Mabrouk Mahmoud Ghonaim

Hepatoprotective activity of quercetin against acrylonitrile‐induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Acrylonitrile is a potent hepatotoxic, mutagen, and carcinogen. A role for free radical‐mediated lipid peroxidation in the toxicity of acrylonitrile has been suggested. The present study was designed to assess the hepatoprotective effect of quercetin against acrylonitrile‐induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Liver damage was induced by oral administration of acrylonitrile (50 mg/kg/day/5 weeks). Acrylonitrile produced a significant elevation of malondialdehyde (138.9%) with a marked decrease in reduced glutathione (72.4%), and enzymatic antioxidants; superoxide dismutase (81%), and glutathione peroxidase (53.2%) in the liver. Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferases, direct bilirubin, and total bilirubin showed a significant increase in acrylonitrile alone treated rats (115.5%, 110.8%, 1006.8%, and 1000.8%, respectively). Pretreatment with quercetin (70 mg/kg/day/6 weeks) and its coadministration with acrylonitrile prevented acrylonitrile‐induced alterations in hepatic lipid peroxides and enzymatic antioxidants as well as serum aminotransferases and bilirubin. Histopathological findings supported the biochemical results. We suggest that querectin possess hepatoprotective effect against acrylonitrile‐induced hepatotoxicity through its antioxidant activity.

Evaluation of recent methods versus conventional methods for diagnosis of early-onset neonatal sepsis

INTRODUCTION Hospital-acquired infections continue to be a major public health problem, especially among neonates. Large proportions of infants are admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and receive potent systemic antibiotics while the diagnostic work-up is still in progress. This study aimed to evaluate the recent methods for diagnosing neonatal sepsis (NS) and compare them to conventional diagnostic work-up. METHODOLOGY The study included 100 neonates divided into three groups: proven early-onset NS, clinical early-onset NS, and negative infectious status. Bacterial DNA was detected in the blood by broad-range 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Markers for diagnosis of bacterial infection, which includedprocalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Blood culture was positive in 25 cases, while PCR for 16S rDNA was positive in 32 cases. Hs-CRP was significantly elevated in 30 patients in group 1, 35 patients in group 2, and 8 patients in group 3. IL-6 was significantly elevated in 28 patients in group 1, 24 patients in group 2, and 9 patients in group 3. PCT was found to be significantly elevated in 29 patients in group 1, 31 patients in group 2, and 2 patients in group 3. CONCLUSIONS The16S rDNA PCR assay was more sensitive than blood culture. The combination of markers (hs-CRP, PCT, and IL-6) is better than single markers to diagnose sepsis. PCT had greater diagnostic value than did hs-CRP and IL-6, while IL-6 was better for diagnosis of neonatal infection.

Association of serum cytokines levels, interleukin 10 -1082G/A and interferon-γ +874T/A polymorphisms with atopic asthma children from Saudi Arabia.

The aim of this study was to clarify the role of IL-4, IL-10, IL-13 and interferon (IFN) -γ levels in atopic asthma patients by studying the relation between their serum levels and severity of the disease. The effect of IL-10 -1082G/A and IFN-γ +874T/A SNPs was also studied. The study included 200 atopic children with asthma and 50 age- and gender matched healthy children as controls. The levels of both IL-4 and IL-13 were significantly (p<0.001) higher, while IFN-γ was significantly (p<0.001) lower in patients compared to that of the controls. There was a significant effect of gene polymorphisms of IL-10 (p<0.05) and IFN-γ (p<0.001) in occurrence of atopic asthma and increased IgE level. Polymorphism of IFN-γ gene had an effect on the serum level of IFN-γ. In conclusion, IFN-γ gene polymorphism at position +874 and IL-10 gene polymorphism at position -1082A/G are genetic determinants which contribute to susceptibility to atopic asthma in children from Saudi Arabia.

Gene Polymorphism of Interleukin-4, Interleukin-4 Receptor and STAT6 in Children with Atopic Dermatitis in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT Aim of study: This work was performed to evaluate the level of IL-4, and to clarify the role of IL-4 gene polymorphism at position cytosine –590-to-thyamine (C-590T), IL-4Rα gene polymorphism at position adenine +4679-to-guanine (A+4679G) [isoleucine-50-valine (I50V)] and STAT6 gene polymorphism at position guanine 2964-to-adenine (G2964A) in Saudi children with non-atopic dermatitis (non-AD) and atopic dermatitis (AD) to identify their role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Subjects and methods: This study included 150 children: 50 healthy children as controls, 50 with non-AD, and 50 with AD. They were subjected to full clinical examination, complete blood picture, skin prick test, and determination of serum interleukin-4 (IL-4) and total immunoglobulin-E (IgE) levels. Detection of interleukin-4 gene (C-590T), interleukin-4 receptor alpha gene (A+4679G) (I50V), and STAT6 gene (G2964A) polymorphisms were performed by PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: There was a significant (P < 0.01) association between genotype and allele frequencies of IL-4Rα (A+4679G) (I50V) polymorphism in the AD group (but not non-AD group). Moreover, there was a significant association between genotype and allele frequencies of the STAT6 (G2946A) polymorphism in the non-AD (P < 0.05) and AD (P < 0.01) groups. On the other hand, there was no significant association between genotype and allele frequencies of the (C-590T) polymorphism in the non-AD group and AD group. There was a significant (P < 0.001) higher total IgE level in patients compared to the controls. Moreover, the mean values of total IgE were significantly different among the different allelic variants of (C-590T), (I50V), (G2964A) polymorphisms of IL-4, IL-4Rα, and STAT6 genes, respectively, in all the studied groups. On the other hand, there was no significant difference of serum IL-4 levels among all the studied patients, or among the different allelic variants of (C-590T), (I50V), (G2964A) polymorphisms of IL-4, IL-4Rα, and STAT6 genes, respectively. Conclusion: IL-4Rα gene (I50V) and STAT6 gene (G2964) polymorphisms may play a role in development of eczema; however, the IL-4 gene polymorphism (C-590T) had no relationship with susceptibility to the disease among Saudi children.

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of HA-MRSA in Taif hospitals, Saudi Arabia

INTRODUCTION Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is one of the most important organisms causing hospital-acquired infections worldwide. Molecular analysis of MRSA strains from Taif, Saudi Arabia, had not been previously done. Phenotypic and molecular characteristics of MRSA isolated from Taif hospitals were investigated. METHODOLOGY This study involved S. aureus strains isolated from different clinical samples from Taif hospitals. MRSA strains were identified and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were determined. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify S. aureus-specific sequence, mecA genes, and type of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). MRSA strains were typed using coagulase gene polymorphism. RESULTS In total, 390 strains of S. aureus were isolated, and 58 MRSA strains - 40 hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) and 18 community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) - were detected. HA-MRSA strains included three SCCmec types, while CA-MRSA strains included two SCCmec types. PCR amplification and restriction of the coagulase gene of the 58 MRSA isolates showed nine different patterns, while three strains were non-typable. HA-MRSA strains showed seven distinct restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns; the most frequent was pattern 2 (15 isolates), followed by patterns 1 and 4 (5 isolates each). CA-MRSA showed five RFLP patterns; the most frequent was pattern 3 (7 isolates) followed by pattern 8 (6 isolates). CONCLUSIONS HA-MRSA strains were more common than CA-MRSA strains. SCCmec typing and coagulase gene polymorphism analysis may be useful methods for studying clonal relatedness of isolates and for discriminating between HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA.

T-Regulatory Cell Subsets in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Relation to Control of the Disease

BACKGROUND Type 1 diabetes mellitus is described as a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by aggressive immune β-cell destruction. There are a number of varied immune mechanisms for sustaining self-tolerance in opposition to the autoimmune disorders. A recessive tolerance is accomplished by thymic gland via a negative assortment of different clones, while a dominant tolerance is accomplished by the regulatory T cells (Treg) in the periphery. Treg (CD4+ CD25+FOXP3+) are subsets of T cells which have an essential role in maintaining tolerance. OBJECTIVE To evaluate peripheral Treg (CD4+; CD25+; FOXP3+) in children cohort with T1DM. METHODS This study included 64 children diagnosed with T1DM and 35 age- and sex-matched healthy children as controls. All children were clinically evaluated and subjected to assessment of complete blood count (CBC), glycated hemoglobin, surface and cytoplasmic detection of Treg by flow cytometry. RESULTS This study showed that the frequency of Treg (CD4+; CD25+; FOXP3+) was significantly lower in diabetic children than with normal controls (P<0.001). There was a significant (P <0.001) reduction in the Treg (CD4+; CD25+; FOXP3+) in T1DM children with uncontrolled (Hemoglobin A1c>7%) as compared to those with controlled (Hemoglobin A1c<7%) disease. CONCLUSION Diminished Treg in T1DM proved that auto-reactivation of T-cell as a result of the breakdown of immune tolerance takes part in the elaboration of autoimmune disorders as T1DM. Treg may be used in immunotherapy, thus preventing T1DM development due to its pivotal role in immune tolerance.

Effect of the Muslims’ Ablution Practice on Nasal Colonization by Staphylococcus aureus

Background: The human nose contains many different types of bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). It is possible to get rid of this pathogen using many topical antiseptics or antibiotics. However, good washing using clean water may be valuable to decrease colonization by this organism. Objectives: This study determined the effect of daily repeated nasal washing in the ablution process performed by Muslims before every prayer on the presence and density of S. aureus nasal colonization. Material and methods: Two groups of volunteers were selected from the students and staff who were selected from Taif University, Saudi Arabia and Menoufia University, Egypt. The first group included 200 subjects who are practicing ablution and prayer and the second group included 100 subjects who do not do ritual ablutions. Personal data were collected and swabs were obtained from inside of the nostrils from all volunteers. Swabs were obtained from worshipers before, directly after, and 2-hours after ablution. Cultures were performed on suitable media and identification of S. aureus was performed according to the standard bacteriological methods. Results: The rate of colonization by S. aureus was 62% among non-worshipers and 38% among worshipers before ablution with a non- significant difference. Among worshipers, the rate of isolation of S. aureus just before ablution was 38% and significantly reduced to 20% directly after ablution (p< 0.01). It rises to 32% 2-hours after ablution. The microbial density of S. aureus was significantly (p< 0.001) lower among worshipers than nonworshipers. Conclusion: Nasal washing in ablution can reduce S. aureus nasal colonization. It can be a simple, easy and effective way to reduce colonization by this organism and thereby decrease the occurrence of serious staphylococcal diseases.