Serum IGF-1 to IGFBP-3 Molar Ratio: A Promising Diagnostic Tool for Growth Hormone Deficiency in Children.

Background: The serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)/insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) ratio has various potential applications in growth hormone-related disorders. This study aimed to investigate the performance of the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio, independently and in combination with serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3, in the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children with short stature (SS).

Methods: A 7-year cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 235 children with SS.

A new perspective on the precipitation sequence in a high-purity Al-1.74 at.% Cu alloy by employing positron annihilation spectroscopy: experiment and theory.

We study Al-1.74 at.% Cu as a typical binary model alloy to obtain new information on the precipitation sequence.

Global longitudinal strain as a predictor of short-term effect of oral antiviral regimens on myocardium in Egyptian patients with chronic viral hepatitis C.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been noted with various cardiovascular (CV) diseases, and patients with detected HCV-RNA had higher CV mortality than uninfected individuals. The new direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAA) proved to be more effective with fewer side effects compared to interferon in eradicating HCV, but their effect on myocardium is still questionable. In order to get some answers for such question, two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) was studied before and after treatment with different DAA regimens in HCV patients with either mildly impaired or normal basic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Candidate circulating microRNAs as potential diagnostic and predictive biomarkers for the monitoring of locally advanced breast cancer patients.

This study aimed at investigating the expression of candidate microRNAs (miRs), at initial diagnosis, during neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and after the tumor resection in locally advanced breast cancer patients. Plasma samples were collected from locally advanced breast cancer patients (n = 30) and healthy subjects (n = 20) for the detection of candidate miRs' expression using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. At initial locally advanced breast cancer diagnosis, the expression of miR-21, miR-181a, and miR-10b was significantly increased, whereas that of miR-145 and let-7a was significantly decreased, compared to the healthy individuals.

Short-term prognostic value of TAPSE, RVFAC and Tricuspid S' wave peak systolic velocity after first acute myocardial infarction.

Objectives: Right ventricular dysfunction impacts the prognosis of various heart diseases. We set-out to examine which right ventricular functional parameters after STEMI and NSTEMI have prognostic value. Of 297 eligible participants, 266 (149 STEMI and 117 NSTEMI) completed follow-up.

Additive value of 3D-echo in prediction of immediate outcome after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty.

Background: Results of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) are basically dependent on suitable patient selection. Currently used two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography (2DE) scores have many limitations. Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography (3DE)-based scores were developed for better patient selection and outcome prediction.

Poor Outcome of Surgical Management of Acute Malfunctioning Mechanical Mitral Valve During Pregnancy. Should Centers with Limited Resources Find Different Options?

Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most common cardiac disease in pregnancy in developing countries with the mitral valve being the most affected. In this study, the results of surgical intervention in pregnant women presented with acute malfunctioning mechanical mitral valve were discussed.

Methods: All patients underwent emergency redo mitral valve replacement due to acute malfunctioning mechanical mitral valve during pregnancy in a single center between January 2005 and December 2017.

Epidemiological survey of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in cattle in East Darfur State, Sudan.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne disease caused by CCHF virus (CCHFV) of the genus Nairovirus in the family Bunyaviridae. CCHFV causes subclinical infection in domestic livestock and an often fatal hemorrhagic illness in humans, with approximately 30% mortality rates. In the present study, a cross-sectional serosurvey was conducted in a total of 282 randomly selected cattle from five localities in East Darfur State, Sudan.

Risk factors of low birth weight at three hospitals in Khartoum State, Sudan.

The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of women who give birth to low birth weight (LBW) children and to study the association of the different risk factors with LBW in three of large hospitals in Khartoum State, Sudan. This was a cross sectional study of 381 women. Three groups: 151, 130 and 100 women, who gave birth to live children, were selected from Alsuadi Teaching Hospital, Khartoum Teaching Hospital and Alribat University Hospital, respectively.