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Abstract Background and aim The present survey aimed to explore northern Saudi medical students’ perceptions and sociodemographic influencing factors in choosing ophthalmology as a career specialty to determine if they are in alignment with the health sector transformation program of the Vision 2030 initiative. Methods This study was conducted among 384 medical students from two universities in northern Saudi Arabia (KSA). We used a standard and validated questionnaire to collect the required data. The perception aspect consisted of 20 questions divided into five subdomains: personal and lifestyle factors, residency program aspects, patients’ care, work culture, and financial factors. We used binomial logistic regression to find sociodemographic predictors for choosing ophthalmology as the first choice. Results The present study demonstrated that northern Saudi medical students preferred ophthalmology as the second most preferred specialty (11.2%). Among the motivational factors, the most frequently reported was the influence of faculty members from their college (74.2%), followed by financial aspects (74%) and family and friends (73.7%). The preference to choose ophthalmology was significantly higher among female gender (ref: male, AOR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.39–4.88, p = 0.001) and students with a GPA of 4.6 and above (ref: GPA less than 3.5, AOR = 3.77, 95% CI = 2.99–5.36, p = 0.023). Conclusion Northern Saudi medical students’ preference for ophthalmology aligns with Vision 2030 goals. Therefore, it is essential to tailor strategies by policymakers to the medical students according to the identified sociodemographic influencing factors. Furthermore, we recommend prospective studies across all the regions of KSA to identify regional variations.

Maysa M Haroon,1 Gehan A Hegazy,2,3 Mohammed A Hassanien,4,5 Olfat Shaker,6 Wafaa H Hussein1 1Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 2Clinical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 3Medical Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt; 4Vice Presidency for Educational Affairs and Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 5Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt; 6Departments of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, EgyptCorrespondence: Maysa M Haroon, Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, 71 El Kasr El Aini Street, P.O.Box 11562, Cairo, Egypt, Tel +201025868370, Email maysaharoon@yahoo.comBackground: Dysregulation of both cellular and humoral immune responses is central in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenetic mechanisms. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 23 (IL23), and their roles in promoting such dysregulation have recently been highly considered. This research compared IL23 serum levels in 85 Egyptian SLE patients and 85 healthy controls. Then, IL23 level was correlated to various SLE disease parameters, disease activity, and damage indices.Results: IL23 serum levels were significantly elevated in SLE patients versus healthy individuals. Furthermore, IL23 levels were positively correlated with SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and were positively correlated with arthritis, seizures, consumption of complements (C3, C4), and with parameters of nephritis (hematuria, pyuria, casts, and proteinuria). A positive correlation was also found between IL23 levels and oral prednisolone dose.Conclusion: IL23 has higher levels in the serum of SLE patients, and is correlated to activity of the disease, especially lupus nephritis. Further researchis needed to explore its exact role in SLE pathogenesis and whether it can be considered a potential biomarker or therapeutic target in SLE.Keywords: interleukin 23, proinflammatory cytokines, systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE disease activity index, lupus nephritis

Background: The amniotic membrane (AM) is used in ocular surface reconstruction and is effective at promoting epithelialization and preventing corneal perforation in cases of acute microbial keratitis. Here, we report a case of isolated AM infection after AM transplantation for a persistent epithelial defect following tectonic penetrating keratoplasty. Case presentation: A 47-year-old man with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus presented to the emergency department with a referral for perforated microbial keratitis. After ophthalmic examination, corneal scraping was performed, and corneal gluing was attempted and failed. Hence, the patient underwent tectonic penetrating keratoplasty. After keratoplasty, the patient developed a persistent epithelial defect that required AM transplantation as an overlay. Thirty days post-AM transplant, the patient presented with signs and symptoms resembling granular microbial infection of the cornea. After two days, the granular findings began dislodging from the corneal surface and were sent for culture, sensitivity, and histopathological identification. Histological analysis of the granular material indicated it to be a small piece of AM stroma infiltrated with mixed-type inflammatory cells. Corneal scraping cultures indicated Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus oralis. Conclusion: The infiltrate was localized to the basement membrane of the AM as, despite the anti-inflammatory effects of AM, it can also act as a barrier against polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration from the tear film and microbial invasion into the cornea.

Wafaa H Hussein,1 Hala Ramadan,2 Safa Labib,2 Gehan A Hegazy,3,4 Olfat G Shaker,5 Sherif M Yusuf,6 Mohammed A Hassanien,7 Maysa M Haroon1 1Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 2Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 3Clinical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 4Medical Division Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt; 5Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 6Internal Medicine Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; 7Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Maysa M Haroon, Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, 71 El Kasr El Aini Street, P.O. Box 11562, Cairo, Egypt, Tel +201025868370, Email maysaharoon@yahoo.comBackground: Long noncoding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs), small noncoding RNAs known as microRNAs (miRNAs) as well as some cytokines are recently thought to have a role in many inflammatory and autoimmune disorders including Behçet’s disease (BD). This chronic multisystem disease lacks the particular histological or laboratory findings that might aid in its diagnosis. Therefore, any association with such molecules may have an impact on understanding the disease pathogenesis and/or management. The current study compared the levels of NEAT1, miR-21 and IL17 levels in sera of Egyptian BD patients and healthy individuals. The expression levels of these molecules were further investigated for their association with BD manifestations and activity aiming to explore their potential application in disease management.Results: NEAT1 & miR-21 showed down-regulation while IL-17 showed up-regulation among BD patients as compared to controls. IL-17 had significant correlation with major vessels involvement and cyclophosphamide intake. NEAT1 showed a significant negative correlation with colchicine intake. Disease activity did not correlate significantly with any of NEAT1, miR-21 or IL-17.Conclusion: NEAT1, miR-21 and IL17 might have a role in Behçet’s disease pathogenesis, so more research is needed to unveil that role and their potential usage as biomarkers for the diagnosis or therapeutic targets.Keywords: long noncoding ribonucleic acids, microRNAs, NEAT1, miR-21, IL-17, Behçet’s disease

OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy in Egypt. Genetic and environmental factors play a role in its development. This study explored the association between the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MEG3 rs7158663 polymorphism, MEG3 expression, and the risk of HCC and other clinicopathologic characteristics in an Egyptian population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This case-control study included 114 patients with HCC and 110 healthy controls. TaqMan Real-time PCR was used to analyze lncRNA MEG3 rs7158663. Serum MEG3 expression levels were measured using RT-PCR. RESULTS: The AA, GA+AA, and A alleles were associated with increased risk for HCC (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 11.84%, 95% CI 4.07-34.45, p < 0.0001; adjusted OR 3.18, 95% CI 1.79-5.67, p < 0.0001; and adjusted OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.91-4.34, p < 0.0001, respectively). The mutant genotype and allele were linked to an increased risk in male patients and patients ≥ 50 years old. MEG3 serum expression level was downregulated in HCC patients. The rs7158663 G > A polymorphism and downregulated MEG3 were significantly associated with larger tumor size and advanced disease stage. CONCLUSIONS: MEG3 rs7158663 single nucleotide polymorphisms and downregulated lncRNA MEG3 were associated with HCC risk and may represent diagnostic and bad prognostic factors for HCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease. miR-155 and miR-146a were expressed in many autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study was to examine miR-155 rs767649 and miR-146a rs57095329 polymorphisms in SLE susceptibility in an Egyptian cohort and to investigate the correlation between them and clinical data and disease activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The two SNPs were analyzed in 120 patients with SLE and 100 healthy controls using RT-PCR. RESULTS: The TT genotype and T allele of miR-155 rs767649 were associated with a significant increase in the risk of SLE, particularly in females. On the other hand, miR-146a (rs57095329) polymorphism was not associated with SLE risk. The AT/TT genotypes of miR-155 rs767649 showed higher distributions among patients with higher SLEDAI and nephritis. CONCLUSIONS: This study had demonstrated for the first time the association between miR-155 rs767649 and the risk of development of SLE in an Egyptian cohort, mostly in females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 is considered a significant food-borne microorganism that causes food poisoning infections in humans every year. E. coli O157:H7 has various virulence factors such as Shiga-toxin encoding (Stx1 and Stx2). Meat and its products are considered the best meals that consumers eat every day worldwide, but meat and its products are exposed to contamination through unhygienic processing, handling, and storage. The aim of the study was the isolation of E. coli O157:H7 and detection of the uidA, Stx1, and Stx2 genes. 504 samples of meat and butchers’ shops were gathered from diverse areas in Mosul city. Classical and molecular biology techniques were used to isolate and identify E. coli O157:H7. The results appeared to indicate the total number of E. coli isolates in this study was 138 and the spread rate of E. coli O157:H7 isolated was 9.4% (13/138). The spread rate of E. coli O157:H7 was high in workers hands 4 (20%), while we did not detect E. coli O157:H7 in Machines. Additionally, all E. coli O157:H7 have the uidA, and Stx2 genes at 100%, while 92.3% of E. coli O157:H7 possess the Stx1 gene. The study concludes E. coli O157:H7 occurrences in meats and butchers’ shops and that all equipment and tools used were capable of transmitting E. coli O157:H7 to meats. Meats and butchers’ shops are a risk to humans who consume the uncooked meats.