Hoarseness after pulmonary arterial stenting and occlusion of the arterial duct

We report a 12-year-old girl who had multiple congenital cardiac lesions, specifically an arterial duct, left pulmonary arterial stenosis, an atrial septal defect in the oval fossa, and mild Ebstein's malformation of the tricuspid valve. Therapeutic transcatheter intervention was performed to stent the left pulmonary artery, occlude the arterial duct with a coil, and place a device to close the atrial septal defect. Subsequent to the catheterization, she complained of hoarseness, which was shown to be due to entrapment of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve between the coil used to close the arterial duct and the stent placed in the left pulmonary artery. Laryngoscopy confirmed paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.     

Association between matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) promoter polymorphisms and the susceptibility to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in Egyptians

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases capable of extracellular matrix degradation. MMP2 is the key molecule that control invasion, tumor growth, and metastasis, and has been associated with poor prognosis in several tumors. Several epidemiological studies have focused on the associations between MMP2 promoter polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility; however, little is known about their role in hematological malignancies. The present study aimed to investigate the association of MMP2 ?735C/T and ?1306C/T promoter polymorphisms with B-NHL susceptibility and their clinicopathological characteristics. The study included 100 B-NHL patients and 100 healthy controls. Genotyping of MMP2 ?735C/T and MMP2 ?1306C/T was done by polymerase chain reaction restricted fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. MMP2 ?735C/T heteromutant genotype (CT) was detected in 23 % of patients, and the homomutant genotype (TT) was detected in 7 % of patients. The polymorphic allele, T allele, was associated with susceptibility to B-NHL (OR?=?2.8:95 %CI?=?1.48–5.28). For MMP2 ?1306C/T, the frequencies of the polymorphic variants were 5 % for the heteromutant genotype (CT) and 3 % for the homomutant genotype (TT). The polymorphic allele, T allele, conferred almost fourfold increased risk of B-NHL (OR?=?3.8, 95 %CI?=?1.05–13.9), and the risk elevated to be almost eight folds when confined to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (OR?=?7.9, 95 %CI?=?1.67–32.27). MMP2 ?735C/T polymorphic genotypes were correlated with advanced clinical stages of the disease (stages III and IV). In conclusion, the study revealed that the variant alleles of MMP2 ?735C/T and MMP2 ?1306C/T can be considered as molecular risk factors for B-NHL among Egyptians.     

Prevalence of factor V Leiden (G1619A) and prothrombin gene (G20210A) mutation in Egyptian children with sickle cell disease

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) show activation of the blood coagulation. The purpose of the current study was to detect the prevalence of factor V Leiden (G1691A) and prothrombin gene (G20210A) mutations in a group of Egyptian children with SCD, and to clear out their possible role as genetic risk factors for vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) in SCD. The current study included fifty Egyptian SCD children and fifty age and sex matched healthy children as a control group. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. Heterozygous factor V Leiden was significantly higher in the SCD patients (30 %) compared to controls (16 %), while there was no statistical difference between the two groups regarding heterozygous prothrombin gene (G20210A) mutation. Factor V Leiden conferred increased risk of VOC in SCD patients (OR?=?1.7, 95 %CI?=?1.01–3.43). Screening for factor V Leiden in SCD patients is recommended to verify patients at higher risk of VOC.     

Essramycin: a first triazolopyrimidine antibiotic isolated from nature

In the course of our screening program for new bio-active compounds, a novel triazolopyrimidine antibiotic, essramycin (1), was obtained from the culture broth of the marine Streptomyces sp., isolate Merv8102. Structure 1 was established by intensive NMR studies and by mass spectra. The compound is antibacterially active with MIC of 2 to 8 mug/ml against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, while it showed no antifungal activity. The fermentation and isolation, as well as the structure elucidation and biological activity of 1 are described.     

Peripheral Blood B and T Cell Profiles in Children with Active Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis - Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases in children. Our study aimed to evaluate the peripheral blood B...     

Influence of gestational period on sexual behavior

Various studies in the field of sexual and reproductive health have focused on understanding the relationship between the gestation period and sexual behavior. The majority of such research suggests that during pregnancy, both sexual desire and frequency of sexual relations decrease. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether there are any influences of gestational period on the sexual behavior, and to identify differences in sexual behavior among women before and during pregnancy. A cross-sectional analytic study design was carried out on a sample of 190 women attending the outpatient clinics of Assiut university hospital were consecutively recruited. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire to collect socio-demographic data, obstetric history, and information about women's sexual desire and practice of sexual intercourse before and during pregnancy, as well as their perceptions and beliefs. The mean age of women was 26.7 +/- 5.4 years. The results showed that 37.4% of women had better sexual desire during the whole of pregnancy, 47.9% had sexual satisfaction during the second trimester of pregnancy, and 75.7% felt change in sexual intercourse during pregnancy. A considerable proportion (43.7%) believed that sexual intercourse during pregnancy could lead to problems. The number of intercourses before and during pregnancy were positively correlated (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression model revealed that history of abortion was the only statistically significant negative independent predictor of the practice of sexual intercourse during pregnancy. It is recommended that health care providers, especially nurses, should educate and counsel women regarding the safety of sexual intercourse during pregnancy if no medical risk is present.     

Examining the effectiveness of a coordinated perinatal mental health care model using an intersectional-feminist perspective

Untreated perinatal depression and anxiety are significant public health problems that disproportionately affect ethno-racial minorities. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a coordinated perinatal mental health care model, focusing on socially-disadvantaged, ethno-racial minority women, with an intersectional-feminist perspective. The treatment model was grounded in intersectionality theory with the aim of addressing complex social vulnerability factors in the context of perinatal mental health treatment. Participants were 67 perinatal women (64% African American or Hispanic/Latina) referred by medical providers at an urban teaching hospital. Results demonstrated high treatment engagement and effectiveness, with 65.9% of participants demonstrating reliable improvement in symptoms. Moreover, African American and Hispanic/Latina patients had similar treatment outcomes compared to White patients, despite facing greater socio-economic disadvantages. Findings indicate that the treatment model may be a promising approach to reducing perinatal mental health disparities. Strengths and limitations of the study are discussed within the intersectionality framework.     

The use of clomiphene citrates for ovulation induction in women with functional ovarian cysts

Objective

To evaluate the effect of clomiphene citrates (CC) on inducing ovulation and on cyst persistence and size in women with functional ovarian cysts.

Study design

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting

University Maternity Hospital.

Subjects

60 women in 2 equal groups.

Methods

Clomiphene citrates treatment, follicle scanning, hormonal assay.

Main outcome measures

Ovulation rate, pregnancy rate, cyst persistence, changes in cyst size.

Results

CC increased both ovulation and pregnancy rates in women with functional ovarian cysts (56.7% versus 13.3%, p < 0.000 for ovulation and 23.0% versus 6.7%, p < 0.000 for pregnancy). CC also increased cyst persistence rate especially in cases achieving pregnancy (30% versus 6.7%, p < 0.000) but did not increase the size of the cyst, or cause complications in it.

Conclusion

Clomiphene citrates significantly increased ovulation, pregnancy and cyst persistence rates in women with functional ovarian cysts.