Feasibility of percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects in adults under transthoracic echocardiography guidance using the Figulla atrial septal defect occluder device

Background

Closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) among adults under transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) guidance using devices other than the Amplatzer Septal Occluder has not been extensively tested.

Cardiac involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and correlation of valvular lesions with anti-Ro/SS-A and anti-La/SS-B antibody levels

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of morphologic and functional cardiac abnormalities in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to correlate the findings with levels of anti-Ro/SS-A, anti-La/SS-B, and anti-cardiolipin antibody (aCL). Sixty-two patients with SLE were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent complete history taking, clinical assessment, and standard two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. Anti-Ro/SS-A, anti-La/SS-B, and aCL levels were measured using a standardized ELISA test. The patients were subdivided into two subgroups based on the presence or absence of valvular involvement. The two subgroups were then compared. Valvular involvement was present in 19 patients (30.6%), pericardial effusion in 12 patients (19.4%), impaired left ventricular relaxation abnormalities in 2 patients (3.2%), and pulmonary hypertension in 3 patients (4.8%). More patients in the valvular involvement group had positive anti-Ro/SS-A antibodies than in the valvular noninvolvement group (7/19 vs. 4/43). The difference was significant, with P 0.01. Serum levels of anti-Ro/SS-A levels were significantly higher in the valvular involvement group (33.7 ± 36.0 vs. 13.7 ± 25.1; P 0.01), as were the serum anti-La/SS-B levels (21.9 ± 23.5 vs. 10.7 ± 17.8; P 0.05). The results suggest a causative correlation between anti-Ro/SS-A and anti-La/SS-B antibodies and the pathogenesis of the valvular lesions in SLE patients.     

Evaluation of renal glomerular and tubular functional and structural integrity in neonates

BACKGROUND: Renal cells are not fully differentiated at birth, representing a major risk in preterm infants. We evaluated glomerular and tubular functional integrity as well as structural integrity of renal tubules among healthy full-term and preterm infants as well as diseased preterm infants. METHODS: A total of 50 newborns (10 healthy full-term, 10 healthy preterm, and 30 diseased preterm, at 38.9 +/- 1.10, 34.2 +/- 0.92, and 32 +/- 2.47 weeks gestational age, respectively) were included in the present study. Glomerular function was assessed by measuring urinary levels of both microalbumin and immunoglobulin G as well as serum creatinine levels, whereas the proximal tubular function was investigated by measuring the urinary levels of both alpha1-microglobulin and beta2-microglobulin as well as retinol-binding protein. Also, distal tubular reabsorption capacity was investigated by assessing fractional excretion of sodium. Moreover, the structural integrity of renal proximal tubules was studied by measuring the urinary activities of both the brush-border membrane enzyme leucine-aminopeptidase (LAP) and the lysosomal enzyme N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase. The preceding investigations were done on both the first and third days of life of all 50 newborns. RESULTS: Glomerular and tubular function and structure was relatively impaired at birth among both healthy and diseased preterm as well as healthy full-term neonates and improved rapidly thereafter. The diseased preterm neonates showed worse renal function and structure with minimal improvement regardless of the underlying sickness. CONCLUSION: Renal insufficiency and renal immaturity could be evaluated using enzymuria and low- and high-molecular-weight proteinuria as noninvasive methods.     

Decontamination of organic pollutants from aqueous media using cotton fiber–graphene oxide composite,utilizing batch and filter adsorption techniques: a comparative study

Cotton fiber–graphene oxide (C–GO) composite with high adsorptive properties towards the cationic dye, crystal violet (CV), was successfully fabricated by simple mixing of cotton fiber and GO in aqueous solution using a homogenizer. The as-prepared composite was characterized using TEM, SEM, LOM, XRD, FTIR, Raman and TGA. The characterization indicated that the formation of a homogeneous composite occurred via adequate mixing of the cotton fiber and GO. The fine structure of the obtained composite was successfully used in two adsorption techniques, namely batch adsorption and filter adsorption. Various parameters affecting batch adsorption, such as contact time, dye concentration, composite dose, NaCl dose, temperature and pH were investigated. In the filter adsorption mode, dye concentration, composite dose, NaCl dose, temperature, flow rate and pH were studied. A comparison study between the two techniques, i.e., batch adsorption and filter adsorption, are reported. The filter adsorption technique shows higher adsorption efficiency than the batch one, which was evident from the maximum adsorption capacity (Q°) values, obtained from the Langmuir isotherm. Further, the filter technique was developed and evaluated. This was achieved by regeneration, scaling-up and, finally, using another model of cationic dye (methylene blue).

Cotton fiber–graphene oxide (C–GO) composite with high adsorptive properties towards the cationic dye, crystal violet (CV), was successfully fabricated by simple mixing of cotton fiber and GO in aqueous solution using a homogenizer.     

Association of IL28B SNP With Progression of Egyptian HCV Genotype 4 Patients to End Stage Liver Disease

Background

IL28B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) play important roles in the management of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and are strongly associated with spontaneous and treatment-induced HCV clearance.

Objectives

In the present study, the association between IL28B variants and the progression of HCV infection in Egyptian patients infected with type 4a virus will be examined.

Patients and Methods

Frequencies of the protective genotype C/C of SNP, rs12979860 were determined in healthy subjects, spontaneous resolvers, and chronic HCV type 4 patients with low F scores and in patients with end stage liver disease (ESLD). This study included a total of 404 subjects. Patients infected with HCV type 4a (n = 304) were divided into; chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with low F scores (CHC, n = 110), end stage liver disease (n = 110), liver cirrhosis (LC) (n = 35) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients (n = 75), spontaneous resolvers of HCV infection (n = 84) were also included. A healthy group representing the Egyptian population (n = 100) was also included in the genotyping of IL28B. The later was typed via a polymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay analysis on purified genomic DNA extracted from all individuals.

Results

A significant increase (P < 0.0005) was observed in frequencies of IL-28B rs12979860 C/C genotypes in the healthy population, than in the CHC, LC and HCC groups (C/C = 48%, 13%, 0%.and 0% respectively). On the other hand the C/C genotype was significantly higher (P < 0.0005) in spontaneous resolvers than in healthy subjects. A comparable significant increase in the frequency of C/T allele accompanied by mild elevation of T/T allele frequency, were detected along the progression towards ESLD.

Conclusions

Genotype C/C is associated with viral clearance during acute infection. The sharp decline in the C/C genotype from healthy to CHC subjects and the total absence of the C/C genotype in ESLD suggests a central role of this genotype against HCV disease progression.     

Endovascular repair of acute traumatic injury of thoracic aorta

Blunt thoracic aortic injury is associated with a high mortality rate. It is the second leading cause of death after head injury from vehicle accidents. Surgical repair with graft interposition was the traditional treatment of blunt aortic injury however; the introduction of endovascular stent graft has revolutionized the definitive treatment of these injuries.     

Mycobiota and mycotoxins (aflatoxins and ochratoxin) associated with some Saudi date palm fruits

This study aimed to determine the mycological profile of the retail date fruits distributed in different markets at Taif, Saudi Arabia. The presence of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A was also measured. Twenty-two fungal species belonging to 12 genera were isolated from 50 different date samples. Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Rhizopus stolonifer were the most prevalent species among isolated fungi. Eighty isolates of A. flavus and 36 of A. niger were detected for their aflatoxins and ochratoxin production potentials using thin layer chromatography. Toxicity test using Artimia larvae indicated that seven out of 18 A. flavus isolates had aflatoxins potentials, while nine out of 36 isolates of A. niger were ochratoxigenic. The quadruplex polymerase chain reaction using specific primers demonstrated the presence of four genes: nor A, ver 1, omt A, and avf A in seven A. flavus toxigenic isolates. Nine A. niger toxigenic isolates showed positive results for the presence of the PKS gene. In conclusion, the present study highlighted the potential hazards of mycotoxins on human health from consuming raw dates. Rapid molecular detection methods described here might help the food authorities to assure the safety of raw dates distributed in local markets.     

Negative regulation of parathyroid hormone (PTH)-activated phospholipase C by PTH/PTH-related peptide receptor phosphorylation and protein kinase A

PTH binding to the PTH/PTHrP receptor activates adenylate cyclase/protein kinase A (PKA) and phospholipase C (PLC) pathways and increases receptor phosphorylation. The mechanisms regulating PTH activation of PLC signaling are poorly understood. In the current study, we explored the role of PTH/PTHrP receptor phosphorylation and PKA in PTH activation of PLC. When treated with PTH, LLCPK-1 cells stably expressing a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged wild-type (WT) PTH/PTHrP receptor show a small dose-dependent increase in PLC signaling as measured by inositol trisphosphate accumulation assay. In contrast, PTH treatment of LLCPK-1 cells stably expressing a GFP-tagged receptor mutated in its carboxyl-terminal tail so that it cannot be phosphorylated (PD-GFP) results in significantly higher PLC activation (P<0.001). The effects of PTH on PLC activation are dose dependent and reach maximum at the 100 nm PTH dose. When WT receptor-expressing cells are pretreated with H89, a specific inhibitor of PKA, PTH activation of PLC signaling is enhanced in a dose-dependent manner. H89 pretreatment in PD-GFP cells causes a further increase in PLC activation in response to PTH treatment. Interestingly, PTH and forskolin (adenylate cyclase/PKA pathway activator) treatment causes an increase in PLCbeta3 phosphorylation at the Ser1105 inhibitory site and that increase is blocked by the PKA inhibitor, H89. Expression of a mutant PLCbeta3 in which Ser1105 was mutated to alanine (PLCbeta3-SA), in WT or PD cells increases PTH stimulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation. Altogether, these data suggest that PTH signaling to PLC is negatively regulated by PTH/PTHrP receptor phosphorylation and PKA. Furthermore, phosphorylation at Ser1105 is demonstrated as a regulatory mechanism of PLCbeta3 by PKA.     

Study of platelet activation,hypercoagulable state,and the association with pulmonary hypertension in children with β-thalassemia

Background

The increased survival rate of thalassemic patients has led to unmasking of management related complications which were infrequently encountered.