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Background: Given the sparse data on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and its biological effector molecules ACE1 and ACE2 in pediatric COVID-19 cases, we investigated whether the ACE1 insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism could be a genetic marker for susceptibility to COVID-19 in Egyptian children and adolescents., Methods: This was a case-control study included four hundred sixty patients diagnosed with COVID-19, and 460 well-matched healthy control children and adolescents. The I/D polymorphism (rs1799752) in the ACE1 gene was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), meanwhile the ACE serum concentrations were assessed by ELISA., Results: The ACE1 D/D genotype and Deletion allele were significantly more represented in patients with COVID-19 compared to the control group (55% vs. 28%; OR = 2.4; [95% CI: 1.46-3.95]; for the DD genotype; P = 0.002) and (68% vs. 52.5%; OR: 1.93; [95% CI: 1.49-2.5] for the D allele; P = 0.032). The presence of ACE1 D/D genotype was an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 among studied patients (adjusted OR: 2.6; [95% CI: 1.6-9.7]; P < 0.001., Conclusions: The ACE1 insertion/deletion polymorphism may confer susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in Egyptian children and adolescents., Impact: Recent studies suggested a crucial role of renin-angiotensin system and its biological effector molecules ACE1 and ACE2 in the pathogenesis and progression of COVID-19. To our knowledge, ours is the first study to investigate the association of ACE1 I/D polymorphism and susceptibility to COVID-19 in Caucasian children and adolescents. The presence of the ACE1 D/D genotype or ACE1 Deletion allele may confer susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and being associated with higher ACE serum levels; may constitute independent risk factors for severe COVID-19. The ACE1 I/D genotyping help design further clinical trials reconsidering RAS-pathway antagonists to achieve more efficient targeted therapies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Given the sparse data on vitamin D status in pediatric COVID-19, we investigated whether vitamin D deficiency could be a risk factor for susceptibility to COVID-19 in Egyptian children and adolescents. We also investigated whether vitamin D receptor (VDR) FokI polymorphism could be a genetic marker for COVID-19 susceptibility., Methods: One hundred and eighty patients diagnosed to have COVID-19 and 200 matched control children and adolescents were recruited. Patients were laboratory confirmed as SARS-CoV-2 positive by real-time RT-PCR. All participants were genotyped for VDR Fok1 polymorphism by RT-PCR. Vitamin D status was defined as sufficient for serum 25(OH) D at least 30 ng/mL, insufficient at 21-29 ng/mL, deficient at <20 ng/mL., Results: Ninety-four patients (52%) had low vitamin D levels with 74 (41%) being deficient and 20 (11%) had vitamin D insufficiency. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with 2.6-fold increased risk for COVID-19 (OR = 2.6; [95% CI 1.96-4.9]; P = 0.002. The FokI FF genotype was significantly more represented in patients compared to control group (OR = 4.05; [95% CI: 1.95-8.55]; P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency and VDR Fok I polymorphism may constitute independent risk factors for susceptibility to COVID-19 in Egyptian children and adolescents., Impact: Vitamin D deficiency could be a modifiable risk factor for COVID-19 in children and adolescents because of its immune-modulatory action. To our knowledge, ours is the first such study to investigate the VDR Fok I polymorphism in Caucasian children and adolescents with COVID-19. Vitamin D deficiency and the VDR Fok I polymorphism may constitute independent risk factors for susceptibility to COVID-19 in Egyptian children and adolescents. Clinical trials should be urgently conducted to test for causality and to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation for prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19 taking into account the VDR polymorphisms., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: To date, the cytokine profile in children and adolescent with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has not been reported., Objectives: We investigated serum levels of a panel of key cytokines in children and adolescent with COVID-19 pneumonia with a primary focus on "cytokine storm" cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and two chemokines interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) and IL-8. We also studied whether these cytokines could be potential markers for illness severity in COVID-19 pneumonia., Methods: Ninety-two symptomatic patients aged less than 18 years with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia and 100 well-matched healthy controls were included in this multi-center study. For all patients, the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in respiratory fluid specimens was detected by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. We measured serum concentrations of studied cytokines by using flow cytometry., Results: Patients with COVID-19 had significantly higher median IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, and IP-10 serum levels than did control children (all p < 0.01). Patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia had significantly higher median IL-1β, IL-6, and IP-10 serum levels as compared with those with moderate COVID-19 pneumonia; all p < 0.01. ROC analysis revealed that three of the studied markers (IL-6, IL-1β, and IP-10) could predict severe COVID-19 pneumonia cases with the largest AUC for IL-6 of 0.893 (95% confidence interval: 0.84-0.98; p < 0.01)., Conclusion: Our study shows that pediatric patients with COVID-19 pneumonia have markedly elevated serum IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, and IP-10 levels at the initial phase of the illness indicating a cytokine storm following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, serum IL-6, IL-1β, and IP-10 concentrations were independent predictors for severe COVID-19 pneumonia., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

We synthesized a new class of heterostructures by depositing CdS, CdSe, or CdTe quantum dots (QDs) onto α-V 2 O 5 nanowires (NWs) via either successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) or linker-assisted assembly (LAA). SILAR yielded the highest loadings of QDs per NW, whereas LAA enabled better control over the size and properties of QDs. Soft and hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in conjunction with density functional theory calculations revealed that all α-V 2 O 5 /QD heterostructures exhibited Type-II band offset energetics, with a staggered gap where the conduction- and valence-band edges of α-V 2 O 5 NWs lie at lower energies (relative to the vacuum level) than their QD counterparts. Transient absorption spectroscopy measurements revealed that the Type-II energetic offsets promoted the ultrafast (10 -12 -10 -11 s) separation of photogenerated electrons and holes across the NW/QD interface to yield long-lived (10 -6 s) charge-separated states. Charge-transfer dynamics and charge-recombination time scales varied subtly with the composition of heterostructures and the nature of the NW/QD interface, with both charge separation and recombination occurring more rapidly within SILAR-derived heterostructures. LAA-derived α-V 2 O 5 /CdSe heterostructures promoted the photocatalytic reduction of aqueous protons to H 2 with a 20-fold or greater enhancement relative to isolated colloidal CdSe QDs or dispersed α-V 2 O 5 NWs. The separation of photoexcited electrons and holes across the NW/QD interface could thus be exploited in redox photocatalysis. In light of their programmable compositions and properties and their Type-II energetics that drive ultrafast charge separation, the α-V 2 O 5 /QD heterostructures are a promising new class of photocatalyst architectures ripe for continued exploration.

Silver Nano-trees (AgNTs) were synthesized by one-step electroless method with different densities via water or ethylene glycol (EG) on silicon substrate in one minute. The density of AgNTs is controlled by changing the concentration of silver nitrate in etchant solution. The absorption of NTs fabricated via EG is higher than absorption of NTs without EG. The AgNTs are employed as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and exhibit high sensitivity. The silver Nano-trees fabricated via ethylene glycol (AgNTs-EG) enhances the Raman spectrum of pyridine (Py) with higher enhancement factor. Moreover, the SERS-active substrates prepared by using EG were able to detect Pyridine with concentration as low as 0.005 mM, the ones fabricated by water could only detect Pyridine at concentration of 0.2 mM.

The commonest opportunistic parasites causing morbidity and/or mortality in the immuno-compromised subjects are mainly the gastro-intestinal ones. This study clarified the prevalence of the opportunistic parasites among a group of immunocompromised patients selected from Al Azhar University Hospitals. One hundred immunocompromised patients (GI) were divided into GIa: 40 malignancy patients. GIb: 30 with diabetes mellitus. GIc: 30 with chronic renal failure. GII: included 20 cross-matched healthy subjects as controls. Sheets were filled out on each subject including all personal and medical history. Both groups were subjected to stool and blood examinations for parasites. The results showed opportunistic parasites in 30% of patients and in 10% of healthy controls. The highest group had parasitosis was patients suffering from malignancy (18%). The patients suffering from chronic renal failure or from diabetes mellitus were equally affected (6% each group). There was significant relation between malignant patients and diabetic or chronic renal failure ones, but without significant relation between diabetic and chronic renal failure patients. Giardia lamblia was the most common parasite found in the patients (10%) of which 5% were among patients suffering from malignancy. Others were Cryptospotidium parvum (7%) Cyclospora cayetanensis (3%) and Microsporidia species (2%). Mixed infection was detected in 2 cases that had C. parvum and Cyclospora. But, neither Isospora belli nor Strongyloides stercoralis were detected. Also, ELISA showed antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in sex patients but none against Leishmania d. infantum.

This work studied the role of parasitic infection among 85 chronic diarrheic patients in Delta region and cross-matched 20 normal controls. They were subjected to thorough history taking and clinical examination and stool examination by direct smear, formol-ether concentration, simple sedimentation, simple floatation and Kato-katz thick smear. Questionnaire sheet was obtained for each case included personal history, complaint, present as well as past history and family history. The results showed that 67.1% of patients suffered from parasites versus 20% in controls. They included giardiasis mixed with hymenolepiasis nana, ameobiasis, ascariaisis, S. mansoni, heterophyiasis, B. homninis, Taenia spp and enterobiasis respectively. Single infection represented 54.2 %, while mixed ones were 12.9% of total chronic diarrhea cases and non parasitic causes were responsible for 32.9%. Mixed infection was common in A. lumbricoides with E. histolytica (18.18%) and H. nana with G. lambia (27.28%). The diarrhea duration was longer in mixed infections (3 months), E. histolytica (2 months) and H. nana (1.5 months). Commonest symptom other than diarrhea was abdominal pain mainly in mixed parasitosis. Parasitic diarrhea was more common in males than females (1.28: 1). Chronic parasitic diarrhea was most prevalent among low social class (49 or 57.6%) followed by very low social class (20 or 23.5%), middle social class (10 or 11.7%) and finally high social class (6 or 7.1%) with significant increase in low social class as compared to high one, and most prevalent among positive cases in rural area than in urban area.

Imported malaria is a health problem and needs continuous monitoring as many clinicians are not aware of it. In Yemen malaria is the main public health problem. Malaria cases were 16 in Almaza Military Fever Hospital, Cairo, 53 in Saudi Hospital at Pilgrimage, Yemen and in Saber Hospital at Aden, Yemen were studied. 9 cases (56.2%) of P. falciparum in Cairo were imported and 7 cases (43.8%) acquired P. vivax locally (October 2003 to July 2004). They were all treated successfully by chloroquine. An imported case (6.3%) died by cerebral malaria due to delayed diagnosis. Five imported cases (31.3%) had severe malaria. In Pilgrimage, an infant (1.9%) had congenital malaria, 17 cases (32.1%) had severe malaria and 2 (3.8%) died by cerebral malaria. 43 patients (81.1%) had P. falciparum and 10 patients (18.9%) had P. vivax. All patients were treated by parenteral or oral quinine. In Aden, one patient (5%) suffered diarrhea without fever, early blood film was negative, and was positive later on. 18 cases (90%) had P. falciparum, 2 (10%) had P. vivax. 4 cases (20%) had severe malaria & a patient (5%) died by cerebral malaria. Patients in Aden severe cases were successfully treated by intramuscular artemether followed by oral Fansidar, and mild ones were treated by oral Quartem.

The construction and electrochemical response characteristics of four polyvinylchloride (PVC) membrane sensors for the determination of monensin (MN) and salinomycin (SL) were described. The membranes were prepared using 1 wt.% drug, 44 wt.% nitrophenyl octyl ether, 53 wt.% PVC and 2 wt.% lipophilic additive which is the anionic potassium tetra (4-chlorophenyl) borate in sensors 1 and 2 and the cationic nicklo-phenanthroline in sensors 3 and 4. Sensor 1 and sensor 2 show linear responses over concentration range of 10(-3)-10(-5) M drug with cationic slopes of 52.3 and 54.1 mV per concentration decade, respectively. On the other hand sensor 3 and sensor 4 show linear responses over concentration range 10(-4)-10(-5) M drug with anionic slopes of 28.1 and 29.7 mV per concentration decade, respectively. The 4 sensors were successfully applied to the determination of MN and SL in their pharmaceutical products (Premix) with average recoveries of 98.4-100.4+/-2.41-1.97% for sensors 1 and 2 and 97.6-98.8+/-3.16-3.07% for sensors 3 and 4. The obtained results were compared reasonably well with the data obtained using the USP method (2000). The proposed sensors were also applied for the direct determination of both drugs in animal feed preparations without prior treatment in low levels; 10-1000 microg per 5 g feed. The sensors were successfully used to follow up the drugs concentration in the presence of other growth promotors, other antibiotics and the coexisting fatty acids.

Background/aims: The decision to operate on a patient with acute abdominal pain comes to the mind of the surgeon if routine investigations fail to identify the cause. A negative laparotomy may have complications, while laparoscopy appears to be a valuable way to improve the accuracy of diagnosis of acute abdominal pain and offers a promising modality of treatment., Methodology: The study included 100 patients with provisional diagnosis of acute abdomen after clinical examination and conventional diagnostic aids. All the patients have been subjected to diagnostic laparoscopy., Results: Eight cases (8%) were managed by laparotomy following diagnosis by laparoscope (disturbed ectopic pregnancy), while 92 cases (92%) were managed laparoscopically which resulted in 81 cases (81%) of successful laparoscopic procedure (31 appendectomies, 19 cholecystectomies, 12 ovarian cyst accident, and others) and 11 cases (11%) were converted to open surgery (4 gallbladder empyema, 2 appendicular mass, 2 intestinal obstruction, and others). Postoperative complications were two cases of wound infection managed conservatively (perforated appendix). The postoperative follow-up for six months was uneventful., Conclusions: Laparoscopic management of acute abdomen is a safe and effective method with the advantages of small scar, short hospital stay and early recovery.

Two spectrophotometric procedures for the selective determination of norfloxacin (NF) in the presence of its decarboxylated degradant are described. The first depends upon measurement of the pH-induced absorbance difference (delta A) of the drug solution between 0.1 N HCl and 0.1 N NaOH at 280 nm. The second involves chelation of the intact drug with iron (II) in acetate buffer solution (pH 5.7 +/- 0.1) to form a yellow-coloured chelate which absorbs at 358 nm. The two procedures are applied successfully for the determination of the intact drug both in pure form and in tablet form. The two methods retain their accuracy in the presence of up to 62% and 76% degradants, respectively.