Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the skin, with genetic factors reportedly involved in the disease pathogenesis. Numerous studies reported psoriasis candidate genes. However, these tend to involve mostly in the European and Asian populations. Here, we report the first genome‐wide association study (GWAS) in an Egyptian population, identifying susceptibility variants for psoriasis using a two‐stage case‐control design. In the first discovery stage, we carried out a genome‐wide association analysis using the Infinium® Global Screening Array‐24 v1.0, on 253 cases and 449 control samples of Egyptian descent. In the second replication stage, 26 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected for replication in additional 321 cases and 253 controls. In concordance with the findings from previous studies on other populations, we found a genome‐wide significant association between the MHC locus and the disease at rs12199223 (Pcomb = 6.57 × 10−18) and rs1265181 (Pcomb = 1.03 × 10−10). Additionally, we identified a novel significant association with the disease at locus, 4q32.1 (rs12650590, Pcomb = 4.49 × 10−08) in the vicinity of gene GUCY1A3, and multiple suggestive associations, for example rs10832027 (Pcomb = 7.28 × 10−06) and rs3770019 (Pcomb = 1.02 × 10−05). This proposes the existence of important interethnic genetic differences in psoriasis susceptibility. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the downstream pathways of the new candidate loci.
Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is a main pathogen causing acute infectious exacerbations in chronic lung diseases (CLD) children. Determining the local antibiotic susceptibility pattern of colonizing strains in these patients is crucial for empirical therapy. Moreover, identifying prevalent types is important to evaluate the effectiveness of available vaccines. This study aimed to detect antibiotic susceptibility and searching for some capsular gene types among S. pneumoniae isolates colonizing respiratory tract in CLD children. Methods: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were collected from 51 CLD children undergoing bronchoscopy in Ain Shams University Pediatric Hospital. All identified S. pneumoniae isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility. Two-steps sequential multiplex PCR technique was performed to detect capsular gene types: [3/ 22f/(22A) / 19A / 6A/6B /4 / 14/ 12F/(12A) / 9V/(9A). Results: From 51 BAL samples, 32 (62.75%) pneumococcal strains were isolated. Most of the isolates had capsular gene type 6A/6B (65.6%). Capsular gene type 14 was detected in 25% of isolates. In 9.4% of strains, capsular type could not be identified. All isolates were sensitive to vancomycin. The lowest resistance rate was to levofloxacin (6.3%) and linezolid (9.4%), while the highest rates were to clindamycin (71.9%) and erythromycin (68.8%). Conclusion: Streptococcus pneumoniae colonizing CLD children showed high resistance to clindamycin and erythromycin thus highlighting the importance of antimicrobial stewardship programs in all levels of healthcare. Capsular gene type 6A/6B was the commonest colonizing type suggesting that CLD children can benefit from the currently available PCV13 vaccine.
Curcumin is a polyphenol extracted from Curcuma longa, used as a spice, in food coloring, and as a traditional herbal medicine. It has wide therapeutic platform as anti-oxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-infection properties. This review discusses the analytical methods used in determination of curcumin in various matrices with degradation profile, expected degradation products and stability tests.
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a devastating pandemic-causing disease with a variable severity among populations. Genetic studies have pinpointed angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a key enzyme for viral entry, for its possible linkage to the disease progression. The present study aimed to investigate the potential association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of human ACE2 gene with the severity and outcomes of COVID-19 for better patient management. Methods In this observational cross-sectional study, COVID-19 confirmed patients were classified into moderate and severe cases according to the “Ain Shams University Hospitals Pocket Guide for COVID-19 Diagnosis.” Genetic analysis of ACE2 SNP rs2048683 was carried out using a TaqMan assay with the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Results Among 90 confirmed COVID-19 patients, 78.9% (71/90) were classified as severe, and 21.1% (19/90) were classified as moderate. Laboratory biomarkers were significantly (P = 0.000) higher in the severe group than in the moderate group. Similarly, associated comorbidities such as hypertension were significant (P = 0.000) in the severe group, whereas asthma and deep venous thrombosis were significant in the moderate group (P = 0.007 and 0.006, respectively). Elevated serum ferritin level (odds ratio (OR) 162.589, 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.108–3260.293) and ACE2 rs2048683 genotype GG/G (OR 5.852, 95% CI 1.586–21.591) were both considered independent risk factors for severe disease. Conclusion The findings of the present study provide preliminary evidence of an association between ACE2 rs2048683 SNPs and COVID-19 severity in the Egyptian population, which may inform the need for targeted management.
Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with proposed multifactorial etiology. Suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3) is one of the proteins expressed in MF. Its exact role in disease pathogenesis has not yet been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to assess the expression of SOCS-3 in patients’ skin with mycosis fungoides to elucidate their possible role in the pathogenesis in MF. 30 patients with mycosis fungoides and 30 age and sex-matched healthy controls were included. After clinical examination, tissue levels of SOCS-3 were measured by ELISA. The level of expression of SOCS-3 was significantly upregulated in the lesional tissue compared to perilesional SOCS-3 level in patients’ group (P < 0.001), and both levels were higher than the SOCS-3 level in control group (P < 0.001). In addition, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between lesional SOCS-3 level and itching in patients’ group (P < 0.001). Regarding lesional and perilesional SOCS-3 levels in each stage, there was a significant increase in lesional SOCS-3 levels in comparison to perilesional level whether in stage Ia, Ib, and IIa; (P < 0.001), (P < 0.001) and (P < 0.001), respectively. Increased tissue levels of SOCS-3 patients with mycosis fungoides point to a role that SOCS-3 could play in its pathogenesis. Also, high levels of SOCS-3 in MF patients with itching suggest a role in the pathogenesis of this symptom. These findings may prove helpful in formulating a new treatment modality in addition to the current treatment of MF.
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