Search

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious illness with a high mortality rate of 40-60%. It is characterised by systemic inflammatory processes and oxidative stress. Gram-negative bacterial infections are the major cause of ALI, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major stimulus for the release of inflammatory mediators. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop new therapies which ameliorate ALI and prevent its serious consequences. The Middle Eastern native plant Tamarix nilotica (Ehrenb) Bunge belongs to the family Tamaricaceae, which exhibits strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Thus, the current work aimed to ensure the plausible beneficial effects of T. nilotica different fractions on LPS-induced acute lung injury after elucidating their phytochemical constituents using LC/MS analysis. Mice were randomly allocated into six groups: Control saline, LPS group, and four groups treated with total extract, DCM, EtOAc and n-butanol fractions, respectively, intraperitoneal at 100 mg/kg doses 30 min before LPS injection. The lung expression of iNOS, TGF-β1, NOX-1, NOX-4 and GPX-1 levels were evaluated. Also, oxidative stress was assessed via measurements of MDA, SOD and Catalase activity, and histopathological and immunohistochemical investigation of TNF-α in lung tissues were performed. T. nilotica n-butanol fraction caused a significant downregulation in iNOS, TGF-β1, TNF-α, NOX-1, NOX-4, and MDA levels (p ˂ 0.05), and significantly elevated GPX-1 expression levels, SOD, and catalase activity (p ˂ 0.05), and alleviated all histopathological abnormalities confirming its advantageous role in ALI. The antibacterial activities of T. nilotica and its different fractions were investigated by agar well diffusion method and broth microdilution method. Interestingly, the n-butanol fraction exhibited the best antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates. It also significantly reduced exopolysaccharide quantity, cell surface hydrophobicity, and biofilm formation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Please declare any financial or personal interests that might be potentially viewed to influence the work presented. Interests could include consultancies, honoraria, patent ownership or other. If there are none state ‘there are none’., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Quality is a primary concern of health care agencies worldwide. A conducive clinical training environment is essential for nursing students to be capable of enhancing their learning experiences and achieving the desired training outcomes., Aim: This study aimed to examine the satisfaction and anxiety levels during clinical training among nursing students., Type of Study: A descriptive -analytical cross-sectional study design was utilized. The research was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing, Assiut University and Colleges of Applied Medical Sciences in Alnamas and Bisha, University of Bisha. Sampling method: A convenience sampling technique was used., Sample Size: a sample of 1052 undergraduate nursing students. The data was gathered via a structured questionnaire including the socio-demographic characteristics and nursing students' satisfaction with the hospital and laboratory training. Additionally, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) was adopted to measure the anxiety level., Results: The mean age of the studied sample was 21.9 ± 1.83 years, and 56.9% are females. Moreover, 90.1% & 76.4% of the nursing students were satisfied with their hospital and laboratory training. Furthermore, 61.1% & 54.8% of the students had mild levels of anxiety regarding their hospital training and laboratory training, respectively., Conclusion: The undergraduate nursing students had a high level of satisfaction with their clinical training at the hospitals and laboratories. Moreover, they had mild anxiety related to hospital and laboratory clinical training., Recommendations: Developing clinical orientation and training programs and improvement strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the clinical training environment. The establishment of a modern, tastefully designed, and fully stocked skill lab for the college's student training should receive more attention., Clinical Relevance: Through the provision of ongoing education about different method of practice, nursing was intended to shape future professional nurses who master core competencies of the profession. Organizations may benefit from developing a comprehensive strategy to achieve an effective teaching program., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The study aimed to assess the tangled relation between various CD25 subsets (positive, negative and high) of CD4+ FoxP3+ T cells and H. pylori including its virulence genes (CagA and VacA). Diagnosis of H. pylori and its virulence genes was based on a positive culture, histopathology and/or CLO-test and PCR. Flow cytometry was used toquantifyTregs.CD4+CD25high Foxp3+ T cells were higher in patients than controls and somewhat more in H. pylori positive than negative patients. CD4+CD25high Foxp3+ T cells secreting IL10 were lower in H. pylori positive patients.CD4+CD25-Fox3+T cells were also higher in patients than controls and more in those negative for H. pylori. Moderate negative correlation was found between the presence of CagA or VacA sm genotypes and Tregs secreting IL10. CD4+CD25- Foxp3+ T cells, especially those secreting IL10, tend to be higher in patients carrying VacA m1 allele than m2 allele. In conclusion, H. pylori stimulate a regulatory T cell response, probably contributing to gastric diseases. CD25 negative subset of Fox3+CD4+T cells needs further studying to declare its potential role in immunopathogenesis of gastric diseases. Tregs are positively associated with vacA alleles., (Copyright© by the Egyptian Association of Immunologists.)

The primary motor cortex of the oro-facial level can be removed without permanent deficits, because of the bilateral representation of the innate functions. In contrast, resective surgery of the hand motor cortex or higher levels presents more challenges. We treated two adult patients with intractable epilepsy caused by small focal cortical dysplasia in the pre-central gyrus located between the foot and hand primary motor cortices. Focal cortical resection was guided by cortical EEG and intra-operative motor evoked potential, resulting in seizure freedom without neurological deficits in both cases. These cases illustrate that resective surgery can be safely performed in the primary motor cortex even dorsal to the oro-facial level, as long as the critical regions of the hand and foot motor cortices remain intact. Accurate delineation of the anatomical lesion and functional areas using intra-operative neurophysiological monitoring is crucial for successful outcome of the surgery.

Identification of Candida cultured from various clinical specimens to the species level is increasingly necessary for clinical laboratories. Although sn PCR identifies the species within hours but its cost-effectiveness is to be considered. So there is always a need for media which help in the isolation and identification at the species level. The study aimed to evaluate the performance of different chromogenic media and to compare the effectiveness of the traditional phenotypic methods vs. seminested polymerase chain reaction (sn PCR) for identification of Candida species. One hundred and twenty seven Candida strains isolated from various clinical specimens were identified by conventional methods, four different chromogenic media and sn PCR. HiCrome Candida Differential and CHROMagar Candida media showed comparably high sensitivities and specificities in the identification of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei. CHROMagar Candida had an extra advantage of identifying all C. parapsilosis isolates. CHROMagar-Pal's medium identified C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. krusei with high sensitivities and specificities, but couldn't identify C. glabrata or C. parapsilosis. It was the only medium that identified C. dubliniensis with a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Biggy agar showed the least sensitivities and specificities. The overall concordance of the snPCR compared to the conventional tests including CHROMAgar Candida in the identification of Candida species was 97.5%. The use of CHROMAgar Candida medium is an easy and accurate method for presumptive identification of the most commonly encountered Candida spp.

To assess the problem of CMV infection in pregnant women in Sohag community and to determine the risk of congenital CMV infection. The study was performed on 900 pregnant women residing in Sohag, during the period from June, 2006 till January 2010. Detection of CMV antibodies (IgM and IgG) was carried out using microparticle enzyme immunoassay. Women proved positive (+ve) for CMV IgM or IgG antibodies were considered the seropositive group (group 1), while women proved negative (-ve) for both antibodies were the seronegative group (group II). Serum samples of IgM +ve females and with rising IgG titers were further subjected to PCR to detect CMV DNA. Of the 900 pregnant women, 850 (94.4%) were seropositive for CMV antibodies. Of these, 828 females (97.4%) had +ve IgG and -ve IgM antibodies, and 22 (2.6%) women had positive IgM. Viral DNA was detected in 12 of the 22 IgM +ve and 8 out of 10 women with rising IgG titer. CMV antibodies and serum PCR were done for 15 live births whose mothers had positive CMV PCR. Of 7 infants whose mothers had CMV IgM and CMV PCR positive, 4 infants had positive PCR results. Eight live births, whose mothers had rising IgG titer and positive PCR test, were negative for viral DNA. In conclusions, CMV specific IgM or rising IgG antibodies in maternal serum could predict congenital CMV infection.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a common cause of acute viral hepatitis (AVH) in Egypt. We aimed to identify risk factors of HEV among acute hepatitis cases, measure HEV specific immune response to differentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic infections. The study included symptomatic acute hepatitis (AH) patients (n = 235) and asymptomatic contacts (n = 200) to HEV cases. They completed a lifestyle questionnaire, screened for common hepatotropic viruses. Blood and serum samples were collected from patients and contacts after onset of disease and follow-up samples collected until convalescence. PBMC were separated and tested for specific HEV T-cell response by INF-gamma ELISPOT assay. Serum samples were tested for IgM and IgG anti-hepatitis E virus by ELISA. IgM antibodies to HAV were detected in 19 patients (8.1%), 37 (15.7%) with HBV, 10 (4.3%) with HCV. HEV infection was identified in 42 (16%) patients with AVH. Of the 200 contacts, 14 (7%) had serological evidence of recent HEV asymptomatic infection, showed stronger CMI responses than HEV infected subjects (2540 +/- 28 and 182 +/- 389 ISCs/106 cells, respectively; P < 0.05). In conclusion, HEV is a major cause of AVH in Egypt. Asymptomatic HEV patients are likely to have stronger immune responses including CMI responses, than symptomatic cases.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is considered to be one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. It is currently unclear whether chlamydial infection causes pathological conditions of the male accessory glands has consequences for male infertility. To determine the frequency of C. trachomatis Infection among infertile men with leukocytospermia using different diagnostic techniques such as the detection of secretory IgA antibodies (Abs) in seminal plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), plasmid DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct detection of elementary body by flowcytometric analysis in seminal fluid. To assess the relationship between C. trachomatis infection and semen quality hence male infertility. Seventy five infertile male patients with leukocytospermia and 25 apparently healthy age matched fertile men were included as controls. Routine semen analysis and LeucoScreen test were done for each patient and control. Detection of C. trachomatis secretory IgA in seminal plasma by ELISA and detection of plasmid DNA by PCR and elementary body by flowcytometric analysis in semen samples were performed. Primary and secondary infertility were detected in 55 (73.3%) and 20 (26.7%) of patients, respectively. Sperm concentration and sperm motility (A+B) were statistically significant lower in patients with leucocytospermia than control group (P < 0.0001). Sperm concentration in patients with pus cells more than 3 x 10(6)/ml was statistically significant lower than those with pus cells less than 2 x 10(6) /ml. ELISA-detected IgA Abs against C. trachomatis in patients seminal plasma were positive in 20 (26.7%) and equivocal in 5 (6.6%) patients. Flowcytometric analysis of semen sample for C. trachomatis was positive in 35 (46.6%) patients and C. trachomatis plasmid DNA detection by PCR was positive in 23 (30.7%) patients. In conclusions, Detection of C. trachomatis antibodies of IgA type by ELISA in seminal plasma appears to be as specific as PCR in diagnosis of C. trachomatis in seminal fluid. High detection rate of C. trachomatis by flowcytometry was observed. Concerning the effect of C. trachomatis on routine semen characteristics, no significant obvious changes could be detected. Further studies for the assessment of sperm viability and DNA integrity are recommended.

Serum and stool samples were collected from 128 individuals: 96 diarrhea patients and 32 apparently healthy controls. Stool specimens were cultured for enteric bacterial pathogens, while sera were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Campylobacter jejuni-reactive antibodies. Of 28 diarrhea patients who demonstrated C. jejuni-reactive antibodies (titers, > 100), 14 were culture positive for this organism. The 32 healthy controls showed significantly lower antibody titers (P < 0.05) with the exception of 10 subjects who were culture positive for C. jejuni and had reactive immunoglobulin M (IgM) (6 subjects) and IgG (7 subjects). IgA was not detected in those 10 individuals (asymptomatic). Avidity was expressed as the thiocyanate ion concentration required to inhibit 50% of the bound antibodies. The avidity was higher in symptomatic patients than asymptomatic healthy controls. IgG was less avid (0.92 M) compared to IgM (0.1 M) and IgA (1.1 M), with no correlation between antibody titer and avidity. However, the thiocyanate ion concentration required for the complete inhibition of IgG (5 M)-bound antibodies was higher than that of IgA (2 M) and IgM (3 M). This study also shows that C. jejuni antibodies were variably cross-reactive with Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, and Neisseria meningitidis in addition to Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter rectus.