Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus infections and their clinical relevance in Egyptian leukemic pediatric patients.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are environmental risk factors affecting the outcome of cancer due to an impairment in the cell-mediated immunity. Therefore, this study aimed to detect the frequency of EBV and CMV DNA and their association with clinical characteristics and outcome of pediatric leukemic patients.

Methods: Samples of 50 immunocompromised pediatric leukemic patients and 30 apparently healthy children were subjected to the amplification of EBV DNA by one version of PCR targeting the Bam H1 W region of the genomic region of EBV, and the amplification of CMV DNA by targeting the CMV UL97 genomic region by a second round PCR.

Bacteremia due to ESKAPE pathogens: An emerging problem in cancer patients.

Background And Aim: In recent years, a few of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria, known as ESKAPE pathogens, have been found responsible for serious infections. We investigated the risk factors, and impact of ESKAPE pathogens on course of blood stream infections (BSIs) in cancer patients in comparison to coagulase negative Staphylococci (CoNS).

Patients And Methods: The data of patients with ESKAPE positive blood cultures at National Cancer Institute, Cairo University were analyzed.

Increasing Antimicrobial Resistance Monitored in Surveillance Analysis of Blood Stream Infections in Febrile Neutropenic Pediatric Oncology Patients.

Background: Continuous surveillance of pattern of blood stream infection is necessary in febrile neutropenia (FN)especially with the recent escalating trend in the management of pediatric cancer patients towards intensified regimens and with the increase in infections caused by resistant organisms limiting the choice of antibiotics.

Aim: To monitor change in pattern of blood stream infections (BSI) in FN pediatric cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: Surveillance of FN episodes with positive BSI was prospectively monitored and compared to a previous surveillance in the same pediatric oncology unit.

Different techniques for management of common bile duct stones: a single centre experience.

Local experience on the combined technique of endoscopic sphincterotomy followed by endo: scopic balloon dilation is scarce. This study clarified whether this crombined technique will offer any advantages, with respect to therapeutic outcome and complications rate, as compared with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) and endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) alone for the extraction of large and/or multiple common bile duct stones. For a total of 76 patients, extraction of large and/or multiple common bile duct (CBD) stones during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed.

Aberrant expression of cancer stem cell markers (CD44, CD90, and CD133) contributes to disease progression and reduced survival in hepatoblastoma patients: 4-year survival data.

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is an embryonal tumor of the liver in children. Prognosis and response to treatment in HB are highly variable. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) constitute a population of cells, which contribute to the development and progression of many tumors.

Impact of breast cancer and combination chemotherapy on oxidative stress, hepatic and cardiac markers.

Purpose: Carcinoma of the breast is the most prevalent cancer among Egyptian women and constitutes 29% of National Cancer Institute cases. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of breast cancer on oxidative stress, cardiac markers and liver function tests, moreover the role of 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) in the treatment of breast cancer and its mechanism through changing the measured markers.

Methods: Forty female breast cancer patients who were admitted to the Department of Oncology of the Beni-Suef University Hospital were enrolled in the study.

Role of neuropilin-1 and its expression in Egyptian acute myeloid and acute lymphoid leukemia patients.

Neuropilins are expressed in tumors vasculature and cells. Their expression is thought to be correlated with tumor angiogenesis and progression. In this study, we analyzed NRP-1 expression level in 40 acute leukemia patients [20 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 20 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)] and 10 healthy controls using Real-Time Quantitative Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTQ-PCR) aiming to show Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) gene expression pattern in acute leukemia patients and its role in disease severity and progression.

Telomerase expression as complementary prognostic factor in neuroblastoma.

Background: Neuroblastoma (NB) is an aggressive tumor of childhood with a highly heterogeneous course. Identification of standard prognostic factors has several limitations. Hence, there is an increasing demand to identify new prognostic factors and tools that help in risk stratification of patients for proper treatment.

Antibiotic resistance is associated with longer bacteremic episodes and worse outcome in febrile neutropenic children with cancer.

Purpose: With the increasing emergence of multiresistant pathogens, better understanding of these infections is necessary. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with isolating a multiresistant organism (MRO) from a positive blood culture in pediatric cancer patients with febrile neutropenia (F&N), and to study its impact on clinical course and outcome of febrile episodes.

Patients And Methods: The association between MRO with underlying malignancy, age, disease status, hospitalization during episode, absolute neutrophil count, absolute monocyte count, clinical foci of infection, and pathogens isolated was assessed in bacteremic pediatric cancer patients.

Presence of human herpes virus 6 (HHV6) in pediatric lymphomas: impact on clinical course and association with cytomegalovirus infection.

Background: Activation of herpes virus 6 (HHV6) has seen in Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL&NHL) as a result of lymphoma associated immunosuppression. Multiple studies have suggested an association between both HHV6 and cytomegalovirus CMV for development of CMV disease affecting the pathogenesis of lymphoma. Therefore, this study investigated the frequency of HHV6, its impact on clinical manifestations of lymphoma and its possible association with risk for development of CMV infection in pediatric lymphoma patients.

Role of 131-I MIBG Therapy in the Treatment of Advanced Neuroblastoma.

Introduction: Neuroblastoma, a neoplasm of the sympathetic nervous system, is the second most extracranial malignant solid tumor of childhood. Many therapeutic strategies has evolved over the last 20 years, based upon work by international cooperative groups and smaller cohort studies. Novel therapies to improve initial disease response and treatment of minimal residual disease are required to improve survival for these children with highrisk neuroblastoma.

Clinical implications of icaA and icaD genes in coagulase negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in febrile neutropenic pediatric cancer patients.

Background: Staphylococci are the most frequently isolated organisms from blood cultures of febrile neutropenic (FN) cancer patients. We aimed to define the nature of these isolates by studying the prevalence of icaA and icaD genes in coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and Staphylococcus aureus isolates in relation to clinical and microbiological features.

Procedure: Fifty-five CoNS and S.

Pediatric Non Metastatic Non Rhabdomyosarcoma Soft Tissue Sarcomas (NRSTSS): Five Years Experience from NCI-Egypt.

Purpose: Evaluation of demographic, pathological, and clinical patterns in addition to treatment outcome of pediatric NRSTS patients treated at the NCI, Egypt.

Procedure: 21 pediatric patients of NRSTS between 2001 and 2006 were included. Clinical and pathological diagnosis and subtyping verification were done.