Longitudinal cytokine profile in severe COVID-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: A single centre study from Egypt.

Aim: The severity of COVID-19 is influenced by uncontrolled hyper-inflammatory response with excessive release of many cytokines and chemokines. The understanding of the temporal change in the cytokine levels that underlies the diverse clinical presentations of COVID-19 can help in the prediction of the disease outcome and in the design of proper treatment strategies.

Method: Data were collected from children (<18 years old) hospitalised with severe COVID-19 or severe MIS-C who were compared to a group of healthy control children.

Plasma Copeptin as a Prognostic Marker in Children with Heart Failure.

Objective: To investigate the role of plasma copeptin in predicting mortality in children with heart failure (HF) in addition to poor outcomes, including sepsis, multiorgan dysfunction syndrome, need for mechanical ventilation, and duration of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Methods: This diagnostic study included 76 children aged 1 month to 16 years who were hospitalized with congenital or acquired heart disease with HF, and an age- and gender-matched control group of 65 healthy children. Plasma copeptin level was evaluated within 24 hours of admission.

Association of ABCB1(Rs10276036, C/T) Gene, IL-18, and TNFα as Risk Factors for Nephrotic Syndrome Incidence.

Background: The most common cause of Nephrotic Syndrome (NS) in children is idiopathic NS, also called nephrosis. The most prominent clinical signs are hyperlipidemia, severe proteinuria, edema, swelling of body tissues, and an increased risk of infection. The object of this study was to examine the correlation of the ABCB1 gene (rs10276036, C > T), IL-18, and TNFα to the prevalence of NS among Egyptian children having NS.

The functional TNF-αG > a single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs1800629): association with the predictive indices of breast cancer carcinogenesis.

Background: Compared with all other cancer types, Breast cancer (BC) among women has now exceeded them all as the primary reason for cancer worldwide. The BC represents 11.7% of all cancer cases and accounts for a predestined 2.

Association of IL-6 G-174C (rs1800795) variant with the susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis.

Aim: An ineffective immune response resulting from dysregulation of cytokine production might encourage viral persistence and cause chronic viral hepatitis to worsen. This study examined the relationship between alterations in interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and the IL-6 - 174 G > C (rs1800795) polymorphism, as well as how this polymorphism affects the development and progression of chronic hepatitis brought on by hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients And Methods: Whole blood samples from 126 Egyptian patients with HCC (111 with HCV and 15 with HBV), as well as 126 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals, were used to extract DNA.

Pharmacogenetic insights into ABCB1, ABCC2, CYP1A2, and CYP2B6 variants with epilepsy susceptibility among Egyptian Children: A retrospective case-control study.

Background: Pediatric epilepsy is a complicated neuropsychiatric disorder that is characterized by recurrent seizures and unusual synchronized electrical activities within brain tissues. It has a substantial effect on the quality of life of children, thus understanding of the hereditary considerations influencing epilepsy susceptibility and the response to antiepileptic medications is crucial. This study focuses on assessing the correlation of the ABCB1, ABCC2, CYP1A2, and CYP2B6 genetic polymorphisms with the susceptibility to epileptic seizures and their contributions to antiepileptic medication throughout the course of the disease.

The epigenetic determinants for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis phenotyping and treatment response.

Background: Determining the role of epigenetics in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) provides an opportunity to explore previously unrecognized disease pathways and new therapeutic targets.

Aim: We aimed to identify the clinical significance of microRNAs (miRNA-26a, miRNA-223) in SJIA.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a group of children with SJIA attending to pediatric rheumatology clinic, at Mansoura University Children's Hospital (MUCH) from December 2021 to November 2022.

SARS-CoV-2 brainstem encephalitis in human inherited DBR1 deficiency.

Inherited deficiency of the RNA lariat-debranching enzyme 1 (DBR1) is a rare etiology of brainstem viral encephalitis. The cellular basis of disease and the range of viral predisposition are unclear. We report inherited DBR1 deficiency in a 14-year-old boy who suffered from isolated SARS-CoV-2 brainstem encephalitis.

Acetylsalicylic Acid with Ascorbate: A Promising Combination Therapy for Solid Tumors.

Background And Objective: Cancer is a deadly disease with high mortality rates in developing countries. A recent preclinical study found promising results in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by combining acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and ascorbate (AS), which might offer a safer alternative to expensive clinical chemotherapeutics; however, the impact of this combination on other tumors remains unexplored. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of combining ASA and AS in treating Ehrlich solid tumors.

The potential Association of Bisphenol A exposure and type 1 diabetes mellitus among Dakahlia Governorate's children sample, Egypt.

Background: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupter affecting glucose homeostasis.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate BPA's relationship with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) in Dakahlia Governorate's children, in Egypt.

Subjects Materials And Methods: The study had two parts: clinical and experimental.

Serum angiopoietin-2: a promising biomarker for early diabetic kidney disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Albuminuria has been considered the golden standard biomarker for diabetic kidney disease (DKD), but appears once significant kidney damage has already occurred. Angiopoietin-2 (Angpt-2) has been implicated in the development and progression of DKD in adults. We aimed to explore the association of serum Angpt-2 levels with DKD in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) of short duration (3-5 years) and to evaluate the predictive power of serum Angpt-2 in the early detection of DKD prior to the microalbuminuric phase.

The HyperPed-COVID international registry: Impact of age of onset, disease presentation and geographical distribution on the final outcome of MIS-C.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to establish an international multicenter registry to collect data on patients with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), in order to highlight a relationship between clinical presentation, age of onset and geographical distribution on the clinical outcome.

Study Design: Multicenter retrospective study involving different international societies for rare immunological disorders.1009 patients diagnosed with MIS-C between March and September 2022, from 48 centers and 22 countries were collected.

Long noncoding RNAs (CTC-471J1.2, NeST) as epigenetic risk factors of active juvenile lupus nephritis: a case-control study.

Background: Measurement of the circulating levels of long-non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in lupus nephritis (LN) patients could dramatically explore more insights about the disease pathogenesis. Hence, we aimed to quantify the level of expression of CTC-471J1.2 and NeST in LN patients and to correlate it with the disease activity.

Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Infections in Pediatric Patients Hospitalized at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Western Saudi Arabia.

Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections (MDRIs) constitute a major global threat due to increased patient morbidity/mortality and hospital stay/healthcare costs. A few studies from KSA, including our locality, addressed antimicrobial resistance in pediatric patients. This study was performed to recognize the incidence and clinical/microbiologic features of MDRIs in hospitalized pediatric patients.

The role of polymorphic cytochrome P450 gene (CYP2B6) in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) incidence and outcome among Egyptian patients.

Cytochromes P450 (CYPs) play a prominent role in catalyzing phase I xenobiotic biotransformation and account for about 75% of the total metabolism of commercially available drugs, including chemotherapeutics. The gene expression and enzyme activity of CYPs are variable between individuals, which subsequently leads to different patterns of susceptibility to carcinogenesis by genotoxic xenobiotics, as well as differences in the efficacy and toxicity of clinically used drugs. This research aimed to examine the presence of the polymorphism and its possible association with the incidence of B-CLL in Egyptian patients, as well as the clinical outcome after receiving cyclophosphamide chemotherapy.

Lung and diaphragm ultrasound as predictors of successful weaning from nasal continuous positive airway pressure in preterm infants.

Objective: Assessment of the utility of lung and diaphragm ultrasound in the prediction of successful weaning from nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in preterm infants.

Study Design: This prospective cohort study was conducted on preterm infants who were considered ready for weaning off NCPAP. Lung and diaphragm ultrasound were performed just before and 3 h after weaning off NCPAP.

A retrospective analysis of acute kidney injury in children with post-COVID-19 multisystem inflammatory syndrome: insights into promising outcomes.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS), COVID-19 related infection has been increasingly recognized with a paucity of data on AKI incidence, related mortality, and the requirement of renal replacement therapy in children with MIS (MIS-C).

Methods: This is a retrospective study evaluating the prevalence, severity, management and outcomes of AKI in a cohort of Egyptian children with MIS-children (MIS-C) post-COVID infection. Patients were included if they met the criteria for MIS-C based on CDC guidelines.

Genetic association of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 polymorphisms with COVID-19 severity; a single centre study from Egypt.

Background: Since the emergence of the COVID-19 infection in China, it has caused considerable morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. It causes the vast majority of clinical manifestations, ranging from mild or even no symptoms to severe respiratory failure. There are many risk factors for severe COVID-19, such as old age, male gender, and associated comorbidities.

Regulatory T-cell dysfunction and cutaneous exposure to Staphylococcus aureus underlie eczema in DOCK8 deficiency.

Background: Dedicator of cytokinesis 8 (DOCK8)-deficient patients have severe eczema, elevated IgE, and eosinophilia, features of atopic dermatitis (AD).

Objective: We sought to understand the mechanisms of eczema in DOCK8 deficiency.

Methods: Skin biopsy samples were characterized by histology, immunofluorescence microscopy, and gene expression.

Effect of different timings of umbilical cord clamping on the level of CD34 cells in full-term neonates.

Despite the fact that delayed cord clamping (DCC) is recommended by many international organizations, early cord clamping is still widely practiced worldwide. The overarching goal of the DCC practice is to maximize neonatal benefits as achieving higher hemoglobin levels and decreasing the incidence of anemia as well as avoiding the adverse consequences. The current study was conducted to identify the effect of of DCC on the number of CD34 stem cells in cord blood of full term neonates after two different timings (30 and 60 s after birth).