Clinical significance of viral markers testing by ELISA and Individual Donation Nucleic Acid Testing (ID-NAT) for blood screening in blood bank: Single center study in Egypt.

Prevention of transfusion-transmitted viral infections and insurance of safe blood transfusion are the main goals of all blood banks worldwide. Despite the high sensitivity and specificity of currently used enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, viral transmission could still occur during the window period. Introducing viral individual donation nucleic acid testing (ID-NAT) can greatly decrease such risk providing an additional layer in securing blood transfusion.

Screening for SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies among healthcare workers: A single-center study in Egypt.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a global public health disaster, spreading throughout the world. In order to accurately determine the extent of the pandemic, it is important to accurately identify the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among healthcare workers (HCWs). This study intended to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs and examine its correlation with the demographic characteristics of the study participants prior to the implementation of the vaccination campaign.

COVID-19 anti immunoglobulin G antibodies serum levels among health care workers post COVID -19 vaccination: A single center study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has urged the scientific community internationally to find answers in terms of therapeutics and vaccines to control the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The post vaccination immune response differs between individuals especially health care workers who are the first line of defense to combat this disease. Our aim was to measure levels of anti-IgG antibodies titer post COVID-19 vaccination among health care workers in Suez Canal University Hospital.

Comparison of human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis results in pooled sera versus individual samples of blood donors attending suez canal university hospital.

Egypt is one of the countries where sexually transmitted diseases like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis are least prevalent. HIV and syphilis count less than one percent of total Egyptian population. An ELISA protocol for pooling serum samples is simple and may provide a way to reduce the cost and time needed for analysis.

Assessment of angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism in patients with psoriasis.

Psoriatic patients had diversity of clinical presentations and complications. Psoriasis can have significant interference with the patient's quality of life, recovery, and outcome. Some evidences suggest that the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is present in the skin of psoriatic patients.

Convalescent plasma in COVID-19: renewed focus on the timing and effectiveness of an old therapy.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has strained health care systems worldwide and resulted in high mortality. The current COVID-19 treatment is based on supportive and symptomatic care. Therefore, convalescent plasma (CP), which provides passive immunization against many infectious diseases, has been studied for COVID-19 management.

Assessment of human parvovirus B19 infection in Egyptian hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Parvovirus B19V has been shown to be associated with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with increased risk of post-infection anemia, especially in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This effect may be due to immunosuppression, insufficient erythropoietin, or short lifespan of red blood cells. Therefore, parvovirus infection should be investigated in this group of patients suffering from anemia or pancytopenia.

Clinical significance of golgi protein-73 as a diagnostic marker for Egyptian patients with colorectal cancer: Preliminary study.

Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Early diagnostic methods help in therapeutic success and higher survival rate. Golgi protein 73 (gp73) could help in diagnosis of colorectal cancer at an earlier stage.

Screening for Human Parvovirus B19 Infection in Egyptian Family Replacement Blood Donors.

Up till now, screening for human parvovirus B19 is not routine in national Egyptian blood bank strategy. Blood samples were collected from 500 healthy blood donors within the age range from 18 to 45 years old attending the blood bank of Suez Canal University Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt. Sera were separated and stored at - 20 °C.

Serum level of interleukin-22 in patients with cutaneous warts: A case-control study.

Background: Warts are viral cutaneous infections caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), presented by verrucous growth over the skin surface. The immune response is considered to play a crucial role in HPV clearance. It depends on intact cellular immunity including natural killer (NK) cell and cytotoxic T cells.

Evaluation of Golgi Protein 73 (GP73) as a Potential Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma is very important in the treatment which is feasible. Alpha-fetoprotein plus ultrasound in surveillance programs is controversial. GP73 is a protein.

Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Polymorphism In Hepatitis C Patients Treated With Interferon Based-Treatment As A Predictor of Early Virological Response.

HCV infection represented a foremost communal health trouble and Egypt has the largest epidemic of HCV in the world with prevalence of 14.7% for HCV antibody and 9.8% HCV-RNA.

Interleukin-22 and Chemokine Interferon γ -Inducible-10 (IP-10) Levels in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients and Treatment Response to Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin Therapy.

IL-22 plays a vital role in improving hepatic damage by targeting hepatocytes that express high levels of IL-22 receptor1. IP-10 is a chemokine that recruit mononuclear cells to liver parenchyma and improves the host immune response against hepatitis C virus. The study targeted 27 patients with chronic HCV who received pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin.

Multiple intra-familial transmission patterns of hepatitis B virus genotype D in north-eastern Egypt.

The transmission rate of intra-familial hepatitis B virus (HBV) and mode of transmission were investigated in north eastern Egypt. HBV infection was investigated serologically and confirmed by molecular evolutionary analysis in family members (N = 230) of 55 chronic hepatitis B carriers (index cases). Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) prevalence was 12.

Circulating endothelial cells as a marker of vascular dysfunction in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Context: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis; endothelial dysfunction represents the first step in its pathogenesis.

Objective: To assess endothelial dysfunction in SLE by circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and to characterize SLE-specific factors that contribute to its appearance.

Design: Case-control study was conducted on 60 subjects, divided into 2 groups: group A (30 patients with SLE) and group B (30 healthy sex- and age-matched controls).

The prognostic value of p53 mutation in pediatric marrow hypoplasia.

Background: The tumor suppressor gene p53 is involved in the control of cell proliferation, particularly in stressed cells. p 53 gene mutations are the most frequent genetic event found in human cancers. Fanconi Anemia (FA) is the most common representative of inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS) with a leukemic propensity.

Novel role of curcumin combined with bone marrow transplantation in reversing experimental diabetes: Effects on pancreatic islet regeneration, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines.

Therapeutic utility of bone marrow transplantation in diabetes is an attractive approach. However, the oxidative stress generated by hyperglycemia may hinder β-cell regeneration. The present study was undertaken to investigate the therapeutic potential of curcumin, a dietary spice with antioxidant activity, bone marrow transplantation, and their combined effects in the reversal of experimental diabetes.

Clinical significance of suppressor of cytokines signalling-3 mRNA expression from patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma under chemotherapy.

Introduction: To date, little is known about blood immune marker changes that may be related to the development of Non Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) and treatment response with few serum biomarkers that could be useful in follow- up of the patients.

Objective: To quantify the expression of suppressor of cytokine signalling-3-(SOCS-3) gene at the mRNA level in the peripheral blood of patients with NHL and correlate with clinical pathological features and response to treatment.

Methods: Thirty patients with NHL and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in the study.

Effect of human umbilical cord blood progenitor cells versus mononuclear cells on acute renal failure rat model.

Background: Acute renal failure (ARF) resulting from ischemic or toxic insults remains a major health care problem because of its grave prognosis and the limited effectiveness of available treatment modalities. Current treatment options for ARF are limited to supportive measures and preventive strategies, none of which have been definitively shown to alter mortality.

Aim: To assess the ability of human umbilical cord blood CD34(+) (HUCB CD34(+)) cells and mononuclear (HUCB MNC) cells to improve renal function of nephrotoxic kidney.

Evaluation of neutrophilic CD64, interleukin 10 and procalcitonin as diagnostic markers of early- and late-onset neonatal sepsis.

The assay of infection markers can improve diagnostic sensitivity in neonatal sepsis. We determined the levels of neutrophilic CD64 (nCD64), procalcitonin (PCT) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) in infants with neonatal sepsis. Forty-nine newborn infants who met the criteria of sepsis were subjected to a routine sepsis evaluation as well as measurement of PCT and IL-10 levels and nCD64 expression.

Thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic hepatitis C: a possible role of HCV on platelet progenitor cell maturation.

A total of 30 patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) thrombocytopenia (TP) and 20 healthy controls were studied. Both groups were subjected to complete medical history, clinical examination in addition to assessment of hepatitis markers: level of thrombopoietin (Tpo), Geimsa-stained bone marrow smears, and in vitro short-term megakaryocytic progenitors culture (CFU-MK). Serum Tpo level was significantly elevated in patients with TP HCV.

Expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase in psoriatic lesional skin.

Background: Little information is known about telomerase expression in the chronic benign hyperproliferative skin disease, psoriasis. Further studies are still required to investigate its usefulness as a biomarker of this skin disorder.

Aim: To investigate the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in psoriatic lesional skin and its relation to disease severity.