Thermography as a non-ionizing quantitative tool for diagnosing periapical inflammatory lesions.

Background: Thermography is a contemporary imaging modality based on acquiring and analyzing thermal data using non-contact devices. The aim of the present study was to assess the validity of thermography, compared with that of the reference-standard, for the diagnosis of periapical inflammatory lesions and to evaluate the temperature ranges for acute pulpitis with apical periodontitis (AAP), acute periapical abscess (AA) and chronic periapical abscess (CA).

Methods: AAP, AA and CA were diagnosed based on clinical and radiographic criteria.

Retreatment of Egyptian Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Not Responding to Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin Dual Therapy.

In the current study, we aimed to assess the efficacy of different Sofosbuvir (SOF)-based antiviral regimens available in Egypt in the treatment of Pegylated interferon/Ribavirin (PEG-INF/RBV)-experienced chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. Two hundred fifty-eight patients experienced with PEG-INF/RBV, and 1,283 naive patients were included in the study. The patients received one of the following 3 regimens for 12 weeks; PEG-INF/SOF, Simeprevir/SOF (SIM/SOF), and Daclatasvir/SOF (DCV/SOF).

Predictors of Outcome of Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The aim of this work is to study the different factors that affect the outcome of living donor liver transplantation for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Between April 2003 to November 2014, 62 patients with liver cirrhosis and HCC underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in the National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Egypt. The preoperative, operative, and postoperative data were analyzed.

Antimicrobial stewardship to optimize the use of antimicrobials for surgical prophylaxis in Egypt: A multicenter pilot intervention study.

Objective: To measure the impact of an antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) program on the use of antibiotics for surgical prophylaxis at acute care hospitals in Egypt.

Methods: This was a before-and-after intervention study conducted in 5 tertiary, acute-care surgical hospitals. The baseline, intervention, and follow-up periods were 3, 6, and 3 months, respectively.

Long term predictors of success after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Background: To evaluate early, mid and long term efficacy of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as a definitive management of morbid obesity and to study factors that may predict its success.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the database of patients who underwent LSG as a definitive bariatric procedure, from April 2005 to March 2013. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed.

Nitric oxide levels in chronic liver disease patients with and without oesophageal varices.

Introduction Patients with chronic liver disease ultimately progress to develop cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Recently it seems well established that nitric oxide disturbances play a key role in the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease and portal hypertension. The aim of this work was to clarify the correlation between chronic liver disease stages, liver function status, esophageal varices presence and nitric oxide disturbances.

Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen as a screening test for occult hepatitis B virus infection in Egyptian chronic hepatitis C patients.

Purpose: The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in liver tissue and/or in serum in the absence of detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is called occult HBV infection. This pattern was identified in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to determine the role of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) as a screening test for occult HBV infection in Egyptian chronic HCV patients.

Enhanced glypican-3 expression differentiates the majority of hepatocellular carcinomas from benign hepatic disorders.

Background/aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumour worldwide, and its differential diagnosis from benign lesions of the liver is often difficult yet of great clinical importance. In the present study, we analysed whether glypican-3 is useful in differentiating between benign and malignant liver diseases and whether it influences the growth behaviour of HCC.

Methods: Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridisation.

Connective tissue growth factor in human liver cirrhosis.

Background: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) belongs to a family of factors that regulate fibrogenesis and wound healing. While the significance of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in liver fibrosis is well established, the role of CTGF in fibrosing hepatopathy is still unknown.

Methods: CTGF was analyzed in 10 normal and in 16 cirrhotic liver tissue samples.

Group II and IV phospholipase A(2) are produced in human pancreatic cancer cells and influence prognosis.

Background: Phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) is involved in regulating biosynthesis of arachidonic acid and its metabolites. There are three major structurally different forms of PLA(2): group I, also called pancreatic PLA(2) (PLA(2)-I); group II, referred to as secretory non-pancreatic or synovial or platelet PLA(2) (PLA(2)-II); group IV, referred to as cytosolic PLA(2) (PLA(2)-IV).

Aims: To examine PLA(2)-I, PLA(2)-II, and PLA(2)-IV in normal and pancreatic cancer tissues.

Molecular aspects of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. The success of its established treatment modalities is frequently limited by the advanced stage of the tumor at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms that control its growth behavior.

Transforming growth factor betas and their signaling receptors in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Transforming growth factor betas (TGF-betas) are multifunctional polypeptides that have been suggested to influence tumor growth. They mediate their functions via specific cell surface receptors (type I ALK5 and type II TGF-beta receptors). The aim of this study was to analyze the roles of the three TGF-betas and their signaling receptors in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Transforming growth factor betas and their receptors in human liver cirrhosis.

Background: Transforming growth factor betas (TGF-betas) are a group of homologous polypeptides that exert pleiotropic effects on various cell types and stimulate the formation of extracellular matrix and fibrosis. To evaluate whether TGF-beta isoforms (TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3) and their receptors (types I-III) are also of importance in the pathophysiology of liver cirrhosis, we analysed their concomitant expression and localization in human liver cirrhosis.

Patients: Cirrhotic liver tissue samples were obtained from 17 patients (four women, 13 men) with a median age of 41 years (range 22-67).

Laparoscopic partial hepatectomy in the rat: a new resectional technique.

Background: Rats are widely used for basic research in laparoscopic surgery. We have developed a new technique of laparoscopic partial hepatectomy in the rat.

Methods: 40 American Cancer Institute rats were randomized into 3 groups.

KAI1, a new metastasis suppressor gene, is reduced in metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

Down-regulation of KAI1 expression has been shown to be associated with formation of metastases or disease progression in prostate and pancreatic cancer. In the present study we analyzed the expression pattern of KAI1 in metastatic and nonmetastatic hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) in comparison with normal livers to evaluate whether alteration of KAI1 also facilitates the metastatic ability in this malignancy. Thirty-nine primary HCCs and 10 normal liver tissue samples were studied for KAI1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression with use of Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization.