The burden of rotavirus infections greatly affects the low-income African countries. In the absence of epidemiological data on pediatric diarrhea in São Tomé and Príncipe (STP), a study was conducted from August to December 2011. Rotavirus antigen was detected in 36.7 % of the collected fecal samples (87/237). G8P[6] was identified as the predominant genotype (71.1 % detection rate), while G1P[8] represented only 8.4 %. Phylogenetic analysis of VP7 G8 strains showed clustering within lineage G8d, while VP4 P[6] strains clustered within lineage 1a. Our results represent the first report on rotavirus from STP and show one of the highest detection rates of G8 rotaviruses worldwide.

Background: The Murine double minute 2 (MDM2) gene is overexpressed in several human tumors. The oncogenic potential of MDM2 is partially explained by inhibition of the activity of the tumor suppressor protein P53 (negative regulator of the P53 tumor suppressor protein). A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region of MDM2 gene (T to G exchange at nucleotide 309) and TP53 gene (codon 72 exon 4, rs1042522 encoding either C or G) have been independently associated with increased risk of several cancer types. Few studies have analyzed the role of these polymorphisms in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma among Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Methods: The study consisted in the comparison of the genotype distribution of TP53 and MDM2 SNP309 in 100 viral hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) cases and 100 controls without HCC matched for age, gender and ethnicity. PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) and real time PCR methods were used to determine the genotype at the MDM2 SNP309T>G locus and TP53 rs1042522. Results: Overall, our results indicate that frequencies of TP53 alleles (C and G) were not significant different between HCC cases and healthy controls (p=0.093) (Odds Ratio, OR=1.361,95% Confidence Interval, 95% CI=0.949 – 1.951). A significant increase of MDM2 SNP309 G/G and T/G genotypes were observed among HCC cases (Odds Ratio, OR=4.868, 95% Confidence Interval, 95% CI= 2.873 – 8.251). Conclusions: Our finding suggest that people who have G allele increase the risk by 4.868 folds for developing HCC among Egyptian patients, consequently the MDM2 309T>G polymorphism is an important modulator of hepatocellular carcinoma development in Egyptian patients.

Objectives: Much less attention has been given to the right heart and pulmonary circulation compared to the left heart and systemic circulation in patients with pre-eclampsia (PEC). We used transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to estimate pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular function in women with PEC. Methods: A case-control study at a tertiary care academic center. Ten early PEC (<34 week gestation) and nine late PEC (≥34 weeks gestation) patients with eleven early and ten late gestational age-matched controls. Two dimensional TTE was performed on all patients. The estimated mean PA pressure (eMPAP) was calculated based on pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAAT). Pulmonary vascular resistance (ePVR) was estimated from eMPAP and right ventricular (RV) cardiac output. RV myocardial performance index (RV MPI), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), tissue tricuspid annular displacement (TTAD) and lateral tricuspid annular tissue peak systolic velocity (S’) were measured. Results Compared to early controls, in early PEC the eMPAP and ePVR were elevated, PAAT was reduced, RV MPI was increased, TTAD was reduced and TAPSE and TV S’ were unchanged. Compared to late controls, in late PEC, estimated MPAP and estimated PVR were elevated, PAAT was reduced and RVMPI was increased, while TAPSE, TTAD and TV S’ were unchanged. Conclusions: Early PEC is associated with increased eMPAP and ePVR. A subclinical decrement of RV function is noticed. TTE is a useful screening tool for early detection of PH and RV dysfunction in PEC.

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