Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair Technique in Specific Severe Mitral Regurgitation: Tips, Tricks, and Outcomes.

Background: In specific patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR), mitral valve (MV) pathology is unique and requires creative transcatheter repair techniques. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new transcatheter MV repair technique, using occluder devices in symptomatic high-surgical-risk patients with severe MR, either due to MV leaflet (MVL) perforations or due to post-clips residual MR, and to report on their 6-month outcomes.

Methods: The study enrolled all high-risk patients with severe MR due to MVL perforations and post-clips residual MR who underwent transcatheter MV repair using occluder devices, from November 2016 to August 2019.

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement in High-Surgical Risk Patients: A Single-Center Experience and Outcome.

Background: Re-operative mitral valve (MV) replacement is a high-risk procedure, therefore, transcatheter MV replacement (TMVR) is a promising therapeutic option.

Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of TMVR in patients with high surgical risk with degenerated mitral bioprostheses (TMViV), failed surgical rings (TMViR), and mitral annular calcification (TMViMAC).

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study that enrolled patients with high surgical risk who underwent TMVR from February 2017 to September 2020.

The association between vitamin D levels and oxidative stress markers in Egyptian Behcet's disease patients.

Background: Oxidative stress is postulated to have a major role in the pathophysiology of Bechet's Disease (BD). Growing evidence suggests that vitamin D has important roles in enhancing the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines as well as certain antioxidants. However, there is little evidence currently about the antioxidant properties of vitamin D in BD.

Transcatheter Closure of Residual and Iatrogenic Ventricular Septal Defects: Tertiary Center Experience and Outcome.

Residual or iatrogenic ventricular septal defects (VSDs) may result in significant hemodynamic effect. This study aimed to review our center experience in transcatheter closure of post-surgical and post-intervention residual and iatrogenic VSDs and to report on their 12-month long-term outcome. All patients who underwent transcatheter closure of residual/iatrogenic VSDs after surgical or transcatheter CHD interventions between January-2015 and January-2020 were included.

Inhibition of T-cell-mediated immune response via the PD-1/ PD-L1 axis in cholangiocarcinoma cells.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a malignant biliary tract epithelium tumor. The programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed receptor-ligand 1 (PD-L1) signaling pathway has been implicated as an immune escape mechanism in several cancers. The present study aimed to assess the expression of PD-L1 on human CCA cell lines and its potential role in suppressing CD8 T- cell function.

Concomitant transcatheter closure of post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal defect and inferior wall aneurysm: case report.

Background: The incidence of the post-infarct ventricular septal defect (VSD) is 0.17%. Surgical repair is the definitive treatment and percutaneous closure is an alternative in high-risk patients.

Quantitative assessment of contractile reserve of systemic right ventricle in post-Senning children: Incorporating speckle-tracking strain and dobutamine stress echocardiography.

Introduction: The systemic load on the right ventricle (RV) after Senning atrial switch leads to ventricular dysfunction. Quantitative assessment of RV contractile reserve is mandatory to anticipate the need for anti-fibrotic treatment. We aimed to quantitatively assess RV contractile reserve in Senning children by estimating speckle-based global longitudinal strain (GLS) during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE).

Bi-allelic Variants in TKFC Encoding Triokinase/FMN Cyclase Are Associated with Cataracts and Multisystem Disease.

We report an inborn error of metabolism caused by TKFC deficiency in two unrelated families. Rapid trio genome sequencing in family 1 and exome sequencing in family 2 excluded known genetic etiologies, and further variant analysis identified rare homozygous variants in TKFC. TKFC encodes a bifunctional enzyme involved in fructose metabolism through its glyceraldehyde kinase activity and in the generation of riboflavin cyclic 4',5'-phosphate (cyclic FMN) through an FMN lyase domain.

Role of 3D transesophageal echocardiography in transcatheter closure of atrial septal aneurysms.

Background: Three dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) is superior to two dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2DTEE) as it provides all atrial septal information from a single view.

Aim: To evaluate 3DTEE role in analysis of atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) and in device closure guiding.

Methods: Three dimensional transesophageal echocardiography were recorded with Vivid*E9,GE system over 14 months.

Clinical significance of CCN2/connective tissue growth factor in Behçet's disease patients.

Aim: Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic autoimmune vasculitic disorder of unclear pathogenesis. CCN2/CTGF (connective tissue growth factor) is one of the CCN family members which carry out pro-angiogenic biological functions and play an important role in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The aim of the present study was to assess CCN2 plasma concentrations in BD patients and to analyze their association with clinical features of the disease, activity and laboratory parameters.

Hydrogen sulfide modulates SIRT1 and suppresses oxidative stress in diabetic nephropathy.

DN is recognized as not only a leading cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD) but also an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Novel therapeutic approaches to diabetic nephropathy (DN) are needed, or else, healthcare resources will be overwhelmed by the expected worldwide increase in associated cases of ESRD and CVD. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and advanced glycation end product (AGE) are implicated in the development of DN.

Systems Biology Approaches Toward Understanding Primary Mitochondrial Diseases.

Primary mitochondrial diseases form one of the most common and severe groups of genetic disease, with a birth prevalence of at least 1 in 5000. These disorders are multi-genic and multi-phenotypic (even within the same gene defect) and span the entire age range from prenatal to late adult onset. Mitochondrial disease typically affects one or multiple high-energy demanding organs, and is frequently fatal in early life.

The Egyptian clinical trials' registry profile: Analysis of three trial registries (International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry and clinicaltrials.gov).

Registering clinical trials (CTs) in public domains enhances transparency, increases trust in research, improves participation and safeguards against publication bias. This work was done to study the profile of clinical research in Egypt in three CT registries with different scopes: the WHO International CT Registry Platform (ICTRP), the continental Pan-African CT Registry (PACTR) and the US clinicaltrials.gov (CTGR).

Gene Expression and Polymorphism as Diagnostic Markers of Breast Cancer in Egyptian Patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between LAPTM4B gene polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer among Egyptian female patients. Also, measurement was done of its serum level to evaluate its significance as a diagnostic marker for breast cancer.

Methods: This case control study was done on 88 breast cancer patients, 40 with fibroadenoma and 80 healthy subjects.

Two problems and a single solution: Covered stent implantation to close an anterograde pulmonary flow and treat hypoplastic left pulmonary artery after Fontan operation.

Several issues may impact on the function of a Fontan circulation including accessory source of pulmonary blood flow and pulmonary artery anatomy. Here we report on a 5.5-year-old boy who showed failing Fontan circulation due to left pulmonary artery stenosis/hypoplasia and significant forward pulmonary blood flow through the native pulmonary artery.

Qatar biomedical and cancer publications in PubMed between 2000 and 2012.

Background: The aim of this work was to analyse the past trends of biomedical and cancer publications from Qatar listed on PubMed for the years 2000-2012. These findings were then compared with the corresponding global number of publications.

Methods: PubMed was searched for cancer publications, clinical trials, publications on humans or other species.

Molecular detection of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 polymorphism in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis patients.

Aim: To investigate the association of the functional monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) promoter polymorphism (A-2518G) with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).

Methods: Fifty patients with post-hepatitis C liver cirrhosis and ascites were categorized into two groups; group I included 25 patients with SBP and group II included 25 patients free from SBP. In addition, a group of 20 healthy volunteers were included.

Assessment of lipid peroxidation and p53 as a biomarker of carcinogenesis among workers exposed to formaldehyde in the cosmetic industry.

Despite the wide use of cosmetic products, they exert a number of health effects on tissues ranging from irritation to cancer. Our study aimed at assessing the effect of formaldehyde on lipid peroxidation and verifying the susceptibility to carcinogenesis using p53 as a biomarker among workers exposed to formaldehyde in cosmetic industry. Our entire exposed group (n = 40) and the controls (n = 20) were subjected to estimation of formate in urine, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), and p53.

Liver functions in silica-exposed workers in Egypt: possible role of matrix remodeling and immunological factors.

Background: Brick manufacturing constitutes an important industrial sector in Egypt with considerable exposure to silica.

Objectives: We aimed for evaluating hepatic functions in silica-exposed workers in the clay brick industry, and the possible role of matrix remodeling and immunological factors.

Methods: A case-control study, 87 workers as exposed and 45 as control subjects.

Effects of a novel curcumin derivative on insulin synthesis and secretion in streptozotocin-treated rat pancreatic islets in vitro.

Background: Hyperglycemia induces activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway, which suppresses insulin gene expression and reduces DNA binding of pancreatic and duodenal homeobox factor (PDX)-1. This study aims to investigate the effects of a novel curcumin derivative (NCD) on JNK signaling pathway on insulin synthesis and secretion in streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rat pancreatic islets in vitro.

Methods: Isolated rat pancreatic islets were divided into five groups: untreated control group; group treated with NCD (10 μM); group exposed to STZ (5 mM); group treated with NCD (10 μM) and then exposed to STZ (5 mM); and group exposed to STZ (5 mM) and then treated with NCD (10 μM).

Association between TNF promoter -308 G>A and LTA 252 A>G polymorphisms and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lymphotoxin alpha (LTA) are pivotal cytokines in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To investigate the possible association of the polymorphism of the TNF promoter gene -308 and that of the LTA gene 252 with susceptibility to SLE and with phenotypic disease features in Egyptian patients. A case control study involving 100 SLE patients and 100 unrelated healthy controls.

The effect of a novel curcumin derivative on pancreatic islet regeneration in experimental type-1 diabetes in rats (long term study).

Background: Several studies highlight curcumin's benefit as a hypoglycemic agent, however; a limited number of reports present the importance of curcumin in improvement of pancreatic islets in diabetes. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of a novel curcumin derivative and its effect on pancreatic islet regeneration in type I diabetes-induced by STZ.

Materials And Methods: Rats were divided into diabetic rats and diabetic rats treated orally with the novel curcumin derivative (NCD) for 40 days.

Effect of mesenchymal stem cells and a novel curcumin derivative on Notch1 signaling in hepatoma cell line.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and a novel curcumin derivative (NCD) on HepG2 cells (hepatoma cell line) and to investigate their effect on Notch1 signaling pathway target genes. HepG2 cells were divided into HepG2 control group, HepG2 cells treated with MSC conditioned medium (MSCs CM), HepG2 cells treated with a NCD, HepG2 cells treated with MSCs CM and NCD, and HepG2 cells treated with MSCs CM (CM of MSCs pretreated with a NCD). Expression of Notch1, Hes1, VEGF, and cyclin D1 was assessed by real-time, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in HepG2 cells.