Urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder is a common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a process by which the malignant cells can generate vascular-like structures formed of periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) positive/CD31 negative extracellular matrix independent of angiogenesis and thus promotes tumor progression. N-myc downstream–regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) is a protein that can modulate tumor angiogenesis; however, its role in regulating tumor angiogenesis and VM formation has not been previously investigated in UC. This study aims to evaluate the role of intra-tumor microvessel density (MVD) (as a surrogate measure of angiogenesis), VM, and NDRG1 in UC and their correlation with different clinicopathologic features, then assess the correlation between them in UC. Sixty specimens of UC of the bladder were included. PAS-CD31 immunohistochemical double staining method was used to evaluate the intra-tumor MVD and VM. Immunohistochemical expression of NDRG1 was also examined. VM and NDRG1 expression were detected in 41.7% and 83.3% of UC specimens respectively. The mean of intra-tumor MVD, VM area, and NDRG1 was significantly higher in tumors with higher grade, lymphovascular invasion, and higher T stage. NDRG1 expression was positively correlated with MVD and VM. We can suggest that MVD, VM, and NDRG1 may serve as poor prognostic markers for UC. The positive correlation between NDRG1 and both MVD and VM may provide the first evidence that NDRG1 can induce tumor angiogenesis and VM in UC which may offer a novel pathway for further therapeutic strategies.

Background: Early detection of congenital hearing loss (HL) and appropriate intervention is essential to minimize
its dramatic impact. Target-based newborn hearing screening (TNHS) was initially targeted high-risk register (HRR)
newborn. The advance techniques in neonatology in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) lead to decrease mortality
among low birth weight and preterm infants, but significant morbidities including hearing loss persist. In this study,
we aimed to assess the prevalence of hearing loss and the percentage of different risk factors among the HRR neonates
admitted to NICU at Assiut University Hospital.
Results: The prevalence of hearing loss among the study group is 1%. The most common risk factor present
between the study group was prematurity associated with the low birth weight (57%). The combination of preterm
and low birth weight has statistically significant effect on hearing loss (p < 0.006). There was statistically significant difference
in the pass rate of the transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) frequencies included in the screening
program. The highest pass rate 91% and 85% was at 4 KH and 3 KH, respectively, while the least pass rate was at 1 KH
(11.5%).
Conclusion: TEOAE screener is safe, noninvasive, and doesn’t require sedation and cost-effective method in the newborn
hearing screening at NICU. For HRR, it is better to do screening before hospital discharge so allowing enough
time for comorbidities of the neonate to improve. Neonatal hearing screening in high-risk neonates in NICU allows
early identification of children with hearing loss with early intervention.

Background and objectives: Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae is a member of viridans streptococci. It is non-capsulated, bile insoluble and optochin susceptible in ambient air but resistant in 5% CO₂. This study aimed to isolate S. pseudopneumoniae from sputum specimens of patients admitted to Chest Department and Chest ICU of Assiut University hospitals, differentiate it from Streptococcus pneumoniae in addition, to evaluate the prevalence of Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae in clinical isolates by phenotypic and genotypic methods, to subject the isolates to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using agar disc diffusion method.

Materials and methods: Isolation of Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae from sputum sample and doing phenotypic test (optochin susceptibility test,bile susceptibility test and antimicrobial susceptibility test) and genotypic test by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for five genes: CpsA, LytA, AliB-like ORF2, 16S rRNA and Spn9802 genes.

Results: Twenty isolates of S. pseudopneumoniae were diagnosed phenotypically by optochin susceptibility and bile solubility tests followed by genotypic characterization by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for five genes: CpsA, LytA, AliB-like ORF2, 16S rRNA and Spn9802 genes. The prevalence of S. pseudopneumoniae among studied patients was 10% (20/200).

Conclusion: The pure growth of S. pseudopneumoniae from sputum samples together with the great percentage of antibiotic resistance should raise attention to the clinical importance of this organism.