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Ahmed Hussein Subki,1 Abdel Moniem Mukhtar,2 Omar M Saggaf,1 Ragaa A Ali,3 Khalid A Khalifa,3 Dalia M Al-Lulu,3 Mohammed Saad Alsallum,1 Diyaa H Bokhary,1 Ayman M Baabdullah,1 Sulaiman M Kassar,1 Basil M Jan,4 Muhab M Hindi,1 Mohammed M Jan1 1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 4Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Background: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder in childhood. However, there have been limited studies on its impact on the oral health of affected children. Our study aimed to assess the oral health of children with epilepsy in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as perceived by their mothers. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in three hospitals. We included children 2–18 years old with physician-confirmed epilepsy diagnosis. We assessed parental perception of dental status and need for dental care using a standardized questionnaire that was completed by the mothers. To adjust for potential confounding variables, we used univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: We included 96 children with epilepsy in our study. Their mean age was 6.4±3.4 years. In 55.2% (n=53), dental status was rated as bad, and in 84.4% (n=81) a need for dental care was expressed. Cerebral palsy (OR 5.06, 95% CI 1.28–19.99; P=0.021), motor disability (OR 6.41, 95% CI 1.12–36.73; P=0.037), referral from a pediatric neurology clinic to a dentist (OR 10.755, 95% CI 3.290–35.151; P

Purpose: To explore the expression and prognostic significance of Hedgehog signaling transcription factor GLI-1 in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients., Methods: Clinical specimens were obtained from 46 recently diagnosed AML patients. Real-time qPCR was used to measure the GLI-1 mRNA expression in bone marrow mononuclear cells.Also, the relationship between GLI-1 mRNA levels and clinical variables and prognostic variables was assessed., Results: GLI-1 was overexpressed in the bone marrow samples of our patients. GLI-1mRNA expression did not differ significantly across different age groups, between both sexes, or between different FAB subtypes (P = 0.882, P = 0.246, and P = 0.890, respectively). GLI-1 expression varied significantly in different risk categories, with the greatest levels observed in 11 patients with poor risk (24.6 versus 22.7) compared to intermediate risk (5.2 versus 3.9; P = 0.006) and favorable risk (4.2 versus 3; P = 0.001). Comparing patients with the wild FLT3 allele to those with the mutant one, GLI-1 gene levels were considerably greater in those with the mutant allele of FLT3.Following induction chemotherapy, the levels of GLI-1 mRNA were significantly higher in 22 patients who did not experience complete remission (CR) diagnosed with de novo non-acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) compared to 17 patients who did (P = 0.017). Significantly greater levels of expression were observed in each category of the patients with favorable risk; wild FLT3 allele (P = 0.033) and CR failure P = 0.005)., Conclusion: GLI-1 overexpression is a risk factor for poor prognosis and could be a novel therapeutic target for AML., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestNone., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

The goal of this research was to develop a new genetic database of simple sequence repetition (SSR) primers for faba and classify them according to their target genes and respective biological processes. Approximately 75,605 and 148,196 previously published genomic and transcriptomic faba sequences, respectively, have been used to detect possible SSRs. The numbers of identified SSRs from each dataset were 25,502 and 12,319, respectively. The distribution of different repeat classes indicated that trinucleotides represent the largest number of repeat counts, followed by dinucleotides. The extracted genic SSR sequences were used to design 1091 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers, of which only 238 (21.8%) primers target genomic sequences and the other 853 PCR primers targeted transcriptomic sequences. The annotation of gene-targeted SSRs showed that approximately 897 genes were targeted by our SSR primers. Approximately 1890 gene ontology (GO) identification codes have been obtained. The GO keywords were distributed among distinct molecular cell features. The highest redundancies involved 554 technical words, 196 domains, and 160 molecular feature phrases. These GO codes belonged to the general level of GO and included molecular function, cellular component, and biological process (544, 670, and 676 GOs, respectively). Twenty-seven SSR PCR primers were synthesized to 12 Egyptian faba bean genotypes. Approximately 11 SSR provided one to two PCR bands, whereas other SSRs provided only one sharp band with polymorphic band size. There were 13 polymorphic primers. The polymorphism information content was 0.3, which implied moderate informativeness., (© 2021. Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan.)

The aim of this study was to identify and characterize thermophilic Campylobacter species in faecal samples from goats in Khartoum State, Sudan, by application of multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Campylobacteriosis is a zoonotic disease of global concern, and the organisms can be transmitted to human via food, water and through contact with farm animals and pets. There are five clinically related Campylobacter species: Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni). Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter lari, Campylobacter upsaliensis and Campylobacter fetus. Conventional cultural methods to diagnose campylobacteriosis are tedious and time consuming. Wide ranges of genes have been reported to be used for PCR-based identification of Campylobacter spp. We used a multiplex PCR assay to simultaneously detect genes from the major five clinically significant Campylobacter spp. The genes selected were hipO (hippuricase) and 23S rRNA from glyA (serine hydroxymethyl transferase) from each of C. jejuni. C. coli, C. lari, and C. upsaliensis; and sapB2 (surface layer protein) from C. fetus subsp. fetus. The assay was used to identify Campylobacter isolates recovered from 336 cultured faecal samples from goats in three localities in Khartoum State. C. coli was the most predominant isolate (234; 69.6%), followed by C. jejuni (19; 5.7%), C. upsaliensis (13; 3.9%), C. fetus subsp. fetus (7; 2.1%) and C. lari (6; 1.8%). Twenty-nine goats showed mixed infection with Campylobacter spp., 21 of which harbored two Campylobacter spp., while eight animals were infected with three species. Ten out of twelve goats that displayed diarrhea harbored C. coli only. C. coli, C. jejuni and C. upsaliensis showed significant variation with localities. The prevalence of C. coli was significantly higher (87; 25.9%) in goats from Omdurman, whereas C. jejuni and C. upsaliensis were significantly higher (11; 3.3%, 9; 2.7%) in goats from Khartoum. The multiplex PCR assay was found to be rapid and easy to perform and had a high sensitivity and specificity for characterizing the isolates, even in mixed cultures. The study demonstrated the significance of goats as reservoirs in the dissemination of Campylobacter spp. which could be considered as potential agent of caprine enteritis and abortion as well as contamination of the wider environment posing serious public health concern in Khartoum State.

Objective: Assess the value of baseline interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) levels as a noninvasive maker of liver fibrosis and as a predictor of response to interferon therapy in HCV genotype 4 infected patients., Methods: Eighty-four HCV genotype 4 infected patients were enrolled in this study. Degrees of liver fibrosis were determined and baseline IP-10 was measured in serum samples collected prior to initiation of treatment using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were followed up for 1.5 year to assess their response to antiviral therapy., Results: The baseline IP-10 levels were significantly correlated with the degree of fibrosis and had the ability to differentiate between patients with mild, moderate and advanced stages of fibrosis (F0-1: 95.24 ± 33.08 pg/ml, n = 25; F2: 158.70 ± 52.74 pg/ml, n = 37; F3-4: 357.45 ± 162.18 pg/ml, n = 22; P <0.001). Baseline IP-10 levels were significantly lower in patients achieved Early virological response (responders 134.80 ± 60.47 pg/ml, n = 60; non-responders 334.54 ± 168.94 pg/ml, n = 24, P <0.001). Also baseline IP-10 levels were significantly lower in patients who became HCV RNA negative at 24 weeks of therapy (179.52 ± 130.03 pg/ml, n = 78) than non-responders (352.33 ± 132.58 pg/ml, n = 6, P = 0.002). SVR was achieved in 58/68 (85.3%) patients while 10 patients were relapsed. Baseline IP-10 levels differs significantly between patients who achieved SVR at week 24 post therapy and relapsed patients (IP10 level: SVR, 173.52 ± 125.20 pg/ml, n = 58; Relapsed, 216.20 ± 67.72 pg/ml, n = 10, P = 0.021)., Conclusion: Baseline IP-10 level independently predicts EVR, response at week 24 during therapy and SVR. It also differentiates patients with mild fibrosis from those with moderate and advanced fibrosis.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the correlation between the percentage of CD14(+) HLA-DR(low/-) immunosuppressive monocytes, plasma arginase 1 level, and disease aggressiveness in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma., Methods: Forty-two patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Peripheral blood CD14+ HLA-DR(low/-) monocytes were detected by Flow cytometry, and their correlation with disease relapse and refractoriness was analyzed., Results: The percent of CD14(+) HLA-DR(low/-) monocytes was significantly higher in the lymphoma patients than in the healthy controls (control, 9.3 ± 4%; lymphoma, 35.8 ± 20.2%; P < 0.0001), higher in stage III& IV than stage II (stage II, 26.48 ± 17%, n = 26; stage III & IV, 50.8 ± 15.4%, n = 16; P < 0.0001), more in diffuse large cell lymphoma than other pathology types and in relapsed/refractory patients than in patients who achieved remission during follow-up (relapsed/refractory, n = 18, 45.7 ± 16.7%; remission, n = 16, 21.4 ± 16.2%; P < 0.0001). The arginase I level correlated with increased percent of CD14(+) HLA-DR(low/-) monocytes (P < 0.0001)., Conclusion: Increased CD14(+) monocytes with loss of HLA expression were seen in patients with higher stage disease, more aggressive pathology, and in relapse or refractoriness to treatment. Identifying therapeutic strategies to overcome the suppressive properties of these monocytes could be of value., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The biological properties and pathogenicity of seven Newcastle disease virus field isolates were studied. These isolates were recovered from different outbreaks in Sudan (5 from chickens and 2 from pigeons) during 2008-2013. Based on intracerebral pathogenicity index, four NDV isolates were characterized as velogenic (their ICPI ranged 2.0-1.6) and three isolates were characterized as mesogenic (ICPI ranged 1.2-1.3). The mean death time for all isolates ranged from 54 to 76.8 hours. The elution time of the viruses from chicken erythrocytes and the ability to haemagglutinate mammalian red blood cells differed considerably in their reactions.

Expert opinion was assessed to identify current knowledge gaps in determining future changes in Arabian/Persian Gulf (thereafter 'Gulf') coral reefs. Thirty-one participants submitted 71 research questions that were peer-assessed in terms of scientific importance (i.e., filled a knowledge gap and was a research priority) and efficiency in resource use (i.e., was highly feasible and ecologically broad). Ten research questions, in six major research areas, were highly important for both understanding Gulf coral reef ecosystems and also an efficient use of limited research resources. These questions mirrored global evaluations of the importance of understanding and evaluating biodiversity, determining the potential impacts of climate change, the role of anthropogenic impacts in structuring coral reef communities, and economically evaluating coral reef communities. These questions provide guidance for future research on coral reef ecosystems within the Gulf, and enhance the potential for assessment and management of future changes in this globally significant region., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Despite advances in diagnosis, surgery, and antimicrobial therapy, mortality rates associated with complicated intra-abdominal infections remain exceedingly high. The World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) has designed the CIAOW study in order to describe the clinical, microbiological, and management-related profiles of both community- and healthcare-acquired complicated intra-abdominal infections in a worldwide context. The CIAOW study (Complicated Intra-Abdominal infection Observational Worldwide Study) is a multicenter observational study currently underway in 57 medical institutions worldwide. The study includes patients undergoing surgery or interventional drainage to address complicated intra-abdominal infections. This preliminary report includes all data from almost the first two months of the six-month study period. Patients who met inclusion criteria with either community-acquired or healthcare-associated complicated intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) were included in the study. 702 patients with a mean age of 49.2 years (range 18-98) were enrolled in the study. 272 patients (38.7%) were women and 430 (62.3%) were men. Among these patients, 615 (87.6%) were affected by community-acquired IAIs while the remaining 87 (12.4%) suffered from healthcare-associated infections. Generalized peritonitis was observed in 304 patients (43.3%), whereas localized peritonitis or abscesses was registered in 398 (57.7%) patients.The overall mortality rate was 10.1% (71/702). The final results of the CIAOW Study will be published following the conclusion of the study period in March 2013.

The current study described the isolation and molecular detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (Mg) and Mycoplasma synoviae from tracheal swabs of diseased birds showing signs of respiratory distress in selected commercial (layer and broiler) farms and from yolk and an open air of pens of vaccinated breeder flocks in Sudan. A number of 45 Mycoplasma isolates were recovered from chickens in Khartoum, Gezira, and Equatoria states in Sudan. Of these, eight Mg and three Ms isolates were identified using growth inhibition and rapid serum agglutination (RSA) tests. The conventional PCR technique was applied to amplify 140 bp and 720 bp DNA fragments for the Mg and Ms, respectively. This research confirmed vertical and horizontal transmission of Mg from breeder farms through detection of Mg in yolk of fertile eggs and an air of pens despite previous vaccination. PCR is considered a rapid, sensitive, and cheap method and it will improve the diagnosis of Mycoplasma in chickens.

To determine the prevalence of skin diseases among primary-school children in Baghdad, Iraq, a total of 2160 schoolchildren were randomly selected from 30 primary schools. Sociodemographic data were collected from each pupil and exposed parts of the body of each child were clinically examined. The overall prevalence of skin diseases was 40.9%. A significant association between the prevalence of skin diseases with education level of parents was demonstrated. The prevalence rates of transmissible and nontransmissible skin diseases were 8.8% and 33.7% respectively. The high prevalence rate may reflect prevailing low socioeconomic conditions.

B cells from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients display signalling defects that may underlie disease pathogenesis activity.CD19 and CD22 play a major role as regulators of B-cell response. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between B cell surface markers namely CD19, CD20 and CD22 expression and clinical and laboratory indices of SLE activity. The study included 33 SLE patients and 20 healthy children and adolescents as controls. Flowcytometric assay of dual markers, CD19/CD20, and CD20/CD22 was done. SLE disease activity was assessed by SLEDAI score. CD22% was significantly higher while CD20% was significantly lower in the study compared to the control group. No significant difference was observed in both groups with respect to CD19% or CD19/CD22% ratio. The level of CD22 expression was significantly lower in high and very high active cases than in mild and moderate cases and negatively correlated with SLDEAI score and ESR. Results obtained showed that, B cell surface receptors CD20 and CD22 are significantly affected in patients with SLE, pointing to their possible involvement in the aetiopathogenesis of the disease and in the regulatory mechanisms in response to the immune disturbance.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is one of the most important malignant diseases worldwide. Cytokines may contribute to the clinical and histopathological alterations of the disease, while CD44, the lymphocyte homing receptor, is a putative determinant of lymphoma dissemination. To assess their value in NHL, the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-2 and sCD44 were measured in patients with different stages of NHL and the relation between these levels and tumor burden, presence of B symptoms and other prognostic criteria of the disease was evaluated. Fifty-two patients with NHL before administration of treatment as well as 20 age- and gender-matched controls were enrolled in this study. Clinical and laboratory assessment was done for the studied patients and the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-2 and sCD44 were estimated by enzyme immunoassay. Laboratory assessment included measurement of Creactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and albumin. LDH and CRP levels were more significantly higher, while albumin level was significantly lower among patients with stage IV as compared to that of patients with stages I/II or III. The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-2 and sCD44 were significantly higher in NHL patients than in controls. The levels of both TNF-alpha and IL-2 were positively correlated with LDH and CRP and negatively correlated with albumin. However, TNF-alpha, but not IL-2, was negatively correlated with hemoglobin (HB). The level of sCD44 was negatively correlated with both albumin and HB and positively correlated with CRP. There were significant positive correlation between the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-2 and sCD44. There was a significant association between the levels of both TNF-alpha and sCD44 and the presence of B symptoms. In conclusion, the occurrence of B symptoms in NHL may be attributed, at least in part, to high level of TNF-alpha. The increased levels of TNF-alpha IL-2 and sCD44 are associated with high tumor burden and poor prognostic criteria and it is suggest that they can be used as prognostic markers in NHL.

The kinetics of intrahepatic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD4(+) T cell responses and their role in progression of fibrosis have not previously been characterized. Subjects with HCV/Schistosoma mansoni coinfection have a more rapid progression of HCV liver fibrosis than do those with HCV infection alone. The present prospective longitudinal study compared the liver histology, HCV-specific intrahepatic and peripheral CD4(+) T cell proliferative responses, and cytokines (enzyme-linked immunospot) in 48 subjects with unresolved acute HCV infection with or without S. mansoni coinfection, at 6-10 months after acute infection and at the end of follow-up (96+/-8.7 months), and the findings were correlated to the rate of progression of fibrosis per year. Coinfected subjects had significant worsening of fibrosis, compared with subjects with HCV infection alone. At baseline, subjects with HCV infection alone had stronger multispecific intrahepatic HCV-specific CD4(+) T helper 1 responses than did coinfected subjects, who had either no responses or weak, narrowly focused responses, and, over time, these T cell responses were maintained only in the liver. The rate of progression of fibrosis and virus load inversely correlated with intrahepatic HCV-specific CD4(+) T cell response. The present prospective analysis indicates that enhancement of progression of liver fibrosis is associated with failure to develop early, multispecific, HCV-specific CD4(+) Th1 responses, suggesting that novel therapeutic approaches inducing strong cellular immune responses might limit subsequent liver damage in individuals with chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: To study the clinical and histopathologic spectrum of pilomatricoma, the benign tumor of hair matrix., Methods: Retrospective review of 27 cases of pilomatricoma (Calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe) reported at Bahrain Defence Force Hospital from 1993-1999., Results: Most of the cases were confused clinically with sebaceous cysts. Seventy eight per cent of the cases occurred below the age of 30 years. Female to male ratio was 5:4. Head, neck and upper limb were the most common sites for pilomatricoma. The size of the tumors ranged from between 4-35 mm in diameter. Tumors were encapsulated and solid composed of shadow and basophilic cells, and stroma containing varying amounts of calcification, ossification and inflammatory cells., Conclusion: Pilomatricomas have a wide variety of clinical characteristics and are often misdiagnosed with other skin conditions. They should be considered along with other benign and malignant conditions in the clinical differential diagnosis of solitary firm skin nodules especially those, which occur in the head, neck and upper limb.

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