Publications by authors named "Amira Said"

Article Synopsis
  • Candida species are a leading cause of invasive fungal diseases, particularly affecting children with blood cancers; the study found that non-albicans Candida (NAC), especially C. tropicalis, are linked to worse outcomes in these patients.* -
  • Researchers reviewed data from 53 patients over a decade and discovered a high incidence rate of invasive candidiasis (IC) and a significant link between C. tropicalis infections and dissemination to various organs, including the eyes and skin.* -
  • The study highlights the importance of eye examinations in patients with IC, revealing that a notable percentage showed evidence of intraocular candidiasis, and emphasizes the need for further research to refine screening strategies for at-risk patients.*
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Introduction: Adherence studies among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, in Egypt and throughout the Middle East region, are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate methotrexate (MTX) adherence in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to identify specific non-adherence predictors.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study included 300 RA patients who were administered MTX for at least one year.

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Background: No robust data are available on the safety of primary bariatric and metabolic surgery (BMS) alone compared to primary BMS combined with other procedures.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to collect a 30-day mortality and morbidity of primary BMS combined with cholecystectomy, ventral hernia repair, or hiatal hernia repair.

Setting: This is as an international, multicenter, prospective, and observational audit of patients undergoing primary BMS combined with one or more additional procedures.

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Objective: This study aimed to assess 30-day morbidity and mortality rates following cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder disease and identify the factors associated with complications.

Summary Background Data: Although cholecystectomy is common for benign gallbladder disease, there is a gap in the knowledge of the current practice and variations on a global level.

Methods: A prospective, international, observational collaborative cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder disease from participating hospitals in 57 countries between January 1 and June 30, 2022, was performed.

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Background: Multimodality is required for the treatment of breast cancer. Surgery, radiation (RT), and systemic therapy were traditionally used. Pharmacotherapy includes different drug mechanisms, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapies, alone or in combination with radiotherapy.

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(1) Background: During 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic was threatening healthcare services and workers, and acquiring immunity was an option to stop or limit the burden of this pandemic. Herd immunity was a top priority worldwide as the virus was spreading rapidly. It was estimated that 67% of the total global population should be immunized against COVID-19 to achieve herd immunity.

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Objectives: The current study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of Enoxaparin and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) used as monothrapy or polytherapy versus standard care alone in Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infected patients.

Methods: The current study included two hundred patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection. Patients admitted to hospital were randomly allocated into four groups: group I: received standard COVID-19 therapy, group II: received Enoxaparin 40mg/day subcutaneously (SC) plus standard therapy, group III: received 400 mg/day HCQ plus standard therapy & group IV: received a combination of 400 mg/day HCQ and Enoxaparin plus standard COVID-19 therapy.

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Background: The outbreak has harmed patients with multiple comorbidities and chronic conditions. The pandemic's psychological impact is thought to change their routine of seeking medical care. Research Question or Hypothesis: During COVID-19, patients with chronic conditions may experience anxiety, depression, and stress, and their pattern of seeking medical care may change.

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M2 polarized tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have a multifunctional role in cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and contribute to chemotherapeutic resistance. Therefore, identifying M2 polarized TAMs is a potential target for cancer therapeutic intervention. The underlying mechanism that target the TAMs M2 polarized macrophages remains primarily uncharacterized; however, only a few compounds have been identified that inhibit TAMs M2 polarized macrophages.

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There seem to currently be no therapeutic medications found for the severe coronavirus infection in 2019 (COVID-19). In light of this, it has been hypothesized that the immunomodulatory treatment known as tocilizumab can lessen the inflammatory response that occurs in the respiratory system, speed up the process of clinical benefit, lower the risk of death, and avert the need for ventilators. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) studied patients with a proven infection of SARS-CoV-2 and hyperinflammatory reactions.

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Objectives: Pandemic diseases and the confinement measures due to COVID-19 infection have introduced acute and persistent psychosocial stressors for different individuals with a greater influence on females manifested through changes in the menstrual cycle. The objective of this study was to assess Lebanese female of reproductive age about their menstrual cycle, their mental health, and their lifestyle, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Beirut blast, and the economic crises.

Methods: A cross-sectional online study conducted between October and December 2021, enrolled 398 Lebanese women using the snowball technique.

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Zika virus (ZIKV) pandemic and its implication in congenital malformations and severe neurological disorders had created serious threats to global health. ZIKV is a mosquito-borne flavivirus which spread rapidly and infect a large number of people in a shorter time-span. Due to the lack of effective therapeutics, this had become paramount urgency to discover effective drug molecules to encounter the viral infection.

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Nanomedicine has emerged as an important approach for targeting RA medication. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a widespread autoimmune disorder marked by multiple inflamed joints. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have been demonstrated as efficacious nanocarriers due to their unique characteristics and the relative simplicity of their synthesis in varied sizes; moreover, they have the capability to alleviate several inflammatory markers.

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Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a serious manifestation of acute lung injury (ALI), is a debilitating inflammatory lung disease that is caused by multiple risk factors. One of the primary causes that can lead to ALI/ARDS is cigarette smoke (CS) and its primary mode of action is via oxidative stress. Despite extensive research, no appropriate therapy is currently available to treat ALI/ARDS, which means there is a dire need for new potential approaches.

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Introduction: COVID-19 is considered the greatest health disaster affecting humans during the 21st century, which urged the need to develop an effective vaccine to acquire enough immunity against the virus. The main challenge faced during the development of such vaccines was the insufficiency of time, which raised the question about the vaccine safety and efficacy, especially among children. Parents’ and caregivers’ thoughts and acceptance of administering the vaccine to their children are still debatable topics and are yet to be explored in the UAE.

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Background: COVID-19's after-effects among survivors are of increased concern. The cognitive aftermath of COVID-19 virus infection was underrated. This study aimed to identify and compare the cognitive impairment (CI) and its correlates among COVID-19 survivors and control subjects.

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Background: Asthma is a significant public health issue that poses a substantial health and economic burden. Despite the availability of effective asthma medications, its management remain suboptimal. Recent asthma guidelines have highlighted the importance of pharmacist unique position and its interventional strategies in positively impacting asthma treatment outcomes.

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Background: Sequelae from COVID-19 are increasingly being reported, but sleep disturbances after recovery from the disease have had little attention.

Aims: This study aimed to identify and compare sleep disturbances and associated correlates among adults who have recovered from COVID-19 with those who have never been infected with the disease.

Methods: The sample included 85 adults who have recovered from COVID-19 and 85 adults who have never been infected (matched on age, sex, education and socioeconomic level).

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The neurologic manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are wide-ranging, including various cranial neuropathies, beyond anosmia and dysgeusia, the exact neuropathological mechanism of which are yet unknown. Acute cranial nerve (CN) X neuritis with vocal cord paralysis has not been reported in COVID-19 and is a rare presentation of neuropathy in general. A girl aged 14 years was admitted with stridor.

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Aims: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy affects up to 60% of individuals and often leads to foot ulceration and eventual amputation. When oral therapy has failed to achieve pain relief, the first line local treatment is the 5% lidocaine-medicated plaster which provides local relief. Capsaicin 8% patch is considered a promising topical treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

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Aims/introduction: COVID-19 pandemic and its associated circumstances had adversely affected patients with chronic diseases. This study aimed to assess the health-related quality of life (QoL), and identify its psychological and clinical correlates in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) during pandemic in Egypt.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study, using a convenience sampling technique, was conducted among patients with DM who were recruited from Zagazig University endocrinology outpatient clinics, Sharkia Province, Egypt from June 30 to September 29, 2020.

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Objectives: The main aim of this review was to summarize current evidence on approved and emerging non-statin lipid-lowering therapies.

Methods And Materials: Recent literature on U.S.

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Objectives: The inappropriate use of medications is harmful and is a common issue in hospitalised patients. Patients hospitalised in general surgery wards are usually at high risk for drug-related problems (DRPs). This randomised controlled trial aimed to explore the value of a pharmaceutical care service conducted in general surgery wards in the identification and reduction of DRPs in comparison with standard medical care.

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Objectives: This study aimed to investigate physicians' and pharmacists' perceptions of the importance of pharmacists' role in healthcare in Egypt, and actual delivery of these roles in practice. Identifying any differences and inconsistencies between these will inform future strategies that maximize pharmacists' professional contribution to hospital practice.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale was distributed to a convenience sample of physicians (500) and pharmacists (500) practicing in selected private or public hospitals in Egypt.

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