DeepCSFusion: Deep Compressive Sensing Fusion for Efficient COVID-19 Classification.

Worldwide, the COVID-19 epidemic, which started in 2019, has resulted in millions of deaths. The medical research community has widely used computer analysis of medical data during the pandemic, specifically deep learning models. Deploying models on devices with constrained resources is a significant challenge due to the increased storage demands associated with larger deep learning models.

Evaluation of CTLA-4 (+ 49A/G) polymorphism association with rheumatoid arthritis in Egyptian patients.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) is an inhibitory molecule that has an essential role in T-cell homeostasis and self-tolerance because of its inhibitory signals. Genetic polymorphisms in the CTLA-4 gene have been associated with several autoimmune diseases. We aimed to assess the association between the CTLA-4 +49 A/G polymorphism (rs231775) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Egyptian RA patients.

In vitro expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells and hepatocytes using purified platelet derived growth factors, a potential therapeutic modality for liver fibrosis.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and hepatocytes are considered valuable candidates for cell-based therapy. The use of free zoonotic media, as purified platelets derived growth factors (L-GF) and human platelet lysate (hPL), instead of using fetal bovine serum (FBS) to support the growth and proliferation of these cells could be used as a promising therapeutic tool in hepatic regeneration. This study aimed to evaluate the usage of purified platelet derived growth factors and platelet lysate in both MSCs and hepatocyte cultures and to compare them with the usage of FBS.

Krebs von den Lungen-6, a promising marker in evaluating the severity of interstitial lung disease in Egyptian rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) is one of the mucins associated with interstitial lung disease. We aimed to assess the value of KL-6 as a marker for detecting the presence of interstitial lung disease in Egyptian rheumatoid arthritis patients and to evaluate its ability to assess severity in different grades of interstitial lung disease. The study included 89 rheumatoid arthritis patients; 64 patients with interstitial lung disease and 25 patients without interstitial lung disease.

FUSI-CAD: Coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnosis based on the fusion of CNNs and handcrafted features.

The precise and rapid diagnosis of coronavirus (COVID-19) at the very primary stage helps doctors to manage patients in high workload conditions. In addition, it prevents the spread of this pandemic virus. Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) based on artificial intelligence (AI) techniques can be used to distinguish between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 from the computed tomography (CT) imaging.

A framework for breast cancer classification using Multi-DCNNs.

Background: Deep learning (DL) is the fastest-growing field of machine learning (ML). Deep convolutional neural networks (DCNN) are currently the main tool used for image analysis and classification purposes. There are several DCNN architectures among them AlexNet, GoogleNet, and residual networks (ResNet).

Monocyte monolayer assay in pre-transfusion testing: A magic key in transfusing patients with recurrent bad cross-match due to alloimmunization.

Background: The monocyte monolayer assay (MMA) is an in-vitro assay that can predict the outcome of blood transfusion of antigen positive units when serologically compatible blood is not available.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-four patients testing positive by the antibody screening test using gel agglutination were further examined by the alloantibody identification panel to determine alloantibody specificity. After determining and categorizing the antibodies, patients' samples were examined using the MMA to determine the clinical significance of the detected alloantibodies.

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection impairs natural killer cells-dendritic cells cross-talk: An in vitro culture study.

To examine the cross-talk between NK cells and DCs in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we isolated monocytes and NK cells from 20 chronic HCV patients and 20 healthy controls. Monocytes were used to generate immature DCs which were pulsed with HCV peptides (core, NS3-NS4, and NS5). Four different cocultures were carried out: E1, both DCs and NK cells were from a chronic HCV patient; E2, NK cells from a healthy control cocultured with DCs from a chronic HCV patient; E3, NK cells from a chronic HCV patient cocultured with DCs from a healthy control; and E4, both DCs and NK cells were from a healthy control.

MULTI-DEEP: A novel CAD system for coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnosis from CT images using multiple convolution neural networks.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) was first observed in Wuhan, China, and quickly propagated worldwide. It is considered the supreme crisis of the present era and one of the most crucial hazards threatening worldwide health. Therefore, the early detection of COVID-19 is essential.

The COVID-19 Cytokine Storm; What We Know So Far.

COVID-19 is a rapidly spreading global threat that has been declared as a pandemic by the WHO. COVID-19 is transmitted via droplets or direct contact and infects the respiratory tract resulting in pneumonia in most of the cases and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in about 15 % of the cases. Mortality in COVID-19 patients has been linked to the presence of the so-called "cytokine storm" induced by the virus.

Breast Cancer Diagnosis Using an Efficient CAD System Based on Multiple Classifiers.

Breast cancer is one of the major health issues across the world. In this study, a new computer-aided detection (CAD) system is introduced. First, the mammogram images were enhanced to increase the contrast.

Longer duration of kangaroo care improves neurobehavioral performance and feeding in preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: To investigate the effect of kangaroo care (KC) and its duration on neurobehavioral performance, stress response, breastfeeding success, and vital signs in premature infants.

Methods: One hundred and twenty premature infants were randomized to receive either KC for 60 min daily, KC for 120 min daily or conventional care (controls) for at least 7 days. Salivary cortisol was measured before and after the first KC session and then after 7 days.

Breast cancer detection using deep convolutional neural networks and support vector machines.

It is important to detect breast cancer as early as possible. In this manuscript, a new methodology for classifying breast cancer using deep learning and some segmentation techniques are introduced. A new computer aided detection (CAD) system is proposed for classifying benign and malignant mass tumors in breast mammography images.

Elevated levels of IL-37 correlate with T cell activation status in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective: To assess the association between serum levels of IL-37 in rheumatoid arthritis patients and percentage of peripheral blood T lymphocytes expressing the activation marker CD26 and investigate their correlation with disease activity.

Methods: The study included 48 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 42 age and sex matched healthy controls. Serum levels of IL-37 were determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay while percentage of CD3CD26T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was assayed using flowcytometry.

Transient elastography as a noninvasive assessment tool for hepatopathies of different etiology in pediatric type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Aim: To identify the prevalence and effect of hepatopathies of different etiologies among pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) using transient elastography (TE) and its relation to glycemic control.

Methods: One hundred T1DM patients were studied focusing on liver functions, fasting lipid profile, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), hepatitis C virus (HCV), serum immunoglobulins, autoimmune antibodies; anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA), and anti-liver kidney microsomal antibody (anti-LKM). Abdominal ultrasound was performed and TE was done for patients with HCV, positive autoimmune antibody and/or abnormal ultrasound findings.

Characterization of differential antibody production against hepatitis C virus in different HCV infection status.

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an update on hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing approach, in which it omitted the use of recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) in the diagnostic algorithm and recommended that future studies are needed to evaluate the performance of HCV testing without RIBA. As Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV worldwide, we aimed to evaluate the value of RIBA in HCV testing in a high prevalence population. Our objective was to clarify whether enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) anti-HCV signal-to-cutoff (S/CO) ratios were able to discriminate true positive from false positive anti-HCV antibody status and to evaluate the role of RIBA in solving this problem which may lead to a redefined strategy for diagnosis of HCV infection.

Vitamin D status and its modulatory effect on interferon gamma and interleukin-10 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in culture.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the influence of vitamin D on the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10), in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures.

Methods: Thirty healthy subjects were investigated. Serum levels of calcium, 25(OH) D, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were assessed.

Sexual Transmission of HCV in Heterologous Monogamous Spouses.

We screened for evidence of HCV infection in healthy heterologous monogamous spouses of chronic HCV patients and studied the relation with various risk factors. A cross-sectional study of fifty healthy monogamous heterosexual spouses of HCV-positive index cases was carried out. All participants were HBV and HIV negative.

CXCL10 antagonism and plasma sDPPIV correlate with increasing liver disease in chronic HCV genotype 4 infected patients.

Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection worldwide. CXCL10 is a potent chemoattractant that directs effector lymphocytes to sites of inflammation. It has been reported that plasma CXCL10 is processed by dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPPIV) thus leading to the generation of an antagonist form.