Protozoan and helminths infestation of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and its correlation with certain water quality variables along river Nile in the area of Greater Cairo.

Pollutants and parasites represent stressors for fish at the individual, population, or community levels. The current study outlines the seasonal infestation pattern of Oreochromis niloticus by protozoan and helminths parasites linked to some physicochemical parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, and electrical conductivity), and metals (Cd, Pb, Fe, Zn, and Ca), at nine selected sites in River Nile (Greater Cairo area) from summer 2019 till spring 2020. Most of the studied criteria in Nile water samples showed normal levels during all seasons compared to the recommended limits of EPA.

Assessment of schistosomiasis transmission in the River Nile at Greater Cairo using malacological surveys and cercariometry.

Continuous field studies on the abundance and distribution of freshwater snails and cercarial populations are important for schistosomiasis control programs. In the present work, snail surveys and cercariometry were conducted for four successive seasons at 12 sites on the Nile River banks in the area of Greater Cairo to identify potential transmission foci for schistosomiasis. In addition, water physicochemical parameters were recorded.

Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in Adolescent Patients With Positive HBsAg or With Occult Hepatitis B: Is the Risk of Hepatitis B Reactivation Significant?

Background: Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in patients treated for chronic hepatitis C (HCV) with direct-acting antiviral agents has emerged recently as an important safety issue; however, it has not been adequately studied in pediatric age groups. We aimed to evaluate this risk in adolescent patients infected with chronic HCV and positive for HBsAg and HBcAbs.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and fifteen adolescent patients from 12 to 17 years of age, infected with chronic HCV and positive for HBcAbs with or without HBsAg were included in this study.

Effects of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir therapy on chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 4, infected children of 3-6 years of age.

Background & Aims: Treatment of children aged 3-6 genotype 4 is still limited by the interferon side effects. We aimed in this study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir in children (3-6 years) genotype 4 chronic HCV-infected patients.

Methods: In total, 22 consecutive chronic HCV-infected patients (mean age 4.

Retreatment of chronic hepatitis C virus genotype-4 patients after non-structural protein 5A inhibitors' failure: efficacy and safety of different regimens.

Background: Nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) is an important regimen for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype-4 infected patients. Retreatments for NS5A virologic failure are limited. The aim of this study is to provide real-life data regarding the effectiveness and safety of retreatment with different regimens after NS5A regimen virologic failure in GT4 patients.

Effects of Dual Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir Therapy on Weight and Linear Growth in Adolescent Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Negative effects on growth indices had been reported in children treated with interferon for chronic viral hepatitis. Forty chronic hepatitis C virus-infected adolescents, 12-17 years of age, were treated with sofosbuvir/daclatasvir therapy for 12 weeks. The intent-to-treat sustained virologic response rate at 12 weeks after end of treatment was 39/40 (97.

Clinical, biochemical, neuroradiological and molecular characterization of Egyptian patients with glutaric acidemia type 1.

Glutaric acidemia type 1 (GA1) is an inherited metabolic autosomal recessive disorder that is caused by a deficiency in glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH). Untreated patients suffer primarily from severe striatal damage. More than 250 variants in the GCDH gene have been reported with a variable frequency among different ethnic groups.

Effectiveness of 8-week sofosbuvir/ledipasvir in the adolescent chronic hepatitis C-infected patients.

Background: The sustained virological response (SVR) rate for the 12-week sofosbuvir (SOF)/ledipasvir (LVD) treatment of adolescent genotype-4 patients is high. The aim of this study is to evaluate 8 versus 12-week treatment efficacy and safety in adolescent genotype-4 patients.

Patients And Methods: In total, 157 chronic hepatitis C-infected adolescent patients (mean age 14±2 years, 62% males) were included in this study.

A pilot single arm observational study of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (200 + 45 mg) in 6- to 12- year old children.

Background: No available data on the use of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir combination in treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in children 6- to 12- year old.

Aim: To assess the safety and efficacy of sofosbuvir plus ledipasvir in children 6- to 12- year old with chronic HCV genotype 4 infection.

Methods: This is a pilot prospective single arm observational open-label multicentre study.

Dual Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir Therapy in Adolescent Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Infection.

Objectives: Dual sofosbuvir/daclatasvir (SOF/DCV) therapy is currently recommended by the European Association for Study of Liver (EASL) as an option for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in adults for all genotypes; however, it is still not considered for patients younger than 18 years old. We aimed to test safety and efficacy of SOF/DCV in adolescent patients 12 to 17 years old with chronic HCV, genotype 4 infection.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, uncontrolled, open-label multicenter study.

The effectiveness and safety of ledipasvir plus sofosbuvir in adolescents with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infection: a real-world experience.

Background: The combination of ledipasvir plus sofosbuvir was recently approved for treatment of adolescent (12-17 years) HCV genotype 1, 4, 5 & 6 patients. However, few clinical trials have been performed in genotype 1 patients.

Aim: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of ledipasvir plus sofosbuvir in chronic HCV adolescent patients with genotype 4 in the real world.

Sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir with or without ribavirin in 551 patients with hepatitis C-related cirrhosis, genotype 4.

Background: The Daclatasvir and Sofosbuvir combination therapy (SOF/DCV) has shown efficacy in patients with chronic hepatitis C in clinical trials.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy and safety of SOF/DCV for treatment of patients with hepatitis C-related liver cirrhosis genotype 4.

Methods: Multicentre study involving 551 patients with liver cirrhosis genotype 4; 432 naïve patients and 119 treatment-experienced patients.

Shortened 8 Weeks Course of Dual Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir Therapy in Adolescent Patients, With Chronic Hepatitis C Infection.

Recently, sofosbuvir and the fixed-dose combination of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir were approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in adolescents, criteria being 12 years old and above or weighing at least 35 kg. Here we present the results of a pilot single cohort of 10 consecutive adolescent patients with chronic hepatitis C virus and treated with dual sofosbuvir/daclatasvir therapy for a response-tailored duration of 8 weeks for those who achieved very rapid virologic response (vRVR) and 12 weeks for those who did not. All patients achieved vRVR at week 2 and completed the shortened 8 weeks course.

Efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir plus simeprevir therapy in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C: a real-world experience.

Background: Simeprevir plus sofosbuvir (SIM/SOF) regimen was recommended by professional guidelines for certain patients with HCV genotype 1 infection and there is lack of data about this regimen in patients with genotype 4 infection.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of this regimen in Egyptian patients with chronic HCV genotype 4 infection in the real world.

Methods: Multicentre observational study included 583 patients with HCV genotype 4 infection who began 12 weeks of treatment with SIM plus SOF.

Studies on the effect of pollution on Lake Manzala ecosystem in Port-Said, Damietta and Dakahlia Governorates Egypt.

This work studied how pollution impacts the ecosystem of Lake Manzala by determination of physicochemical parameters, studying biodiversity of aquatic plants and macroinvertebrates, and determining bioaccumulation of Pb, Cu, Cd & Zn in some major organisms, Biomphalaria alexandrina and Melanoides tuberculata snails and Oreochromis niloticus fish. The more near to Mediterranean Sea and to the industrial area, Port-Said and Damietta sites showed higher dissolved oxygen and conductivity than Dakahlia sites. Distribution percentage of Eichhornia crassipes is high among Port-Said and Dakahlia sites of 100 and 88%, respectively, while Lemna giba is the most abundant among Damietta sites of 60%.

Fetal brain disruption sequence versus fetal brain arrest: A distinct autosomal recessive developmental brain malformation phenotype.

The term fetal brain disruption sequence (FBDS) was coined to describe a number of sporadic conditions caused by numerous external disruptive events presenting with variable imaging findings. However, rare familial occurrences have been reported. We describe five patients (two sib pairs and one sporadic) with congenital severe microcephaly, seizures, and profound intellectual disability.

Biomarkers of Barrett's esophagus.

Barrett's esophagus is the strongest risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Metaplasia in patients with BE may progress to dysplasia and then invasive carcinoma. Well-defined diagnostic, progressive, predictive, and prognostic biomarkers are needed to identify the presence of the disease, estimate the risk of malignant transformation, and predict the therapeutic outcome and survival of EAC patients.

Quality of life in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), assessed using the IBS-Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) measure after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment with mebeverine hydrochloride or pinaverium bromide: results of an international prospective observational cohort study in Poland, Egypt, Mexico and China.

Background And Objective: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) has a substantial impact on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) but high-quality data pre- and post-treatment using the IBS-Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) measure are limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes from baseline of the IBS-QOL scores, symptom scores and health economic data in IBS patients, after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment with mebeverine hydrochloride or pinaverium bromide.

Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study in patients with IBS, diagnosed using the Rome III criteria in four countries (Poland, Egypt, Mexico and China).

IL28B polymorphism and cytomegalovirus predict response to treatment in Egyptian HCV type 4 patients.

Aim: To test whether the status of positive cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA detection adds to the predictive value of IL28B and to further categorize C/T allele carriers.

Methods: This study included 166 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who received combined interferon and ribavirin therapy for 48 wk, 84 spontaneous hepatitis C virus (HCV) resolvers who were positive for IgG anti-HCV antibody and negative for HCV RNA, and 100 healthy subjects who were negative for both HCV antibodies and RNA as controls. Genomic DNA from peripheral blood was used for IL28B rs.

Hematopoietic stem cell mobilization into the peripheral circulation in patients with chronic liver diseases.

Objective: The present study was aimed to investigate and compare the kinetics of bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells (BMHSC) migration in the peripheral blood and liver in response to liver injury in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD).

Methods: In all, 45 CLD patients staged with Child-Pugh A, B and C and 15 healthy participants were evaluated for the concentration of circulating BMHSC by a flow cytometric analysis of CD133(+) /CD34(+) cells. In addition, homing BMHSC and hepatic progenitors were assessed by the immunohistochemical detection of CD133(+) and OV6(+) cells in liver biopsy specimens from Child-Pugh A and B patients.

A randomized trial of 24 versus 48 weeks of peginterferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin in Egyptian patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 4 and rapid viral response.

Background And Aim: Little data is available regarding the 24-week therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in Egyptian patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 infection. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of 24-week versus 48-week peginterferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin therapy in patients with HCV genotype 4 infection with with rapid virological response.

Methods: This trial included 102 patients with HCV genotype 4 infection and low viral load.

Association of IL28B SNP With Progression of Egyptian HCV Genotype 4 Patients to End Stage Liver Disease.

Background: IL28B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) play important roles in the management of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and are strongly associated with spontaneous and treatment-induced HCV clearance.

Objectives: In the present study, the association between IL28B variants and the progression of HCV infection in Egyptian patients infected with type 4a virus will be examined.

Patients And Methods: Frequencies of the protective genotype C/C of SNP, rs12979860 were determined in healthy subjects, spontaneous resolvers, and chronic HCV type 4 patients with low F scores and in patients with end stage liver disease (ESLD).

Chemical and biological assessment for Egyptian surface freshwater environment with reference to human activities.

The Egyptian freshwater was assessed in the River Nile, branches, main canals and certain drainages in eight Governorates, over eight successive seasons starting from spring 2008. Chemical assessment was made through ten parameters and the biological one was made through macro-invertebrates information. Results showed that means of Cd, Pb, Cu, Hg, Mn, Fe, Ni, Na, K & Ca varied in watercourses seasonally within somewhat narrow ranges, which may exceed the level of concern but with some elevations in branches, Rayahs and canals during certain seasons.