High maternal IL-10 levels are associated with higher birth weight and high IL-6 levels are associated with lower birth weight (SGA). Among women with RA, disease activity and severity are predictive of unfavorable pregnancy outcomes suggesting that better disease management early in the pregnancy could improve pregnancy outcomes.

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy associated with gene mutations, chromosomal rearrangements, deregulation of gene expression and epigenetic modifications. The treatment outcome of AML is highly variable signifying the heterogeneous nature of the disease. Aim of the Study: To evaluate miRNA-155 expression level as a prognostic marker for adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Patients and Methods: 101 subjects were included in this study. They were classified into 2 groups, patient group (61 adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia) and control group (40 apparently healthy adult subjects). miRNA-155 expression was assessed using real time PCR using QIAGEN, miScript, Quanti Tect and Rotor-isc (QIAGEN Group) PAXgene (pre Analytix Gmbh). Samples were either peripheral blood or bone marrow aspiration sample. Results: Roc curve detected 2.85 as best fit value of miRNA-155 for discriminating patients from healthy controls with sensitivity 92.3%, specificity 88.5%, AUC 0.98 and CI (0.96-0.99) (p < 0.001). The 75 th percentile value of the patient group was taken as prognostic cut off value with a value < 9.8 as low miRNA-155 and a value ≥ 9.8 as high miRNA-155. The expression level of miRNA-155 was significantly higher in AML patients than in controls (p = 0.002). Patients with high miRNA expression had a significantly higher white blood cells count (p = 0.002), bone marrow blasts (p = 0.006) and peripheral blood blasts (p = 0.006) compared to patients with low miRNA-155 expression. Patients with poor cytogentics had a significantly higher level of miR-NA-155 expression compared to patients with favorable cytogentics (p = 0.007). The complete remission rate was significantly higher in patients with low miRNA-155 expression compared to those with high expression (86.

Background: Vitamin D regulates many aspects of cellular growth and differentiation in normal and cancer cells. There is growing evidence for both serum vitamin D level and VDR gene polymorphism as prognostic factors in hematologic malignancies. Aim of this work: Evaluation of vitamin D serum level and VDR FOKI polymorphism as prognostic factors in adult AML patients. Patients & Methods: Eighty subjects were included in this study, 50 adult patients with newly diagnosed AML and 30 apparently healthy controls matched for age and sex. Venous blood samples were withdrawn from all subjects for measurement of serum 25(OH) vitamin D using competitive photo chemiluminescence and molecular detection of VDR (FOKI) polymorphism, which was done by RFLP PCR. All patients received the standard induction chemotherapy regimen 3 & 7. Results: The rate of vitamin D insufficiency was significantly higher in AML patients compared to controls (58% vs 16%, p = 0.03). The mutant FOKI genotype (FF & Ff) was found in 52 % of patients compared to 23 % of controls (p = 0.02). Patient with sufficient vitamin D level showed a significantly higher complete response rate compared to those with insufficient level (90% vs 44%, p = 0.02), while none of the other clinical features showed significant relation. Patients with wild type FOKI polymorphism (FF) were more likely to have favorable cytogenetics, while patient with mutant FOKI polymorphism were more likely to have poor cytogenetics (p = 0.03). The CR rate was highest in the wild type FF group (87.5%) followed by the heterozygous Ff group (50%), while none of the patients in the homozygous ff group achieved CR (p = 0.04). Conclusion: VDR FOKI polymorphism and serum vitamin D level showed a significant impact on the treatment outcome of adult AML patients suggesting their potential How to cite this paper:

No standardized phenotypic methods for the screening and detection of plasmid-mediated AmpC enzymes are currently available, which is one of the main problems we are facing nowadays. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the presence of AmpC β-lactamase among Enterobacteriaceae isolates separated from patients with nosocomial infections and to detect the most prevalent genetic strains in the separated isolates and evaluation of two phenotypic methods (AmpC E test and cefoxitin-cloxacillin double disc synergy test) to detect AmpC enzymes. Materials and methods: Total of 1200 gm negative isolates were screened for potential plasmid-mediated AmpC enzymes by cefoxitin disc, AmpC E test and cefoxitin-cloxacillin double disc synergy tests. The genotypic identification was done using multiplex PCR. Results: The potential AmpC producing isolates among all the studied isolates were 4.1% (49/1200) by cefoxitin disc. Plasmid encoded AmpC genes were detected by PCR in 28.5% of cefoxitin resistant isolates. The most prevalent AmpC genes family were CIT and MOX. The sensitivity of AmpC E test and cefoxitin-cloxacillin double disc synergy were 81.3% and 100% respectively and the specificity were 92.3% and 95.9%.

Background: Millions of dead cases are reported every year due to sepsis. Sepsis has been estimated in 1-2 % of hospitalized patients especially leukemic patients. The diagnosis of sepsis remains a clinical challenge. Many studies suggest that presepsin plays a role in diagnosing sepsis, but the results remain controversial. Objective: To evaluate the potential of presepsin as an early biochemical marker of sepsis in adult acute leukemic patients and to assess the correlation between severity of sepsis and level of presepsin. Comparing between presepsin & CRP in diagnosing bacterial infection in critically ill adult leukemic patients. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on 24 patients having acute leukemia after receiving chemotherapy and 24 controls at Medical Oncology and Clinical Pathology Departments, Zagazig University Hospitals during the period from June 2018 to August 2019. Results: There was statistically significant difference between patients and control regarding presepsin levels. The highest levels of presepsin were in patients with septic shock followed by severe sepsis, sepsis, SIRS then control group. There was statistically significant difference between types of sepsis and presepsin (P value = 0.000). There was statistically significant positive correlation between CRP and presepsin (r = 0.658). AT cut off value of 440 the clinical sensitivity of presepsin was 82.5% and its clinical specificity was 90%, AUC was 0.89. On comparing these results with the normal cut off value of CRP level (6), the clinical sensitivity and specificity were 90% & 61% respectively and AUC was 0.70. Conclusion:Presepsin can be used as a better indicator to the degree of severity of sepsis than CRP in septic adult leukemic patients.