RESUMEN
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer worldwide and the second major cause of cancer-related death. Thus, we attempted to ascertain the relationship between the genotype and allele frequencies of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and immunohistochemical PTEN expression with clinicopathological characteristics in patients with CRC. 150 individuals were allocated into two groups for this cross-sectional randomized case-control study: Group I consisted of 100 patients with histopathologically proven CRC of various stages. Group II: Fifty healthy volunteers. Genetic analysis of PTEN (rs701848 T / C) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was performed using TaqManTM assays and real-time PCR, while PTEN expressions were assessed using immunohistochemical staining. PTN SNP genotypes and alleles did not significantly differ between CRC patients and controls. PTEN expression was lost in 28% of CRC patients, while all healthy controls exhibited PTEN expression. Negative PTEN expression was present in 16 (80%) of stage IV CRC cases, 9 (23.7%) of stage III cases, 3 (37.5%) of stage II cases, and none of stage I cases. It was shown that PTEN expression was weakly positive, moderately positive, and strongly positive in 15, 10, and 9 (respectively) cases of CRC stage I. However, the expression was only weekly positive in 4 (20%) of the patients in stage IV. In the stage IV group, neither moderately nor strongly positive PTEN expressions were found. So, Among Egyptians, the emergence or course of colorectal cancer is unrelated to the PTEN gene mutation. However, the formation and progression of CRC may be influenced by weak or lost PTEN expression.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance has a direct impact on the ability to treat common infections, and this was worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Worldwide surveillance studies are lacking and resistance rates vary spatially, so frequent local surveillance reports are required to guide antimicrobial stewardship efforts. This study aims to report our common local uropathogens and their antibiogram profiles in our community during the COVID era. METHODS: A retrospective study included patients referred to our urology units with urine culture and sensitivity. All bacterial strains were identified, and their antibiotic susceptibilities were tested. RESULTS: Out of 2581 urine culture results recruited, 30% showed microbiological proof of infection. The majority, 486 (63.4%), were isolated from females. The most frequent isolates were Escherichia coli (44.4%) and Staphylococcus aureus (17.8%). The resistance rates ranged from 26.9 to 79.7%. Piperacillin-tazobactam antibiotic had the lowest resistance rate. The multi-drug resistance pattern was recorded in 181 (23.9%) of the isolates; 159/597 (26.6%) Gram-negative and 22/160 (13.8%) Gram-positive isolates. CONCLUSIONS: Alarming rates of antimicrobial resistance were detected, which stresses the significance of following infection control policies and establishing national antimicrobial stewardship standards.
