Study of the gut Microbiome Profile in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Single Tertiary Hospital Experience

The role of gut microbiome was recently raised in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of this study was to elucidate changes in gut microbiome in Egyptian autistic children and its possible correlation with the severity of autism and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. The gut bacterial microbiome of 41 ASD children, 45 siblings, and 45 healthy controls were analyzed using quantitative SYBR Green real-time PCR technique targeting 16S rRNA of selected bacteria. The gut microbiome of ASD children and their siblings contained a higher relative abundance of Bacteroides as well as Ruminococcus than controls. Prevotella/Bacteroides (P/B) ratio and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) were significantly lower in both ASD cases and their siblings. The only difference between the autistic cases and their siblings was the significantly higher level of Bifidobacterium in siblings, which appears to offer them a protective role. There was no correlation between the altered gut microbiome and the severity of autism or GI symptoms. The current study showed an evidence of changes in the gut microbiome of autistic children compared to the unrelated control. However, the microbiome profile of siblings was more like that of autistic children than that of unrelated controls indicating that gut microbiota is affected by dietary habits, living conditions together with host genetic factors.     

Gastroesophageal reflux in mechanically ventilated pediatric patients and its relation to ventilator-associated pneumonia

Introduction  

The objective was to determine the frequency of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in mechanically ventilated pediatric patients and its role as a risk factor for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), which may be enhanced among those patients.     

The use of MRI for selecting patients with endometrial cancer and significant co-morbidities for vaginal hysterectomy

Objective  

The objective of this study is to ascertain the presence of extrauterine spread in radiologically early stage and grade endometrial cancer. This could be the basis for offering vaginal hysterectomy without salpingo-oophorectomy as an alternative option to primary radical radiotherapy in women with significant medical co-morbidities in whom laparotomy will be contraindicated.     

Antibody to Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) Inhibits Human T-Cell Lymphoptropic Virus Type I (HTLV-I) Production by Transformed Rabbit T-Cell Lines

Adult T cell leukemia is a fatal malignant transformation caused by the human T-cell lymphoptropic virus type I (HTLV-I). HTLV-I is only associated with the development of this disease in a small percentage of infected individuals. Using two rabbit transformed T-cell lines; RH/K30 (asymptomatic) and RH/K34 (leukemogenic), we have investigated the expression of heat shock proteins (HSP) 90 and 70 and the role of anti-HSPs antibodies on virus production. HSPs surface expression was higher on RH/K34 than RH/K30 cells. Heat treatment of cells increased the expression of HSPs proteins and virus production; HSPs augmentation was stabilized after 12 h and virus production reached a maximum between 8 h–12 h then returned to normal level after 24 h of culture. Incubation of cells only with rabbit anti-HSP 70 antibodies prevented virus production specifically in the leukemogenic cell line. The results indicate a relationship between HSP 70 and virus production.     

Determinants of serum sclerostin in healthy pre‐ and postmenopausal women

Sclerostin is a secreted Wnt antagonist produced almost exclusively by osteocytes that regulates bone mass. However, there is currently limited information on the determinants of sclerostin in a large population‐based study. The main objectives of the present study were to: (1) establish reference normative interval values for serum sclerostin in randomly selected healthy premenopausal women; (2) study the changes in serum sclerostin in relation to age in premenopausal and postmenopausal women and the factors that may influence bone turnover; and (3) determine the effect of menopausal status on serum sclerostin. A total of 1803 women were studied (including [n = 1235] premenopausal, and [n = 568] postmenopausal women, respectively, aged 20 to 79 years). A total of 443 healthy premenopausal women (aged 35 to 45 years) were used to establish reference normative intervals for serum sclerostin. All women studied were medically examined and had their bone mineral density values obtained for the lumbar spine (L₁–L₄) and femoral neck according to a detailed inclusion criteria. In all women, values of serum sclerostin increased with increasing age up to the age of 45 years, and remained increased in postmenopausal women. Significant increases were evident in serum sclerostin in postmenopausal women with increasing years since menopause. Using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, several variables were identified as determinants of serum sclerostin, including age, parathyroid hormone, estradiol (E₂), and follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) for premenopausal women; age, FSH, and E₂ for postmenopausal women; and age, serum osteocalcin, FSH, and E₂ in the entire sample studied. Further studies are needed to establish the potential role of this increase in mediating the known age‐related impairment in bone formation. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research     

Efficacy of epidural dexamethasone versus fentanyl on postoperative analgesia

Purpose  

Dexamethasone has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antiemetic effects. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of adding dexamethasone versus fentanyl to epidural bupivacaine on postoperative analgesia.     

Inflammatory bowel disease in the pregnant woman

This article discusses fertility and inflammatory bowel disease, the influence of inflammatory bowel disease on pregnancy, the influence of pregnancy on inflammatory bowel disease, the safety of breast-feeding while taking medication for active disease, and abdominal pain in the pregnant woman with inflammatory bowel disease.     

不同针刺手法对健康人经穴氧分压的影响

本文采用氧分压（ＰＯ２）传感针，对２０例健康男性的手阳明大肠经上臂穴、曲池穴的ＰＯ２与相应非穴位的ＰＯ２值进行了测定。结果显示针刺合谷穴时，臂与曲池穴ＰＯ２升高，分别与针刺前比较，其１０＇、１５＇、２０＇的ＰＯ２值均有显著性差异（ＰＭ＜Ｏ．０５），而相应非穴位ＰＯ２变化不显著。在应用补法与泻法（提插捻转）运针后发现，施行补法时曲池穴Ｐ０２上升，泻法时ＰＯ２下降。     

The 'tail' of a missing intrauterine contraceptive device

This case presents a cautionary tale demonstrating the importance of skilled ultrasonography for the correct location of an intrauterine device (IUD) lying within the uterine cavity where the threads are 'lost'. Accurate ultrasound examination can ensure the avoidance of unnecessary x-rays or surgery. The case also acts as a reminder that a missing thread of an IUD does not imply that the device is misplaced.