Role of intrafamilial transmission in high prevalence of hepatitis C virus in Egypt.

Background: Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide. Although an effective HCV treatment program has been adopted, it is estimated that the number of newly reported cases in Egypt is still high. Intrafamilial transmission may play a role in the high prevalence of HCV in Egypt.

A Participatory Research Approach to develop an Arabic Symbol Dictionary.

The purpose of the Arabic Symbol Dictionary research discussed in this paper, is to provide a resource of culturally, environmentally and linguistically suitable symbols to aid communication and literacy skills. A participatory approach with the use of online social media and a bespoke symbol management system has been established to enhance the process of matching a user based Arabic and English core vocabulary with appropriate imagery. Participants including AAC users, their families, carers, teachers and therapists who have been involved in the research from the outset, collating the vocabularies, debating cultural nuances for symbols and critiquing the design of technologies for selection procedures.

Epigenetic alterations by methylation of RASSF1A and DAPK1 promoter sequences in mammary carcinoma detected in extracellular tumor DNA.

Novel strategies for early detection of breast cancer, the most common and second most lethal cancer in women, are urgently needed. Silencing tumor suppressor genes via DNA methylation has established hypermethylation as one of the most frequent molecular alterations that may initiate and drive many types of human neoplasia including breast cancer. Detecting such epigenetic changes in DNA derived not only from tumor tissue, but also from bodily fluids, may be a promising target for the molecular analysis of cancer.