Browsing by Author "Naglaa Elsalway"

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Evaluation of insulin-like growth factor-1 in apparently healthy infants and prepubertal Egyptian children with different nutritional statuses
(BMC Pediatrics, 2024) Hanan Mina Fouad; Amal Ahmed Mohamed; Nashwa Adel; Mohamed Abdulhay; Iman Khalifa; Randa Ibrahim; Naglaa Elsalway; Ghada Maher Thabet; Karima Nasraldin; Ingy Maher El-Hefny; Marwa S. Abd Elraouf; Dalia Ghareeb
Objectives to estimate insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels in apparently healthy infants and prepubertal children and compare results among different nutritional statuses. Methods Our cross-sectional work is a sub-study of a screening project for anemia and nutritional status. We included 252 apparently healthy infants and children with a mean age of 3.7 ± 1.3 years (1.1–6.6), with equal gender distribution. Data retrieved included breastfeeding and anthropometric measures. We tested the stored blood samples for IGF-1 levels. The sample size was reached when all kits were consumed. Results abnormal anthropometric measures were detected in 32.9%, either a single or multiple, and 86.5% were breastfed. Girls had significantly higher serum IGF-1 levels than boys (P: <0.001), which was noticeable in girls with abnormal nutritional status detected with anthropometry. Breastfeeding showed no significant association with IGF-1 levels. No significant difference was observed between IGF-1 levels between children with normal versus those with abnormal growth measures. Children with overweight or obesity had significantly lower IGF-1 than children with other body mass index (BMI) categories. Serum IGF-1 levels correlated positively with arm muscle area Z scores in infants and toddlers and weight and BMI Z scores in children between three and four. Also, IGF-1 correlated positively with the triceps skinfold Z score and arm muscle area Z score between four and five. Conclusions Among studied infants and prepubertal children, serum IGF-1 was significantly higher in girls than boys and was considerably lower in children with overweight or obesity. Breastfeeding showed no association with IGF-1 levels.
Influence of Vitamin D Status and the VDR Gene Polymorphism on COVID-19 Susceptibility and Outcome
(Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 2024-11-26) Amal Ahmed Mohamed; Nivin Naeem Baiomy; Abeer M. Rawy; Mona M.F. Ghanem; Soha M. Abd El Salam; Karima Nasraldin; Mohamed Ramadan Ezz Al Arab; Hussein H. Samir; Omar Mohamoud Azzam; Nashwa M. Muharram; Naglaa Elsalway; Ahmed Y. Elamir; Sarya Swed; Wael Hafez; Luis A. Salas-Matta; Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales; D. Katterine Bonilla-Aldana; Hashem Abu Serhan; Sanjit Sah; Rachana Mehta
Insufficient vitamin D levels in the bloodstream, together with the presence of specific genetic variations known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the VDR gene, have consistently been linked to a higher likelihood of contracting and experiencing more severe forms of various diseases such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to explore the potential relationship between vitamin D levels, Bsml and FoKI polymorphisms, and COVID-19 infection outcomes. A case-control study was conducted with COVID-19 patients and a control group of non-COVID-19 patients (n = 107 each). The associations between vitamin D status, polymorphisms, and COVID susceptibility were investigated. Participants diagnosed with COVID-19 exhibited an average age of 48.84 ± 12.18, while non-COVID-19 patients had an average age of 46.82 ± 9.903. Disease severity, assessed by the CT severity score, showed a negative correlation with the Vitamin D levels. Among participants with COVID-19, the mean level of vitamin D was 35.25 ± 9.40 ng/mL while non-COVID-19 patients showed 38.85 ± 9.40 ng/mL with a significant difference (p = 0.004**) although among COVID-19 cases, 87 (81.3%) individuals had sufficient vitamin D levels and non-severity of disease was more common i.e. 54 (50.5%) among the COVID patients who had sufficient level of Vitamin D. The study found no significant association between Vitamin D levels and rs1544410 Bsml polymorphism (p = 0.429). However, it is important to highlight a weak significant association observed between with Fok1 polymorphism (p = 0.049). These findings underscore the weak influence of genetic factors, particularly VDR Fok1 gene variants, in shaping an individual’s susceptibility to COVID-19. A significant difference in vitamin D status was observed between the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups and lower level was observed in the COVID-19 infected patients. Furthermore, a weak significant association was observed between Fok1 rs2228570 genotype and COVID-19 susceptibility. Larger sample sizes are required to comprehensively understand the association between different genotypes and COVID-19 outcomes.