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Background The final decision to fast or not fast for routine lipid profile examination in a standard, healthy population is unclear. Whereas the United States and European protocols state that fasting for regular lipid analysis is unnecessary, the North American and Chinese guidelines still recommend fasting before routine lipid testing. Aim This study aimed to unravel the contradiction between the different protocols of lipid profile testing worldwide and clarify the effect of diet on lipid profile testing only in a regular, healthy population. Methods A literature search was conducted through May 2024. The analyses included studies performed from the date 2000 until now because the contradiction of guidelines for lipid profile testing appeared for the first time in this period. A planned internal validity evaluation was performed using the National Institute of Health (NIH) quality measurement tools for observational cohort, case‒control, controlled interventional, and cross-sectional studies. The data were synthesized according to RevMan 5.3. Results Eight studies with a total of 244,665 participants were included. The standardized mean difference in cholesterol in six studies showed significant differences in overall effect among fasting and nonfasting states ( P  < 0.00001), as did high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( P  < 0.00001). At the same time, with respect to triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, there were notable variations in the overall effect between the fasted and nonfasted states ( P  < 0.00001 and P  ≤ 0.001, respectively). Conclusions This meta-analysis concluded that fasting for lipid profile testing is preferred as a conservative model to reduce variability and increase consistency in patients’ metabolic status when sampling for lipid testing.

Duodenoscope-emerging infection especially drug-resistant bacteria is considered a major concern nowadays. Different approaches were attempted to overcome this problem, like double high-level disinfection procedure. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate risk difference for positive cultures from duodenoscopes between double high-level disinfection (dHLD) and single (standard) high-level disinfection (sHLD). Double HLD offered no significant difference over single HLD for duodenoscope disinfection. An alternative strategy to overcome duodenoscope-transmitted infection is a big issue to be resolved.

Background and Aim A wide range of clinical manifestations and outcomes, including liver injury, have been reported in COVID-19 patients. We investigated the association of three substantial gene polymorphisms ( FURIN , IFNL4 , and TLR2 ) with COVID-19 disease susceptibility and severity to help predict prognosis. Methods 150 adult COVID-19-assured cases were categorized as follows: 78 patients with a non-severe presentation, 39 patients with severe disease, and 33 critically ill patients. In addition, 74 healthy controls were included. Clinical and laboratory evaluations were carried out, including complete and differential blood counts, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, ferritin, interleukin-6 (Il-6), and liver and kidney functions. FURIN (rs6226), IFNL4 (rs12979860), and TLR2 (rs3804099) genotyping allelic discrimination assays were conducted using real-time PCR. Results The FURIN , IFNL4 , and TLR2 genotypes and their alleles differed significantly between COVID-19 patients and controls, as well as between patients with severe or critical illness and those with a non-severe presentation. According to a multivariable regression analysis, FURIN (C/T + T/T) and TLR2 (T/C + C/C) mutants were associated with COVID-19 susceptibility, with odds ratios of 3.293 and 2.839, respectively. FURIN C/C and IFNL4 T/T mutants were significantly linked to severe and critical illnesses. Multivariate regression analysis showed that FURIN (G/C + C/C) genotypes and IFNL4 T/T homozygosity were independent risk factors associated with increased mortality. Conclusion FURIN , IFNL4 , and TLR2 gene variants are associated with the risk of COVID-19 occurrence as well as increased severity and poor outcomes in Egyptian patients.

Objective monitoring of improvement during treatment of pulmonary exacerbation can be difficulty in children when pulmonary function testing cannot be obtained. Thus, the identification of predictive biomarkers to determine the efficacy of drug treatments is of high priority. The major aim of the current study was to investigate the serum levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and alpha calcitonin gene related peptide (aCGRP) of cystic fibrosis pediatric patients during pulmonary exacerbation and post-antibiotic therapy, and possible associations of their levels with different clinicopathological parameters. 21 patients with cystic fibrosis were recruited at onset of pulmonary exacerbation. Serum was collected at time of admission, three days post-antibiotic therapy, and two weeks post-antibiotic therapy (end of antibiotic therapy). Serum VIP and aCGRP levels were measured using ELISA. Overall least square means of serum aCGRP level but not VIP changed from time of exacerbation to completion of antibiotic therapy (p = 0.005). Serum VIP was significantly associated with the presence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.026) and other comorbidities (p = 0.013), and with type of antibiotic therapy (p = 0.019). Serum aCGRP level was significantly associated with type of antibiotic therapy (p = 0.012) and positive Staphylococcus aureus microbiology test (p = 0.046). This study could only show significant changes in serum aCGRP levels following treatment of pulmonary exacerbations. Future studies with larger sample size are required to investigate the clinical importance of VIP and aCGRP in cystic fibrosis patients.

Background Recent advances in nanomedicine have derived novel prospects for development of various bioactive nanoparticles and nanocomposites with significant antibacterial and antifungal properties. This study aims to investigate some characteristics of the novel Se-NPs/Cu 2 O nanocomposite such as morphological, physicochemical, and optical properties, as well as to assess the antibacterial activity of this fabricated composite in different concentrations against some MDR Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinical bacterial isolates. Methods The Se-NPs/Cu 2 O nanocomposite was fabricated using the chemical deposition method. The fabricated nanocomposite was fully characterized by X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD), fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The antimicrobial activity of Se-NPs/Cu 2 O was investigated using the standard broth microdilution method. The fabricated Se-NPs/Cu 2 O nanocomposites were detected as stable and highly crystallized nanospheres with an average size of 98.6 nm. Results The Se-NPs/Cu 2 O nanocomposite showed a potent antimicrobial activity with MIC values ranged from 6.25 to 12.5 µg/ml for Gram-positive isolates, and 25 to 50 µg/ml for gram-negative isolates. The bactericidal activity was higher for gram-negative isolates with MBC/MIC ratios of 1–2 µg/ml for gram-negative, versus 8 µg/ml for gram positive pathogens. Conclusion These findings would support further research in development of a novel Se-NPs/Cu 2 O nanocomposite as a promising alternative therapeutic option for improving the quality of patients’ management.

This cross-sectional study aims to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of biofilm-producing nosocomial isolates from a tertiary care hospital, as well as to investigate any possible association of biofilm formation with the distribution of biofilm-related genotypes and antibiotic resistance phenotypes. A total of 94 non-duplicate nosocomial isolates were identified, their biofilm formation was quantitatively detected using the modified microtiter plate assay, and their susceptibilities to different antibiotics were determined using the breakpoint method. Isolates were then subjected to PCR assays targeting A and genes. The majority (70.1%) of isolates were biofilm producers. The most prevalent biofilm gene was A (63.8%), followed by (13.8%) and (10.6%). The presence of multi- and extensive-drug resistance (MDR and XDR) was significantly associated with biofilm producers (p = 0.017 and 0.002, respectively). The length of hospital stay (aOR= 0.023), the presence of A gene (aOR = 0.286) or gene (aOR = 0.346), ampicillin/sulbactam resistance (aOR = 1), and the presence of MDR (aOR = -0.329) or XDR (aOR = -0.252) were considered significant risk factors associated with biofilm-producing isolates. The high prevalence of biofilm-producing MDR and XDR nosocomial isolates in this study is worrisome and alarming. Characterization of risk factors could help control the continuous selection and transfer of this serious phenotype inside hospitals and improve the quality of patients' care.

Fasciola gigantica is one of the worldwide parasites that cause livestock and human illnesses. Chemotherapy is now the primary therapeutic option for its treatment. Drug abuse has led to the emergence of drug-resistant strains. As a result, there is an urgent need to discover natural and efficient anthelmintics against Fasciola spp. The study aims to evaluate the ovicidal activities of camel milk and its fractions on F. gigantica eggs. In the in vitro assay of F. gigantica eggs were submitted to different concentrations (0.5% and 1%) of camel milk fractions; Camel Milk Whey (CMW), Camel Milk Casein (CMC), and Skimmed Camel Milk (SCM) as well as a positive control (PC) of Nitroxynil (100 mg/ml) and a negative control (NC) with physiological saline. The Egg Hatching Assay (EHA) results showed that camel milk fractions exhibited ovicidal activity, especially CMW, and CMC, which showed 97.58 ± 0.58 and 96.9 ± 1.99 ovicidal activity, respectively, at a concentration of 1% after 15 days of treatment compared to PC, which exhibited 91.75 ± 4.95 ovicidal activity. The egg hatching ratios were 1.67% and 2.33% for CMW and CMC, respectively, compared to 70.17% for the NC and 6% for the PC. The LC50 values for CMW and CMC on the 15th day of treatment were 0.20 and 9.13, respectively. From the results above, we can infer that camel milk and its fractions are promising as a new alternative for fascioliasis control.

BackgroundChicken infectious anemia is a young chicken’s infection caused by a single-strand DNA gyrovirus and marked by aplastic anemia, lymphoid organs atrophy, and immunosuppression, causing severe financial losses to the poultry production. The prevalence of chicken anemia virus (CAV) in 25% of Egyptian governorates (Dakahlia, Gharbia, Monufia, Ismailia, Sinai, Damietta, Al sharqiya) from 2021 to 2023 was investigated. The protective efficacy of maternally derived antibodies was assessed in one-day-old chicks against three CAV vaccines via different exposure routes (intramuscular, drinking water, or contact) to mimic field strains.ResultsOut of 98 flocks examined from 2021 to 2023, 32.65% tested positive for chicken anemia. The infection rate was 25.92% in broiler and 40.91% in unvaccinated breeder flocks. VP1 and VP3 genes sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of four chicken anemia isolates revealed that three strains (EGY-1, EGY-9, and EGY-10) closely resemble most Egyptian field strains and vaccinal strains. In contrast, one strain (EGY-5) showed lineage with some Asian and Egyptian strains. VP1 and VP3 genes amino acid substitutions, including M70I in (EGY-5, EGY-9, and EGY-10) and N78T in (EGY-1 and EGY-10), have been recorded, marking the first recorded alterations in these genes compared to vaccinal strains and other Egyptian isolates. In an experiment simulating the effects of field strains, three vaccinal strains (Cux-1, Del-Ros, and 26P4) were administered either intramuscularly or via drinking water to 120 one-day-old commercial chicks with maternally derived antibodies (4882 mean antibody titers). However, these vaccines did not provide complete protection against infection with chicken anemia vaccine viruses, resulting in histopathological alterations, body weights, and chicken viability.ConclusionThis research enhances the understanding of chicken anemia molecular characterization in Egypt and its implications for future genetic evolution studies. Further studies are necessary to determine the maternal antibody levels required for complete protection against CAV.