Background Cigarette smoking is an important modifiable risk factor in kidney disease progression. Although long-term smoking has been associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), its effect on kidney function in early stages has not been clarified. Objective To detect the early effects of smoking either active or passive on kidney functions. Methodology The current study was comparative cross sectional study conducted on 280 participants, 140 were non‑smokers and 140 were smokers (70 passive smokers and 70 active smokers). The two groups were comparable in terms of all parameters. We investigated the possible effects of smoking on kidney functions using both serum kidney function tests especially; serum urea, serum creatinine, serum cotinine levels and detection of albumin in urine. Smoking history, full Laboratory investigations, Ventilatory function test including (FEV1/FVC, FEV1, FEF 25–75%, VC and FVC) were done. Results Serum urea, serum creatinine, serum cotinine levels and urinary albumin were statistically significant higher in smokers group in comparison to nonsmokers, also the serum cotinine levels and urinary albumin were statistically significant in active smokers in comparison to passive smokers. There were positive correlations between the level of urinary albumin and pack/year (r = 0.9, p<0.05), smoking index (r = 0.9, p<0.05), smoking duration (r = 0.4, p<0.05), and serum cotinine (r = 0.6, p<0.050) with good statistical significance. The most significant predictive risk factors of microalbuminuria among smokers group in descending orders were active smoking, passive smoking, age and serum cotinine level. Conclusion Both active and passive smoking, especially among heavy smokers, is a significant risk factor for microalbuminuria. This finding increase the importance of early cessation of smoking in order to minimize early renal affection among healthy smokers that may not be discovered by routine renal function tests.

Background: Pneumonia represents a significant public health problem in the whole world, and it is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children. Disease severity and clinical outcome prediction are required in pneumonia to manage health resources and give effective treatment options. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is a marker of the recently used oxidant-antioxidant mechanism and has been found toin crease in many inflammatory conditions. Procalcitonin (PCT) is released as a part of the pro-inflammatory response of the innate immune system from parenchymal cells reaching detectable levels within 4 h after endotoxin stimulation. Objectives: This study examined IMA and PCT levels in patients with pneumonia, in comparison with healthy controls and their possible association with disease severity and outcome. Methods: A total of 90 cases of pneumonia and 90 controls were included in this cohort observational study, and severity grading was performed according to pediatric respiratory severity score (PRESS). Serum IMA and PCT were evaluated in all study subjects. Results: In pneumonia, IMA levels were significantly elevated as compared with controls, and it was elevated in died patients compared to those who were discharged.IMA showed a significant positive correlation with PRESS.

Background: Cigarette smoking is awell-known significant contributor to the development of many illnesses that having an inflammatory component. Smoking has both acute and chronic effects on haematological parameters.Objective: to assess the impact of cigarette smoking on complete blood count (CBC) indices and some inflammatory markers erythrocytic sedemitation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein(CRP).Methodology: this case-control study was conducted on 30 healthy active smokers and 30 healthy passive smokers and 30 age and sexmatched healthy non-smokers subjects. Data regarding age, sex, smoking index, and smoking duration were recorded. CBC, differential leucocytic count, platelets/lymphocytes ratio (PLR), neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio (NLR), CRP and ESR were measured.Results: A statistically significant differences were identified between active and passive smokers groups regarding CBC and inflammatory markers parameters except for neutrophil %. ESR and CRP had no statistically significant difference. Statistically, significant differences have been identified between active smokers group and control group regarding all CBC indices and inflammatory markers e.g PLR, NLR, ESR and CRP, while no statistical difference has been identified between passive smokers group and control group regarding CBC and inflammatory markers parameters except monocyte % and ESR, which had statistically significant difference. Conclusion:Passive smoking affects hematological indices and inflammatory markers as well as active smoking. Accordingy, it is important to keep in mind that cigarette smoking either active or passive is one of differential diagnoses of change in blood indices.

Background: Coexistence of bronchial asthma and allergic nasal polyposis make both disorders more difficult to control with more exacerbation and more eosinophilic inflammation. Aim: to assess the coexistence of subclinical bronchial asthma in patients with allergic nasal polyp refractory to medical therapy and to identify those at risk of developing asthma. Subjects and methods: A case-control study was conducted on 60 allergic nasal polyp patients and 60 healthy subjects. All of them were assessed by peripheral eosinophils%, allergic rhinitis score (SFAR), NOSE-score, endoscopic-sinus examination, sinus computed tomography using Lund and Mackey scoring-system, asthma screening questionnaire (ASQ), spirometric-indices, and histopathological examination of endoscopically  removed polyps. Results: Patients with allergic nasal polyps had significantly lower spirometric-indices than controls. Subclinical asthma was significantly common in patient group than controls (61.7% vs. 10%), it was of mild and moderate severity (83.8% and 16.2%). Allergic nasal polyp patients with coexistence of asthma had significantly higher peripheral eosinophils %, SFAR-score, NOSE-score, Lund and Mackey CT-score, and ASQ score (10, 39.7, 40.5, 40, and 40.1) than patients without asthma (15.2, 15.7, 15.2 and14.1). Moreover, they had significantly common eosinophilic-predominate pathological subtypes (81.1%).

Background Severe COVID-19 disease is typically associated with an urgent need for supplemental oxygen therapy that may be successfully delivered through conventional methods or require invasive mechanical ventilation. Early prediction of the need for invasive mechanical ventilation could significantly improve outcomes of COVID-19 patients. Plasma levels of D-dimer and a number of inflammatory markers as well as values of complete blood counts, all measured in the first two days of hospital admission of COVID-19 patients, were evaluated for their significance as predictors of the eventual need for invasive mechanical ventilation support as well as their values as predictors of post-ventilation morbidly and mortality. Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single center and included data pertaining to 200 patients with previously confirmed moderate to severe COVID-19 disease in the period between May 2021 and the end of December 2022. Data were retrieved from medical records for further analysis. Results The mean (SD) age of patients stood at 59 (14) years of age, and with a majority of patients being male (77%). About 18% of cases, all of significantly older age, had been connected to invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Total leucocytic count (TLC), as well as levels of urea, creatinine, D-dimer, ferritin, and CRP in IMV patients were significantly higher than non-ventilated patients (p < 0.01 for all). In contrast, lymphocytic count, hemoglobin level, and platelet count were significantly lower in IMV patients (p < 0.001, 0.04, and 0.002, respectively). The mortality rate was significantly higher in IMV patients (p < 0.001). D-dimer independently predicted IMV demand (OR = 1, p = 0.001 in adjusted and unadjusted models). The utility of D-dimer was excellent; and the cutoff level of above 1415 µ/L showed sensitivity and specificity of about 92% and 76%, respectively. Also, the D-dimer level was very effective in predicting post-IMV survival; the AUC = 0.86, p = 0.02, and a cutoff value below 4558 µ/L was associated with 100% and 66% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Conclusions High D-dimer levels independently correlated with the need for invasive mechanical ventilation. Low levels of this marker could evidently predict post-IMV survival of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients. Measuring D-dimer levels during routine follow up of those patients would thus be useful in predicting patient outcomes.