Immunohistochemical Expression of Claudin-1 and Claudin-4 in Urothelial Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder.

Background: In Egypt, bladder cancer occupies the second rankamong reported cancers in men. Claudins are tight junctions that have a critical role in tumor pathogenesis, invasion, progression, and metastasis and currentlyare a focus of interest for targeting therapies.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluatethe immunohistochemical expression of Claudin-1 and Claudin-4 in urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma and investigate the relationshipbetweenthe expressed Claudins with differentclinicopathological parameters.

Evaluation of Immunohistochemical Expression of ALK-1 in Gliomas, WHO Grade 4 and Its Correlation with IDH1-R132H Mutation Status.

Background: Glioblastoma (GB), a grade 4 glioma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults. Recently, the mutation status of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) has been crucial in the treatment of GB. IDH mutant cases display a more favorable prognosis than IDH-wild type ones.

MicroRNAs and cytokines as potential predictive biomarkers for COVID-19 disease progression.

Host microRNAs can influence the cytokine storm associated SARS-CoV-2 infection and proposed as biomarkers for COVID-19 disease. In the present study, serum MiRNA-106a and miRNA-20a were quantified by real time-PCR in 50 COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Minia university hospital and 30 healthy volunteers. Profiles of serum inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10) and TLR4 were analyzed by Eliza in patients and controls.

Circulating microRNAs as predictors of response to sofosbuvir + daclatasvir + ribavirin in in HCV genotype-4 Egyptian patients.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in various diseases, including HCV infection, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the potential use of serum miRNAs as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of responses to direct acting antivirals (sofosbuvir + daclatasvir + ribavirin) in HCV-4 patients.

Methods: The serum expression profiles of four liver-associated miRNAs (miRNA-122, 155, 196 and 29) were assessed in 160 HCV-4 patients and 50 healthy controls using real-time PCR prior to therapy.

Results: miR-122 and miR-155 showed upregulation in HCV-4 patients compared to healthy controls while miR-196 and miR-29 showed downregulation in HCV-4 patients.

Utility of a Highly Specific and Sensitive Podoplanin/D2-40, Calretinin, Thyroid Transcription Factor-1, and Carcinoembryonic Antigen/CD66e Immunohistochemical Panel in Differentiating Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma from Metastatic Adenocarcinoma: An Egyptian Experience.

Background And Objective: Considering plentiful immunohistochemical (IHC) antibodies, a selection of highly sensitive and specific targeted panels is necessary to differentiate malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) from metastatic adenocarcinoma. We aimed to examine the sensitivity and specificity of four markers (podoplanin [PDPN]/D2-40, calretinin, thyroid transcription factor-1 [TTF-1], and carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA]/CD66e) as an initial IHC panel of Egyptian patients with malignant pleural biopsies.

Materials And Methods: Forty Egyptian malignant pleural biopsies with histomorphological features of mesothelioma versus adenocarcinoma were immunohistochemically stained by PDPN/D2-40, calretinin, TTF-1, and CEA/CD66e.

The Pathological Evaluation of Autophagy-Related Protein (LC3B) and Its Association with the Infiltration of Immune Cells in Glioma.

Background: Tumor cell autophagy can influence cellular immunity by participation in the recognition and modification of tumor-related antigens.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of the autophagy-related marker; light chain 3B (LC3B) in tumor cells and the assessment of T lymphocytes by a cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3) in gliomas, and to correlate them with the available clinic-pathological variables in glioma patients.

Materials And Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for LC3B and CD3 was performed on 60 paraffin-embedded glioma tissue.

Antiparasitic and immunomodulating effects of nitazoxanide, ivermectin and selenium on Cryptosporidium infection in diabetic mice.

The present work aims to investigate the antiparasitic and the immunomodulating effects of nitazoxanide (NTZ) and ivermectin (IVC) alone or combined together or combined with selenium (Se), on Cryptosporidium infection in diabetic mice. The results revealed that the combined NTZ and IVC therapy achieved the highest reduction of fecal oocysts (92%), whereas single NTZ showed the lowest reduction (63%). Also, adding Se to either NTZ or IVC resulted in elevation of oocyst reduction from 63% to 71% and from 82% to 84% respectively.

Effect of ZnO nanoparticles on methicillin, vancomycin, linezolid resistance and biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus isolates.

Background: Multidrug resistant (MDR) and biofilm producing Staphylococcus aureus strains are usually associated with serious infections. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and antibiofilm-formation effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) against staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolates.

Serum MicroRNAs as predictors for fibrosis progression and response to direct-acting antivirals treatment in hepatitis C virus genotype-4 Egyptian patients.

Background: MicroRNA (miRNAs) are small non-coding molecules that play an important role in hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication and liver diseases progression. The current study aimed to evaluate serum miRNAs as potential biomarkers for diagnosis, monitoring of fibrosis progression and prediction of responses to direct-acting antivirals (sofosbuvir + daclatasvir + ribavirin) in HCV genotype-4 patients.

Methods: The serum levels of four miRNAs (miRNA-21, 199, 448 and 181c) were assessed in 150 HCV patients and 50 healthy controls using quantitative real-time PCR.

Prevalence and molecular characteristics of ESBL and AmpC β -lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated from UTIs in Egypt.

Background: Infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae are mainly treated with the β-lactam antibiotics, nevertheless, the emergence of species with plasmid-borne β-lactamases has decreased the efficacy of these antibiotics. Therefore, continuing studies on the resistance pattern of different regions is important for assessment of proper antimicrobial therapy protocols. The study aimed to characterize extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and AmpC β -lactamase (AmpC) producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from community-acquired UTIs in Egypt.

Prevalence, phylogeny, and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli pathotypes isolated from children less than 5 years old with community acquired- diarrhea in Upper Egypt.

Background: Diarrhoea, affecting children in developing countries, is mainly caused by diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC). This study principally aimed to determine the prevalence of DEC pathotypes and Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes isolated from children under 5 years old with diarrhea.

Methods: A total of 320 diarrhoea stool samples were investigated.

First detection of vanB phenotype-vanA genotype vancomycin-resistant enterococci in Egypt.

Introduction: Enterococci have emerged in last two decades as serious hospital acquired pathogens particularly vancomycin resistant strains (VRE). The study aimed to identify the prevalence of enterococcal isolation from hospital infections and colonization as well as determine vancomycin resistance phenotypes and genotypes.

Methods: Sixty enterococcus isolates were isolated from patients, health care workers and hospital environment, identified and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility.

Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in hospital-acquired infections: Concomitant analysis of antimicrobial resistant strains.

Background: Hospital-acquired infections caused by K pneumoniae are difficult to eradicate since K pneumoniae carries resistance genes for many antimicrobials, including carbapenems. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections caused by multiple drug-resistant K pneumoniae and identify carbapenem and fluoroquinolone resistance by phenotypic and genotypic methods amongst hospitalised patients.

Methods: Two hundred and fifty samples from patients with hospital-acquired infections were included.

Impact of co-existence of PMQR genes and QRDR mutations on fluoroquinolones resistance in Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated from community and hospital acquired UTIs.

Background: Fluoroquinolones are commonly recommended as treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs). The development of resistance to these agents, particularly in gram-negative microorganisms complicates treatment of infections caused by these organisms. This study aimed to investigate antimicrobial resistance of different Enterobacteriaceae species isolated from hospital- acquired and community-acquired UTIs against fluoroquinolones and correlate its levels with the existing genetic mechanisms of resistance.

Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant in Hospital-Acquired Surgical Wound Infections and Bacteremia: Concomitant Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes.

Background: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of infections among patients with hospital-acquired surgical wound sepsis and bacteremia in surgical wards and identify the antimicrobial susceptibility in these pathogens. Genetic role of erythromycin, vancomycin, and cephalosporin resistance in these pathogens was also examined.

Methods: Two hundred samples were collected from surgical wound infections and 100 blood cultures from patients with suggested bacteremia to identify by phenotypic and genotypic methods.

Phylogenic classification and virulence genes profiles of uropathogenic E. coli and diarrhegenic E. coli strains isolated from community acquired infections.

The emergence of E.coli strains displaying patterns of virulence genes from different pathotypes shows that the current classification of E.coli pathotypes may be not enough, the study aimed to compare the phylogenetic groups and urovirulence genes of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) and diarrheagenic E.

Immunohistochemical Expression of Androgen Receptors (AR) in Various Breast Cancer Subtypes.

Background: Breast carcinoma ranks the first among malignant tumours in females and is the chief cause of cancer-related mortality. Androgen in implicated in the induction of proliferation and growth of mammary cells through binding to their corresponding receptors. Androgens influence the risk of acquiring breast cancer through either direct binding to androgen receptors (AR) or indirectly through their transformation to estradiol or competing for steroid binding proteins.

Association of IL-1β, IL-1RN, and ESR1 genes polymorphism with risk of infection and response to sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir combination therapy in hepatitis C virus genotype-4 patients.

Sofosbuvir (SOF) and daclatasvir combination with or without ribavirin proved to be effective and safe in the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of (SOF plus daclatasvir) combination + ribavirin in the treatment of treatment-experienced HCV genotype 4 Egyptian patients and to investigate the impact of IL-1β _31, IL-1β _511, and IL-1RN and T29C of ESR1 genes polymorphisms on treatment outcome. The study also aimed to assess the effect of the treatment on liver fibrosis.

CD44 Expression in Meningioma and its Correlation with Proliferation Indices.

Introduction: CD44 is a cell adhesion molecule assumed to be related to tumour invasion and metastatic ability and is expressed in variety of tumours including meningiomas.

Aim: To evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of CD44 in variable grades and variants of eningioma and to correlate the results with Ki-67 proliferation index and available clinicopathologic variables.

Materials And Methods: A total of 40 meningioma cases were studied for immunohistochemical expression of CD44 and Ki-67 and correlated with different clinicopathologic variables.

Expression of Podoplanin in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Dysplasia.

Introduction: In human cancers, podoplanin expression and its correlation with tumour invasive potential raise its possible role as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for cancer.

Aim: To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of podoplanin in laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) and dysplasia.

Materials And Methods: This study included a total of 60 archived, formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue blocks of 40 cases of laryngeal SCC and 20 cases of dysplastic lesions.

Genotyping of occult hepatitis B virus infection in Egyptian hemodialysis patients without hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: Occult hepatitis B viral infection is the presence of hepatitis B viral nucleic acids in the serum and/or liver in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen.

Aim: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection among hepatitis C virus-negative hemodialysis patients and to identify their genotypes.

Methods: of 144 patients on maintenance hemodialysis, 50 hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C virus nucleic acid-negative patients were selected according to strict inclusion criteria to avoid the effect of confounding variables.

Occult hepatitis C virus infection among Egyptian hemodialysis patients.

Occult hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (OCI) was reported in an apparently disease-free state in the absence of liver disease, anti-HCV and HCV-RNA in the serum. The existing data examining the clinical significance of OCI and its potential as a source of HCV infection among hemodialysis patients are very limited. We examined the presence of OCI among patients on maintenance hemodialysis at Minia Governorate, Egypt; an HCV endemic country.

Changing patterns of drug-resistant Shigella isolates in egypt.

Background: The emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) is a serious problem in treating shigellosis. There are limited existing data examining the change in the antimicrobial resistance profile of Shigella in Egypt. We previously reported that 58% of the Shigella isolates in Egypt were resistant to at least one member of the three different antimicrobial groups.

Increased quinolone resistance among typhoid Salmonella isolated from Egyptian patients.

Introduction: Typhoid fever is endemic in Egypt; and quinolones are the empirical treatment of choice. There are very limited data reporting quinolone resistance among Egyptian typhoidal Salmonella isolates. We previously reported that all typhoidal Salmonella were sensitive to quinolones.

The Frequency of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Coagulase Gene Polymorphism in Egypt.

The current study aimed to use Coagulase gene polymorphism to identify methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) subtypes isolated from nasal carriers in Minia governorate, Egypt, evaluate the efficiency of these methods in discriminating variable strains, and compare these subtypes with antibiotypes. A total of 400 specimens were collected from nasal carriers in Minia governorate, Egypt, between March 2012 and April 2013. Fifty-eight strains (14.