At pre-Messinian levels, it is made up of NE and N–S dog-leg linked segments. • At shallower levels, the NE segments propagate upward into en echelon fault belts. • Rosetta Fault indicates that Mesozoic drift of Afro-Arabia and Eurasia was NW-SE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed geological field mapping of the area located to the southwest of Gebel Akheider, south-central part of the Cairo-Suez District (Egypt), was carried out to identify the geometry, structural style, and evolution of the normal fault systems in the study area. The present structural geometry of the study area is of Miocene age and is the result of the propagation, kinematic interaction, and eventual linkage of extensional fault segments. Eight mapped relay ramps formed between synthetic non-overlapping and overlapping normal faults. Fault displacement profiles showing variation in displacement along strike revealed steep displacement gradients and local displacement minima at the locations of these relay ramps. Conjugate normal faults in the area also showed signs of kinematic interaction. Fault displacement profiles revealed complimentary displacement distribution between interacting overlapping conjugate faults. In competent rock units (Middle Eocene limestone), this interaction resulted in the formation of horsts and grabens relay zones, while in incompetent rock units (Middle Miocene soft marl and sandy limestone), this interaction resulted in a series of en echelon plunging anticlines and synclines (accommodation folds). Several transfer faults marked by points of local displacement minima were also identified, forming a distinctive zigzag pattern in map view that is characteristic of the Cairo-Suez District. Curved fault traces represent another form of fault linkage in the study area. Fault displacement profiles indicated two different growth mechanisms, either as the result of bilateral growth of two along-strike faults, or the intersection of previously isolated and differently oriented fault segments. • The geometry, structural style, and evolution of normal fault systems was studied based on detailed field mapping. • Both synthetic and conjugate overlapping normal faults showed signs of kinematic interaction. • Folding occurred in a conjugate relay zone (accommodation folds) in the southern part of the study area. • Kinematic analysis of curved fault traces showed two different mechanisms of fault growth and linkage. • The present structural geometry of the study area is of Miocene age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Myelosuppressive chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) remains a major limitation of cancer treatment efficacy, necessitating very expensive supportive care. Lithium carbonate, an inexpensive drug, can increase the number of neutrophils, possibly providing an efficacious and cost-effective alternative for treating CIN. The aim of this study was to determine whether lithium therapy can attenuate chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and leukopenia in breast cancer patients., Methods: A total of 50 breast cancer patients were enrolled in this prospective, interventional, randomized, controlled, and single-blind study. The patients were divided into two groups: a control group (group 1, N = 25 patients) and a lithium-treated (treatment) group (group 2, N = 25 patients). Group 1 patients were further subclassified into a non-neutropenic control group (N = 16) and a neutropenic control (N = 9) based on the subsequent development of severe neutropenia, or not. The control group received 4 cycles of doxorubicin or epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide followed by 2 cycles of paclitaxel. The treatment group received the same regimen as the control group as well as oral lithium carbonate throughout the chemotherapy cycles., Results: The results showed that the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was increased in the lithium-treated group, while it was markedly reduced in both the non-neutropenic and neutropenic control groups (by 55.56% and 65.42% post-4 chemotherapy cycles, and by 19.57% and 39.90% post-6 cycles, respectively). The same pattern of alterations was observed for the total white blood cell count in both the control and treatment groups. In addition, the incidence and period prevalence were greatly reduced in the lithium-treated group compared to non-neutropenic and neutropenic control groups., Conclusion: Lithium therapy ameliorated chemotherapy-induced leukopenia and neutropenia in breast cancer patients. This may provide a new strategy for cost-effective treatment of CIN, particularly in Egyptian cancer patients., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The Egyptian healthcare system is currently in the early phase of health technology assessment (HTA) implementation. The aim of this study is to propose an implementation roadmap based on the national healthcare system status., Methods: A survey was conducted among Egyptian healthcare sector decision-makers to assess the current and future (preferred) HTA implementation status in Egypt based on a widely used international scorecard methodology. Subsequently, interviews were conducted with experts representing middle- and top-tier management in the Egyptian healthcare system to interpret the survey results and recommend specific actions., Results: Experts recommended more capacity-building programs for HTA and health economics. Additionally, they proposed establishing HTA units in separate healthcare authorities and merging them into a single central HTA unit in the long term. Regarding the scope of implementation, experts recommended commencing with the assessment of innovative pharmaceuticals, and thereafter, expanding the scope to cover all health technologies in the long term. Additionally, they recommended using innovative tools such as "multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA)" for tendering, and "managed entry agreements" for reimbursement decisions. Local burden of diseases and costing studies were also recommended to facilitate the implementation of HTA., Conclusion: Experts agreed that several actions are required for successful HTA implementation in Egypt, including coordination between HTA bodies, application of an explicit MCDA framework, and strengthening of local evidence generation. To implement these actions, investment in technical capacity-building is indispensable. Most experts favored using multiple and soft cost-effectiveness thresholds. Efforts should be made to publish HTA submission guidelines and timelines of the processes., Competing Interests: Syreon Middle East was a contractual partner of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson Egypt and Takeda Pharmaceuticals Egypt. Authors AF, SAba, and ZK are shareholders of Syreon Middle East. Author BE is an employee in Syreon Middle East. Author HD is an employee at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson Egypt and author RA is an employee at Takeda Pharmaceuticals Egypt. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Fasseeh, Elezbawy, Gamal, Seyam, Abourawash, George, Anwar, Amin, Khalifa, Elshalakani, Hatem, Abdelhamid, Elsamouly, Fasseeh, Adel, Dawood, Abaza and Kaló.)

LPS-responsive beige-like anchor (LRBA) deficiency is an autosomal recessive primary immunodeficiency disorder, OMIM (#614700). LRBA deficiency patients suffer from variable manifestations including recurrent infections, immune dysregulation, autoimmunity, cytopenias, and enteropathy. This study describes different clinical phenotypes and immunological characteristics of 18 LRBA deficiency patients diagnosed from Egypt. T and B lymphocyte subpopulations, LRBA, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) expression were evaluated in resting and stimulated T cells using flow cytometry. Next-generation sequencing was used to identify mutations in the LRBA gene. LRBA deficiency patients had significantly lower B cells and increased percentage of memory T cells. CTLA4 levels were lower in LRBA-deficient T regulatory cells in comparison to healthy donors at resting conditions and significantly increased upon stimulation of T cells. We identified 11 novel mutations in LRBA gene ranging from large deletions to point mutations. Finally, we were able to differentiate LRBA-deficient patients from healthy control and common variable immunodeficiency patients using a simple flow cytometry test performed on whole blood and without need to prior stimulation. LRBA deficiency has heterogeneous phenotypes with poor phenotype-genotype correlation since the same mutation may manifest differently even within the same family. Low LRBA expression, low numbers of B cells, increased numbers of memory T cells, and defective CTLA4 expression (which increase to normal level upon T cell stimulation) are useful laboratory tests to establish the diagnosis of LRBA deficiency. Screening of the siblings of affected patients is very important as patients may be asymptomatic at the beginning of the disease course.

Sex determination is an initial and essential component of any medicolegal investigations. However, sometimes only cranial remains are available. The objective of this study was to determine sex using 12 craniofacial measurements in multidetector computed tomographic images of 150 Egyptian subjects (80 men and 70 women), with age ranging from 18 to 60 years. The results revealed a significant increase in the mean of all craniofacial measurements in men in comparison with women (P < 0.05). Bizygomatic breadth was the single most discriminant dimorphic parameter with an accuracy of 74%. Multiple discriminant functional analysis for sex prediction showed increased accuracy to 78.7% in all cases. Using multiple stepwise discriminants, functional analysis showed that the most predictive variables selected were maximal cranial breadth, minimal frontal breadth, bizygomatic breadth, orbital height, bimastoidale, and basion-prosthion length, which showed an accuracy of 80%. On the basis of this study, it is concluded that the cranial measurements obtained from multidetector computed tomographic images could be useful for forensic sex determination in Egyptians, especially in cases of skeletal remains.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected clinical form that is quite prevalent in Eastern North parts of the country in Sinai Peninsula. Leishmania tropica was identified by previous reports as the causative agent responsible for viscerotropic infections in-patients and experimental animals. Here, we reported the viscerotropic infections from naturally infected rodent Gerbillus pyramidum floweri collected from North-Sinai. Footpad and tail lesions, spleenomegaly, and malformed dark-colored spleen were the characteristic CL symptoms. The spleen of the rodent found positive to amastigote impression smear. ITS-1 DNA was sequenced and revealed 100% identity of the strain in the current study to the other L. tropica sequences identified from the patients with the suspected CL and inhabited the same study area. The current findings confirmed the susceptibility of gerbil to L. tropica, and raise the concerns for the role of rodents as accidental host suffering the infections. The susceptibility of wild and experimental rodents to the same L. tropica strain was also investigated; BALB/c and G. pyramidum were more susceptible to L. tropica (24.33 ± 4.37 and 25 ± 4.58 days post-infection, respectively). Similar viscerotropic pathologies were reported in experimental infection of only golden hamster (≈ 120 days post-infection), and G. p. floweri (≈ 160 days post-infection).

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is prevalent in the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula and previous research has consistently documented the etiologic agent to be Leishmania major. We report the first isolation of Leishmania tropica from human cases of CL in a Northern Sinai community bordering Palestine. Parasite culturing, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gene sequencing, and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses indicate CL cases in this community were caused by either L. major or L. tropica (three cases each). Two wild-caught rodents (Gerbillus pyramidum floweri) were infected with L. tropica. Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies were found harboring L. major, however only non-infected individuals of Phlebotomus sergenti, a vector for L. tropica, were caught. Patients with L. tropica had not traveled from the region in over a year, suggesting these cases are autochthonous. This scenario is consistent with an incursion of L. tropica from bordering countries and raises concerns about expansion of this parasite further into Egypt.