Background: Human bocavirus (HBoV) infection possibly plays a role in gastroenteritis because of the frequent manifestation of gastrointestinal symptoms. Objectives: Detect human bocavirus (HBoV) and assess its prevelance among gastroenteritis associated viral agents in infants with gastroenteritis in Benha University Hospital. Methodology: The study was carried out on 100 stool samples collected from 100 infants with acute gastroenteritis for detection of Rotavirus (RV), Norovirus (NoV) & Astrovirus (AstV) by multiplex reverse transciptase polymerase chain reaction and detection of Adenovirus(AdV) & HBoV by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Results: Viral agents were detected in 57 (57%) samples; 51 (51%) samples show mono-infection while 6 (6%) samples show co-infection. Rotavirus, Norovirus, Adenovirus and astrovirus were detected in 37%, 14%, 7.0%, and 3% of the study population, respectively; HBoV was detected in 2%. Conclusion: This percentage of HBoV suggests that it might play a minor role in gastroenteritis.

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is distinguished by spondylitis, dactylitis, peripheral arthritis, and skin psoriasis. Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) is thought to be the primary suppressor of the Wnt signaling pathway, resulting in decreased osteoblast proliferation. Objective: This study determined DKK-1 serum levels and its relationship with disease severity and activity in PsA patients.Patients and Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum DKK-1 levels in 45 patients with PsA and 45 healthy age and gender harmonized people as a control group. All patients were recruited from the Rheumatology, Rehabilitation, and Physical Medicine Outpatient Clinic and Inpatient Department at Benha University Hospitals. PsA Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) was utilized to assess disease activity, while Simplified Psoriatic Arthritis Radiographic Score (SPARS) and PsA Impact of Disease (PsAID) were used to assess disease severity. Results:The mean serum DKK-1 levels in PsA patients was significantly higher than in control group [p<0.001]. In addition, it increased gradually in remission, low, moderate then high activity cases (p<0.001). As regards disease severity, unacceptable status showed significantly higher DKK-1 level when compared to acceptable status. Also, a statistically significant correlations between serum levels of DKK-1 and PASDAS, PsAID, and SPARS was discovered. Conclusion: DKK-1 serum levels were abnormally high in PsA patients. Elevated DKK-1 levels had a significant role in the process of structural radiographic alterations, as well as disease severity and activity in PsA patients.

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is the most frequent glomerular disease affecting children. Its pathogenesis is not completely evident, it is probably due to immunological disturbance that increases cytokines production and alters the glomerular permeability. Interleukin 13 (IL-13) has been implicated in INS pathogenesis by changing the permeability of the glomerular basement membrane and inducing proteinuria.Objective: To investigate the association between rs20541 (R130Q) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in IL-13 gene, idiopathic nephrotic syndrome susceptibility and steroid treatment response in Egyptian children. Methodology: This cross sectional case-control study was performed on 50 INS children aged 2-15 years following up in the Nephrology Unit of the Pediatric department at Benha University Hospitals and 50 healthy age and sex matched children as controls. All candidates were subjected to clinical evaluation. Genotyping of the selected SNP was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: A highly significant frequency of GA

During the past decade, Candida glabrata (C. glabrata) has emerged as an important cause of fungemia. Objectives: The aim of this study is to isolate strains of C. glabrata, determine its incidence and antifungal susceptibility in ICU patients attending Benha University Hospital. Methodology: This study was carried out in the period from January 2016 to December 2018. Blood culture was done to patients with suspected blood stream infections. Isolation of candida and identification of C. glabrata by phenotypic and genotypic methods then antifungal susceptibility testing was done. Results: Fourty three strains of candida were detected of which 9 strains were C. glabrata (21%). our study shows that the most common underlying risk factors in our institution were neutropenia (7cases), malignancy (6 cases), respiratory diseases (3cases), treatment with central venous catheter (3cases), receipt of parenteral nutrition (2cases) and exposure to surgery (2cases). C. glabrata was highly sensitive to caspofungin 7 (77.8%) followed by amphotricin B 6 (66.7%), fluconazol 2 (22.2%) with the least sensitivity to voriconazol 1 (11.1%). Conclusion: C. glabrata is a common cause of candidemia in our ICU. Neutropenia, malignancy, respiratory disease and treatment with central venous catheter are risk factors for its acquisition.

Sepsis is a major public healthcare problem. It remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units (ICU) all over the world. A lifesaving early specific diagnosis and treatment is a challenge as no gold standard technique exists that can alone allow a rapid and reliable diagnosis of sepsis. Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) is a promising new biomarker of sepsis that can contribute to enhance current sepsis diagnostic tools. The current study aimed to evaluate HRG as a diagnostic biomarker for sepsis compared to the conventionally used biomarkers, procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The study included 67 participants classified into 3 groups: Control (n=19), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) patients (n=24) and sepsis patients (n=24). Serum HRG, CRP and PCT levels were measured by ELISA techniques. HRG level was significantly reduced in sepsis patients compared with SIRS patients (P<0.001) and controls (P<0.001) with overall statistically significant differences between the three groups (P<0.001). Serum levels of the 3 biomarkers revealed increased PCT level in SIRS and sepsis groups, (P=0.002 and p<0.001 respectively), CRP level significantly increased in sepsis (P<0.001) but not in SIRS patients (P=0.525). The area under the curve (AUC) value was 0.988 for HRG, 0.966 for PCT and 0.859 for CRP respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for diagnosis of HRG were 95.8%, 93%, 88.5%, and 97.6%, respectively. In conclusion, HRG could be a good indicator for sepsis, that can discriminate sepsis and SIRS patients in ICU.