Mayada M. Mahmoud’s research while affiliated with Ain Shams University and other places

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is an immunological disease that is depicted by high prevalence and eminent burden for patients and society that is attributable to the arbitrary nature of symptoms and inconsistent tools for assessment of activity and severity. Transglutaminase-2 (TG2) is a posttranslational enzyme that is pervasively expressed in many cells and tissue types including mast cells. It has various biological functions, and its role in allergic disorders has been highlighted and delineated through several postulated mechanisms. This case–control study aimed at determining the relationship between serum levels TG2 and severity of CSU. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in Egypt to determine the relationship between serum TG2 and severity of CSU. We enrolled 60 adult patients with confirmed diagnosis of CSU. According to urticaria activity score (UAS), patients were categorized into three groups [20 with mild disease; UAS = 0, 20 with moderate disease; UAS = 1–3, 20 with severe disease; UAS = 4–6]. Another 20 healthy individuals (age and gender matched) served as a control group. All patients were subjected to detailed medical history, clinical examination, complete blood count with differential, serum total IgE, CRP, ESR, TSH, ANA, liver and renal function tests. Serum level of TG2 was done by quantitative ELISA for all enrolled patients and controls. Serum TG2 is significantly higher in patients group compared to control group (P value < 0.001). Serum TG2 levels were significantly higher in patients with severe disease compared to patients with moderate or mild disease. This is illustrated by the significant positive correlation between serum TG2 and UAS (r 0.814 and P value 0.000). Moreover, serum TG2 accurately classified CSU patients into mild, moderate and severe subgroups: as regards differentiation between mild and moderate cases (sensitivity 70%, specificity 80%, PPV 77.8, NPV 72.7) and as for the differentiation between moderate and severe cases (sensitivity 95%, specificity 90%, PPV 90.5, NPV 94.7). Serum TG2 may have a pivotal role as a marker of severity in patients with CSU.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern. In this context, effective and affordable diagnostic procedures are essential for identifying and managing cases. Complete blood counts (CBC) are among the most common and readily available diagnostic tests. The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of CBC in diagnosing COVID-19 and identifying cases. Patients and Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 173 patients at Ain Shams University Hospitals over a period of three months. Patients were allocated into two groups according to COVID-19 PCR results: Group 1 included patients with COVID-19 positive PCR, and Group 2 included patients with COVID-19 negative PCR. Results: The study found that differential CBC had significant value in diagnosing COVID-19 disease. Many COVID-19 patients had lymphopenia and leucopenia compared to non-COVID-19 suspected patients. The low values of leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils with a CBC test were found to be valuable in the initial diagnosis of COVID-19. Conclusion: The definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 requires RT-PCR analysis, which is time-consuming and less accessible. Thus, the initial diagnosis and treatment of patients may be delayed. This study suggests that CBC, which is easily available and affordable, can be valuable in the early identification of COVID-19 cases, allowing for prompt treatment and management.

Background With rapid spreading of the outbreak of 2019-nCoV infection, the WHO announced a public health emergency of international concern. Among most common easily performed and inexpensive diagnostic procedures are Complete blood counts (CBC). Aim of the Work to evaluate efficacy of complete blood picture (CBC) in diagnosis and identifying cases of COVID-19. Patients and Methods A case control study was conducted on a total of 173 patients at Ain Shams University Hospitals during a period of three months since beginning of data collection. Patients were allocated into 2 groups according to COVID-19 PCR result: GROUP 1: Patients with COVID-19 Positive PCR; GROUP 2: Patients with COVID-19 Negative PCR. Results CBC differential count has significant value in diagnosing of covid-19 disease, many of COVID patients have lymphopenia and leucopenia in comparison to non COVID suspected patients. Conclusion The definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 was made by RT-PCR analysis, but this was a time-consuming and less accessible test. With this test, the time it takes to diagnose and treat patients can be delayed. In our study, low values of leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosinophils with a CBC test which is easily available, were found to be valuable in terms of the initial diagnosis of COVID-19.