A Comparative Study of Levetiracetam and Phenobarbital for Neonatal Seizures as a First Line Treatment.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the use of intravenous levetiracetam as the first-line treatment of neonatal seizures compared with phenobarbital.

Methods: The study was conducted on 104 neonates (0-28 days) with clinical seizures after inclusion criteria. They were assigned in equal ratio into 2 groups; 1 included neonates who received phenobarbitone, and the other included neonates who received levetiracetam.

Vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D receptor FokI polymorphism as risk factors for COVID-19.

Background: Given the sparse data on vitamin D status in pediatric COVID-19, we investigated whether vitamin D deficiency could be a risk factor for susceptibility to COVID-19 in Egyptian children and adolescents. We also investigated whether vitamin D receptor (VDR) FokI polymorphism could be a genetic marker for COVID-19 susceptibility.

Methods: One hundred and eighty patients diagnosed to have COVID-19 and 200 matched control children and adolescents were recruited.

Association of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) 4G/5G Polymorphism and Susceptibility to SLE in Egyptian Children and Adolescents: A Multicenter Study.

Background: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a key molecule residing at the nexus between thrombosis and inflammatory processes. Recently, PAI-1 and its gene expression have emerged as a potential candidate for autoimmune disorders such as SLE.

Objective: To investigate whether the PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism at position -675 could be a genetic marker for susceptibility to childhood-onset SLE and development of lupus nephritis among Egyptian children and adolescents.

Association of interleukin-17A gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus in Egyptian children and adolescents: a multi-centre study.

Background: Recently, the interleukin-17A () gene has emerged as a potential candidate gene for autoimmune disorders, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether IL-17A polymorphisms at rs2275913 G/A, rs8193036 C/T and rs3748067 C/T could be susceptibility markers for juvenile-onset SLE (JSLE) and lupus nephritis (LN) in Egyptian children and adolescents.

Methods: In this multi-centre study, we genotyped 320 patients diagnosed with JSLE and 320 matched control children for three IL-17A polymorphisms at rs2275913 G/A, rs8193036 C/T and rs3748067 C/T using TaqMan probe-based real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Ficolin-1 gene (FCN1) -144 C/A polymorphism is associated with adverse outcome of severe pneumonia in the under-five Egyptian children: A multicenter study.

Background: Pneumonia is the foremost cause of child death worldwide. M-ficolin is encoded by the FCN1 gene and represents a novel link between innate and adaptive immunity.

Objectives: To investigate the FCN1 -144 C/A (rs10117466) polymorphism as a potential marker for pneumonia severity and adverse outcome namely complications or mortality in the under-five Egyptian children.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion gene polymorphism in Egyptian children with CAP: A case-control study.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene is a potential candidate gene for CAP risk.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism (rs4340) could be a genetic marker for CAP susceptibility in Egyptian children, and we also measured the serum ACE level to assess its relation to such polymorphism.

Serum and CSF adiponectin, leptin, and interleukin 6 levels as adipocytokines in Egyptian children with febrile seizures: a cross-sectional study.

Background: A febrile seizure (FS) is the most common convulsive disorder in children. Activation of cytokine network is involved in FS pathogenesis. Adiponectin, leptin and IL-6 are the major adipocytokines secreted by fat cells.

Interleukin-6 gene polymorphisms in Egyptian children with febrile seizures: a case-control study.

Background: Febrile seizures are the most common form of childhood seizures. Among pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 is the key acute-phase cytokine. To date, only a few studies concerned the association of interleukin-6 gene polymorphisms with febrile seizures.

Serum Hepcidin Levels in Childhood-Onset Ischemic Stroke: A Case-Control Study.

Recently, hepcidin, an antimicrobial-like peptide hormone, has evolved as the master regulator of iron homeostasis. Despite the growing evidence of iron imbalance in childhood-onset ischemic stroke, serum hepcidin level in those patients has not yet been researched. In this study, we aimed to estimate serum (hepcidin) level in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients and to investigate whether subcutaneous enoxaparin sodium, which is a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) derivative, could modulate serum hepcidin level in those patients.

MicroRNA-21 as a novel biomarker in diagnosis and response to therapy in asthmatic children.

Background: The underlying molecular mechanisms leading to asthma remain largely unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs exert powerful effects on immunological function by tuning networks of target genes that orchestrate cell activity. However, the role of miRNAs, specifically microRNA-21 (miRNA- 21), in the regulation of allergic airway inflammation is not well defined.

Reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia in neonatal intensive care unit using "VAP prevention Bundle": a cohort study.

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious health care-associated infection, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. It also prolongs hospital stay and drives up hospital costs. Measures employed in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia in developing countries are rarely reported.