ABO, Lewis blood group systems and secretory status with H.pylori infection in yemeni dyspeptic patients: a cross- sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The ABO and Lewis blood group antigens are potential factors in susceptibility to H. pylori infection. This research aimed to examine the prevalence of Helicobater pylori (H.pylori) infection and its association with ABO, Lewis blood group systems, and secretory status in Yemeni symptomatic patients. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 103 patients referred for endoscopy due to dyspepsia were included. H pylori infection was assessed using stool antigen and serum antibody rapid tests. ABO and Lewis blood group systems were examined using hemagglutination assay. Saliva samples were investigated for identification of the secretory phenotype using hemagglutination inhibition test. RESULTS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was (80.6%), with a higher rate of infection in females than males. The ABO blood groups were found to be significantly different between males and females (p = 0.047). The O blood group was prevalent among H. pylori patients, especially secretors. There was a significant association between ABO blood groups and H. pylori infection (p = 0.001). The Le (a + b+) phenotype was the most common, followed by Le (a + b-), Le (a-b+), and Le (a-b-). Lewis blood group systems and secretory status of symptomatic patients were not associated with H. pylori infection. The results showed that serum Ab test for H. pylori achieved poor sensitivity (68%), specificity of 55%; positive predictive value (PPV) 86%, negative predictive value (NPV) 29% and accuracy 65.1%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was high in Yemeni patients. This infection was linked to the O and Le (a + b+) secretor phenotype. The H. pylori stool Ag test is the most reliable noninvasive diagnostic method for detecting H. pylori infection.

Red blood cell alloimmunization in blood transfusion-dependent ß thalassemia major patients in Sana'a City-Yemen.

The development of erythrocyte alloantibodies complicates transfusion therapy in ß thalassemia major patients. These antibodies increase the need for blood and intensify transfusion complications. Data on erythrocyte alloimmunization is scarce in Yemeni thalassemia patients. We studied the frequency of alloimmunization in multitransfused ß-thalassemia major patients and investigated risk factors that affect antibody formation. Blood samples were taken from 100 ß thalassemia major patients who received multitransfused leukodepleted packed red-blood cells. Antibody screening and identification were performed by indirect antiglobulin test using the gel column technique. All patients were tested for autoantibodies using autocontrol and direct antiglobulin test. No adsorption test was done as no autoantibodies were detected in any patient. In our study of 100 ß-thalassemia patients, 50 were male and 50 were female with ages ranging from 1 to 30 years. Alloantibodies were present in 6% of patients, while no autoantibodies were detected. Of the 17 alloantibodies identified, the majority were directed against Kell (41.2%) and Rh (29.4%) blood groups. Alloimmunization was significantly associated with age group and sex (p = 0.013, p = 0.030), respectively in ß thalassemia major patients. The development of alloantibodies was not significantly associated with duration, total number of transfusions and splenectomy (P = 0.445, P = 0.125, P = 0.647). No autoantibodies found in patients with ß thalassemia major. The study found low rates of erythrocyte alloimmunization in multitransfused ß-thalassemia major patients, but significant alloantibodies were produced primarily from Kell and Rh blood groups, suggesting the need for providing phenotypically matched cells for selective antigens to improve transfusion efficiency.

Impact of GSTT1 and GSTM1 Polymorphisms in the Susceptibility to Philadelphia Negative Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia.

BACKGROUND: Our research aimed to clarify the role of genetic polymorphisms in GST (T1 and M1) in the development of Ph-ve CML. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report on a case-control study with 126 participants, divided into 26 patients with Ph-ve CML (57.7% male, 42.3% female) and 100 healthy volunteers (51% male, 49% female) with no medical history of cancer as a control population. All Ph-ve CML patients were diagnosed according to standard hematologic and cytogenetic criteria based on CBC, confirmed by Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) to determine the presence or absence of the BCRABL gene, followed by bone marrow (BM) examination. RESULTS: Of the 26 studied cases, 50% had the GSTT1 null genotype against 21% of the control group, a statistically significant difference (CI= 1.519 - 9.317; p-value= 0.004). The GSTM1 null genotype was detected in 23.1% of cases and 35% of controls, a difference not statistically significant (OR= 0.557; CI= 0.205-1.515; p-value= 0.252). The distribution of GSTT1 and GSTM1 polymorphisms was also examined according to gender, age and ethnic grouping; these findings revealed no statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals a strong correlation between GSTT1 polymorphism and Ph-ve CML, whereas the data for GSTM1 polymorphisms indicates no role in the initial development of the disease. More studies are required to further clarify these and other genes' roles in disease development.

Structural, Optical, Antibacterial, and Anticancer Properties of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Prepared by Green Synthesis Using Morinda citrifolia Leaves Extract.

Currently, new advancements in the area of nanotechnology opened up new prospects in the field of medicine that could provide us with a solution for numerous medical complications. Although a several varieties of nanoparticles is being explored to be used as nanomedicines, cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) are the most attractive due to their biocompatibility and their switchable oxidation state (+3 and +4) or in other words the ability to act as prooxidant and antioxidant depending on the pH condition. Green synthesis of nanoparticles is preferred to make it more economical, eco-friendly, and less toxic. The aim of our study here is to formulate the CeO2 NPs (CeO2 NPs) using Morinda citrifolia (Noni) leaf extract and study its optical, structural, antibacterial, and anticancer abilities. Their optical and structural characterization was accomplished by employing X-ray diffractography (XRD), TEM, EDAX, FTIR, UV-vis, and photoluminescence assays. Our CeO2 NPs expressed strong antibacterial effects against Gram-positive S. aureus and S. pneumonia in addition to Gram-negative E. coli and K. pneumonia when compared with amoxicillin. The anticancer properties of the green synthesized CeO2 NPs against human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) MOLT-4 cells were further explored by the meticulous study of their ability to diminish cancer cell viability (cytotoxicity), accelerate apoptosis, escalate intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, decline the mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) level, modify the cell adhesion, and shoot up the activation of proapoptotic markers, caspase-3, -8, and -9, in the tumor cells. Altogether, the outcomes demonstrated that our green synthesized CeO2 NPs are an excellent candidate for alternative cancer therapy.

Hematological Findings among COVID-19 Patients Attending King Khalid Hospital at Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

COVID-19 is a global pandemic viral infection that has affected millions worldwide. Limited data is available on the effect of COVID-19 on hematological parameters in Saudi Arabia. This study is aimed at examining the role of hematological parameters among COVID-19 patients admitted to King Khalid Hospital in Najran, Saudi Arabia. This is a retrospective, hospital-based study of 514 cases who were recruited during August to October 2020. 257 COVID-19 patients formed the study group, and a further 257 negative subjects formed the control group. Anemia was significantly elevated in positive subjects over controls (respectively, 64.2% and 35.8%), with patients 2.5 times more likely to be anemic (p < 0.01). Thrombocytopenia was higher in patients over controls (respectively, 62% and 38%), with patients ~1.7 times more likely to be thrombocytopenic (p < 0.01). Moreover, leukopenia was significantly higher in patients over controls (respectively, 71% and 29%), with positive subjects ~2.6 times more likely to be leukopenic. Our study results indicate that mild anemia associated with leukopenia may have diagnostic value for COVID-19. Careful assessment of hematological parameters, at baseline and throughout the disease path, will assist physicians in formulating personalized approaches to treatment and promptly offer intensive care to those in greater need.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Antimicrobial and Antiproliferative Effects of CuO-TiO2-Chitosan-Escin Nanocomposites on Human Leukemic MOLT4 Cells.

Nanocomposites comprised of CuO-TiO2-chitosan-escin, which has adjustable physicochemical properties, provide a solution for therapeutic selectivity in cancer treatment. By controlling the intrinsic signaling primarily through the mitochondrial signaling pathway, we desired nanocomposites with enhanced anticancer activity by containing CuO-TiO2-chitosan-escin. The metal oxides CuO and TiO2, the natural polymer chitosan, and a phytochemical compound escin were combined to form CuO-TiO2-chitosan-escin nanocomposites. The synthesized nanocomposites were confirmed and characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, TEM, and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. A human leukemia cell line (MOLT-4) was used to assess the efficacy and selectivity of nanocomposites. Based on a cytotoxicity study, CuO-TiO2-chitosan-escin nanocomposites had inhibition concentrations (IC50) of 13.68, 8.9, and 7.14 µg/mL against human T lymphoblast cells after 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation, respectively. Compared with untreated MOLT-4 cells, CuO-TiO2-chitosan-escin nanocomposite-treated cells significantly increased (p < 0.05) caspase-3, -8, and -9 and decreased the levels of antioxidant enzymes GR, SOD, and GSH. Furthermore, MDA for lipid peroxidase and ROS levels significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the treated cells than in the untreated cells. Remarkably, CuO-TiO2-chitosan-escin nanocomposite-mediated control of cell cycles were mainly achieved through the activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9.

Renal allograft rejection: examination of delayed differentiation of Treg and Th17 effector T cells.

Antigen presentation after kidney transplantation occurs in lymphoid tissues remote from the allograft, with activated T cells then migrating towards the graft. This study examined the possibility that these activated T cells can differentiate to acquire Th17 or Treg phenotypes after a time consistent with their arrival within renal allograft tissues. An immunocytochemical study was performed to demonstrate the response to intragraft TGF-ß and the phenotype of lymphoid cells within rejecting human renal allograft tissue. A series of in vitro experiments was then performed to determine the potential to induce these phenotypes by addition of appropriate cytokines 3days after initial T cell activation. During renal allograft rejection there was a strong response to TGF-ß, and both FOXP3 and IL-17A were expressed by separate lymphoid cells in the graft infiltrate. FOXP3 could be induced to high levels by the addition of TGF-ß1 3days after the initiation of allogeneic mixed leukocyte culture. This Treg marker was enriched in the sub-population of T cells expressing the cell-surface αE(CD103)ß7 integrin. The RORγt transcription factor and IL-17A were induced 3days after T cell activation by the addition of TGF-ß1, IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-23; many of these Th17 cells also co-expressed CD103. T cells can develop an effector phenotype following cytokine stimulation 3days after initial activation. This suggests that the intragraft T cell phenotype may be indicative of the prevailing cytokine microenvironment.