Efficacy of ultrasonography-guided intra-articular steroid injection of the shoulder and excercising in patients with adhesive capsulitis: Glenohumeral versus subacromial approaches

Aim of the work

To evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular steroid injection of the shoulder joint with exercises in the management of patients with adhesive capsulitis and to compare glenohumeral (GH) versus subacromial subdeltoid (SASD) ultrasound-guided approaches.

Identification of Malassezia species isolated from some Malassezia associated skin diseases

BackgroundThe genus Malassezia represents the dominant eukaryotic component of the skin microbial flora. There are complex interactions between this commensal and the skin, leading to various Malassezia-caused or Malassezia exacerbated skin conditions.ObjectivesTo identify Malassezia species in lesions of patients with pityriasis versicolor (PV), atopic dermatitis (AD), and seborrheic dermatitis (SD), as well as corresponding sites in healthy subjects according to the culture methods used for Malassezia species isolation.MethodsScrapings were collected from 80 patients (40 PV, 20 AD, and 20 SD) and 30 healthy subjects. For 10-14 days, specimens were cultured on Dixon's medium and Malt extract agar. Direct microscopic examination with Gram's stain, subculture on Hi chrome agar, Dixon's medium at various temperatures, Tweens assimilation, and hydrolysis of tryptophan were used for the identification of yeast isolates.ResultsThe isolation frequency of Malassezia species in healthy subjects was 13.3% for M. furfur, 10.0% for M. globosa, and 3.3% for M.sympodialis. In patients with SD, M. furfur was isolated more frequently from scalp lesions (25.0%) and then M. sympodialis (15%) and M. globosa (10%). Malassezia sympodialis was the most prevalent isolated species in AD lesions (20%), followed by M. furfur (10%). Malassezia species isolation was found to be most prevalent in PV lesions, with M. furfur being the most prevalent identified species (52.5 %), followed by unidentified species (20%).ConclusionsMalassezia species composition was similar in PV, SD, and healthy subjects, with M. furfur being the commonest isolate, while Malassezia sympodialis was the prevalent species isolated in AD lesions. Chrome agar media can be promising for the identification of Malassezia species phenotypically. However, species differentiation has to be complemented by molecular methods.     

Association of C46T genetic polymorphism of coagulation factor XII with deep venous thrombosis: a cohort study on Egyptian patients

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common multi-factorial disease, with serious short- and long-term complications, and a potential fatal outcome. Many genes are involved in determining the interindividual variation in traits that define the onset and progression of disease, as well as the response to treatment. Several association studies have designed the relationship between factor XII C46T polymorphism and the risk of arterial and venous thrombosis. Some studies reported that FXII gene polymorphism is not associated with venous thrombosis, whereas other studies found an increased risk of venous thrombosis in carriers of a FXII-T variant. We constructed an age–gender–ethnic–matched case–control study including 52 DVT patients and 100 healthy volunteers. C46T polymorphism of the coagulation factor XII was carried out using allelic discrimination assay by real-time polymerase chain reaction for patients and controls, while plasma factor XII activity was detected by one-step clotting assay. FXII C46T genotyping in DVT patients revealed that 34.6% were heterozygous harboring the FXII-CT heterotype and 3.85% were homozygous; FXII-TT homotype, with no statistically significant difference in the distribution of the mutant genotypes between DVT patients and the control group. FXII activity was significantly reduced in DVT patients harboring the mutant genotypes. In the present study, FXII C46T gene polymorphism was not associated with increased risk of deep venous thrombosis.     

Heterogeneity and New Epitopes of Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 4

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was found to have a major role in human liver disease by its ability to face the host-cell defenses and the immune system. Heterogeneity of HCV was the key for its adaptation to its host and represented a significant hurdle for the development of both effective vaccines as well as for novel therapeutic interventions.

Objectives

Due to the heterogeneity of HCV virus because of both high replication and high mutation rate in vivo, this study was conducted to analyze different isolates of Egyptian patients of genotype 4, of the most mutant regions of the virus (E1 and E2) as they played an important role in viral persistence by escaping from the immune system of the host body.

Patients and Methods

This study was conducted through PCR amplification of E1 and E2 regions, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, calculating synonyms and non-synonyms substitutions, finding the possible glycosylation sites and different epitope domains.

Results

The present work figured out that the heterogeneity of the quasispecies of our local strains 4a was high showing up 15% diversity. This study also showed four glycosylation sites that play an important role in the entry of the virus and protein folding. Besides, different epitpoes were identified in different regions of the E1 and E2 domains; a finding which would help in determining the neutralizing and non- neutralizing antibodies.

Conclusions

This study would help in understanding the driving forces of genetic diversity and would be fundamental for representing potential candidate targets for antibodies and the development of vaccine trials.