Search

Background: Pediatric sepsis is one of the most prevalent causes of pediatric mortalities despite all the efforts done to early predict and manage it. This study was designed to assess diagnostic and prognostic role of micro RNA-23b (miRNA-23b) in pediatric sepsis cases by assessing relation between plasma miRNA-23b expression level and results of blood culture as well as patients' outcome. Method: This case-control study included 37 clinically diagnosed sepsis cases and 18 control subjects. Assay of miRNA-23b expression was conducted using quantitative real-time PCR. Results: The expression levels of miRNA-23 were statistically significantly higher among the case group than the control group (p=0.027). Cases with negative culture witnessed statistically significant higher levels of miRNA-23b (p=0.042). For outcome, discharged cases possessed higher levels of miRNA with a statistically significant difference (p=0.002). Regarding the validity of miRNA-23b expression as a diagnostic marker for sepsis compared to blood culture results as the gold standard for diagnosis of sepsis at a cut-off value 4.08, sensitivity was (91.7%), specificity was (62%), predictive value for positive (PVP) was (73%), predictive value for negative (PVN) was (80%) with 81% accuracy. Regarding the validity of miRNA-23b expression level in prediction of outcome at a cut-off value 1.43, sensitivity was (85.7%), specificity was (60.9%), PVP was (57.1%), PVN was (87.5%), with 70.3% accuracy. Conclusion: MiRNA-23b is a valid diagnostic and prognostic marker for pediatric sepsis. This promising marker would be used for early diagnosis and management of children with sepsis to improve their outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Egypt, root knot nematodes (RKN) were shown to be significant plant parasites with a variety of host plants. Under laboratory and greenhouse circumstances, the current study examines the antagonistic effects of four distinct yeast isolates on Meloidogyne spp. egg hatching and larval mortality. In comparison to the control, the results showed that Pichia guilliermondii ATCC 9058 had the highest egg hatching inhibition and larval mortality, which were 93 and 100%, respectively, after 168 hours of exposure. Pichia guilliermondii ATCC 9058 at 4% of soil weight, one-week pre nematode inoculation achieved the highest reduction in nematode parameters including number of galls, egg masses, females, and number of juveniles (J2s)/250g soil, by 89.6, 90, 88.7 and 90%, respectively., followed by S. cerevisiae at 4% of soil weight, one-week pre nematode inoculation application, with 84.4, 88.3, 88.4 and 85.3%, respectively. Used yeast isolates could therefore be a useful biocontrol tool for plant parasitic nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vaccination against COVID-19 during pregnancy is suggested to avoid pregnancy complications morbidity and bad delivery outcomes. However, the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccinations during pregnancy is a specific issue impacting vaccination uptake by this susceptible group due to alterations in immune, respiratory, and cardiovascular physiology that occur during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between prenatal mother COVID-19 immunization, pregnancy course, and outcomes. Patients and Methods: A retroactive cohort analysis was conducted on all women who gave birth. Women having a previous COVID-19 diagnosis, numerous pregnancies, or an uncertain vaccination status were excluded. Pregnancy, neonatal problems, and delivery were compared with women who got 1 or 2 doses of a vaccine throughout pregnancy and women who did not get any vaccinations. Using multivariable models, the background characteristics were accounted for. Results: The pregnancy complications were higher in unvaccinated group than vaccinated group with no statistical significant difference except stillbirth that was present only in unvaccinated group (3%). Women who were vaccinated gave birth at a significantly later gestational age. No differences between the groups were detected in terms of postpartum and delivery factors. Women who received vaccination delivered at slightly higher birth weight. No differences were detected in terms of neonatal features and problems between the two groups. Conclusions: We concluded that COVID-19-vaccinated pregnant women experienced similar pregnancy outcomes as unvaccinated pregnant women. In some cases, vaccination proved to be better outcome than un-vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low weight gain during the first month of life in preterm infants might be an important contributory factor for the occurrence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Objective: Our study aimed to determine the effect of low weight gain on the incidence of ROP in premature infants. Patients and methods: This prospective, one-year cohort study was conducted in the Neonatology Department, in collaborate with the Ophthalmology Department in the Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University. The study included 72 preterm neonates. Results: Out of the 72 screened infants, (41.7%) cases had ROP, among whom (35.7%) had stage I, (24.5%) had stage II (39.8%) had aggressive ROP stage III zone II, 60% had a threshold and (33.3%) with plus disease. There were statistically significant relations between ROP development and weight loss (p<0.001), (OR, 4.5; 95% CI 0.37-54.15), prolonged duration of admission, (p<0.005), prolonged duration of oxygen therapy (p<0.002), respiratory distress syndrome (RDs), (p<0.001), pneumonia (p<0.013), bronchopulmonary dyspepsia (BPD) (p<0.005), sepsis (p<0.001), anemia (p<0.001), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (p<0.005). Conclusion: Our study results suggest that low weight gain or weight loss in the first month of life may predict pre threshold ROP that requires treatment. It can help identify babies with poor periods after birth who are most at risk, also O2 therapy, and its duration, RDs, pneumonia, sepsis, BPD, anemia, and IVH were found to be the most significant risk factors for ROP development in premature babies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory dermatological disorders in childhood. Assessment of AD severity is the initial step in designing the proper therapeutic plan. Moreover, it is imperative for evaluation of disease improvement during and following therapy. This study was designed to assess the prognostic role of miRNA-155 (miR-155) in the prediction of AD severity as the primary outcome. While the secondary outcome was to correlate the serum miR-155 expression levels with the scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) severity index. This case-control study included 24 children with AD and 24 apparently healthy children as a control group. AD children were stratified according to the SCORAD severity index. Approximately 58% of children had mild AD, 25% moderate AD, and about 17% severe AD. Children with AD had statistically significantly higher miR-155 expression levels in comparison to the control children, (p < 0.001). Children with severe AD had statistically significantly higher miR-155 expression levels compared to mild AD children (p=0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for miR-155 demonstrated that miR-155 can differentiate between children with mild AD and those with moderate-to-severe AD, with an area under the curve of 0.879, and an excellent discrimination power. A statistically strong significant positive correlation existed between miR-155 levels and SCORAD severity index (rs= 0.666, p < 0.001). In conclusion, MiR-155 could be considered as a non-invasive biomarker of AD severity in children. It is a promising prognostic tool in the prediction of AD severity., (Copyright© by the Egyptian Association of Immunologists.)