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BACKGROUND: Beta-thalassemia is an autosomal recessive hereditary blood disorder occurs due to absent or diminished ß-globin chains synthesis. The transformation from fetal to adult in globin synthesis is controlled by different mechanisms; one of those is BCL11A which is downregulated by microRNA-210 (miRNA-210). Therefore, this would lead to reactivation of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) production that improves anemia and reduces the needs for transfusion. OBJECTIVE: To study miRNA-210 in the plasma of beta thalassemia patients and its relation to HbF level and disease severity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 50 individuals divided into three groups. Group A included 30 thalassemia major patients, Group B included 10 thalassemia intermedia patients, and Group C is 10 healthy volunteers as control. All individuals underwent to history taking, physical examination, and laboratory investigations, complete blood count, serum ferritin, hemoglobin electrophoresis, and measurement of miRNA-210 expression levels in plasma of peripheral blood samples by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Examination of miRNA-210 plasma level among different groups revealed no statistically significant association between control and thalassemia group or its subgroups (Major and intermedia) (P = 0.224, P = 0.116, and P = 0.734, respectively). Moreover, miRNA-210 was slightly higher in responders than nonresponders to hydroxyurea but did not reach significant level. CONCLUSION: miRNA-210 levels were not associated with increase in HbF levels in thalassemia patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 16 (IL-16), has been shown to be secreted in low levels in knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between IL-16 polymorphisms and the risk of KOA in the Egyptian population, as well as the clinical and radiographic severity of KOA. Results: IL16 rs11556218 thymidine triphosphate (T) T G (guanosine triphosphate), GG, TG + GG genotypes, and G allele (odd ratio (OR) = 0.315; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.191–0.518; P < 0.001; OR = 0.363; 95% CI = 0.162–0.815, P = 0.014; OR = 0.323; 95% CI = 0.202–0.519, P < 0.001; OR = 0.480; 95% CI = 0.338–0.683, P < 0.001 respectively); rs4778889 cytidine triphosphate (C) T,CC, TC + CC genotypes, and C allele (OR = 0.519, 95% CI = 0.319–0.844, P = 0.008; OR = 0.309, 95% CI = 0.105–0.916, P = 0.034; OR = 0.485, 95% CI = 0.304–0.775, P = 0.002; OR = 0.537, 95% CI = 0.365–0.791, P = 0.001 respectively); and rs4072111 CT, TT, CT + TT genotypes, and T allele (OR = 0.537, 95% CI = 0.323–0.893, P = 0.017, OR = 0.316, 95% CI = 0.096–0.843, P = 0.049, OR = 0.502, 95% CI = 0.309–0.816, P = 0.005; OR = 0.534, 95% CI = 0.353–0.809, P = 0.004 respectively) were associated with a decreased KOA risk, and they were significantly associated with decreased the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Kellgren-Lawrence (K/L) scores. Neither IL-16 serum levels nor IL-16 polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility to KOA. Low KOA risk was associated with the haplotypes GTC and TCT. Conclusion: There was no correlation between serum IL-16 levels and KOA susceptibility or IL-16 polymorphisms. GTC and TCT haplotypes were associated with low KOA risk. The variant alleles rs11556218GG, TG + GG; rs4778889 CC, TC + CC; and rs4072111 TT, CT + TT were associated with a reduced risk of KOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen that is sometimes resistant to vancomycin. In this study, the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) was studied. 100 isolates of S. aureus were identified based on biochemical and molecular evidence. The antibiotic susceptibility of the studied isolates was tested against 13 antibiotics by the disc diffusion method that showed 24 vancomycin-resistant isolates. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were estimated by the agar dilution method to determine vancomycin intermediate-resistant S. aureus (VISA) and VRSA. The resistance gene cluster (vanA, vanR, vanH, and vanY) was amplified by PCR and then sequenced. Amplification of vanA and vanR genes showed that they are present in 21.4% and 14.3% of VRSA isolates, respectively, whereas none of the studied genes has been detected in VISA strains. A significant antimicrobial effect toward VRSA isolates using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from S. aureus and rosemary leaves was recorded. This study confirmed the existence of VRSA strains in Egypt. Furthermore, the use of silver nanoparticles inhibits these vancomycin-resistant S. aureus strains in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytological, histopathological and sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel analyses were carried out on five populations of common Nile tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus) occurring in five sites – River Nile (reference site), Bahr Yusef canal, Ibrahimia canal, Irrigation drain and El Moheet drain of El Minia Province, Egypt – to evaluate the usability of Nile tilapia as a biomonitor for water heavy metal contaminants. Water surface samples were collected from the five sites, and lead (Pb) concentration was shown to surpass the limits defined by WHO. Ni and Cd levels were shown to be elevated in Ibrahimia canal samples. Moreover, the concentration of heavy metals in fish muscles collected from Bahr Yusef canal and El Moheet drain was the highest in comparison with those of the other water sites. Cytological examinations of blood smears showed not only a significant percentage of micronuclei in Irrigation drain population but also a significant percentage of binucleated cells in Ibrahimia canal and El Moheet drain populations. In addition, pathological alteration was observed in blood cells, especially in samples collected from Irrigation drain and El Moheet drain. Histopathological changes were strongly observed in the liver and the kidneys of El Moheet and Irrigation drain population. Moreover, total protein band pattern profiles showed extra bands in both Ibrahimia canal and Irrigation drain more than that recorded for the River Nile population. In conclusion, cyto‐histopathological and total protein band pattern results confirmed that O. niloticus responds sensitively to the excess of heavy metals present in the water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic diversity of cultivated soybean {Glycine max (L.) Merrill} 2n = 40 is very narrow, although includes diversity for many obvious morphological traits. A field experiment was conducted to study characterize of fifteen soybean genotypes on agro-morphological trait basis and to identify genetic diversity using SDS-PAGE, with resistance to defoliating insects, at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Kafr ElShiekh, Egypt during 2017 and 2018 seasons,. Morphological description was performed with 10 qualitative and 7 quantitative traits and screening for defoliation by cotton leaf worm in the open field. The results exhibited significant differences among the tested fifteen genotypes for all studied characters. Defoliation of test plants by the cotton leaf worm, in the field screenings system showed that genotypes H14 L8, H1 L10S, H1 L10 and H10 L10 recorded the highest rating values of insect resistant to cotton leaf worm with defoliation rating (0.0 – 0.2), whereas, soybean genotype H5 L21 showed the highest insect susceptible and had defoliation rating (3.8) indicating heavy insect feeding, over both seasons. Genotypes H11 L145 and H14L8 recorded the highest values of seed yield/fad., this attributed to the considerable increase in their number of branches/plant, number of pods/plant, and 100-seed weight, in both seasons. This indicates that such genotypes are the promising ones. The protein identification indicated that the pattern was uniform where each genotype was not affected by year or location. The soybean genotypes were different in their banding pattern and each one is characterized by certain proteins with different molecular weight. Cluster analysis based on qualitative morphological characters showed clear separation of genotypes on the basis of their plant growth habit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: According to the WHO report in 2015, obesity is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide, and the prevalence of Egyptian female obesity is 37.5 %. Since obesity is highly influenced by genetics, and adipose tissue renin-angiotensin system is over-activated in obesity, the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/ deletion (I/D) polymorphism on obesity and related disorders was studied in several populations, because of its effect on ACE activity. Our objective was to study the association of ACE I/D polymorphism with obesity and certain related disorders, namely hypertension, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, in Egyptian females. Methods: Eighty female volunteers were recruited, blood pressure and body measurements were recorded and a fasting blood sample was obtained for the quantitation of glucose, lipid profile, insulin, leptin and identification of ACE I/D polymorphs. Subjects were grouped based on hypertension and obesity states. Comparisons of continuous parameters were made with independent sample t-test between two groups. The frequencies of ACE genotypes and alleles, and the association between gene polymorphism and metabolic parameters were assessed using chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Results: Genotype frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for all groups. Genotype distribution did not differ significantly between controls and cases of all the studied disorders. Although DD carriers had apparently higher parameters of blood pressure, lipid profile and insulin resistance, only diastolic blood pressure was almost significant (p = 0.057). I-carriers were significantly less susceptible to hypertension than DD carriers having normal waist/hip ratio (p = 0.007, OR = 17.29, CI = 1.81 -164.96) and normal conicity index (p = 0.024, OR = 7.00, CI = 1.36-35. 93). In DD genotype carriers, a significant association was found between insulin resistance and high body mass index (p = 0.004, OR = 8.89, CI = 1.94-40.71), waist circumference (p = 0.003, OR = 9.63, CI = 2.14-43.36) and waist/ height ratio (p = 0.034, OR = 6.86, CI = 1.25-37.61), although the variations in percentages between DD and I-carriers were not high enough to conclude an effect of ACE I/D on such an association. Conclusions: In this sample of Egyptian females, ACE I/D polymorphism was not significantly associated with obesity nor with any of its related disorders studied. The I allele seemed protective against hypertension in subjects with normal, not high, waist/hip ratio and conicity index compared to DD genotype carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Somatic mutations of the nucleophosmin gene (NPM1), which alter the subcellular localization of the product, are the most frequent mutations in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and prognostic impact of NPM1 gene mutations in adult AML patients. Materials and Methods: Polymerase chain reaction and single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) were used to screen 55 AML patients for mutations of NPM1 gene. Results: NPM1 mutations were found in 12 (21.8%) of 55 patients, significantly associated with higher total leukocytie count, marrow blast percentage (p=0.03 and p=0.02, respectively), and M5 subtype (p<0.001). Patients with NPM1 mutations had significantly higher complete remission rates (p=0.003) and a trend to lower rates of mortality, relapse and refractory disease (p=0.28, p=0.45 and p=0.08, respectively). Survival analysis showed significantly longer disease-free survival (mean 18.635±1.229 versus 11.041±1.250 months, p=0.044) and overall survival (mean 19.810±1.624 versus 12.063±1.244 months, p=0.041) in patients with NPM1 mutations compared with those without. Multivariate analyses confirmed NPM1 mutation as a significant independent predictor for disease-free survival (HR=0.066, p=0.001) and overall survival (HR=0.125, p=0.002). Conclusion: NPM1 mutation is a prognostic factor for a favorable outcome in Egyptian population. This finding is of major clinical importance since it strongly suggests that NPM1 mutations may allow one to divide the heterogeneous patient group of AML into prognostically different subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Genetic variations between five gekkonid species from Egypt; Tropiocolotes tripolitanus, Tropiocolotes steudneri, Tropiocolotes nattereri, Tarentola mauritanica and Tarentola annularis were analyzed by SDS–PAGE for water soluble proteins and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Based on SDS–PAGE of water soluble proteins for all species, the obtained results revealed a total of 17 bands at molecular weights that ranged from 95 to 16kDa. The polymorphic bands among species were 11 (64.7%) and the mean similarity matrix value between them was 70.7%. Using RAPD-PCR, the results showed eight total amplified bands at molecular weights that ranged from 1408 to 360bp. The polymorphic bands between species were 7 (87.5%) and the mean similarity matrix between them was 44.6%. The dendrogram showed that, the five gekkonid species are separated from each other into two clusters. The first cluster contains three species of the genus Tropiocolotes. The second cluster includes the two species of the genus Tarentola. Based on SDS–PAGE and RAPD-PCR results, T. nattereri is sister to T. steudneri with higher genetic similarity than with T. tripolitanus. It is concluded that, the similarity coefficient and the genetic distance values between the five gekkonid species indicate that the five gekkonid species are not identical and are separated from each other. From these results, it is indicated that the protein and RAPD analysis are useful molecular tools to indicate genetic variation between the species in the same genus or in the different genera. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Infants between 6 and 24 months of age are at the highest risk of development of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in developing countries. Consuming unmodified cow''s milk, delayed introduction of solid foods after 6 months, and high birth order could be predictors of the presence of IDA. Three hundred infants between the ages of 6 and 24 months (mean, 13.94 ± 6.17 months) from Ain Shams University Children''s Hospital were enrolled in the study. Data collected included demographic information and dietary assessment including the type of milk feeding, introduction of solid foods, and daily iron intake. The infants were examined, and anthropometric measurements were recorded. Anemic infants (hemoglobin level <11 g/dL) were further evaluated by complete blood count, hemoglobin electrophoresis, and iron profile. Anemia was diagnosed among 198 infants (66%), of whom 129 (43%) had IDA. Red cell distribution width at a cutoff value of 15.8% was 86% sensitive and 74% specific in predicting IDA. The main risk factors for IDA included being between 6 and 18 months of age, of the male sex, birth order above the second order, consuming cow''s milk, predominant breast-feeding beyond 6 months of age, and low daily iron intake. We conclude that IDA is the most common cause of anemia among Egyptian infants 6 to 24 months old of low socioeconomic standard. Independent clinical predictors were consuming cow''s milk during the first 6 months, delayed introduction of solid foods after 6 months, and birth order beyond the second order. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this work was to develop a novel 99mTc-labelled derivative based on triphenylethylene for breast cancer imaging. 99mTc- Clomiphene was obtained with a radiochemical yield of 94.4% by adding 99mTc to 1.5mg Clomiphene citrate in the presence of 10 μg SnCl2 at pH 7. The optimization of the labeling yield of Clomiphene citrate, with 99mTc, is described. The reaction parameters that affect the labeling yield were studied to optimize the labeling conditions. Radiochemical purity of the final product has been verified by means of paper chromatography and paper electrophoresis. Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) as a model of breast cancer cells was injected intraperitoneally (IP) to produce ascites and intramuscularly (IM) to produce solid tumor. Biodistribution study was carried out by the injecting solution of 99mTc-Clomiphene in normal and tumor bearing mice. The uptake in ascites was over 12.5 % injected dose per gram tissue body weight, at 1hr after injection and above 12% in solid tumor. The T/NT value for 99mTc-Clomiphene complex was found to be 5.5 ± 0.4 which was higher than that of the commercially available 99mTc-MIBI. This data revealed the localization of tracer in tumor tissue with high percent sufficient to use 99mTc-Clomiphene as a promising tool for the diagnosis of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ngiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism was previously studied in some cardiovascular diseases. There are only few studies which investigated this polymorphism in patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). The results of these investigations are inconsistent. Furthermore, gene polymorphism distribution is different in various ethnic populations. We conducted this study to demonstrate this gene polymorphism in Egyptian children with RHD. Leukocytes DNA was extracted from 139 patients with RHD and 79 healthy control children. After amplification by the PCR, the products were separated by electrophoresis in 6% polyacrylamide gel and visualized after ethidium bromide staining with UV light. The PCR product is a 190-bp fragment in the absence of the insertion (D allele) and a 490-bp fragment in the presence of the insertion (I allele). Gene polymorphism was as follows: DD gene when lane contains only 190-bp fragment, II gene when lane contains only 490-bp fragment and ID gene when lane contains both fragments. We found that gene polymorphism in both control and patients groups followed the following order of distribution from highest to lowest: ID, II, DD gene. The frequency in control group was 49.4, 36.7, and 13.9%, respectively. In patients groups, the gene frequency was 42.5, 30.9, and 26.6%, respectively. DD gene frequency differs significantly between the two groups. We concluded that patients with RHD have a higher ACE-DD genotype than normal control. ACE-DD genotype may be a risk factor for RHD in Egyptian children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish samples of Tilapia nilotica obtained from Lake Maryout were used to investigate the relationship between heavy metals and biological effects due to the industrial contaminations in the lake. Samples were examined for the activities of acetylcholinesterase, alkaline phosphatase and glutathione S-transferase. Meanwhile, levels of cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) were determined in both fish and water. Also, the electrophoretic patterns of proteins were presented as well as the amino acid composition of fish proteins. Results obtained revealed that the activities of all studied enzymes were markedly inhibited. Maryout samples contained higher concentrations of Hg and Cd than Nozha samples. Marked differences in electrophoretic patterns of proteins prepared from Maryout and Nozha fish samples were found. The nutritional quality of Maryout fish proteins was lower than that of Nozha samples due to the lower content of essential amino acids. Results obtained from field and laboratory exposures can give a useful indication for a proper use of biochemical responses as biomarkers in monitoring heavy metal pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbicides are the most effective tool against weed flora in cereal crops that help to maintain and increase crop yields. This investigation was conducted in the winter season of 2018 to study the stress effect of three post-emergence herbicides including pinoxaden, tribenuron-methyl, and pyroxsulam on the biochemical changes at the molecular cell level of wheat. These herbicides were applied either lonely with a rate of 0.45 L.ha -1 , 22.5 gm.ha -1 , and 0.16 Ib a.i/A, respectively, or in combinations together on three Egyptian varieties of bread wheat known as Misr 1, Giza17 1, and Gemmiza 11. Firstly, the abovementioned herbicides were used at the recommended and half recommended doses with their combinations for these varieties to investigate DNA-protein linkage as a signal effect of herbicides at the molecular cell level.Our data showed that the treatment of wheat varieties with the tested herbicides induced new bands with low and high molecular weights of 37.49, 40.08, 146.55, and 147.23 KDa with relative mobility of 0.1574, 0.1603, 0.2166, and 0.2168, respectively. These bands were not presented in the control treatment, suggesting that it might be used as a biochemical marker for plant defense genes. Meanwhile, the control treatment exhibited only five or six bands in the three varieties. However, the tested varieties showed that the same number of bands, the molecular weights of bands, and their relative mobility were significantly varied between the single and the combinations treatment of herbicides. The best treatment was achieved by the combination between pinoxaden and tribenuron-methyl at a recommended dose which induced a large number of protein bands compared to the control treatment on the wheat variety cv. Misr 1, which gave one band with low molecular weight 71.44 KDa at R f 0.1854 and other with the highest molecular weight 147.23 KDa at R f 0.2168, compared to the control treatment.

The response and effect of two plant crude extract from dry Damsissa (Ambrosia maritima) and Neem seeds (Azadirachta indica) were tested against the first and third instar larvae of mosquito (Culex pipiens). The results showed that both extracts had a larvicidal effect. Neem seed extract was more toxic than Damsissa extract against both the first and third instar larvae. In addition, the young larvae (first instar) were more susceptible to Neem seeds than the old ones (third instar) as revealed from the LC50 values, while Damsissa showed nearly the same effect against both stages. Meanwhile, treatment of Neem seed extracts resulted in prolongation of the larval period accompanied with a decrease in larval activity. Moreover, the effect of the two extracts on larval total esterase isozymes was examined. Neem extract showed an adverse effect on the third instar larvae, since only one band (E1) was observed and the other 4 bands disappeared at all concentrations used, as compared with untreated control larvae (El, E2, E3, E4, and E5). Meanwhile, Damsissa extract treatment of the third instar larvae showed an additional band located between E3 and E4, and the absence of two bands (E2 and E3) after treatment with 0.5x10(4), 1x10(4) and 1.5x10(4) ppm, while treatment with 0.25x10(4) ppm did not result in any changes in larval total esterase.