Study of CD4+ T-lymphocytes in chronic kidney disease patients with COVID-19 infection.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a functional and/or structural kidney damage that lasts more than three months duration. This study aimed to analyze CD4+ T-lymphocytes levels in chronic CKD patients specifically, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to assess the adaptive cell-mediated immunity. The study measured absolute CD4+ T-lymphocytes counts by flowcytometry among participating individuals. The study included 146 subjects, 40 CKD patients and tested positive for COVID-19, 44 CKD patients and tested negative for COVID-19 and 62 normal individuals as controls. There was a significant impact of COVID-19 infection in CKD patients showing lower absolute CD4+ T-lymphocytes values to more than six folds compared to the control individuals (Odds Ratio: 72.63, p= 0.0001). Also, there was a significant correlation between the decrease in absolute CD4+ T-lymphocytes counts and the advanced stages of CKD. Therefore, the study indicated that CKD causes an obvious alteration in the body immune system as decreased CD4+ T-lymphocytes levels alongside with the advanced CKD stages. While COVID-19 infection exposes CKD patients to be 50% more likely to express lower values of CD4+ T-lymphocytes levels compared to the negative tested CKD patients. In conclusion, poor immune response and increased morbidity and mortality could be correlated with CKD patients especially when associated with COVID-19 infection as comorbidity.

HOMA estimated insulin resistance as a marker for angiographic severity of coronary artery disease in non-diabetic and non-obese patients.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) examined by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) measures increased carotid atherosclerosis risks in non-diabetic and non-obese persons. The information about the relationship between IR and coronary atherosclerosis severity among non-diabetic and non- obese population showed conflicting results. The goal of the current study was to assess the relationship that links IR and coronary artery disease (CAD) among non-diabetic and non-obese Egyptian populations. Methods: 112 non-diabetic and non-obese patients were included in this study. These patients underwent coronary angiogram (CA) either due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or chronic stable angina with positive exercise tests. Results: Our study found a strong association between HOMA-IR and Gensini score (r = 0.831, with p<0.001) in general population. The HOMA-IR was the most influential independent predictor for the presence of extensive coronary atherosclerosis. Non-diabetic and non-obese people carrying the risk of developing the three-vessel disease (3VD) may be identified with a HOMA-IR score of over 5.9 according to the ROC curve analysis with a sensitivity of 67.7%. Conclusion: IR that developes in non-diabetic non-obese individuals coincides with more severe and more outspread CAD. In non-diabetic non-obese populations who need a CA, a single HOMA-IR value is higher than 5.9 may imply an elevated risk for clinically significant CAD. As insulin resistance is a reversible process, risk stratifications of CAD in non-diabetic non-obese populations could include HOMA-IR as one of its parameters.

Eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Eisenia bicyclis seaweed, their antimicrobial and anticancer activities.

Silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) production with antibacterial and antitumor properties is an important application in the medical field. This study introduces a novel organism that can be used for the large-scale production of AgNPs. The edible brown alga Eisenia bicyclis was used as a reducing agent to biosynthesize stable AgNPs. In this study, we achieved producing 50 mg AgNPs using only 1 g dried E. bicyclis seaweed. AgNP biosynthesis was performed at optimized conditions of a reaction temperature of 90°C, a seaweed extract concentration of 0.4%, and an AgNO3 concentration of 0.5 mM within 20 min, and the results showed that the formed nanoparticles are spherical and monodispersed with an average size 18.5 ± 1.2 nm. The antibacterial activity of biosynthesized AgNPs was evaluated against some human clinical pathogens. Results showed that AgNPs had antibacterial activity against all tested bacterial strains, with the appearance of a clear zone equal to or larger than positive controls. Also, there was a concentration-dependent growth inhibition of in vitro cultured breast cancer cells treated with AgNPs and overexpression of p53 and Bax, and underexpression of Bcl-2. AgNPs synthesized by this method provide a potential source for antibacterial and anticancer applications.