Enayet, A., R. A. Afifi, E. A. Mogahed, M. S. El-Raziky, and M. A. K. Abdellatif, "Gallstones in Egyptian infants and children: risk factors, complications and outcome: a single center experience. ", Egypt Liver Journal, vol. 10, 2020.
Shaheen, I. A. M., R. Aboukhalil, N. Abulata, Rasha Abdel-Raouf, B. Meligy, and Omnia Abdel-Dayem, "Vitamin D Insufficiency is Not Associated With Pediatric and Adolescent Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Study in Conjunction With its Receptor Genetic Polymorphisms.", Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology, vol. 43, issue 1, pp. e1-e6, 2021. Abstract

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a heterogeneous immunologic disorder. Vitamin D has immune-modulatory effects. The pleiotropic effects of vitamin D are exerted via vitamin D receptor (VDR) and its genetic alterations could influence its functions. In our study, we measured the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in 98 Pediatric and Adolescent ITP patients, in addition to 100 apparently healthy controls. Genetic polymorphisms of the VDR gene FokI, BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI were tested using specific restriction enzymes for each polymorphism. Vitamin D deficiency in the studied Pediatric age was a dominant factor, but it was found not to be associated with Pediatric ITP. However, patients carrying the FokI CC genotype had statistically higher vitamin D levels compared with those carrying other genotypes (P=0.036). Patients who were carriers of the BsmI G allele had a nearly 2-fold higher risk of ITP (odds ratio: 2.203; 95% confidence interval: 1.467-3.309). Therefore, the BsmI polymorphism of VDR could be considered a molecular risk factor for ITP.

Shaheen, I., M. Khorshied, Rasha Abdel-Raouf, H. Gouda, D. Kamal, N. Abulata, R. Aboukhalil, and B. Meligy, "L-Selectin P213S and Integrin Alpha 2 C807T Genetic Polymorphisms in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease Patients.", Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology, vol. 42, issue 8, pp. e707-e711, 2020. Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive hemoglobinopathy characterized by increased cellular adhesiveness. Vaso-occlusion (VOC) is the most prevalent disease complication of SCD that could be altered by genetic factors. L-Selectin and integrin alpha 2 (ITGA2) are 2 adhesion molecules linked to vasculopathy and inflammation. The current study aimed at detecting the prevalence of genetic variants of L-selectin and ITGA2 as possible molecular modulators and novel therapeutic targets in a cohort of pediatric SCD patients. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism technique for 100 SCD patients and 100 age and gender-matched unrelated healthy controls. The homomutant genotype of ITGA2 C807T was significantly higher in SCD patients compared with controls (P=0.001) and confirmed almost a 3-fold increased risk of moderate and severe attacks of VOC. There are significant adverse effects caused by the polymorphisms of ITGA2, and hence Egyptian SCD patients could benefit from the targeted therapies specifically against ITGA2 to ameliorate the severe course of the disease and improve the quality of life. However, further studies of genotypes and expression levels of these adhesion molecules during the attacks of VOC are recommended.

Badr, M. S. E. M., and R. A. - R. A. - A. Afifi, "Pattern of Hemolytic Anemia Among Egyptian Pediatric Emergency Department Patients", Pediatric Emergency Care, vol. 36, issue 3, pp. 153-157, 2020. pattern_of_hemolytic_anemia_among_egyptian.8.pdf.pdf
Afifi, R. A. - R. A. - A., Y. M. Sedky, H. Abd-ELKareem, and S. K. A. Botros, "IL-Iβ +3954 C / T Polymorphism and Its Clinical Associations in Egyptian Sickle Cell Disease Patients", International Journal of Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Research, vol. 13, issue 1, 2019. ijhoscr-13-35-941.docx
ME, H., A. RA, and H. NM, "• Outcome of different treatment regimens used in newly diagnosed ITP pediatric patients", Egyptian Pediatric Association Gazette, vol. 66, pp. 39-42, 2018. itp_gazette.pdf
RA, A., K. D, E. S. R, E. SM, S. GH, Y. SM, and H. RE, "• CD209-336A/G promotor polymorphism and its clinical associations in sickle cell disease Egyptian Pediatric patients", Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther , vol. 11, pp. 75– 81, 2018. cd209.pdf
MME, N., E. - S. AY, S. MA, I. MA, A. - A. RA, and A. - R. WM, "• Prevalence of Factor VIII Inhibitors among Hemophilia A Patients", Nature and Science 2017;15(5), 69-73., vol. 15, issue 5, pp. 69-73, 2017. hemophilia_inh.pdf
Afifi, R. A. - R., H. T. Osman, W. A. K. Shahin, and M. -t-allah A. E. D. Yousef, "Improvement of DAS-28 ESR score in Egyptian children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis treated with etanercept", Egyptian Pediatric Association Gazette, vol. 65, pp. 33-37, 2017.