Phenotypic Analysis of Circulating Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells and Their Subpopulations in Egyptian Females with Breast Cancer: A Single-Centre Case-Control Study.

Background: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are immature myeloid cells with suppressive function that has been thoroughly documented in the setting of cancer. Our purpose was to evaluate levels of MDSC and their subsets in a cohort of Egyptian patients with breast cancer.

Methods: Evaluation of peripheral blood total MDSC and its subset was done using multicolor flowcytometry in 30 malignant, 10 benign breast tumor patients and 10 healthy control females.

Assessment of donor specific IgG Anti-HLA subclasses before and after kidney transplantation in Upper Egypt: A Single Center Study.

Donor specific antibodies (DSAs) are known as the leading cause of antibody mediated rejection (AMR), graft loss in kidney transplant (KT) recipients. DSAs characteristics, as immunoglobulin (Ig) classes, subclasses, and strength, are important to assess the immunological risk, early prediction of AMR, and therefor proper management. This longitudinal, case control study included 32 KT recipients at Assiut University Urology Hospital and 10 age and sex matched normal subjects as the control group.

Different vitiligo characteristics as predictors of increased risk of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance: A case-control study.

Background: Autoimmune and metabolic disturbances have been reported in association with vitiligo, highlighting possible systemic associations that should be considered.

Aims: To assess the possible association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as insulin resistance (IR) with vitiligo in different age groups.

Methods: This case-control study included 142 patients with vitiligo aging ≥ 6 years and 142 age- and sex-matched controls.

Role of endoscopic ultrasound and cyst fluid tumor markers in diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions.

Background: Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are common in clinical practice. The accurate classification and diagnosis of these lesions are crucial to avoid unnecessary treatment of benign lesions and missed opportunities for early treatment of potentially malignant lesions.

Aim: To evaluate the role of cyst fluid analysis of different tumor markers such as cancer antigens [, cancer antigen (CA)19-9, CA72-4], carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 1 (SPINK1), interleukin 1 beta (IL1-β), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)], amylase, and mucin stain in diagnosing pancreatic cysts and differentiating malignant from benign lesions.

Value of pancreatic cyst fluid SPINK1 and glucose in differentiating potentially malignant cysts from those of benign nature: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Diagnosis of malignant pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) is challenging as there is no investigation that offers both high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for a definite diagnosis. Accurate diagnosis of cyst type is vital in order to not miss opportunities for early treatment of potentially malignant lesions and to avoid unnecessary surgeries. Serine protease inhibitor Kazal type I (SPINK1) and glucose are promising cyst fluid markers for differentiation of mucinous from non-mucinous cysts.

The Role of Interleukin 1 Beta in Differentiating Malignant from Benign Pancreatic Cysts.

The frequency of detection of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) in magnetic resonance imaging performed for reasons unrelated to the pancreas reaches up to 13.5%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of cyst fluid interleukin 1 beta (IL1β) and different endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) features in differentiating premalignant/malignant from benign pancreatic cysts.

Possible enigmatic link between serum leptin and vitiligo with its metabolic derangements: A comparative controlled study.

Objective: Serum leptin, an adipocytokine of interleukin-6 family, has been linked to vitiligo-associated metabolic derangements. Additionally, it has been proposed as an inflammatory mediator with possible influence on vitiligo pathogenesis. This study aimed at assessing serum leptin in vitiligo patients compared to controls and whether different vitiligo characteristics have an influence on serum leptin levels.

Obinutuzumab in Kidney Transplantation: Effect on B-cell Counts and Crossmatch Tests.

Background: Resistance to the action of rituximab (RTX) has been documented in several diseases. More recently, obinutuzumab (OBZ) has shown promise where RTX has failed in oncology and lupus nephritis. Unlike RTX, OBZ is a weak activator of complement, which may avoid the false-positive complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) crossmatch tests after RTX infusions.

Donor cell microchimerism in kidney transplantation: Implications for graft function.

Given the uncertainty regarding the relationship between donor cells at microchimeric levels and its influence on graft function and clinical outcome, we explored the extent and importance of donor microchimerism in kidney transplantation. Twenty patients with chronic kidney disease who had received allografts from living donors were studied. We examined peripheral whole blood samples from the recipients one month after the transplant, applying mitochondrial DNA variant-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify and quantify donor cells in relation to allograft function and survival during three years of follow-up.

Regenerative potential of cultured gingival fibroblasts in treatment of periodontal intrabony defects (randomized clinical and biochemical trial).

Background: Defective cellular elements constitute an important challenge to achieve predictable periodontal regeneration. In an attempt to improve the cellularity of periodontal defects, gingival fibroblasts were implanted without their associated extracellular elements in periodontal defects to expose them to periodontal tissue mediators. In order to investigate the regenerative potential of gingival fibroblasts translocated into periodontal defects, the present study was designed to clinically and biochemically investigate the use of gingival fibroblasts (GF) and their associated mesenchymal stem cells (GMSC) in the treatment of intrabony periodontal defects.

Urinary podocyte-associated mRNA profile in Egyptian patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Introduction: Podocyte injury and subsequent excretion in urine play a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Quantification of messenger RNA expression in urinary sediment by real-time PCR is emerging as a noninvasive method of screening DN-associated biomarkers. We aimed to study the expression of podocyte-associated genes in urinary sediment and their relation to disease severity in type 2 diabetic Egyptian patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Evaluation of the S100 protein A12 as a biomarker of neonatal sepsis.

Sepsis has a grave impact on neonatal morbidity and mortality. Proper timely diagnosis and a subsequently tailored management are crucial to improving neonatal outcome and survival. New diagnostic methods are needed and much effort is directed to this objective.

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel BMI1 Inhibitors Targeting Cellular Self-Renewal in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents one of the most lethal cancers worldwide due to therapy resistance and disease recurrence. Tumor relapse following treatment could be driven by the persistence of liver cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). The protein BMI1 is a member of the polycomb epigenetic factors governing cellular self-renewal, proliferation, and stemness maintenance.

Therapeutic efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells transplantation against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical problem raising the urgent needs to develop new strategies for treatment. The present study investigated the therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord - mesenchymal stem cells (HUC-MSCs) transplantation against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats.

Methods: Twenty four male Wistar rats were assigned into two main groups, sham group (control group) and I/R group.

Erratum to: Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells derived extracellular vesicles can safely ameliorate the progression of chronic kidney diseases.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s40824-016-0068-0.].

The Effect of Monophosphoryl Lipid A on Maturation of DCs from Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Background: Generation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDC) is induced in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4, and a maturation stimulus is added to the monocyte culture to obtain mature Dendritic Cells (DCs) suitable for therapy. TNF-α is the most common cytokine used for activating DCs and generating mature MDDC either alone or in combination with other cytokines.

Objective: To compare effects of traditional cytokine cocktail (TNF-α + IL-1β) versus TLR4-agonist monophosphoryl lipid A on the viability, phenotype, cytokine profile and functionality of MDDC.

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells derived extracellular vesicles can safely ameliorate the progression of chronic kidney diseases.

Background: Bio-products from stem/progenitor cells, such as extracellular vesicles, are likely a new promising approach for reprogramming resident cells in both acute and chronic kidney disease. Forty CKD patients stage III and IV (eGFR 15-60 mg/ml) have been divided into two groups; twenty patients as treatment group "A" and twenty patients as a matching placebo group "B". Two doses of MSC-derived extracellular vesicles had been administered to patients of group "A".

Passenger lymphocyte syndrome in ABO and Rhesus D minor mismatched liver and kidney transplantation: A prospective analysis.

The increasing demand for solid organs has necessitated the use of ABO and Rhesus (Rh) D minor mismatched transplants. The passenger lymphocyte syndrome (PLS) occurs when donor lymphocytes produce antibodies that react with host red blood cell (RBC) antigens and result in hemolysis. Our aim was to evaluate prospectively the role of PLS in post transplant anemia and hemolysis in ABO and RhD minor mismatched recipients of liver and kidney grafts and to study the association of PLS with donor lymphocyte microchimerism.

Human leukocyte antigen-DRB1 polymorphism in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Similar to autoimmune diseases, there are clear associations between resistance or susceptibility to cancer and the classic human leukocyte antigen (HLA) profile of an individual. HLA-associated susceptibility to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may provide clues to leukemogenesis in general and to the role of other risk factors. The present study aimed to determine the association between the HLA-DRB1 genotype and susceptibility to ALL in children and to assess the prognostic value of HLA-DRB1 alleles in these patients.

Immunotherapy by autologous dendritic cell vaccine in patients with advanced HCC.

Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) could be used as potential cellular adjuvant for the production of specific tumor vaccines.

Objectives: Our study was aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of autologous pulsed DC vaccine in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in comparison with supportive treatment.

Methods: Thirty patients with advanced HCC not suitable for radical or loco-regional therapies were enrolled.

Mesenchymal stem cells are a rescue approach for recovery of deteriorating kidney function.

Aim: Stem cell (SC) therapy for chronic kidney disease (CKD) is urgently needed. The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) is a possible new therapeutic modality. Our work aimed to isolate human MSC from adult bone marrow to improve kidney functions in CKD patients.

Phase II trial: undifferentiated versus differentiated autologous mesenchymal stem cells transplantation in Egyptian patients with HCV induced liver cirrhosis.

Unlabelled: The study was aimed to evaluate the effect of autologous transplantation of BM-derived undifferentiated and differentiated MSCs in cirrhotic patients following chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Twenty-five patients with Child C liver cirrhosis, MELD score >12 were included. They were divided into 2 groups.

Cytogenetic study of the effect of Schistosoma mansoni infection on human peripheral blood lymphocytes and the role of β-carotene and vitamin E in modulating this effect.

This study has been made to determine the potential genotoxicity of Schistosoma mansoni on lymphocytes of infected patients using different mutagenic end points. The protective role of antioxidants pro vitamin β-carotene and vitamin E in minimizing these genotoxic effect was also studied. The study focused on the effect of schistosomiasis on the induction of sister chromatid exchange (SCEs) and other chromosomal aberrations.