Dr Mohammed Mahmoud Youssif

Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD) constitute a significant global health challenge, impacting dogs and posing zoonotic risks to humans. These diseases are transmitted through blood-feeding vectors such as ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes. This study, conducted in Cairo and Giza, Egypt, aimed to assess the prevalence, diversity, and clinical impact of CVBD in both domestic and stray dogs. Using microscopic and molecular diagnostic techniques, several pathogens were identified, including two primary zoonotic blood pathogens, Anaplasma platys and Leishmania spp., as well as other blood pathogens with varying degrees of zoonotic potential, such as Ehrlichia canis (E. canis), Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma marginale, Babesia canis vogeli (B. canis vogeli), Hepatozoon canis, and Trypanosoma evansi. Stray dogs exhibited a higher prevalence of infection than domestic dogs, frequently presenting with co-infections. Clinically, infected dogs displayed clinical signs including weight loss, pale mucous membranes, lethargy, and anorexia, with more severe manifestations observed in cases with co-infections, particularly involving B. canis vogeli and E. canis. The immune response in these dogs was marked by elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, and interleukin-1β, which were significantly higher in symptomatic dogs, indicating a robust immune defense against the pathogens. Furthermore, markers of oxidative stress, including glutathione, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide, were elevated in infected dogs, suggesting increased cellular damage due to prolonged infection and inflammation. The findings underline the key significance of stray dogs in the transmission and maintenance of CVBD and emphasize the necessity for comprehensive diagnostic, preventive, and control strategies to mitigate the prevalence of these diseases in dog populations and their potential zoonotic impact on human health.

Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD) constitute a significant global health challenge, impacting dogs and posing zoonotic risks to humans. These diseases are transmitted through blood-feeding vectors such as ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes. This study, conducted in Cairo and Giza, Egypt, aimed to assess the prevalence, diversity, and clinical impact of CVBD in both domestic and stray dogs. Using microscopic and molecular diagnostic techniques, several pathogens were identified, including two primary zoonotic blood pathogens, Anaplasma platys and Leishmania spp., as well as other blood pathogens with varying degrees of zoonotic potential, such as Ehrlichia canis (E. canis), Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma marginale, Babesia canis vogeli (B. canis vogeli), Hepatozoon canis, and Trypanosoma evansi. Stray dogs exhibited a higher prevalence of infection than domestic dogs, frequently presenting with co-infections. Clinically, infected dogs displayed clinical signs including weight loss, pale mucous membranes, lethargy, and anorexia, with more severe manifestations observed in cases with co-infections, particularly involving B. canis vogeli and E. canis. The immune response in these dogs was marked by elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, and interleukin-1β, which were significantly higher in symptomatic dogs, indicating a robust immune defense against the pathogens. Furthermore, markers of oxidative stress, including glutathione, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide, were elevated in infected dogs, suggesting increased cellular damage due to prolonged infection and inflammation. The findings underline the key significance of stray dogs in the transmission and maintenance of CVBD and emphasize the necessity for comprehensive diagnostic, preventive, and control strategies to mitigate the prevalence of these diseases in dog populations and their potential zoonotic impact on human health.

Cell culture techniques are increasingly favored over animal models due to rising costs, time constraints, and ethical concerns regarding animal use. These techniques serve critical roles in disease modeling, drug screening, drug discovery, and toxicity analysis. Notably, cell cultures facilitate primary virus isolation, infectivity assays, biochemical studies, and vaccine production. However, viral contamination in cell cultures poses significant challenges, particularly due to the necessity for complex and sophisticated detection methods. Among the prevalent viruses, Epstein Barr virus (EBV) is ubiquitous across human populations, infecting approximately 98% of individuals. Despite its prevalence, the detection of EBV is often not considered a safety priority, as its detection methods are well-established, including PCR assays that can identify both active and latent forms of the virus. Conversely, ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), a relative of EBV, presents a critical concern due to its ability to infect a wide range of organs and species, including over 33 animal species and nearly all domestic sheep. This makes the detection of OvHV-2 crucial for the safety of cell cultures across various species. The literature reveals a gap in the comprehensive understanding of both EBV and OvHv-2 detection in cell culture systems, highlighting an urgent need for developing robust detection methodologies specific to EBV and OvHv-2 to ensure bioprocess safety.

BACKGROUND: Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can have difficulty adapting to environmental changes and motor-tasks demands. OBJECTIVE: to investigate the effectiveness of non-immersive virtual reality (VR) combined with traditional physiotherapy versus traditional physiotherapy alone on static and functional balance in children with ASD, aged from 7 to 12 years. METHODS: Fifty-three children with ASD were randomly assigned to either the VR group, received virtual reality training combined with traditional physical therapy, or the control group, received traditional physical therapy alone. The Biodex balance system and the pediatric balance scale were used to evaluate the balance control before and after the 12-week treatment program. RESULTS: MANOVA results showed significant improvements in the pediatric balance scale scores for both the VR and control groups compared to the pre-intervention, and that the post-intervention results were significantly lower than the pre-intervention in terms of the overall sway index and all Biodex tested conditions (p < 0.05). However, post-intervention between-group comparisons showed that these significant improvements in all outcome measures were in the favor of the VR group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that virtual reality training could be an effective adjunct to traditional physical therapy for improving postural control in children with ASD.

Lung cancer is one of the most fatal kinds of cancer, with low survival rate because of delayed discovery and traditional therapy failure. This study intends to determine whether cisplatin plus vitamin D could be a more successful combination than standard monotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by targeting the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (SMAD4) and janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathways and their downstream targets. Cytotoxic effects of vitamin D on MCF-7, MCFR-10, H1299, A549, and PC3 cell lines were evaluated by sulforhodamine-B (SRB) assay, indicating that H1299 and A549 were the most effected cell lines; hence, they were selected for more investigation. IC values of cisplatin against H1299 and A549 cells were established. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to assess the expression levels of JAK2, STAT3, TGF-β, Smad4, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and MMP-9 in both cell lines treated with vitamin D, cisplatin, or both. Results demonstrated remarkable expression of the aforementioned genes in H1299 and A549 cells, which was sharply decreased once the combination treatment was administered. Additionally, the protein expression of VEGF, MMP9, and angiotensin I, II is considerably inhibited by this combination. According to the obtained data, vitamin D and cisplatin combination therapy can target genes and proteins involved in cell adhesion, migration, and invasion.

Understanding the physiology and molecular mechanisms of lactogenesis is crucial for enhancing mammalian milk production. Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) regulated mammary epithelial cell survival during pregnancy, but its role in lactation maintenance remains unclear. We found that YAP1 was highly expressed in mammary gland across specie, with elevated expression levels during murine gestation and lactation, particularly localized in alveoli epithelial cells. In vivo administration of a YAP1 inhibitor impaired murine milk yield, mammary gland weight, alveolar structure, and mammary epithelial cell dynamics. In vitro, YAP1 positively affected mammary epithelial cell growth and the synthesis of triglyceride and α-casein. Notably, the primary lactogenesis hormone Prolactin induced cell growth and triglyceride secretion while enhancing YAP1 expression and activity. In contrast, Melatonin inhibited cell growth and triglyceride synthesis, decreasing YAP1 expression and activity. YAP1 knockdown compromised prolactin induced effects, whereas YAP1 overexpression partially rescued cell functions inhibited by melatonin. Finally, Bioinformatics analyses revealed that YAP1 regulated multiple biological processes related to lactogenesis, including cell cycle, apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum, amino acid transport and biosynthesis, etc. These finding indicated that YAP1 is essential for mammary epithelial cells growth and secretion and played an essential role in the lactating endocrine network by mediating key hormone functions.

Vitiligo, a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by progressive melanocyte destruction, remains challenging to treat due to an incomplete understanding of underlying immune mechanisms. Recent clinical observations from cancer immunotherapy have revealed an unexpected connection between vitiligo and immune checkpoint pathways. The development of vitiligo-like depigmentation in up to 25% of cancer patients receiving anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy provides compelling evidence that checkpoint dysfunction drives melanocyte autoimmunity. This review synthesizes emerging evidence demonstrating that vitiligo is characterized by a cascade of interconnected checkpoint failures: elevated PD-1 expression on chronically activated T cells, profound PD-L1 deficiency in melanocytes, compromised regulatory T cell function, and critically, the failure of vitiligo melanocytes to upregulate protective PD-L1 in response to interferon-gamma. This creates a vicious cycle where inflammatory cytokines drive melanocyte destruction without triggering natural protective responses. We propose a novel pathogenic framework positioning vitiligo as a disease of multiple simultaneous checkpoint failures affecting effector control, target protection, and regulatory oversight. This understanding reveals rational therapeutic strategies using checkpoint agonists to restore immune tolerance. Preclinical evidence demonstrates that PD-L1 fusion proteins can reverse depigmentation in mouse models, while next-generation melanocyte-targeted therapies promise localized effects with minimal systemic immunosuppression. These insights reframe vitiligo pathogenesis and provide mechanistic rationale for novel immunomodulatory treatments targeting checkpoint restoration.