Prevalence of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Adult Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in a Locality in Upper Egypt.

Background/aims: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is gaining importance in the diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) symptoms. Diagnosis is based on the clinical presentation of esophageal dysfunction and pathological findings in the absence of other causes of tissue eosinophilia. Our study was designed to evaluate EoE prevalence in patients with UGI symptoms in our locality (El-Minia, Egypt).

Outcomes and predictors of treatment response with sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir with or without ribavirin in Egyptian patients with genotype 4 hepatitis C virus infection.

Background And Aims: Treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) changed dramatically with the introduction of oral direct-acting antiviral drugs due to their high antiviral potency and safety profile. Sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir combination therapy was extensively investigated in HCV genotypes 1, 2, and 3, while published data regarding its real-life application in the treatment of genotype 4 is lacking. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess the outcomes and predictors of treatment response with sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir with or without ribavirin in Egyptian patients with genotype 4 hepatitis C virus infection.

QSRR modeling for the chromatographic retention behavior of some β-lactam antibiotics using forward and firefly variable selection algorithms coupled with multiple linear regression.

The justified continuous emerging of new β-lactam antibiotics provokes the need for developing suitable analytical methods that accelerate and facilitate their analysis. A face central composite experimental design was adopted using different levels of phosphate buffer pH, acetonitrile percentage at zero time and after 15 min in a gradient program to obtain the optimum chromatographic conditions for the elution of 31 β-lactam antibiotics. Retention factors were used as the target property to build two QSRR models utilizing the conventional forward selection and the advanced nature-inspired firefly algorithm for descriptor selection, coupled with multiple linear regression.

Introduction: Impacting the Social Determinants of Health through a Regional Academic-Community Partnership: The Experience of the Mid-South Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center for Health Disparities Research.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to describe the background and experience of the Academic-Community Engagement (ACE) Core of the Mid-South Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center for Health Disparities Research (Mid-South TCC) in impacting the social determinants of health through the establishment and implementation of a regional academic-community partnership.

Conceptual Framework: The Mid-South TCC is informed by three strands of research: the social determinants of health, the socioecological model, and community-based participatory research (CBPR). Combined, these elements represent a science of engagement that has allowed us to use CBPR principles at a regional level to address the social determinants of health disparities.

Diagnostic Value of Glypican-3 for Hepatocellular Carcinomas.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and dangerous malignancy in many parts of the world, and especially in Egypt. Early diagnosis is the most important step in successful HCC management. However most cases are detected at late stage making effective intervention impossible.

Effect of duration and severity of migraine on retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, and choroidal thickness.

Purpose:: To investigate the factors in migraine that have the highest significance on retinal and choroidal layers' thickness.

Methods:: Ninety patients with migraine and 40 age-matched healthy participants were enrolled in this observational, cross-sectional study. After full ophthalmological examination, spectral domain-optical coherence tomography was done for all patients measuring the thickness of ganglion cell layer and retinal nerve fiber layer.

Genotoxic Effects Due to Exposure to Chromium and Nickel Among Electroplating Workers.

Using chromium and nickel for electroplating is important in many industries. This process induces variable adverse health effects among exposed workers. The aim of this study is to detect the genotoxic effects of combined exposure to chromium and nickel among electroplating workers.

Efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir-ledipasvir for treatment of a cohort of Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 infection.

Background And Aims: Treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has significantly changed during the last few years. The combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir has been shown to treat high proportions of patients with HCV genotype 1 with remarkable tolerability. The aim of the work was to assess the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir plus ledipasvir in treating treatment-naïve Egyptian patients with genotype 4 HCV infection.

Synthesis and molecular docking of new roflumilast analogues as preferential-selective potent PDE-4B inhibitors with improved pharmacokinetic profile.

In the present work, we designed and synthesized new roflumilast analogues with preferential-selective PDE-4B inhibition activity and improved pharmacokinetic properties. The unsubstituted benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl and -6-yl benzamide derivatives (4a and 6a) showed both good potency and preferential selectivity for PDE-4B. More remarkably, 6c revealed 6 times preferential PDE-4B/4D selectivity with a significant increase of in vitro cAMP and good % inhibition of TNF-α concentration.

Determinants of Obesity in Two Urban Communities: Perceptions and Community-Driven Solutions.

Objective: In the search of solutions to the rising rates of obesity, community perspectives are important because they highlight areas of need and help determine the level of community support for potential interventions. This study aimed to identify community perceptions of factors associated with obesity in two urban municipalities - one racially mixed and one predominantly African American - and to explore community-driven solutions to the problem of obesity.

Methods: The study used Photovoice methodology to understand what community members perceived as obesity-promoting factors in their residential environments.

LC-MS/MS bioassay of four proton pump inhibitors.

A new validated bio-analytical LC-MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous extraction and determination of four proton pump inhibitors: esomeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole and rabeprazole in human plasma using escitalopram as an internal standard. The proteins in plasma samples were precipitated using acetonitrile for the extraction of analytes which is a simple economic method. The separation was accomplished using a mobile phase composed of 10 mM ammonium formate: acetonitrile: methanol (20:40:40% v/v) at a flow rate of 0.

A new approach to mentoring for research careers: the National Research Mentoring Network.

Background And Purpose: Effective mentorship is critical to the success of early stage investigators, and has been linked to enhanced mentee productivity, self-efficacy, and career satisfaction. The mission of the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) is to provide all trainees across the biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and social sciences with evidence-based mentorship and professional development programming that emphasizes the benefits and challenges of diversity, inclusivity, and culture within mentoring relationships, and more broadly the research workforce. The purpose of this paper is to describe the structure and activities of NRMN.

Factors Perceived to Influence the Decision for African Americans to Become Registered Organ Donors at the Department of Motorized Vehicles.

Background: African Americans (AA) are a third as likely as Caucasians to become registered organ donors at the Department of Motorized Vehicles (DMV). The Department of Health and Human Services has set the goal that at least 50% of adults in each state are registered donors.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to explore the personal, behavioral and environmental factors associated with AA donor registration decision-making at the DMV.

Policy, System and Environmental Correlates of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in a Low-Income African American Population in the Southeast.

Objective: The current study seeks to identify policy, system and environmental (PSE) correlates of fruit and vegetable consumption among a sample of low-income African Americans in two counties in Alabama (Jefferson and Mobile) and one county in Mississippi (Forrest).

Design: A modified Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFFS) survey, which included multi-level ecological factors, was used to evaluate nutritional habits at the pre-intervention stage of a multi-state research study. We surveyed a total of 256 participants between May and August 2015.

Empowering One Community at a Time for Policy, System and Environmental Changes to Impact Obesity.

Objective: This article describes Mayors Mentoring Mayors (3M), an initiative of the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention (ArCOP), which expanded to five states to become the signature community initiative of the Mid-South Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center (Mid-South TCC) for Health Disparities Research.

Methods: The 3M program is an extension of the Growing Healthy Communities (GHC) program, which sought to build capacity within communities to reduce obesity by implementing policy, system and environmental (PSE) changes that support healthy living. GHC where the mayor was involved had the most significant changes toward better health.

Examining Neighborhood Social Cohesion in the Context of Community-based Participatory Research: Descriptive Findings from an Academic-Community Partnership.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to describe the process of conducting an assessment of neighborhood perceptions and cohesion by a community coalition-academic team created in the context of community-based participatory research (CBPR), to guide the design of locally relevant health initiatives.

Methods: Guided by CBPR principles, a collaborative partnership was established between an academic center and a local, urban, underserved neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama to identify and address community concerns and priorities. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in September 2016 among community residents (N=90) to examine perceptions of neighborhood characteristics, including social cohesion and neighborhood problems.

Bikeshare Use in Urban Communities: Individual and Neighborhood Factors.

Objective: Bicycling is an affordable way to increase access to employment, schooling, and services and an effective measure against obesity. Bikeshare programs can make bicycling accessible to diverse populations, but little evidence exists on their adoption in low-resource neighborhoods. Our study examined factors associated with bikeshare use in a metropolitan area in the southern United States.

A Community Health Advisor Program to Reduce Cancer Screening Disparities in the Deep South and Appalachia: The American Cancer Society's CHA Collaborative.

Introduction: Cancer disparities continue to exist in the United States. Community health advisors (CHAs) can play a critical role in addressing cancer disparities. The American Cancer Society (ACS) implemented a 3-year pilot CHA program in the South based on an evidence-based program to increase breast cancer screening.

Training Needs of Clinical and Research Professionals to Optimize Minority Recruitment and Retention in Cancer Clinical Trials.

The study of disparities in minority recruitment to cancer clinical trials has focused primarily on inquiries among minority patient populations. However, clinical trial recruitment is complex and requires a broader appreciation of the multiple factors that influence minority participation. One area that has received little attention is minority recruitment training for professionals who assume various roles in the clinical trial recruitment process.

Clips vs Resilient Liners Used With Bilateral Posterior Prefabricated Bars for Retaining Four Implant-Supported Mandibular Overdentures.

The objective of this research was to clinically compare peri-implant tissue health of bar-clips vs silicone-resilient liners used with bilateral posterior bars for retaining 4 implant-supported mandibular overdentures. Thirty completely edentulous male patients (mean age, 65 years) were randomly assigned into 2 equal groups. Each patient received 4 implants in the canine and first molar regions of the mandible using a flapless surgical technique.

Egyptian experience in increasing utilization of reperfusion therapies in acute ischemic stroke.

Background The rate of alteplase (tPA) thrombolysis utilization in acute stroke in Egypt is <1%. We report on the causes of this low rate of reperfusion therapies and take corrective action to improve it. Methods Two prospective observational studies were conducted at Ain Shams University hospitals.

Bioactive Natural Products of Marine Sponges from the Genus Hyrtios.

Marine sponges are known as a rich source for novel bioactive compounds with valuable pharmacological potential. One of the most predominant sponge genera is , reported to have various species such as , , , , and and a number of undescribed species. Members of the genus are a rich source of natural products with diverse and valuable biological activities, represented by different chemical classes including alkaloids, sesterterpenes and sesquiterpenes.

Synthesis and molecular docking of new imidazoquinazolinones as analgesic agents and selective COX-2 inhibitors.

Aim: The discovery of new generation of selective COX-2 inhibitors with potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity and minimal side effects is a major interest.

Materials & Methods: Novel imidazole and imidazo[1,5-a]quinazoline derivatives were prepared and evaluated for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. COX-1/COX-2 isozyme selectivity testing and molecular docking were performed.

Evaluation of leached metals in recovered aluminum coagulants from water treatment slurry.

The water treatment industry consumes large quantities of coagulant and produces huge amounts of slurry. The cost of alum used in water treatment, stringent regulations and negative impacts of sludge disposal are the motive to do integrated research studies on the technical feasibility of aluminum coagulant recovery from sludge using acidification. This work studied the leaching of iron, manganese, and chromium as the most extracted metals with aluminum during sludge acidification; furthermore, these metals have a great impact on the recovered coagulants' efficiency and treated water quality.