Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 expression on peripheral blood lymphocytes and neutrophils of Egyptian multiple sclerosis patients.

Background: Studies have just started delineating the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objectives: To investigate the expression of TLR-2 and TLR-4 on peripheral blood neutrophils and lymphocytes in Egyptian patients with MS, and to examine the role of TLR-2 and TLR-4 expression as a candidate biomarker for MS diagnosis.

Methods: A total of 84 patients with newly diagnosed MS and 68 healthy controls were included in this study.

The role of muscle ultrasound in helping the clinical diagnosis of muscle diseases.

Background: Selective involvement of certain muscles is an indicator for muscle diseases and helps to direct the diagnosis, but in some cases, it cannot be detected clinically; hence, the roles of muscle MRI and ultrasound are to detect this selectivity and facilitate the diagnosis.

Objectives: The possibility of using muscle ultrasound as a screening tool when muscle diseases are suspected and as an alternative to MRI.

Subjects And Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study included 38 patients presented with clinical manifestations suggestive of muscle diseases.

Predictors of poor cerebral collaterals and cerebrovascular reserve in patients with chronic total carotid occlusion.

Background: This study aims to investigate the relationship between cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) capacity, as measured by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and collateral blood flow, according to a transcranial colour-coded duplex(TCCD), in patients with symptomatic total carotid occlusion (TCO). Additionally, the study aims to determine whether vascular risk factors have an effect on collateral blood flow, as well as on the CVR.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with chronic TCO, diagnosed by carotid duplex scanning and confirmed by other vascular imaging modalities, who had ischaemic symptoms either as stroke or transient ischaemic attack, were subjected to clinical assessment, SPECT under dipyridamole stress, and grading of cerebral collateral blood flow using TCCD.

Evaluation of bone health among epileptic patients using biochemical markers and DEXA scan: an Egyptian study.

Background: An association between antiepileptic drugs, low bone mineral density (BMD), fractures, and abnormalities in bone metabolism has been suggested for a longer period, although conclusive evidence has not been reported.

Methods: Thirty epileptic patients and 30 matched healthy subjects participated in the study. Measurements of serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, parathormone, and alkaline phosphatase were done for included subjects.

Interleukin-18 promoter polymorphisms and idiopathic Parkinson disease: an Egyptian study.

Etiology of sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) is largely unknown. The contribution of genetic factors to the pathogenesis of PD is supported by the demonstration of high concordance in twins, increased risk among relatives of PD patients and existence of familial cases. This study aimed to examine the relation between interleukin 18 (IL-18) gene promoter polymorphisms and idiopathic PD, and its impact on clinical presentation and disease severity.

Serum complement factor H and Tyr402 His gene polymorphism among Egyptians with multiple sclerosis.

Background And Objectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. A contribution from complement has long been suspected. We investigated the association of complement factor H (CFH) Tyr402 His gene polymorphism and serum level in Egyptian patients with MS to examine whether complement might identify or predict specific pathological processes and outcomes in MS.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A mRNA gene expression in clinical phases of multiple sclerosis.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor A stimulates angiogenesis, but is also pro-inflammatory and plays an important role in the development of neurological disease. This study aimed to investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor A mRNA expression could be used as a marker for the prediction of susceptibility to multiple sclerosis and relate vascular endothelial growth factor to the clinical phases of multiple sclerosis.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, consisting of a total of 60 subjects with multiple sclerosis and 20 healthy controls.

Transcriptome changes in Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) salivary glands during West Nile virus infection.

Persistent West Nile virus (WNV) infection in the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) is associated with pathological changes in the salivary glands, including apoptotic cell death and a corresponding reduction in virus transmission over time. The vector host response to WNV infection and the molecular basis of WNV pathogenesis in Cx. quinquefasciatus was investigated using oligonucleotide microarrays designed to detect differences in the salivary gland transcriptome between WNV-infected mosquitoes and uninfected controls.

The effect of compliance on the impact of mass drug administration for elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Egypt.

We studied effects of compliance on the impact of mass drug administration (MDA) with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole for lymphatic filariasis (LF) in an Egyptian village. Baseline microfilaremia (mf) and filarial antigenemia rates were 11.5% and 19.

A critical appraisal of molecular xenomonitoring as a tool for assessing progress toward elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis.

We used molecular xenomonitoring (MX, detection of filarial DNA in mosquitoes) to evaluate the impact of mass drug administration (MDA) in sentinel locations in Egypt with high (11.5%) and low (4.1%) baseline microfilaria prevalence rates.

A real-time PCR-based assay for detection of Wuchereria bancrofti DNA in blood and mosquitoes.

We developed and evaluated real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for detecting Wuchereria bancrofti DNA in human blood and in mosquitoes. An assay based on detection of the W. bancrofti "LDR" repeat DNA sequence was more sensitive than an assay for Wolbachia 16S rDNA.

Effect of yearly mass drug administration with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole on bancroftian filariasis in Egypt: a comprehensive assessment.

Background: Egypt was one of the first countries to implement a national programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis based on WHO's strategy of repeated rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole (target population, 2.5 million in 181 localities). We assessed the effect of five yearly rounds of MDA on filariasis in four sentinel villages in Egypt.

Bancroftian filariasis: effect of repeated treatment with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole on microfilaraemia, antigenaemia and antifilarial antibodies.

Diethylcarbamazine/albendazole (DEC/ALB) therapy is widely used in mass drug administration (MDA) programmes aimed at eliminating lymphatic filariasis. We studied the effects of repeated annual treatments with DEC/ALB on Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemia, filarial antigenaemia and IgG4 antibodies to Bm14 antigen. Fifty-seven subjects with asymptomatic microfilaraemia were treated with one or seven daily doses of DEC/ALB at time zero.

Avidity IgG: diagnosis of primary Toxoplasma gondii infection by indirect immunofluorescent test.

In the present study, 18 serum samples from toxoplasmosis patients with different clinical manifestations were classified into G1: 9 patients with suspected of having recent T. gondii infection, and G2: 9 patients with suspected of having distant latent infection. Patients with low IgG avidity antibody, 80% of them were positive by IgG avidity-indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IIFAT) and by IgM-ELISA for toxoplasmosis.

Duplex Doppler sonographic assessment of the effects of diethylcarbamazine and albendazole therapy on adult filarial worms and adjacent host tissues in Bancroftian filariasis.

We used duplex Doppler sonography to assess effects of diethylcarbamazine and albendazole therapy (DEC/ALB) on adult Wuchereria bancrofti in vivo. The study was performed in clinically normal Egyptian adults with blood microfilaria counts > 80/mL. Motile adult worms were observed before treatment in dilated scrotal lymphatic vessels in 28 of 36 men (78%) and over the proximal extremities in 5 of 22 women (23%).

Molecular characterization of Egyptian human and anima Echinococcus granulosus isolates by RAPD-PCR technique.

Five primers of known, but arbitrary nucleotide sequence (OPH-03, OPH-05, OPH-12, OPH-15, OPH-18) were used to detect genetic variability in Egyptian human, camel and pig E. granulosus isolates. OPH-03, OPH-05 & OPH-15 proved useful as genetic markers of strain variation, while OPH-12 and OPH-18 allowed distinction at the genus level i.

A randomized clinical trial comparing single- and multi-dose combination therapy with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole for treatment of bancroftian filariasis.

The Global Program for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis calls for mass drug administration for endemic populations outside of sub-Saharan Africa with a single dose of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and albendazole (Alb) annually for 4-6 years. Single-dose DEC/Alb dramatically reduces blood microfilaria (MF) counts, but most treated subjects fail to completely clear MF after a single dose. A more effective regimen might reduce the number of years required for elimination programs.

The impact of single-dose diethylcarbamazine treatment of bancroftian filariasis in a low-endemicity setting in Egypt.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of a single dose of diethylcarbamazine (DEC, 6 mg/kg) on Wuchereria bancrofti infections in a low-endemicity setting in Egypt (microfilaremia, or MF, 3.7%, median MF 34/mL). Subjects with MF or filarial antigenemia were treated and restudied 1 year later.