Renal tubular dysfunction in children with sickle cell haemoglobinopathy.

Aim: Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are remarkably more prone than others to renal dysfunction. The kidneys, as one of the systemic long-term hazards in SCD, may be affected by both the haemodynamic changes of chronic anaemia as well as by the consequences of vaso-occlusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the proximal tubular function in a group of Saudi children with established SCD.

Genome wide analysis of chromosomal alterations in oral squamous cell carcinomas revealed over expression of MGAM and ADAM9.

Despite the advances in diagnosis and treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), mortality and morbidity rates have not improved over the past decade. A major drawback in diagnosis and treatment of OSCC is the lack of knowledge relating to how genetic instability in oral cancer genomes affects oral carcinogenesis. Hence, the key aim of this study was to identify copy number alterations (CNAs) that may be cancer associated in OSCC using high-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH).

An Empirical Study on Using Visual Embellishments in Visualization.

In written and spoken communications, figures of speech (e.g., metaphors and synecdoche) are often used as an aid to help convey abstract or less tangible concepts.

In vitro antibiotic susceptibility testing of Brucella isolates from Egypt between 1999 and 2007 and evidence of probable rifampin resistance.

Background: Brucellosis poses a significant public health problem in Mediterranean countries, including Egypt. Treatment of this disease is often empirical due to limited information on the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Brucella spp. in this region of the world.

Comparison of antimicrobial resistance in neonatal and adult intensive care units in a tertiary teaching hospital.

Intrahospital variations in antimicrobial profiles may be related to many factors. This study compared causative agents of nosocomial bloodstream infections between a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) that adopted a ward-tailored antibiotic policy and adult intensive care units (ICUs). Data on organisms from blood cultures obtained from the respective wards between 2005 and 2009 were analyzed.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (G894T) gene polymorphism in a random sample of the Egyptian population: comparison with myocardial infarction patients.

Aim: The aim of this study was to detect endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) Glu298Asp gene variants in a random sample of the Egyptian population, compare it with those from other populations, and attempt to correlate these variants with serum levels of nitric oxide (NO). The association of eNOS genotypes or serum NO levels with the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was also examined.

Methods: One hundred one unrelated healthy subjects and 104 unrelated AMI patients were recruited randomly from the 57357 Hospital and intensive care units of El Demerdash Hospital and National Heart Institute, Cairo, Egypt.

Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as an early biomarker for prediction of acute kidney injury after cardio-pulmonary bypass in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Introduction: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery is considered one of the most frequent surgical procedures in which acute kidney injury (AKI) represents a frequent and serious complication. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as an early AKI biomarker after CPB in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Material And Methods: The study included forty children aged 2 to 78 months undergoing CPB.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of new substituted thienopyrimidines, their tetrazolyl and sugar derivatives.

A series of substituted 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3H-benzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-4-one derivatives were newly synthesized starting from 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3H-benzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-4-one derivatives (1). Furthermore, their derived tetrazolyl as well as the N-substituted derivatives were also prepared. The antimicrobial activity of the prepared compounds against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans were evaluated.

Monosomy 3 status of uveal melanoma metastases is associated with rapidly progressive tumors and short survival.

The aim of the study was to investigate the molecular genetics of uveal melanoma (UM) metastases and correlate it with disease progression. Twelve pathologically confirmed UM metastases from 11 patients were included. Molecular genetic alterations in chromosomes 3 (including the BAP1 region), 8q, 6p, and 1p were investigated by microsatellite genotyping.

Ternary phase behaviour and vesicle formation of a sodium N-lauroylsarcosinate hydrate/1-decanol/water system.

The phase behaviour of a system composed of amino acid-based surfactant (sodium N-lauroylsarcosinate hydrate), 1-decanol and deionised water was investigated for vesicle formation. Changing the molar ratio of the amphiphiles, two important aggregate structures were observed in the aqueous corner of the phase diagram. Two different sizes of microemulsions were found at two amphiphile-water boundaries.

Childhood adrenocortical carcinoma as a sentinel cancer for detecting families with germline TP53 mutations.

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a highly penetrant, autosomal dominant disorder where affected individuals carry a 50% risk of developing cancer before 30 years of age. It is most commonly associated with mutations in the tumour suppressor gene, TP53. Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a very rare paediatric cancer, and up to 80% of affected children are found to carry germline TP53 mutations.

Germline mutations in the oncogene EZH2 cause Weaver syndrome and increased human height.

The biological processes controlling human growth are diverse, complex and poorly understood. Genetic factors are important and human height has been shown to be a highly polygenic trait to which common and rare genetic variation contributes. Weaver syndrome is a human overgrowth condition characterised by tall stature, dysmorphic facial features, learning disability and variable additional features.

Radiochromic film dosimetry of HDR (192)Ir source radiation fields.

Purpose: A radiochromic film based dosimetry system for high dose rate (HDR) Iridium-192 brachytherapy source was described. A comparison between calibration curves established in water and Solid Water™ was provided.

Methods: Pieces of EBT-2 model GAFCHROMIC™ film were irradiated in both water and Solid Water™ with HDR (192)Ir brachytherapy source in a dose range from 0 to 50 Gy.

Germline BAP1 mutation predisposes to uveal melanoma, lung adenocarcinoma, meningioma, and other cancers.

Objective: To investigate the potential contribution of germline sequence alterations in the BAP1 gene in uveal melanoma (UM) patients with possible predisposition to hereditary cancer.

Design: A total of 53 unrelated UM patients with high risk for hereditary cancer and five additional family members of one proband were studied. Mutational screening was carried out by direct sequencing.

Acute poisoning in southern part of Bangladesh--the case load is decreasing.

This retrospective study was carried out in the Medicine Department of Khulna Medical College, the biggest tertiary hospital in the southern part of Bangladesh to observe the trends of poisoning in southern part of Bangladesh over four years including age and sex variation, mode of poisoning, type of poison used and outcome of poisoning. The hospital medical records of all patients, aged 10 years and above with history of acute poisoning from January, 2003 to December, 2006 were enrolled. Patients were categorized into four age group including Group (Gr.

Intraspecific variation in the venom of the vermivorous cone snail Conus vexillum.

A combination of proteomic and biochemical assays was used to examine variations in the venom of Conus vexillum taken from two locations (Hurgada and Sharm El-Shaikh) in the Red Sea, Egypt. Using MALDI/TOF-MS, a remarkable degree of intra-species variation between venom samples from both locations was identified. To evaluate variability in the cytotoxic effects of Conus venom, mice were injected with the same dose from each location.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) 2008-2009: report on behalf of the Eastern Mediterranean Bone Marrow Transplantation (EMBMT) Group.

Background: The Eastern Mediterranean Bone Marrow Transplantation (EMBMT) Group has accumulated over 25 years of data and experience in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), most particularly in hemoglobinopathies, severe aplastic anemia (SAA), and inherited metabolic and immune disorders, in addition to hematologic malignancies peculiar to the region and where recent updates in trends in activities are warranted.

Objectives: To study trends in HSCT activities in the World Health Organization-Eastern Mediterranean (EM) region surveyed by EMBMT between 2008 and 2009.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of the survey data, mainly of the cumulative number of transplants, types of transplants (autologous vs.

Frequency, molecular pathology and potential clinical significance of partial chromosome 3 aberrations in uveal melanoma.

The clinical significance of partial chromosome 3 alteration in uveal melanoma is still not clear. Also, the reported frequencies vary considerably in the published literature from 0 to 48%. The aims of the following study were to identify the frequency, molecular pathology and potential clinical significance of partial chromosome 3 alteration in uveal melanoma.

Melanoma candidate genes CDKN2A/p16/INK4A, p14ARF, and CDK4 sequencing in patients with uveal melanoma with relative high-risk for hereditary cancer predisposition.

The reported frequencies of germline mutations in the melanoma candidate genes are low in patients with uveal melanoma (UM). However, the number of families studied is limited and the majority of the published reports used low-sensitivity techniques for mutational screening. Identifying the frequency of alterations in any of the melanoma genes in patients with UM with increased hereditary cancer risk is important for proper counseling of these patients.

Central auditory processing in elderly with mild cognitive impairment.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess if central auditory processing affected patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or not and to assess sensitivity and specificity of central auditory processing tests in detection of MCI.

Methods: This was a case-control study conducted at the Geriatrics Department and Audiology Unit, Ain Shams University Hospital. Participants were 150 elderly diagnosed as MCI compared with 150 normal subjects, based on a neuropsychological diagnostic test battery, the Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG), and who were matched for age, sex and average threshold of hearing.

Systems biology approach to study permeability of paracetamol and its solid dispersion.

Physiological changes that take place at cellular level are usually reflective of their level of gene expression. Different formulation excipients have an impact on physiological behavior of the exposed cells and in turn affect transporter genes, enterocyte-mediated metabolism and toxicity biomarkers. The aim of this study was to prepare solid dispersion of paracetamol and evaluate genetic changes that occur in Caco-2 cell lines during the permeability of paracetamol alone and paracetamol solid dispersion formulations.

Genomic evaluation during permeability of indomethacin and its solid dispersion.

Drug resistance was first identified in cancer cells that express proteins known as multidrug resistance proteins that extrude the therapeutic agents out of the cells resulting in alteration of pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, and pharmacodynamics of drugs. To this end studies were carried out to investigate the role of pharmacological inhibitors and pharmaceutical excipients with a primary focus on P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The aim of this study was to investigate holistic changes in transporter gene expression during permeability upon formulation of indomethacin as solid dispersion.

Lack of GNAQ germline mutations in uveal melanoma patients with high risk for hereditary cancer predisposition.

A high frequency of somatic mutation in GNAQ has been reported in uveal melanoma (UM). GNAQ is located in the chromosomal band 9q21, the same chromosomal band that harbors a putative candidate gene for hereditary UM. We investigated the frequency of germline sequence alterations in the GNAQ gene in UM patients with increased predisposition to hereditary cancer.

Breast cancer burden in central Sudan.

Breast cancer is a worldwide disease resulting in many deaths. Although breast cancer incidence is lower in Sub-Saharan African countries than in developed countries, African women are more likely than women in the developed world to be diagnosed at later stages of the disease and, thus, are more likely to die from it. This is due to the lack of awareness by women, accessibility to screening methods, and availability of African-based research findings that would influence decision making at the governmental level.