The emergence of bla KPC-2 and bla NDM-1 producing Klebsiella pneumoniae represents a great problem in many Egyptian hospitals. One hundred and twenty-six K. pneumoniae isolates from patients admitted to Assiut University Hospital were identified by an API20E kit. Carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (CPKP) was detected by the modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM), the EDTA-modified carbapenem inactivation method (eCIM), and an E-test. Based on the polymerase chain reaction, all isolates were negative for bla-VIM-1 and bla-IMP-1 , fifteen of these isolates were positive for both bla KPC-2 and bla NDM-1 , two isolates were positive for bla KPC-2 only, and twenty-eight isolates were positive for bla-NDM-1 only. Although one isolate was positive for the string test, all CPKP isolates were negative for capsular genes. Only 71.1% of CPKP transferred their plasmids to their corresponding transconjugants (E. coli J53). The resistance patterns of the clinical isolates and their transconjugates were similar, except for 12 isolates, which showed differences with their transconjugates in the resistance profile of four antibiotics. Molecular typing of the plasmids based on replicon typing showed that Inc FIIK and FII plasmids predominated in isolates and their transconjugants carrying bla KPC-2 and/or bla NDM-1 . Conjugative Inc FII plasmids play an important role in the spread of CPKP, and their recognition is essential to limit their spread.

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are used for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. However, treatment failure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development following treatment was reported. In this study, we assessed the role of serum vitamin D, interleukin 13 (IL-13), and microRNA-135a in the prediction of treatment failure with DAA and HCC development among Egyptian HCV-infected patients. A total of 950 patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease underwent DAA treatment. Before DAAs, serum vitamin D and IL-13 were determined by ELISA, and gene expression of miRNA-135a was assessed in serum by real-time PCR. The predictive abilities of these markers were determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Sustained virological response (SVR) was achieved in 92.6% of HCV-infected patients (responders). High viral load, IL-13, miRNA-135a, and low vitamin D levels were associated with treatment failure and HCC development. HCC development was recorded in non-responders, but not in the responders (35.7% vs. 0% p < 0.001). In conclusion: serum IL-13, Vitamin D, and miRNA-135a could be potential biomarkers in monitoring DAA treatment and HCC prediction. DAAs-induced SVR may decrease the incidence of HCC.

The immuno-regulatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10) is important in reducing the inflammatory response during H. pylori infection. The goal of our study was to explain how H.pylori infection affects mucosal IL-10 mRNA expression. This study included seventy-three patients suffering from gastroduodenal disorders admitted to Assiut University Hospitals, (35 (47.95%) were males, and 38 (52.05%) were females). Three antral biopsies were obtained from each patient during endoscopic examination. Two invasive tests (Rapid urease test (RUT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) were performed for the detection of H. pylori infection in all participants. Real time PCR (RT-PCR) was performed for determination of IL-10 mRNA expression. Results of RUT and PCR indicated that 60.27% of patients were H. pylori infected. Our results showed that patients positive for H. pylori had significantly higher IL10 mRNA expression than H. pylori-negative patients. Finally, overexpression of IL-10 during H. Pylori infection may be implicated in the downregulation of excessive immune response.

No abstract

No abstract