Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Therapy Clinical Practice in Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was an expanding pandemic caused by a new strain of the coronavirus family known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). No previous studies have examined the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on physical therapy practice in Egypt. Objectives This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on physical therapy clinical practice in Egypt five months after the pandemic declaration.

Temporal trends in lower extremity amputation in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: analysis of the GBD dataset 1990-2019.

Background: Lower extremity amputations (LEAs) significantly contribute to mortality and morbidity, often resulting from peripheral artery disease and diabetes mellitus (DM). Traumatic injuries also account for many LEAs. Despite the global burden, the epidemiology of LEAs, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, remains underexplored.

Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Its Associated Factors Among Medical Students at Nineveh University in Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem encountered in medical practice, leading to limitations in daily activities and causing social and economic hardships. Objectives This study aimed to assess the prevalence of LBP and its associated factors among medical students at Nineveh University in Iraq. Methods Between December 2022 and January 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at Nineveh University.

Diagnostic accuracy of the Leishmania OligoC-TesT and NASBA-Oligochromatography for diagnosis of leishmaniasis in Sudan.

Background: The Leishmania OligoC-TesT and NASBA-Oligochromatography (OC) were recently developed for simplified and standardised molecular detection of Leishmania parasites in clinical specimens. We here present the phase II evaluation of both tests for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) in Sudan.

Methodology: The diagnostic accuracy of the tests was evaluated on 90 confirmed and 90 suspected VL cases, 7 confirmed and 8 suspected CL cases, 2 confirmed PKDL cases and 50 healthy endemic controls from Gedarif state and Khartoum state in Sudan.

A simplified and standardized polymerase chain reaction format for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis.

Background: Definite diagnosis of Leishmania infections is based on demonstration of the parasite by microscopic analysis of tissue biopsy specimens or aspirate samples. However, microscopy generally shows low sensitivity and requires invasive sampling.

Methods: We describe here the development of a simple and rapid test for the detection of polymerase chain reaction-amplified Leishmania DNA.