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Dermatophytosis is a widely spread contagious zoonotic disease, affecting both man (tinea) and animals (ringworm). This disease is caused by a group of closely related keratinophilic fungi known collectively as the dermatophytes group. Although the wide distribution of dermatophytosis cases throughout the whole world and its adverse clinical effect on human health, economical effect on productive animals, and pet animal welfare, there is no rapid accurate diagnostic tool for such disease. The current conducted study tries to accomplish the difficult equation by achieving an accurate, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, rapid, robust, device-less, deliverable to end-users, and economic cost for the development and production of diagnostic kits. Through the development of a rapid diagnostic kit based on immunochromatographic assay with three major affordable reproducible production stages; preliminary stage, developmental and standardization stage, and evaluation stage. Obtaining dermatophytes-specific polyclonal antibodies against criteria-based selected dermatophytes strains associating proper gold nanoparticle preparation, characterization, and conjugation, with proper loading of the different bio-reactants on the efficiently laminated and fabricated lateral flow strips were the main challenge and control points through the whole process. Also, as a result of examining 100 animal samples using the new kit, the κ coefficients of the kit with the direct microscopy while the kit with the culture were 0.44 and 0.76, respectively. Therefore, the newly designated and developed kit showed a very promising competitive diagnostic result within 5–7 min through easy-to-be-performed three steps.

Liver cancer, which ranks sixth globally and third in cancer-related deaths, is caused by chronic liver disorders and a variety of risk factors. Despite therapeutic improvements, the prognosis for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) remains poor, with a 5-year survival rate for advanced cases of less than 12%. Although there is a noticeable decrease in the frequency of cases, liver cancer remains a significant worldwide health concern, with estimates surpassing one million cases by 2025. The prevalence of HCC has increased in Egypt, and it includes several neoplasms with distinctive messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles. In HCC patients, certain miRNAs, such as miRNA-483-5P and miRNA-21, are upregulated, whereas miRNA-155 is elevated in HCV-infected people, encouraging hepatocyte proliferation. Short noncoding RNAs called miRNAs in circulation have the potential as HCC diagnostic and prognostic markers. This paper proposed a model for examining circulating miRNAs as diagnostic and predictive markers for HCC in Egyptian patients and their clinical and pathological characteristics. The proposed HCC detection model consists of three main phases: data preprocessing phase, feature selection based on the proposed Binary African Vulture Optimization Algorithm (BAVO) phase, and finally, classification as well as cross-validation phase. The first phase namely the data preprocessing phase tackle the main problems associated with the adopted datasets. In the feature selection based on the proposed BAVO algorithm phase, a new binary version of the BAVO swarm-based algorithm is introduced to select the relevant markers for HCC. Finally, in the last phase, namely the classification and cross-validation phase, the support vector machine and k-folds cross-validation method are utilized. The proposed model is evaluated on three studies on Egyptians who had HCC. A comparison between the proposed model and traditional statistical studies is reported to demonstrate the superiority of using the machine learning model for evaluating circulating miRNAs as diagnostic markers of HCC. The specificity and sensitivity for differentiation of HCC cases in comparison with the statistical-based method for the first study were 98% against 88% and 99% versus 92%, respectively. The second study revealed the sensitivity and specificity were 97.78% against 90% and 98.89% versus 92.5%, respectively. The third study reported 83.2% against 88.8% and 95.80% versus 92.4%, respectively. Additionally, the results show that circulating miRNA-483-5p, 21, and 155 may be potential new prognostic and early diagnostic biomarkers for HCC.

Throughout the pandemic era, COVID-19 was one of the remarkable unexpected situations over the past few years, but with the decentralization and globalization of efforts and knowledge, a successful vaccine-based control strategy was efficiently designed and applied worldwide. On the other hand, excused confusion and hesitation have widely impacted public health. This paper aims to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy taking into consideration the patient’s medical history. The dataset used in this study is the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) dataset which was created as a corporation between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to gather reported side effects that may be caused by PFIEZER, JANSSEN, and MODERNA vaccines. In this paper, a Deep Learning (DL) model has been developed to identify the relationship between a certain type of COVID-19 vaccine (i.e. PFIEZER, JANSSEN, and MODERNA) and the adverse reactions that may occur in vaccinated patients. The adverse reactions under study are the recovery condition, possibility to be hospitalized, and death status. In the first phase of the proposed model, the dataset has been pre-proceesed, while in the second phase, the Pigeon swarm optimization algorithm is used to optimally select the most promising features that affect the performance of the proposed model. The patient’s status after vaccination dataset is grouped into three target classes (Death, Hospitalized, and Recovered). In the third phase, Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) is implemented for both each vaccine type and each target class. The results show that the proposed model gives the highest accuracy scores which are 96.031% for the Death target class in the case of PFIEZER vaccination. While in JANSSEN vaccination, the Hospitalized target class has shown the highest performance with an accuracy of 94.7%. Finally, the model has the best performance for the Recovered target class in MODERNA vaccination with an accuracy of 97.794%. Based on the accuracy and the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, we can conclude that the proposed model is promising for identifying the relationship between the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines and the patient’s status after vaccination. The study displayed that certain side effects were increased in patients according to the type of COVID-19 vaccines. Side effects related to CNS and hemopoietic systems demonstrated high values in all studied COVID-19 vaccines. In the frame of precision medicine, these findings can support the medical staff to select the best COVID-19 vaccine based on the medical history of the patient.

Rhodotorulae are environmentally ubiquitous yeasts that were originally considered non-pathogenic. However, over the last fifty years, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa ( R. mucilaginosa ) has established itself as an emerging opportunistic pathogen incriminated in several systemic and localized infections in humans and animals. Most of the rhodotorulosis cases were linked directly or indirectly to an immunocompromising event in the affected cases. Nevertheless, recently, a few non-immunocompromised cases were reported. In the current study, performed throughout the period from April/2023 to April/2024, 450 samples were collected from pet animals and investigated for the existence and coexistence of Rhodotorula spp. in different clinically diagnosed infectious cases. 173 (38.5%) samples showed positive direct microscopic slides of different sizes of Gram-positive budding yeast cells, 21 (4.7%). Rhodotorula isolates mixed with other yeasts and/or bacterial pathogens were recovered from nasal passages and ear canal swabs collected from dogs and cats suffering from nasal affection and otitis externa. Laboratory investigations were based on sample collection, microscopic examination, primary isolation and identification, biochemical and post-culturing characterization, antifungal susceptibility testing, VITEK 2 Compact Identification System, DNA extraction, PCR amplification, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Moreover, antifungal susceptibility testing based on the standard broth microdilution test was applied to the recovered Rhodotorula isolates. In conclusion, the present findings spotlighted a prospective insight into the role of the emergence of R. mucilaginosa among pet animals and its possible public health concerns. Clinical trial number : Not Applicable.

Brucellosis, a prevalent zoonotic disease, induces substantial economic losses in livestock due to reproductive impairments and high mortality rates; it also presents considerable public health concerns worldwide. The current work highlights the potential application of the developed lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (LFIA) in the rapid and accurate detection of Brucella spp., underscoring its significance in disease management and control. The study investigated the purity of the extracted B. abortus smooth lipopolysaccharides-O (S-LPS-O) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Moreover, it delved into the development and assessment of a novel diagnostic kit for Brucella using a recombinant protein A-lateral flow assay in comparison to the RBPT, SAT, MRT, I-ELISA as screening tests, also to C-ELISA, CFT as confirmatory tests. HPLC analysis indicated a distinctive absence of impurities in the extracted S-LPS-O, contrasting with the three peaks observed in the commercial LPS chromatogram. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy evaluations were performed, with the LFIA demonstrating promising results, showcasing its potential as a reliable diagnostic tool. Statistical analysis of the LFIA, RBPT, SAT, MRT, ELISA, CFT, and PCR results revealed notable sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy rates, affirming the diagnostic efficacy of the LFIA. The novel layout of the LFIA and the purity of extracted S-LPS-O showcased significant progress in the diagnostic capabilities of the developed LFIA. Moreover, the currently developed LFIA introduces a rapid and reliable diagnostic tool, particularly in resource-limited settings, owing to its ease of use and minimal equipment requirements with its competitively obtained results.

Ringworm is a worldwide distributed contagious disease infecting both man and animals that constitute an economic, zoonotic, and health problem concern all over the world. During the last decade, attention has been directed to vaccination as an ideal approach to the control of such diseases. In the present study, non-adjuvanted polyvalent vaccines were prepared from locally isolated hot and virulent dermatophyte species, namely Trichophyton verrucosum ( T. verrucosum ) , Trichophyton mentagrophytes ( T. mentagrophytes ), and Microsporum canis ( M. canis ) were immunologically evaluated . The prepared vaccine evaluation was focused on the aspects of immunogenicity and protective efficacy using guinea pigs. Both in its living or inactivated forms, the vaccine-induced significant humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and achieve proper protection of guinea pigs against challenging infections with homologous and heterologous dermatophyte strains. On the other hand, investigations on dermatophyte exo-keratinases showed that it was better produced and more expressed in a mineral-based medium containing pure keratin (3 g/L) than in the same medium with human hair supplementation (2.6 g/L). The maximum dermatophyte productivity of exo-keratinases was found to be between 18 and 21 days post-incubation. Using sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), two fractions with molecular weights of 40 kDa (fraction I) and 28 kDa (fraction II) have been identified in the culture filtrate of the three involved dermatophyte species. Both fractions demonstrated keratinolytic activity. The specific activity of the isolated keratinases (number of Keratinase units (KU)/mg protein) was stronger in fraction I, where it reached 18.75, 15.38, and 14 KU/mg protein as compared to 12.9, 8.74, and 12 KU/mg protein in fraction II of T. verrucosum, T. mentagrophytes, and M. canis , respectively. The dermatophyte exo-keratinases proved to be immunogenic as they stimulated high keratinase-specific antibody titers and induced strong delayed skin hypersensitivity reactions in vaccinated animals. Anti-keratinase-specific IgG was detected in sera of guinea pigs immunized with the inactivated or living polyvalent dermatophyte vaccines by a homemade enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using dermatophyte exo-keratinases as coating antigen. The intradermal injection of dermatophyte exo-keratinases induced specific delayed skin reactions in guinea pigs immunized with the inactivated or the living polyvalent dermatophyte vaccines. The intradermal injection of dermatophyte exo-keratinases in the control non-sensitized guinea pigs was associated with itching, swelling, and bloody scar formation, however, no skin indurations were formed. The development of those post-exo-keratinases injection reactions in the control non-sensitized apparently healthy guinea pigs group, suggests an exo-keratinases possible role in the pathogenesis of dermatophytosis.

Strangles is a highly contagious disease of the equine upper respiratory tract caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies. Streptococcus equi subsp. equi ( S. equi ) and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus ( S. zooepidemicus ) was isolated, as local, hot, and field strains, from horses clinically suffering from respiratory distress. The isolated Streptococci were identified using bacteriological and molecular techniques. Four formulations of inactivated S. equi vaccines were developed and evaluated. The first formulation was prepared using the S. equi isolates, adjuvanted with MONTANIDE GEL adjuvant, while the second formulation was adjuvanted with MONTANIDE ISA-70 adjuvant. The other 2 formulations were inactivated combined vaccines prepared from both S. equi and S. zooepidemicus isolates. The 3rd formulation was the combined isolates adjuvanted with MONTANIDE GEL while the 4th formulation was the combined isolates adjuvanted with MONTANIDE ISA-70. The developed vaccines’ physical properties, purity, sterility, safety, and potency were ensured. The immunizing efficacy was determined in isogenic BALB/c mice and white New Zealand rabbits using the passive hemagglutination test. Also, the antibodies’ titer of the combined S. equi and S. zooepidemicus vaccine adjuvanted with MONTANIDE ISA-70 in foals was tracked using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protective efficacy of the developed vaccines was determined using a challenge test in both laboratory and field animal models, where a 75% protection rate was achieved. The combined vaccine proved to be more efficacious than the monovalent vaccine. Also, the MONTANIDE ISA-70 adjuvant provided significant protective efficacy than the MONTANIDE GEL. The current work is introducing a very promising mitigative and strategic controlling solution for strangles.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are used to prevent, detect, and treat a broad spectrum of non-communicable and communicable diseases. Over the past few years, the market for mAbs has grown exponentially with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.07% from 2024 (237.64 billion USD estimated at the end of 2023) to 2033 (679.03 billion USD expected by the end of 2033). Ever since the advent of hybridoma technology introduced in 1975, antibody-based therapeutics were realized using murine antibodies which further progressed into humanized and fully human antibodies, reducing the risk of immunogenicity. Some benefits of using mAbs over conventional drugs include a drastic reduction in the chances of adverse reactions, interactions between drugs, and targeting specific proteins. While antibodies are very efficient, their higher production costs impede the process of commercialization. However, their cost factor has been improved by developing biosimilar antibodies as affordable versions of therapeutic antibodies. Along with the recent advancements and innovations in antibody engineering have helped and will furtherly help to design bio-better antibodies with improved efficacy than the conventional ones. These novel mAb-based therapeutics are set to revolutionize existing drug therapies targeting a wide spectrum of diseases, thereby meeting several unmet medical needs. This review provides comprehensive insights into the current fundamental landscape of mAbs development and applications and the key factors influencing the future projections, advancement, and incorporation of such promising immunotherapeutic candidates as a confrontation approach against a wide list of diseases, with a rationalistic mentioning of any limitations facing this field.

Background The stone composition has a great influence on the outcome of its treatment. There are several tests to predict the composition of stones preoperatively and stone analysis postoperatively. Herein, we want to evaluate if the stone composition could be predicted from plain X-ray KUB (PKUB) and/or non-contrast CT (NCCT) validated by in vitro X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRD). Methods Between April 2014 and March 2016, 100 cases with urinary tract stones were included in the study. The radio-opacity of the stones in PKUB, stone density by NCCT, and after stone extraction, XRD were performed. Statistical analysis for the results was performed using Chi-square and Fisher exact tests for categorical variables and Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H for the nonparametric variables. The receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed to determine the best cutoff value. Results This study included 74 males and 26 females with a median age of 32 years (range 2–70). Regarding the radio-opacity by PKUB, there were 30 stones dense opaque, 44 opaque, 21 faint opaque, and 5 radiolucent. XRD revealed 97 mixed and 3 pure stones. The calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) stone composition could be predicted in dense opaque stone by PKUB in 75.9% and urate composition in the radiolucent stone by 40%. The cutoff value of HU density by NCCT to the dense opaque stones in the PKUB was > 1020 and for radiolucent stones was < 590. Conclusion Stone radio-opacity by PKUB and its attenuation value by NCCT could successfully predict its calcium oxalate monohydrate, struvite, and urate composition. However, the chemical stone analysis is still required as most stones are mixed.

Background The purpose of this report is to assess the safety and efficacy of single lower pole access for multiple and branched renal calculi. A prospective non randomized clinical study included 26 patients with complex renal stones (9 patients had branched renal stones and the other 17 had multiple renal stones) in the period from May 2003 to May 2004. Mean patient age was 42 years ± 13.2 (range 18 to 67 years). All patients underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) via a single lower calyceal puncture. Small stones were intactly extracted by a range of stone graspers while large stones (smallest diameter more than 1 cm) were disintegrated using either the pneumatic EMS Swiss lithoclast or Holmium YAG laser. Flexible nephroscope was used for stones inaccessible by the rigid instruments. Findings Overall stone-free rate was 74.8%. Patients with residual stones were managed by one session of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL). Mean operative time was (80 minutes ± 27.4) for branched stones and (49.1 minutes ± 15.9) for multiple stones. No significant blood loss reported. Perforation of pelvicalyceal system occurred in 2 patients (11.5%) with no serious sequelae. Only 1 patient developed secondary hemorrhage which necessitated blood transfusion and selective angio-embolization. Conclusion In our hands, the efficacy and safety of single lower calyceal puncture PCNL in management of complex renal stones are comparable to those of the general procedure stated in literature.