Ultrastructure abnormalities of collagen and elastin in Arab patients with arterial tortuosity syndrome.

Arterial tortuosity syndrome (ATS) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by elongation and tortuosity of the large- and medium-sized arteries. ATS patients display features that are also found in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) patients. ATS is caused by pathogenic mutations in the SLC2A10 gene, which encodes for the glucose transporter, GLUT10.

Use of Intravenous Pulse Steroids to Treat Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis in a Non-Compliant Asthmatic Adolescent.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is an immune-mediated inflammatory airway disease that predominantly affects patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and, less commonly, patients with asthma. ABPA can lead to irreversible lung injury and bronchiectasis if not treated early and aggressively. Long-term oral steroids are the standard therapy of ABPA.

Serum Cytokine Profile in Patients with Candidemia versus Bacteremia.

Bloodstream infections constitute a major threat for hospitalized patients in intensive care units and immunocompromised hosts. Certain serum cytokines play a decisive role in anti-microbial host defense. Cytokines may act as discriminatory biomarkers that can significantly increase in candidemia compared to bacteremia patients.

First report of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator mutation c.1521_1523delCTT (p. Phe508del) in two Qatari patients with cystic fibrosis.

We report two cases of Qatari children with cystic fibrosis (CF) from different families presenting the homozygous CFTR 1521_1523delCTT (p. Phe508del) mutation with classic CF phenotypes. This gene mutation is considered the second CF mutation identified in Qatar.

Sputum and Plasma Neutrophil Elastase in Stable Adult Patients With Cystic Fibrosis in Relation to Chronic Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Colonization.

Background and purpose Neutrophil elastase (NE) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of airway inflammation in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and it impairs defenses against  (PA) infection or colonization. Sputum NE may act as a biomarker of neutrophilic inflammation in CF patients. This study aimed to determine sputum and plasma total NE levels in clinically stable adult CF patients and control subjects, and their correlation to PA colonization and lung functions.

Approaching two decades of cystic fibrosis research in Qatar: a historical perspective and future directions.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by a defect of CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. CF affects multiple systems, predominantly with respiratory involvement. In Qatar, researchers have been exploring various aspects of the disease for almost 20 years.

A Rare Pediatric Case of Severe Bird Fancier's Lung Presented with Viral Pneumonitis-Like Picture.

Bird Fancier's Lung (BFL) is a rare, nonatopic immunologic response to repeated or intense inhalation of avian (bird) proteins/antigens found in the feathers or droppings of many species of birds, which leads to an immune-mediated inflammatory reaction in the respiratory system. Although this is the most common type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) reported in adults, it is one of the classifications of a rare subtype of interstitial lung disease that occurs in the pediatric age group of which few case reports are available in the literature. The pathophysiology of HP is complex; numerous organic and inorganic antigens can cause immune dysregulation, leading to an immune-related antigen⁻antibody response (immunoglobulin G-IgG- against the offending antigen).

Molecular Analysis of Resistance and Detection of Non-Wild-Type Strains Using Etest Epidemiological Cutoff Values for Amphotericin B and Echinocandins for Bloodstream Candida Infections from a Tertiary Hospital in Qatar.

A total of 301 bloodstream isolates collected from 289 patients over 5 years at a tertiary hospital in Qatar were evaluated. Out of all infections, 53% were diagnosed in patients admitted to the intensive care units. Steady increases in non- species were reported from 2009 to 2014 (30.

Serum Zinc Level in Asthmatic and Non-Asthmatic School Children.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic disorders among children. Zinc (Zn) is an essential dietary antioxidant and may have a special role in assisting the airways of asthmatic subjects. The primary objective of this study was to measure serum Zn levels among asthmatic school children and to compare this to the serum Zn level in non-asthmatic children.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant in cystic fibrosis patients on inhaled antibiotics.

Introduction: Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR-PA) is an important and growing issue in the care of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and a major cause of morbidity and mortality.

Objective: The objective of the study was to describe the frequency of MDR-PA recovered from the lower respiratory samples of pediatric and adult CF patients, and its antibiotic resistance pattern to commonly used antimicrobial agents including β-lactams, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones.

Materials And Methods: The lower respiratory isolates of P.

Persistence of Candida dubliniensis and lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Objectives: Candida dubliniensis is an emerging yeast and demonstrated a high adherence property to cystic fibrosis respiratory tract. Therefore, it is important to determine the persistence of C. dubliniensis and to assess the possible relationship to the body mass index (BMI) and forced expiratory volume in 1st second (FEV1).

Serum zinc concentration in cystic fibrosis patients with CFTR I1234V mutation associated with pancreatic sufficiency.

Objective: To determine serum zinc (Zn) level among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with homozygous CFTR I1234V mutation associated with pancreatic sufficiency (PS).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted including both pediatric and adult CF patients. Data on age, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), BMI Z-score, FEV1, and chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection were collected.

Discrepancy in MALDI-TOF MS identification of uncommon Gram-negative bacteria from lower respiratory secretions in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Introduction: Early identification of microbial organisms from respiratory secretions of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is important to guide therapeutic decisions. The objective was to compare the accuracy of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) relative to the conventional phenotypic method in identifying common bacterial isolates, including nonfermenting Gram-negative bacteria, in a cohort of patients with CF.

Methods: A total of 123 isolates from 50 patients with CF representing 14 bacterial species from respiratory specimens were identified using MALDI-TOF MS in parallel with conventional phenotypic methods.

Genetic relatedness and host specificity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis patients.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the primary pathogens isolated more frequently in cystic fibrosis (CF) and it exhibits innate resistance to a wide range of antibiotics.

Purpose: We sought to determine whether the highly prevalent genotypes of P. aeruginosa are specifically linked to CF patients and have any related multidrug antibiotic resistance.

Bone Mineral Density in Cystic Fibrosis Patients with the CFTR I1234V Mutation in a Large Kindred Family Is Associated with Pancreatic Sufficiency.

Objectives. To study bone mineral density (BMD) in cystic fibrosis (CF) children and adults with the CFTR I1234V mutation associated with pancreatic sufficiency. Methods.

Uncommon opportunistic yeast bloodstream infections from Qatar.

Eleven uncommon yeast species that are associated with high mortality rates irrespective of antifungal therapy were isolated from 17/187 (201 episodes) pediatric and elderly patients with fungemia from Qatar. The samples were taken over a 6-year period (January 2004-December 2010). Isolated species included Kluyveromyces marxianus, Lodderomyces elongisporus, Lindnera fabianii, Candida dubliniensis, Meyerozyma guilliermondii, Candida intermedia, Pichia kudriavzevii, Yarrowia lipolytica, Clavispora lusitaniae, Candida pararugosa, and Wickerhamomyces anomalus.

High prevalence of Candida dubliniensis in lower respiratory tract secretions from cystic fibrosis patients may be related to increased adherence properties.

Objectives: We identified Candida spp isolated from lower respiratory tract secretions obtained from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), with the aim of determining the most prevalent causative agent. We also sought to determine their adhesive properties in order to understand their biology related to CF.

Methods: Twenty-five clinical samples were collected from a cohort of 20 CF patients.

Serum Leptin and Adiponectin Levels in Obese and Nonobese Asthmatic School Children in relation to Asthma Control.

There is growing evidence of a positive correlation between asthma and obesity in children and adults. Leptin and adiponectin regulate several metabolic and inflammatory functions. This study aims to evaluate serum leptin and adiponectin concentrations in asthmatic school children to investigate their association with obesity and the degree of asthma control.

Molecular identification and susceptibility pattern of clinical Nocardia species: Emergence of Nocardia crassostreae as an agent of invasive nocardiosis.

Background: Nocardia species are rare, opportunistic organisms that cause disease in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.

Objective: To investigate the clinical presentations of various Nocardia infections based on the 16S ribosomal RNA gene of the isolate, as well as related risk factors and susceptibility patterns to antimicrobial agents.

Methods: Thirteen patients with a diagnosis of nocardiosis were included in the present study.

Unexplained cyanosis revealing hepatopulmonary syndrome in a child with asymptomatic congenital hepatic fibrosis: a case report.

Introduction: Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a rare disease that affects patients of any age with acute or chronic liver disease. Liver transplantation is the only therapeutic option of proved benefit, and can result in substantial improvement or total improvement in postoperative gas exchange abnormalities.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a cyanotic 13-year-old Pakistani boy whose chest computed tomography scan showed normal lung fields and mediastinum with incidental findings of a prominent liver surface with a collateral vein connecting a portal cavernoma to the dilated terminal inferior vena cava.