Association of Normal and Mutated APOL1 G2 Rs60910145 alleles with SCD, Body Mass Index, and Renal Function Biomarkers and Indices

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The current study aimed to detect the frequency of normal and mutated APOL1 alleles in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients and test their relation with Microalbuminuria, Creatinine, Urea, Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR), and Body Mass Index (BMI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 156 SCD subjects. Serum Creatinine (mg/dl) and Urea (mg/dl) as well as Microalbuminuria (mg/l) level were measured by using Biosystems kit (Biosystems, Barcelona, Spain) and Mindary BA88A semi-automated biochemistry analyzer. Glomerular filtration rate and body mass index were calculated by equations. Blood DNA extraction was achieved by using the modified G-DEX™IIb Genomic DNA Extraction Kit protocol. The PCR was done for the detection of the APOL1 G2 rs60910145 alleles by using allele-specific PCR and primers.

RESULTS

The CC allele was more frequent in study cases (66.7%) than TT allele. The frequency of a mutated allele (CC) was insignificantly higher in males (67.8%) than in females (65.2%) and in rural (70.9%) than urban areas. It is also higher in Shankhab compared to other tribes and subjects 26-37 years compared to other, P˃0.05. Interstingly, the subjects who carry the CC allele showed a significantly higher level of Microalbuminuria, Creatinine, BMI, and Urea compared to those carry TT allele. Moreover, GFR is also higher in subjects who carry CC than TT allele but it is not significant.

CONCULSION

Altogether, the study findings highlighted the link of normal and mutated APOL1 G2 rs60910145 alleles with SCD and displayed the significant value of mutated APOL1 allele in the prediction of early nephropathy in SCD patients.

Epidemiological Aspects and Antibiotics Susceptibility Patterns of Streptococcus pyogenes Isolated from Subjects with Tonsillitis, Sudan

Background: Globally, Streptococcus pharyngitis is a major public health challenge. The current study investigates the prevalence of Streptococcal pyogenes among children under 17 years old in ENT Kosti Teaching Hospital and examines the susceptibility of isolated S. pyogenes strains to commonly used antibiotics.Methods: A total of 384 throat swabs were obtained from children under the age of 17 who attended the Kosti Teaching Hospital between 2019 and 2021. Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated by conventional microbiology procedures. Each S. pyogenes strain was subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing according to the CLSI guidelines.Results: Most participants of this study were females 219 (57%) and aged between 5 and 10 years 259 (67.4%). Out of the 384 participants, 134 (34.9%) and 255 (66.4%) suffered from lymphadenopathy and tonsil hyperplasia, respectively. Interestingly, lymphadenopathy and tonsil hyperplasia were more (P 0.05) in the 5–10 age group than those aged 11–16 years. Moreover, 41.4% of the participants were infected by a GAS sore throat. GAS sore throat is significantly associated with lymphadenopathy (AOR: 2.375, 95% CI: 1.479–3.815, P 0.000) and tonsil hyperplasia (AOR: 3.374, 95% CI: 1.939–5.874, P 0.000). Notably, males (AOR: 0.853, 95% CI: 0.549–1.325, P 0.479) and individuals aged 5–10 years (AOR: 0.867, 95% CI: 0.464–1.618, P 0.654) were less likely to have a GAS sore throat. In our study, all isolated strains were sensitive to penicillin. Clindamycin, azithromycin, and erythromycin resistance were observed in 7 (4.4%), 44 (27.7%), and 47 (29.6%) isolates, respectively.Conclusion: The study displayed the current situation of GAS sore throat in the White Nile state. Penicillin was found to be the effective drug to cure S. tonsillitis but a high rate of resistance to macrolides was noticed which is an alarming sign.

Analysis of jejunum microbiota of HFD/STZ diabetic rats

Currently, several studies propose that the dominant intestinal bacteria are core flora. Besides keeping the homeostasis of the intestinal environment, the intestinal microflora also plays a role in body metabolism, production of some vitamins, and control of barrier function. The study aimed to investigate the jejunum microbiota in diabetic rats as well as it's the relationship with Ceftriaxone sodium-mediated gut dysbiosis, diabetic parameters, and intestinal permeability. Thirty-two Wistar rats (Male) were enrolled and divided into four groups (A, B, C, and D; N = 8). Subsequently, T2DM was induced in C and D groups by HFD/STZ model and then gut dysbiosis in B and D groups via intragastric administration of Ceftriaxone sodium for two weeks. The food-water intake, body weight, fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin, HOMA-IR, intestinal permeability, and jejunum microbiota and it's histology were investigated. In this study, T2DM was associated with a significant decrease in the richness and diversity of jejunum microbiota, elevation in the intestinal permeability, and higher abundance of some opportunistic pathogens. Ceftriaxone sodium-induced gut dysbiosis declined food-water intake, damagedthe villi of jejunum tissue, increased intestinal permeability, and affected the diversity of jejunum microbiota. In diabetic rats, Ceftriaxone sodium-mediated gut dysbiosis also declined the abundance of someSCFAs bacteria and raised the abundant of some opportunistic bacteria such as Staphylococcus_sciuri. Interestingly, we found that several bacteria were negatively correlated with HOMA-IR, fasting blood glucose, body weight, and intestinal permeability. Overall, the study highlighted the jejunum microflora alterations in HFD/STZ diabetic rats and assessed the effect of Ceftriaxone sodium-induced gut dysbiosis on diabetic parameters, jejunum microbiota and histology, and intestinal permeability, which are of potential for further studies.

Association of urogenital and intestinal parasitic infections with type 2 diabetes individuals: a comparative study

BACKGROUND

Globally, urogenital and intestinal parasitosis remain significant health challenges. They are associated with rising morbidity, death, and many harmful outcomes. A little is known concerning parasitosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our study planned to investigate the urogenital and intestinal parasitic infections among type 2 diabetes patients compare to non-diabetic (Control) individuals and examine the intensity of helminthiasis in both groups.

METHODS

At Kosti Teaching Hospital (Sudan), 300 Urine and 300 stool samples have collected from 150 type 2 diabetes and 150 control individuals, along with the socio-demographic data using a structured questionnaire. The parasitic infections were examined by direct sedimentation technique for urine specimens. Whereas, for fecal samples, simple-direct saline, formal-ether concentration, Kato-Katz, and modified Ziehl-Neelsen techniques were used.

RESULTS

Out of 150 type 2 diabetes patients studied, 31 (20.6%) and 14 (9.3%) had intestinal parasitosis and urogenital schistosomiasis, respectively. Whereas, 16 (10.6%) and 8 (5.3%) of the control group were infected, respectively. Compared to the control group, the odds of testing positive for either urogenital schistosomiasis (AOR: 2.548, 95% CI: 0.836-7.761, P = 0.100) or intestinal parasitic diseases (AOR: 2.099, 95% CI: 0.973-4.531, P = 0.059) were greater in diabetic individuals. Likewise, the intensities of helminthiasis were much higher in the diabetic patients and positively correlated with the duration of illness. The rate of urogenital schistosomiasis was also significantly different among the disease duration subcategories.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study has highlighted the relationship of type 2 diabetes with urogenital and intestinal parasitic infections and enhanced our knowledge about the frequency of particular urogenital and intestinal parasites as well as the intensity of helminths infection in type 2 diabetes compared to non-diabetic individuals, which are important for further studies.

Transfusion transmitted infections among male blood donors of White Nile State, Sudan: Screening of the current seroprevalence and distribution

Objective

Our study planned to investigate the current positivity rate and distribution of the serologic markers of TTIs among male blood donors of the White Nile state, Sudan.

Results

The overall reported seropositive cases of TTIs was 15.91%, and percentages of anti-Human immunodeficiency virus 1/2 (anti-HIV1/2), Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBVsAg), anti-Hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), and anti-Treponema palladium (anti-T. palladium) were 2.61%, 5.57%, 1.40%, and 5.72%, respectively. Out of 10897 donors examined, 0.59% had a serological sign of multiple infections. Furthermore, the odds of testing positive for TTIs were higher in the 28–37 age group (OR: 2.620, 95% CI: 2.324–2.955) and lower in the 38–47 age group (OR: 0.671, 95% CI: 0.567–0.794) compared to individuals of 18–27 years old. Likewise, it is more in individuals of Kosti (OR: 1.122, 95% CI: 0.987–1.277) and Rabak (OR: 1.354, 95% CI: 1.188-1.543) localities compared to Al Douiem locality. Anti-HIV/anti-T. palladium (27.70%) and anti-HIV/HBVsAg (23.07%) were the most frequently detected serologic markers of co-infections, P = 0.002.

Vitamin D level and it is association with the severity of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients attended to Kosti Teaching Hospital, Sudan

Globally, tuberculosis is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in many countries. Previous studies suggest that the incidence and severity of tuberculosis are associated with low levels of vitamin D (Vit D). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the occurrence and associated factors of vitamin D3 deficiency in pulmonary tuberculosis patients at White Nile State, Sudan. 101 individuals of diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients (71 males and 30 females) and 100 non-TB controls (58 males and 42 females) were included in this study. Sputum samples were obtained from TB patients and subjected to examination for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) using Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stain and Gene Xpert analysis. Blood samples were collected from both groups and Serum 25(OH)-vitamin D3 was determined by an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. HIV infection in Tuberculosis (TB) group was also investigated using the immunochromatographic test. In our study, the majority of TB patients were suffered from TB relapse (36.6%); non-HIV infected individuals (99.1%) or showed a positive result for AFB (61.4%) in Gene Xpert analysis. Moreover, there is a significant difference in microscopy findings and bacillary levels of AFB, and Rifampicin (RIF) susceptibility pattern of M. tuberculosis strain among sputum samples of TB patients, P-values less 0.0001. Furthermore, we found that TB patients were suffered from vitamin D deficiency. In particular, the mean of vitamin D level was significantly much lower in TB patients (26.7 ± 1.6) compared to non-TB controls (117.3 ± 3.2), P-value equal 0.0001. Likewise, it's much lower in females, individuals of 21-40 years old, and patients with high bacillary levels or those infected by Rifampicin resistance strain. Accordingly, our study was highlighted the TB and Vit D deficiency relationship and showed the need for further studies to a better understanding of the impact of TB on Vit D level and investigate whether vitamin D supplementation can have a role in the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis.

Alterations of Gut Microbiota in Type 2 Diabetes Individuals and the Confounding Effect of Antidiabetic Agents

Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of morbidity and a common risk of several disorders. Identifying the microbial ecology changes is essential for disease prediction, therapy, and prevention. Thus, our study is aimed at investigating the intestinal microbiota among healthy and type 2 diabetes individuals and exploring the effect of antidiabetic agents on gut bacterial flora. 24 type 2 diabetes (metformin, glimepiride, and nontherapeutic subgroups; N = 8) and 24 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study, and intestinal bacterial microbiota was investigated by analyzing V3-V4 regions of 16S rRNA gene sequence. Numerous alterations were observed in the gut microbial community of diabetic individuals. These changes were characterized by a significant lowered abundance of Faecalibacterium, Fusobacterium, Dialister, and Elusimicrobium in the nontherapeutic subgroup compared to the healthy control group. Likewise, correlation analysis showed a substantial decline in gut microbiota richness and diversity with the duration of illness. Furthermore, antidiabetic agents restored to some extent the richness and diversity of gut microbiota and improved the abundance of many beneficial bacteria with a significant increase of Methanobrevibacter in the metformin subcategory compared to the nontherapeutic subgroup. In return, they decreased the abundance of some opportunistic pathogens. The findings of this study have added a novel understanding about the pathogenesis of the disease and the mechanisms underlying antidiabetic therapy, which are of potential interest for therapeutic lines and further studies.

Distribution of Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG antibody seropositivity among age groups and gestational periods in pregnant women

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a globally distributed parasitic disease. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence and geographic distribution of toxoplasmosis as well as determine the percentage of toxoplasmosis-associated IgM and IgG seropositivity among different age groups. In addition, it aimed to estimate the proportion of toxoplasma IgM seropositivity among pregnancy trimesters.

Methods: A total of 500 pregnant women were included in this study. From each participant, a 5-ml venous blood sample was collected and centrifuged to obtain serum that was tested for Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG antibodies using immunochromatographic testing and ELISA.

Results: The overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 24.8%. Out of the total of 500 participants, only 8% had a serological marker of acute toxoplasmosis). There is a statistically significant difference in the seroprevalence of disease among the study areas. Amongst positive cases of every trimester, 54.34% of first trimester positive cases had a serologic marker for acute toxoplasmosis. 

Conclusions: In this study, there is a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis. Therefore, it is necessary to test every pregnant woman for toxoplasmosis and distinguish the type of infection, as well as the conduction of public health education programs to generate the awareness.