Hanan Mahmoud Fayed

Assessment of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin d levels in children with atopic dermatitis: correlation with SCORAD index.

BackgroundAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with an immunologic basis. It may have negative medical and social impacts on a patient and his family. ObjectivesTo assess serum level of vitamin D among children with AD and determine its association with AD severity using the AD Scoring System Index. Study DesignA case-control study. Patients and MethodsTwenty-nine patients with AD in the age group between 2 and 12 years were enrolled in the study. The severity of the disease was determined by the AD scoring system. Thirty controls were recruited. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] were tested using commercial automated chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. ResultsThe mean value of vitamin D in children with AD was much lower than normal value, and there was a significant difference in the mean values of vitamin D between children with AD (5.4±1.9 ng/mL) and the controls (28.9±2.4 ng/mL). Serum 25(OH)D levels were found to be significantly higher in mild AD (14.6±3.5 ng/mL) compared with moderate (5.5±3.1 ng/mL) or severe AD (0.3±0.1 ng/mL); P<0.001. ConclusionPatients with AD have lower serum vitamin D levels than normal. Vitamin D deficiency might be related to the severity of AD.

Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma Gondii Infection in Women with First Trimester Spontaneous Miscarriage in Qena Governorate, Egypt

INTRODUCTION To determine seroprevalence and risks factors for T. gondii in women with early miscarriage, Sera of 76 women were analyzed infection by indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Seropositive cases were further examined histopathologically for evidence of Toxoplasma gondii organisms. MATERIAL AND METHODS Demographic data were obtained from participants to gather information on risk factors. RESULT AND DISCUSSION Of 76 women with spontaneous abortion screened for Toxoplasma-specific IgG and IgM antibodies with ELISA, 35 were IgG seropositive, of which, 14 samples were IgM seropositive. Therefore, seropositivity rates of 46.1% (95% CI: 35.1%, 57.3%), and 18.4% (95% CI: 10.89%, 28.32%) for IgG and IgM, respectively were found. These indicate that, 27.6 % (21 cases) of studied women (IgG+/IgM-) were immune to toxoplasmosis and 53.94 %(41 cases) were susceptible to primary infection (IgG-/IgM-). Mean while acute toxoplasmosis (IgG+/IgM+) was 18.4 %( 14 cases) with one case (1.3%) confirmed for recent infection as she had Tachyzoites on histopathology study. On the basis of multivariate logistic regression, living in a rural area was found to be the only independent predictor of toxoplasmosis (OR=3.800, CI= 1.100-10.813, p=0.034). CONCLUSION The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in women with first trimester abortion in Qena governorate of Egypt is high. Pregnant women living in rural area are at a higher risk for acquiring infection during pregnancy. Antenatal screening of pregnant women and educational program about risks for Toxoplasmosis in rural areas is needed.

Effects of oral iron (ferrous versus ferric) supplementation on oxidative stress and antioxidant status in pregnant women with iron deficiency: controlled trial

Background Pregnant women are more prone to oxidative stress. Iron deficiency anemia not only affects hematological parameters but also disturbs body oxidative balance, which impairs pregnancy outcome. Besides, iron therapy may generate harmful oxygen species. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the nature of oral iron supplementation (ferrous vs. ferric) in pregnant women with iron deficiency on oxidative stress and its correlation with peripheral systemic inflammatory response markers. Patients and methods A clinical trail study involves study included 30 healthy and 50 anemic pregnant women in their 20th-36th gestational weeks who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. They were randomly distributed to receive either ferrous sulfate or ferric polymaltose complex. Outcome was assessed after 8 weeks of iron supplementation and included hematological parameters, neutrophil : lymphocyte ratio, platelet : lymphocyte ratio, mean platelet volume, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), iron, and ferritin. Results Anemic pregnant women have increased oxidative stress with high levels of MDA and TAC, both at baseline and following iron supplementation (P < 0.001). Following 8 weeks of iron supplementation, there were a significant increase (P < 0.001) in hemoglobin and serum ferritin, and a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the peripheral inflammatory markers neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio, platelet: lymphocyte ratio, mean platelet volume, and absolute lymphocyte counts. Conclusion Iron polymaltose complex was as effective as ferrous sulfate as both were able to correct hematologic parameters in parallel to a decrease in MDA and peripheral inflammatory markers together with an increase in TAC levels to maintain oxidative balance.

MP60-05 MELATONIN HORMONE LEVEL IN SERUM AND SEMINAL PLASMA OF PATIENTS WITH IDIOPATHIC OLIGOASTHENOTERATOZOOSPERMIA

been proposed as potential biomarkers of obstructive azoospermia. Our goal was to evaluate sperm specific proteins and microscopic sperm presence in vasal fluid at time of vasectomy reversal. METHODS: Patients undergoing vasectomy reversal were enrolled between 2015-2016. Samples were grouped into groups based on microscopic presence of sperm. Proteomic profiles were generated using liquid chromatography/ tandem mass spectrometry, and MS/MS protein spectral counts compared between individuals and treatment groups controlling for less than 5% false discovery rates (FDRs). Differential Expression was assessed using Bioconductor’s edgeR package. Proteins were then matched with the human swissprot database. Samples were analyzed with regards to content of 8 known sperm specific proteins. RESULTS: We analyzed 53 vasal samples from 27 patients. A total of 1,692 unique proteins were detected. The presence of sperm specific proteins varied regardless of the microscopic presence of sperm (Table 1). Cysteine-rich secretory protein was abundant in all samples, while Transketolase-like protein 1 and Sperm-associated antigen 11B were absent or very low counts in all samples. Thus, using the 5 remaining sperm specific proteins we were able to identify 273 unique proteins as potential sperm biomarkers; however, no potential biomarkers correlated with microscopic sperm findings. Most common GO terms included viral process, signal transduction, and innate immune response, as well as protein folding and spermatogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Cysteine-rich secretory protein was abundant in samples regardless of microscopic sperm presence, rendering this a potential biomarker. We identified many processes contributing to the variability of the proteomic profile of vasal fluid at time of vasectomy reversal to include spermatogenesis, degradation, immune and inflammatory responses. Further evaluation is needed to determine if a potential protein biomarker exists that could predict vasectomy reversal fertility outcomes that could alleviate the need for intra-operative light microscopy, aid in procedural planning and provide a counseling tool for patients.

Hematological cellular alterations in plateletpheresis donors

Aims: Blood contact with foreign surfaces in the apheresis systems may activate many cell types that return back to the donor. However, the safety issue regarding post-procedure platelet activation is not well assessed. We aimed to evaluate the alterations in hematological parameters and to explore the formation of platelets leukocytes aggregates (PLAs) and/or complexes in healthy donors who underwent first-time plateletpheresis procedure. Methods: Blood from 100 healthy donors were assessed by BD FACS Calibur flow cytometer for: a) detection of PLAs using (CD41, CD42b, CD61) antibodies against platelets surface molecules to detect its expression on neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and b) evaluation of red cell mechanical fragility (RBC-MF). Results: After donation a significant decrement of donor blood cell counts; the percent (%) reduction in hemoglobin (Hb) 7.9(5.1–9.2) (p = 0.017), hematocrit (Hct) 6(2.72-7.81) (p = 0.043) %, residual red cells (p = 0.016), platelet count (PLT) 22.7(9.5–32) (p = 0.031) together with a significant increase in the MPV (p = 0.001), the absolute neutrophil (p = 0.026) and lymphocyte Hanan Mahmoud Fayed1, Sanaa Shaker Ali2, Eman Salah Eldin3 Affiliations: 1Assistant Professor and Charge d’affaires, Clinical and Chemical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine-South Valley University, Qena, Egypt; 2Assistant Professor, Clinical and Chemical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine-South Valley University, Qena, Egypt; 3Lecturer, Clinical and Chemical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine-Assiut University, Assiut-Egypt. Corresponding Author: Hanan Mahmoud Fayed, Qena Faculty of Medicine South Valley University 6th km Qena Safaga, Road, Qena, Egypt 82523; Email: hananfayed@yahoo. com; Drhanan.fayed@med.svu.edu.eg Received: 02 March 2018 Accepted: 03 May 2018 Published: 13 June 2018 count (p = 0.041) with an insignificant increase in absolute monocyte (p = 0.103), lymphocyte subsets count, CD4:CD8 ratio, and WBC count. However, there was significant increase in the median platelets complexed with neutrophil, lymphocytes, and monocytes. Conclusion: All donors had a significant drop in all blood counts; none of them manifested features of thrombocytopenia or anemia. However, an increase in PLAs formation provides an evidence of ongoing platelet activation, a platelet-leucocyte interaction that may induce a pre-thrombotic risk. This result is important to consider as it might have potential therapeutic implications. Nevertheless, more prospective studies are essential to establish guidelines for donor safety.

Serum interleukin-6 and interferon-γ in patients with leprosy

Background Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and manifested by an immunological and clinical outcome, ranging from borderline lepromatous and lepromatous infections to tuberculoid and borderline tuberculoid infections. Cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor-α are associated with leprosy. Objective The aim was to assess IL-6 and IFN-γ in untreated patients with leprosy and compare these levels with those in healthy controls and with different parts of the disease spectrum. Patients and methods A case–control study was conducted on 90 untreated patients with leprosy and 30 healthy controls randomly selected from patients attending the Dermatology and Leprosy Hospital, Qena Governorate, Egypt. The patients were classified into tuberculoid, borderline tuberculoid, borderline-borderline, borderline lepromatous, and lepromatous (LL). IFN-γ and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Results IL-6 and INF-γ were significantly higher in the patients than in the control group, with P value of 0.001 and 0.002, respectively. Regarding the serum level of INF-γ in all types of leprosy, there was a statistically significantly increase in paucibacillary leprosy and a nonsignificant increase in multibacillary leprosy; on the contrary, the results showed that serum level of IL-6 was statistically significantly increased in multibacillary leprosy and nonsignificantly increased in paucibacillary leprosy. Conclusion This study concluded that INF-γ and IL-6 may have a significant role in classifying various forms of leprosy and can be used as leprosy disease markers to predict the course and the prognosis of the disease.

Phenotype analysis of lymphocytes in workers with chronic benzene exposure

Background Automobile service station workers are at high risk of benzene toxicity because they neither take protective measures to prevent inhalation of petroleum products nor undergo regular medical checkup. Objective The aim of this paper was to study the effects of long-term benzene exposure on blood cells and liver function. Patients and methods The study was a controlled trial, which included 30 automobile service station workers investigated for alterations in blood cells, hepatic functions, and lymphocyte phenotype. Results When compared with controls, benzene-exposed workers had significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (47.80±3.19 vs. 28.50±4.35), aspartate aminotransferase (41.20±2.62 vs. 23.60±4.58), and alkaline phosphatase (305.13± 16.39 vs. 174.40±26.69) levels and significant decrease in total proteins (6.39±0.11 vs. 6.79±0.12), albumin (3.57±0.14 vs. 4.5±0.48), hemoglobin (10.77±0.49 vs. 13.97±0.69), platelets count (146.8±4.9 vs. 217.8±37.4), mean platelet volume (7.68±0.4; 8.83±0.8), white blood cells (3459±444 vs. 6171±1482), monocytes (188±64 vs. 338±190), neutrophils (2095±267 vs. 3487±998), lymphocytes (1177±265 vs. 2138±439) and its subsets [CD3 cells (948±217 vs. 1686±337), CD4 cells (321±81 vs. 1101±222), B cells (228±70 vs. 45.1±13.22), and CD4 : CD8 ratio (0.51±0.04 vs. 1.88±0.08)], with significant increase in CD8 cells (627±138 vs. 585±117) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) (130.7±26.66 vs. 104.96±22.49). The duration of exposure positively correlated with PLR and negatively correlated with hemoglobin, platelets, mean platelet volume, white blood cells, neutrophil, lymphocyte (B cells, helper cells, and suppressor cells), and serum albumin. PLR had a negative correlation with CD4, CD8, and CD19 absolute counts. Conclusion Benzene exposure is detrimental to the liver and bone marrow and results in the reduction of all blood and lymphocyte series, intiating immune suppression which may predispose to carcinogenesis. PLR is a valuable, inexpensive, and reproducible index that is closely associated with impaired immune system in benzene-exposed workers.

Biochemical assessments of thyroid profile, serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and cluster of differentiation 5 expression levels among children with autism

Background The exact pathogenesis of autism is still unknown. Both thyroid hormones and 25(OH)D are important for brain development, in addition to CD5; all have immunomodulatory actions by which their dysregulation may have a potential role in autism pathogenesis. Objectives The objectives of this study were to assess the thyroid profile, serum 25(OH)D levels and CD5 expression levels among autistic patients and to find out the correlations between the measured biomarkers with each other on one side and with the disease severity on the other side. Patients and methods This cross-sectional case–control study has been conducted on 60 children with autism and 40 controls, recruited from Qena Governorate, Upper Egypt. Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) score was used to assess the included patients. Biochemical assays of thyroid function in the form of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free tetraiodothyronine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and 25(OH)D were done using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, while CD5 expression levels were measured using flow cytometry (FCM) analysis for all the included patients and controls. Results The overall measurement results show significant higher mean serum TSH levels, mean CD5 expression levels with significant lower mean serum 25(OH)D levels among autistic children when compared with the control group (p<0.05 for all). Significant negative correlations between CD5 with FT3, FT4 and 25(OH)D were observed. CARS score showed significant negative correlations with both FT3 and 25(OH)D, while it was positively correlated with CD5 in a significant manner (p<0.05 for all). Conclusion Elevated CD5 expression and decreased 25(OH)D stores could play a potential role in the pathogenesis of autism via their immune-modulator actions. High TSH serum levels among autistic children, although within the physiological range, reflect the presence of thyroid dysfunction among such children, which needs further assessment.