Background COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) is showing a wide global spread, and urgent joint international efforts is required to the control of this pandemic, the awareness of people towards infectious viruses still the main factor to limit the widespread of disease. The aim of this study is to assess the level of awareness and attitude towards COVID-19 among a sample of Egyptian school children, using a web-based questionnaire. Results A total of 708 participants were involved in this online survey study, representing different areas in Egypt, 378 males (53.4%), 330 females (46.5%); their age range between 6 and 18 years. Regarding the residence, 576 (81.4%) were from urban areas, the remaining 132 (18.6%) were from non-urban areas. Internet and media were more frequent used as a source of information in urban students. The knowledge level score of risk and prevention of the disease were significantly higher in urban students than in non-urban students. Healthy practice score ≥ 50 were significantly more frequent in urban students. Healthy practice score was non-significantly higher in urban students. Conclusions Most of the study participants of school students are knowledgeable about basic information, and have cautious preventive practices towards COVID-19, denoting the efficacy of the public health efforts. However, the lower level of awareness in non-urbans, indicating a need to address alternative channels to communicate with these populations

The glomerulus is the accessible window to visualize the endothelial status of the whole body. Minimal level of albuminuria even below the cutoff point of microalbuminuria might be a marker of endothelial dysfunction. Exposure to Bisphenol A may be a risk factor of developing low-grade albuminuria in pediatrics. Aim: This study investigated the association of exposure to Bisphenol A and the presence of low-grade albuminuria. Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolling 158 children; 91 boys and 67 girls. Children with hepatic disease, kidney disease and endocrinopathies were excluded from the study. Urinary albumin and creatinine were measured in a first morning urine specimen. Urinary albumin/creatinine ratio was calculated in mg/gm and was stratified into: macroalbuminuria of ˃300mg/gm, microalbuminuria of 30-300mg/gm and low grade albuminuria of ˂30mg/gm. Urinary Bisphenol A was measured by high performance liquid chromatography using florescent detector. Results: Low grade albuminuria was detected in 141 participants (89.24%), while microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria were detected in 15 (9.5%) and 2 (1.26%) participants, respectively. The total urinary Bisphenol A in candidates with low grade albuminuria was categorized into four quartiles (<0.285, 0.285–0.599, 0.600–1.215, >1.215) ng/mL and similarly their low grade albuminuria into (<2.0404, 2.0404–4.0385, 4.0386–7.3870, >7.3870) mg/gm. Children with the highest compared to the lowest quartile of urinary Bisphenol A had comparable mean of low grade albuminuria with insignificant P value. Conclusion: low grade albuminuria was found in 141 out of 158 children. A direct cause effect of exposure to Bisphenol A could not be proved. Further studies are needed to investigate the pathophysiology of low grade   albuminuria and its significance                                                                                    

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Background: It is well known that allergy development is linked to alteration in microbiome and cytokines levels. colonization of children gut by wide array of microbes and bacteria is associated with mucosal and systemic immune responses as well as allergy development. Investigating the role of gut microbiota and serum cytokines clarifies the pathophysiology of the disease and enhance development of management plan. This study aimed to assess fecal microbiota in asthmatic children and correlate it with serum CXCL8 and p38 MAPK as potential asthma severity markers. Results: This case control study enrolled 56 asthmatic children aged 2-8 years, and 20 non asthmatic children of matched sex and age group as a control. Fresh stool samples were obtained from enrolled children for analysis of gut microbiota through DNA extraction and Real time PCR, using species-specific primers, serum CXCL8 and P38MAPK levels were estimated by ELISA. Higher level of Bifidobacterium and lower level of Lactobacillus was reported in asthmatic compared to non-asthmatic children, current results showed significant difference between asthmatic and non-asthmatic subgroups regarding CXCL 8 serum level. Study reported significant negative correlation between presence of asthma and serum markers CXCL8 and p38MAPK while significant positive correlation between presence of asthma and Bifidobacterium Log. Conclusions: the association between CXCL8 level, p38 MAPK and microbiome suggesting a link between gut bacteria and inflammatory status. Moreover, elevated CXCL8 , and p38 MAPK level increase symptoms severity. The alteration of microbiome level associated with elevated markers level suggesting the protective role of gut microbiome in asthma control.

Various treatment modalities have been used in primary Nocturnal Enuresis (PNE). Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis may have value in the management of PNE. The effect of PGs on the urinary system are similar to those of Nitrous oxide (No), so there might be a link between No production and PNE. We can use nitrite as a good indicator of both PG and No because it is a stable metabolite of No. Our objective in this study was to assess urinary nitrite excretion in patients with enuresis and to evaluate the effect of indomethacin (a potent prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor) on urinary nitrite excretion. Sixty children participated in this study with age range 5-14 years and were divided into three groups: Group A comprised 20 children with PNE and were given 50 mg indomethacin suppositories each night for 1 month, group B comprised also 20 children with PNE not receiving treatment. Both groups were assessed by frequency of bed wetting episodes as well as by measuring urinary nitrites. In addition, 20 normal comparable controls were assessed as regards their urinary nitrites to show the difference in its values between enuretics and normal individuals. The results showed increase in nitric acid level in enuretic children than controls with marked decrease in its levels after receiving Indomethacin and marked improvement in the frequency of bed-wetting.