The effect of iron on metronidazole activity against Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro.

Metronidazole is administered in an inactive form then activated to its cytotoxic form within the hydrogenosome of trichomonads. Two hydrogenosomal proteins, pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) and ferredoxin, play a critical role in the reductive activation of metronidazole. The expression of these proteins and other hydrogenosomal proteins are likewise positively regulated by iron.

Occurrence of the polyomavirus among kidney transplant recipients: a single-center study.

Polyoma virus-associated nephropathy is an increasingly recognized cause of graft dysfunction among kidney transplant recipients and could be the result of use of potent immunosuppression following transplantation. Because there is no safe and effective anti-viral therapy available presently, screening-based prevention and pre-emptive strategy are recommended. This study, which was conducted at the Nephrology Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Alexandria University, consisted of two phases: Phase 1 was a cross-sectional study and phase 2 was a 6-month follow-up study only for polyoma virus-positive cases.

Relation of middle molecules levels and oxidative stress to erythropoietin requirements in high-flux versus low-flux hemodialysis.

The objective of this study is to investigate the serum beta-2-microglobulin (B2MG) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) as middle molecule uremic toxins and protein carbonyl (PCO) as oxidative stress marker in uremic patients undergoing high-flux versus low-flux hemodialysis (HD) and to correlate their levels to the erythropoietin requirements for those patients. Twenty patients on chronic low-flux HD were recruited in the study. At the start of the study, all patients underwent high-flux HD for eight weeks, followed by low-flux HD for two weeks as a washout period.

Impact of Schistosoma mansoni and Echinococcus granulosus experimental coinfection on interleukin 10 and interferon gamma cytokines profile.

The interactions between various aspects of the immune responses mediated by concomitant parasite infections may influence the resultant cytokines profiles. We tested this hypothesis by developing two Schistosoma mansoni and Echinococcus granulosus coinfection murine models. Our aim was to explore the effect of echinoccocis on the immune responses induced by schistosomiasis, either when the two infections were induced synchronously or when echinococcosis was induced during egg deposition period of S.

Cultural adaptation and validation of the "Kidney Disease and Quality of Life--Short Form (KDQOL-SF™) version 1.3" questionnaire in Egypt.

Background: Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) instruments need disease and country specific validation. In Arab countries, there is no specific validated questionnaire for assessment of HRQOL in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The aim of this study was to present an Arabic translation, adaptation, and the subsequent validation of the kidney disease quality of life-short form (KDQOL-SFTM) version 1.

The potential use of 29 kDa protein as a marker of pathogenicity and diagnosis of symptomatic infections with Blastocystis hominis.

The present study was performed to characterize the protein profiles of Blastocystis hominis isolates from symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting using sera from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The presence of immunogenic bands associated with pathogenicity or of diagnostic potentials was also evaluated. The study comprised 80 individuals classified into four groups, 20 each: symptomatic blastocystosis (G1), asymptomatic blastocystosis (G2), other parasitic infections (G3), and healthy control subjects (G4).

Comparative analysis of the diagnostic performance of crude sheep hydatid cyst fluid, purified antigen B and its subunit (12 Kda), assessed by ELISA, in the diagnosis of human cystic echinococcosis.

The diagnosis of patients with cystic echinococcosis (CE) by means of serology has a limited support in clinical practice due to cross-reactivity with other helminthes leading to overestimation of the parasite's true prevalence. A wealth of reports on the diagnostic performance of antigen B (AgB) has been produced. This study was designed to comparatively assess the diagnostic efficacy of crude sheep hydatid cyst fluid (HCF), AgB and its subunit (12 KDa) to detect IgG or IgG4 antibodies in CE patients' sera using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Pathogenic potential of Blastocystis hominis in laboratory mice.

Blastocystis hominis is a ubiquitous enteric protozoan whose pathogenic potential is still controversial. This study was carried out to clarify the pathogenecity of B. hominis infection and to study the proper number of parasites for mice infection.

Genetic variability of antigen B among Echinococcus granulosus Egyptian isolates.

Genetic polymorphisms of encoding antigen B2 gene (AgB2) in Echinococcus granulosus were studied using PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing among 20 Egyptian isolates. Five isolates from different host origins (humans, camels, pigs, and sheep) were collected and used. All examined isolates of each host group gave very similar patterns of PCR-RFLP after restriction enzyme digestion with AluI, with the gene size of approximately 140 bp and 240 bp for sheep and human isolates, and approximately 150 bp and 250 bp for pig and camel isolates.

Genetic analysis of Blastocystis hominis isolated from symptomatic and asymptomatic human hosts in Egypt.

Extensive genomic polymorphism was demonstrated among morphologically identical B. hominis isolates. A genetic diversity would be a powerful tool for identification or classification of B.

A single-step immunochromatographic lateral-flow assay for detection of Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum antigens in human fecal samples.

RIDA Quick immunochromatographic lateral-flow assay was evaluated for diagnosis of giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis as compared to the "gold standard" stool examination. Of the 300 specimens were examined by microscopy of direct wet films, concentrated sediments, modified trichrome and modified Ziehl-Neelsen stained slides, 35 samples of Giardia, ten Cryptosporidium, 35 of other parasites, and 20 negative controls were selected for RIDA Quick test examination. All the samples that gave discrepancy results were retested by the centrifugation prior to preparation for the permanent stained smear.

Detection of molecular markers of toxoplasmosis among Egyptian patients with miscarriage using avidity IgG-ELISA and Western blotting.

A total of 54 miscarriage patients were divided into 3 groups. GI: 10 toxoplasmosis patients with +ve IgM-ELISA; GII: 24 toxoplasmosis patients with +ve IgG-ELISA, and GIII: 20 non-toxoplasmosis cross-matched females as a control. All groups were subjected to IgG-avidity ELISA & IgG-avidity immunoblotting.

Impact of experimental duel infections with Schistosoma mansoni and Echinoccocus granulosus on hepatic histopathology.

Experimental duel infection with S. mansoni and E. granulosus was induced in mice to determine their effect on serum nitric oxide (NO) level and accordingly on the sequences of histopathological lesions affecting the liver.

Fasting the month of Ramadan by Muslims: could it be injurious to their kidneys?

Ramadan is the ninth lunar month of the Islamic calendar. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset (fasting) to express their gratitude to God; eating and drinking is permitted only at night. Muslims typically consume two meals each day, one after sunset, and the other just before dawn.

Application of adult worm and lung-stage antigens to immunize against Schistosoma mansoni using cytokines as adjuvants.

Different Schistosoma mansoni antigens; adult worm antigen (SWAP) and lung-stage antigen (SLAP) together with different cytokine adjuvants (Interferon-gamma and Interleukin-4) were used to immunize mice against. S. mansoni.

Characterization of specific Trichomonas vaginalis target antigens from different isolates by immunoblotting against hyperimmune rabbit serum.

The SDS-PAGE and immunoblot methods were used to identify Trichomonas vaginalis specific target antigen(s). Ten T. vaginalis isolates, cultured on TYM media, were analyzed by Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Poly Acrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), revealed 34 distinct bands.

Characterization of three types of Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen and determination of their immunodiagnostic potential by western blot immunoassay.

On the search of highly sensitive and specific antigenic components for use in serological tests, the serologic activities of the various protein fractions of three types of Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen (SEA) were compared in an immunoblot analysis for their ability to detect schistosomiasis mansoni infections . Three types of soluble egg antigen (SEA) were prepared from three suspensions of Schistosoma mansoni eggs; namely living SEA (L-SEA), dead SEA (D-SEA) and mixed SEA (M-SEA). The three antigens were resolved by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Molecular characterization of Egyptian Giardia lamblia isolates.

Six Giardia lamblia strains (4 from Egypt, one from the USA and one from Sudan) were used to study the phenotypic and genotypic variation in some Egyptian G. lamblia strains compared to other G. lamblia strains, which may be responsible for the difference in their behavioral characteristics.

Immunoblot analysis of Trichomonas vaginalis antigens recognized by rabbit hyperimmune serum raised against exoantignes.

The SDS-PAGE and immunoblot were used to identify Trichomonas vaginalis antigenic epitopes present in purified somatic and exo-antigens. The presence of common immunogenic proteins corresponding to molecular weights of 76, 60 and 23 kDa was revealed. Distinctive immunogenic bands of 92, 72, 55 and 40 kDa for the exo-antigens, and of 110, 80, 78 and 50 kDa for the somatic antigens, appeared when the antigens were probed by the homologous immune rabbit serum.

Effect of schistosoma mansoni egg deposition on multiple low doses streptozotocin induced insulin dependent diabetes.

To explore the role of Schistosoma mansoni infection in the prevention of autoimmune mediated insulin dependant diabetes mellitus, we examined the effects of multiple low doses of the pancreatic islets beta cell toxin, streptozotocin (STZ) 40mg/kg body weight i.p., given 8 weeks post infection, period of S.

A preliminary study on the relationship between Trichomonas vaginalis and cervical cancer in Egyptian women.

The relationship between Trichomonas vaginalis and cancer cervix was investigated by detection of T. vaginalis antibodies, in the sera of 48 invasive cervical cancer patients and 100 random age matched female control, using western immunoblot technique. It was found that antibodies to T.