Nutritional support and growth in thalassaemia major

Twelve thalassaemic children under 3 years of age received intensive nutritional support for one month and were discharged on a prescribed diet of locally available foods. Anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis and dietary intake were longitudinally assessed. Mean energy intake was 20% greater than the recommended daily allowance during nutritional supplementation as compared with below the recommended daily allowance before and after the period of nutritional support. Weight, but not height, significantly increased during the support period and was due to increases in both fat free mass and fat mass. Body weight, fat free mass and fat mass declined in line with the reduced intake upon return home; however, height velocity accelerated and exceeded normal through the fourth month before resuming a below normal rate. It can be concluded that (1) nutritional stunting as the result of reduced nutrient intake is an important cause of growth failure in young children with thalassaemia and is responsive to nutritional support, (2) the deficit in height velocity was due to retarded truncal height growth, and (3) the bioelectrical impedance analysis method is suitable for body composition analysis of thalassaemic children.     

Loss of Y chromosome in bilharzial bladder cancer

Bilharzial bladder cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm in Egypt, also occurring with a high incidence in other regions of the Middle East and East Africa. In a previous study, using centromere probes specific for chromosomes 3, 4, 7-11, 16, and 17, we demonstrated that monosomy of chromosome 9 (48.4%), and numerical aberrations of chromosome 17 (19.4%) were the most common observed imbalances. The present study extends the establishment of the baseline cytogenetic profile of this type of malignancy. Interphase cytogenetics by fluorescence in situ hybridization with the use of a panel of centromere-associated DNA probes for chromosomes 1, 2, 5, 6, 12, 13/21, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, X, and Y was performed on paraffin-embedded bladder specimens from 25 Egyptian patients affected with bilharzial bladder cancer. No numerical aberrations were detected in the 25 cases for chromosomes 1, 2, 5, 6, 12, 13/21, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, and X. However, loss of chromosome Y was observed in 7 of the 17 male cases studied (41.2%). No significant correlation was observed between loss of the Y chromosome and any of the different clinicopathologic characteristics of these cases. These data suggest that loss of the Y chromosome is the second frequent event that can occur in bilharzial bladder cancer. A molecular genetic model of bilharzial bladder cancer is evolving.     

Naphthaquinones of Alkanna Orientalis (L.) BOISS

The roots of Alkanna orientalis (L.) Boiss yielded α- methyl-n-butyl alkannin (compound 1) and alkannin acetate (compound 2). The compounds were identified by UV, MS, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. Quantitative determination of α- methyl-n-butyl alkannin and alkannin acetate in Alkanna orientalis (L) Boiss roots was established by TLC densitometry.     

Gamma Interferon (IFN-γ) and IFN-γ-Inducing Cytokines Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-18 Do Not Augment Infection-Stimulated Bone Resorption In Vivo

Periapical granulomas are induced by bacterial infection of the dental pulp and result in destruction of the surrounding alveolar bone. In previous studies we have reported that the bone resorption in this model is primarily mediated by macrophage-expressed interleukin-1 (IL-1). The expression and activity of IL-1 is in turn modulated by a network of Th1 and Th2 regulatory cytokines. In the present study, the functional roles of the Th1 cytokine gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and IFN-γ-inducing cytokines IL-12 and IL-18 were determined in a murine model of periapical bone destruction. IL-12^−/−, IL-18^−/−, and IFN-γ^−/− mice were subjected to surgical pulp exposure and infection with a mixture of four endodontic pathogens, and bone destruction was determined by microcomputed tomography on day 21. The results indicated that all IL-12^−/−, IL-18^−/−, and IFN-γ^−/− mice had similar infection-stimulated bone resorption in vivo as wild-type control mice. Mice infused with recombinant IL-12 also had resorption similar to controls. IFN-γ^−/− mice exhibited significant elevations in IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor alpha in lesions compared to wild-type mice, but these modulations had no net effect on IL-1α levels. Recombinant IL-12, IL-18, and IFN-γ individually failed to consistently modulate macrophage IL-1α production in vitro. We conclude that, at least individually, endogenous IL-12, IL-18, and IFN-γ do not have a significant effect on the pathogenesis of infection-stimulated bone resorption in vivo, suggesting possible functional redundancy in proinflammatory pathways.     

Extra-nodal Rosai-Dorfman disease: a case report with thyroid involvement

Extra nodal involvement by Rosa?-Dorfman disease (RDD) is not rare but remains poorly described clinically and microscopically. We report a case of RDD involving the thyroid and revealed by a 15 mm cold nodule developed on an ancient goiter. The patient was a 53 year old North African woman. She also presented an involvement of cervical lymph nodes, respiratory tract and right kidney. Microscopic analysis of thyroid revealed a diffuse and dense infiltrate of large pale histiocytes with few features of lymphophagocytosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the fifth case reported in the literature. In previous reported cases, thyroid RDD was associated to constant lymph node involvement (massive lymphadenopathy in 3 cases and occult in one case) and no other extra nodal localization except the respiratory tract in one case. The characteristic features of lymphophagocytosis must be searched with great care.     

Some species of the genus<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Myxobolus</Emphasis> (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) infecting freshwater fish of the River Nile,Egypt, and the impact on their hosts

Six Myxobolus species are described from Nile fish, five of which are new and one is redescribed: M. naffari Abdel Ghaffar et al., 1998 was recovered from the gills of Labeo niloticus and the mouth of Barbus bynni; M. caudatus sp. n. was observed in the tail fin of B. bynni; M. fahmii sp. n. occurred in the gills of B. bynni; M. imami sp. n. was found in the kidney of L. niloticus; M. intestinalis sp. n. was recorded from the intestine of B. bynni; and M. perforata sp. n. was found in the internal surface of the operculum of Hydrocynus forskalii. The histological effects of some of the Myxobolus infections present are described.     

Humoral and cytokine response during protection of mice against secondary hydatidosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus

Infection of BALB/c mouse with protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus constitutes a model for the study of secondary hydatidosis and the associated immune response in immunization and infection trials. The aims of this study were to induce a protective immunity against secondary hydatidosis using conventional vaccination approaches and to analyse the immune responses that accompany this protection. Mice immunized with antigen B (AgB), a component of crude sheep hydatid fluid (CSHF), showed a significant level of protection as indicated by a 98.3% reduction in cyst load. This reduction in cyst development was accompanied by a high concentration of interferon gamma secreted by antigen-stimulated spleen cells, as compared with those secreted by cells of mice immunized with CSHF or protoscoleces homogenate (PSH) antigens. In contrast, interleukin-4 was significantly higher in the supernatants of cells stimulated with CSHF or PSH compared with AgB (191.5, 195.7 and 127.5 pg, respectively). Kinetic analysis of immunoglobulin subclasses showed persistently high levels of IgG1 and IgG2a subclasses in immunized infected animals until 6 months of infection, whereas IgG3 showed a significant decline after 1 month of infection. In infected non-immunized control mice, all IgG subclasses showed a gradual increase after the first month of infection until the experiment termination (8 months after infection).     

DNA copy number changes in Schistosoma-associated and non-Schistosoma-associated bladder cancer

DNA copy number changes were investigated in 69 samples of schistosoma-associated (SA) and non-schistosoma-associated (NSA) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). DNA copy number changes were detected in 47 tumors. SA tumors had more changes than NSA tumors (mean, 7 vs. 4), whereas the number of changes in SCC and TCC tumors was similar. SA tumors displayed more gains than losses (1.7:1), whereas NSA tumors showed an equal number of gains and losses. Changes that were observed at similar frequencies in SCC and TCC, irrespective of the schistosomal status, included gains and high-level amplifications at 1q, 8q, and 20q and losses in 9p and 13q. These changes may be involved in a common pathway for bladder tumor development and progression independent of schistosomal status or histological subtype. Losses in 3p and gains at 5p were seen only in SCC (P < 0.01) and losses in 5q were more frequent in SA-SCC than in other tumors (P < 0.05). However, changes that were more frequent in TCC than those in SCC included gains at 17q (P < 0.01) and losses in 4q (P < 0.05) and 6q (P < 0.01). Gains and high-level amplifications at 5p were seen only in SA-SCC (P < 0. 01), whereas gains and high-level amplifications with minimal common overlapping regions at 11q13 were more frequently seen both in SA-SCC and SA-TCC tumors (P < 0.01). In addition to the above mentioned alterations, several other changes were also seen at lower frequencies. The variations in the DNA copy number changes observed in TCC, SCC, SA, and NSA bladder carcinomas suggest that these tumors have different genetic pathways.     

Proteome changes in autosomal recessive primary microcephaly

Background/aim

: Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) is a rare and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by intellectual disability and microcephaly at birth, classically without further organ involvement. MCPH3 is caused by biallelic variants in the cyclin-dependent kinase 5 regulatory subunit-associated protein 2 gene CDK5RAP2. In the corresponding Cdk5rap2 mutant or Hertwig's anemia mouse model, congenital microcephaly as well as defects in the hematopoietic system, germ cells and eyes have been reported. The reduction in brain volume, particularly affecting gray matter, has been attributed mainly to disturbances in the proliferation and survival of early neuronal progenitors. In addition, defects in dendritic development and synaptogenesis exist that affect the excitation-inhibition balance. Here, we studied proteomic changes in cerebral cortices of Cdk5rap2 mutant mice.

Material and methods

: We used large-gel two-dimensional gel (2-DE) electrophoresis to separate cortical proteins. 2-DE gels were visualized by a trained observer on a light box. Spot changes were considered with respect to presence/absence, quantitative variation and altered mobility.

Result

: We identified a reduction in more than 30 proteins that play a role in processes such as cell cytoskeleton dynamics, cell cycle progression, ciliary functions and apoptosis. These proteome changes in the MCPH3 model can be associated with various functional and morphological alterations of the developing brain.

Conclusion

: Our results shed light on potential protein candidates for the disease-associated phenotype reported in MCPH3.     

Outcomes of cholecystectomy in US veterans with cirrhosis: Predicting outcomes using nomogram

BackgroundThis study examines the outcomes of open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (OC/LC) in veterans with cirrhosis and develops a nomogram to predict outcomes.MethodsWe analyzed the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program to identify all patients with cirrhosis and ascites who underwent cholecystectomy from 2008 to 2015. Univariate and multivariate regression were used to identify predictors of morbidity and mortality. A predictive nomogram was constructed and internally validated.ResultsA total of 349 patients were identified. Overall, complications occurred in 18.7% of patients, and mortality was 3.8%. LC was performed in 58.9%, and 19.2% were preformed emergently. Overall, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score was an independent factor of morbidity and mortality, while laparoscopic approach had a protective effect on morbidity.ConclusionsAlthough cholecystectomy is a high-risk operation in cirrhotic veterans, LC may have favorable outcomes than OC in selected patients. An easy-to-use nomogram to predict morbidity and mortality for cirrhotic patients undergoing cholecystectomy is proposed.