Vitamin D association with systemic sclerosis and its clinical features: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

Objectives: The aim of this review was to summarize existing data on the contribution of Vitamin D level and/or deficiency/insufficiency to systemic sclerosis susceptibility and its clinical features.

Methods: An electronic literature search for eligible studies among all papers published prior to 30 June 2024 was conducted through PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, and Scopus databases. Meta-analyses estimating pooled raw mean differences, odds ratios, and Pearson together with subgroup analyses and meta-regressions were performed for the association of Vitamin D with susceptibility to systemic sclerosis and disease presentation.

A regression predictive model for QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus indeterminate results in immunosuppressed patients.

Background: Screening for latent tuberculosis infection using Interferon-Gamma Release Assays is a routine procedure prior to the initiation of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy. However, indeterminate results are relatively frequent and are an obstacle to treatment initiation.

Aim: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to estimate the frequency of indeterminate QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus test results in Tunisian patients, and to analyze the potential clinico-biological risk factors associated with these indeterminate results.

Congenital hydrocephalus and ligneous conjunctivitis in two children with severe type I plasminogen deficiency: A case report and literature review.

Type I plasminogen (PLG I) deficiency is a genetic disorder inherited in an autosomal recessive mode and carries high mortality and morbidity. This case report discusses two babies, aged 2 and 3 months, who were diagnosed with ligneous conjunctivitis and congenital hydrocephalus. They had progressive macrocephaly, which led to the insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

Association of 10 Polymorphisms in PLA2R1 and HLA DQA1 Genes with Primary Membranous Nephropathy Risk: A Meta-Analysis and a Meta-Regression.

Background: Although, several studies have assessed the association of the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and HLA-DQA1 SNPs with primary membranous nephropathy (PMN), results were inconsistent and between-studies heterogeneity needs to be investigated.

Objectives: The aim of this review was to summarize existing data on the contribution of 10 SNPs in the PLA2R and HLA-DQA1 genes to PMN susceptibility and to investigate the between-studies heterogeneity by subgroup analyses and meta-regressions.

Design: This study was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Hepatic micro-abscesses as an unusual initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Hepatic micro-abscesses can be a rare initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This case highlights the importance of considering autoimmune etiologies when infectious causes are ruled out and emphasizes the need for early recognition and appropriate treatment of atypical hepatic manifestations in SLE to achieve favorable outcomes.

Abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs, including the liver.

Epidemiology, microbiological, clinical characteristics, and outcome of complex infections in non-cystic fibrosis adult patients from Qatar.

Objectives: species infections are associated with diverse and challenging clinical presentations because of distinct virulence and antimicrobial resistance factors. The study aims to evaluate the epidemiology, microbiological, and clinical outcomes of complex (Bcc) infections in non-cystic fibrosis (CF) patients from Qatar.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on adult patients across all hospitals at Hamad Medical Corporation between January 2012 and December 2018 to evaluate clinically relevant Bcc in non-CF adult patients.

Accurate and reliable surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy assay for early detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA with exceptional sensitivity.

This research proposes a highly sensitive and simple surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA using suitably designed probes specific for RdRp and N viral genes attached to a Raman marker. The sensitivity of the assay was optimized through precise adjustments to the conditions of immobilization and hybridization processes of the target RNA, including modifications to factors such as time and temperature. The assay achieved a remarkable sensitivity down to 58.

Impact of IL-10 gene promoter polymorphisms on treatment response in HCV patients: A systematic review, a meta-analysis, and a meta-regression.

The impact of interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene promoter polymorphisms (SNPs) on treatment response in HCV patients was dissimilarly estimated. Hence, the aim of this meta-analysis was to robustly assess the effect of IL-10 SNPs on treatment response in HCV patients. An electronic literature search was carried out through PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, and Scopus databases.

pO reporter composite hydrogel macroencapsulation devices for magnetic resonance imaging oxygen quantification.

Hydrogel cell encapsulation devices are a common approach to reduce the need for chronic systemic immunosuppression in allogeneic cell product transplantation. Macroencapsulation approaches are an appealing strategy, as they maximize graft retrievability and cell dosage within a single device; however, macroencapsulation devices face oxygen transport challenges as geometries increase from preclinical to clinical scales. Device design guided by computational approaches can facilitate graft oxygen availability to encapsulated cells in vivo but is limited without accurate measurement of oxygen levels within the transplant site and graft.

Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Organ Donation Among Tunisian Adults: Results of a National Survey.

Objectives: Attitudes and knowledge toward organ donation can influence a person's willingness to donate. The aim of this study was to assess attitudes and knowledge regarding organ donation among Tunisian adults.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a crosssectional survey at the national level from January 23 to February 15, 2017, among 1026 Tunisian adults.

Endogenous Purulent Pericarditis Due to Klebsiella aerogenes in a Patient With Traumatic Chest Injury: A Case Report.

Purulent pericarditis is a rare but serious medical condition caused by an infection that spreads to the pericardial space surrounding the heart. Gram-positive organisms are the most common pathogens associated with purulent pericarditis. However, there has been a shift in recent years toward gram-negative bacteria.

[Access to kidney transplantation for patients with end-stage renal failure in Maghreb countries: state of art and recommendations].

We present an overview of kidney transplantation activity in the Maghreb countries, based on data from the 9th Colloque France-Maghreb (Paris, May 20 and 21, 2022). For Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, the incidence of end stage renal failure is respectively 120, 130 and 130 per million inhabitants, its prevalence 626, 900 and 833 per million inhabitants and the part of patients with a functional graft of 10.3, 1.

Myths and common misbeliefs about cervical cancer causation among Palestinian women: a national cross-sectional study.

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) myths and beliefs can negatively impact women's preventive behaviors, including vaccination against human papillomavirus and having regular screening tests. This study aimed to examine awareness of Palestinian women about myths related to CC causation and investigated factors associated with good awareness.

Methods: A national cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit adult Palestinian women from hospitals, primary healthcare facilities, and public areas in 11 Palestinian governorates.

The experience of an antimicrobial stewardship program and antibiotic consumption and resistance trends during the COVID-19 pandemic at a tertiary care center in Beirut.

Background: Antimicrobial Resistance, a global concern, worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic that caused a surge of critically ill patients, increased antimicrobial consumption, and the spread of infections with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) aim to optimize antimicrobial utilization to fight resistance. We aim to describe the ASP experience and to study antimicrobial consumption and MDRO rates among COVID-19 patients at a tertiary care center in Beirut.

Blood Stream Infections in COVID-19 Patients From a Tertiary Care Center in Lebanon: Causative Pathogens and Rates of Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms.

Objective: To report the microbiological profile of the pathogens implicated in blood stream infections (BSI) in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and to examine the risk factors associated with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) causing BSI.

Patients And Methods: Between March 2020 and September 2021, 1647 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 at the American University of Beirut. From 85 patients, 299 positive blood cultures were reported to the Infection Control and Prevention Program.

Predicting long-term outcomes of kidney transplantation in the era of artificial intelligence.

The ability to accurately predict long-term kidney transplant survival can assist nephrologists in making therapeutic decisions. However, predicting kidney transplantation (KT) outcomes is challenging due to the complexity of the factors involved. Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly important tool in the prediction of medical outcomes.

Evaluation of parameters used in echocardiography and ultrasound protocol for the diagnosis of shock etiology in emergency setting.

Background: Early recognition and appropriate treatment has shown to decrease morbidity and mortality in patients with undifferentiated shock. There are many ultrasound protocols in shock; each protocol combines core ultrasound elements such as IVC and cardiac assessment which includes detection of cardiac tamponade, left ventricular function and right ventricular strain.Valvular assessment is absent in majority of ultasound protocols, while lung ultrasound is included in some of them.

Contrast media-induced nephropathy in Tunisia: prospective case-control study with cardio-nephrological monitoring.

Introduction: vascular opacification using iodinated contrast media (ICM) is often the primary diagnostic and therapeutic approach. However, the risk of post-injection nephrotoxicity of ICM is significantly higher in patients with underlying nephropathy. This study aimed to determine the incidence of Contrast Media Induced Nephropathy (CMIN) and identify predictive factors for its occurrence in patients from a cardiology department.

Prevalence of malaria and dengue co-infections among febrile patients during dengue transmission season in Kassala, eastern Sudan.

Background: Malaria and dengue are common mosquito-borne diseases around the world that cause high mortality and morbidity. The number of cases of both diseases is currently rising in Sudan and is associated with climate and environmental changes. Limited information is available on malaria and dengue co-infections and the severity of the two diseases among febrile patients in eastern Sudan.

A self-attention model for cross-subject seizure detection.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurring seizures, detected by electroencephalography (EEG). EEG signals can be detected by manual time-consuming analysis and recently by automatic detection. The latter poses a significant challenge due to the high dimensional and non-stationary nature of EEG signals.

Pre- and Post-treatment Serum BAFF Levels and BAFF Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Graves' Disease.

Background: B cell activating factor (BAFF), a crucial factor for B cell survival and differentiation, has been linked to several autoimmune conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of BAFF gene's polymorphisms with its serum levels and to assess their effect on Graves' disease (GD) susceptibility and presentation.

Methods: Sixty-two GD patients and 152 healthy controls have been enrolled to investigate BAFF rs9514827 (-2841 T/C), rs1041569 (-2701 T/A) and rs9514828 (-871 C/T) gene's polymorphism by PCR-RFLP and serum BAFF level's kinetics under medical treatment by ELISA.