Role of endoscopic ultrasound and cyst fluid tumor markers in diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions.

Background: Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are common in clinical practice. The accurate classification and diagnosis of these lesions are crucial to avoid unnecessary treatment of benign lesions and missed opportunities for early treatment of potentially malignant lesions.

Aim: To evaluate the role of cyst fluid analysis of different tumor markers such as cancer antigens [, cancer antigen (CA)19-9, CA72-4], carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 1 (SPINK1), interleukin 1 beta (IL1-β), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)], amylase, and mucin stain in diagnosing pancreatic cysts and differentiating malignant from benign lesions.

Successful treatment of hepatitis C genotype 4 using sofosbuvir, daclatasvir, simeprevir and ribavirin in Egyptian patients with direct-acting antiviral agent treatment failure.

Introduction: In chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients in whom prior direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) treatment had failed, outcomes after retreatment are optimal. Combination of sofosbuvir (SOF), daclatasvir (DCV), simeprevir (SIM), and ribavirin (RBV) in treatment experienced patients is recommended in current guidelines despite insufficient data. Our aim is to determine the efficacy and safety of SOF, DCV, SIM plus RBV in HCV infected patients who failed prior DAA treatment.

Detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HCV-infected patients following sustained virologic response.

It is unclear whether direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) result in the complete eradication of HCV infection or whether some quantities of the virus may persist after achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR). Aim The aim of this work was to study the possibility of the persistence of HCV RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after achieving SVR following DAA treatment. This study included 100 patients infected with HCV genotype 4, who were candidates for receiving DAAs and who achieved SVR during follow-up, as determined at 12 and/or 24 weeks following the end of treatment.

Tumor characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma after direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C: Comparative analysis with antiviral therapy-naive patients.

Background: Insufficient and contradictory data are available about the relation between direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Aim: To analyze differences in basic clinical, radiological, and laboratory characteristics in addition to tumor behavior upon HCC diagnosis between patients with and without a previous history of DAAs exposure.

Methods: This multicenter case-control study included 497 patients with chronic HCV-related HCC, allocated into one of two groups according to their history of antiviral treatment for their HCV.

Role of Serum Vitamin D, Interleukin 13, and microRNA-135a in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Treatment Failure in Egyptian HCV-Infected Patients Receiving Direct Antiviral Agents.

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are used for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. However, treatment failure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development following treatment was reported. In this study, we assessed the role of serum vitamin D, interleukin 13 (IL-13), and microRNA-135a in the prediction of treatment failure with DAA and HCC development among Egyptian HCV-infected patients.

The Unmet Needs of Hepatitis E Virus Diagnosis in Suspected Drug-Induced Liver Injury in Limited Resource Setting.

Currently, there are no specific biomarkers for drug-induced liver injury (DILI), and the diagnosis of DILI is based mainly on the exclusion of other causes of liver dysfunction and the recognition of potential causative drugs. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) diagnosis is not routinely enrolled in many countries, and HEV infection could be misdiagnosed as DILI. We retrospectively analyzed plasma samples ( = 80) collected from suspected DILI for HEV markers such as anti-HEV IgM, anti-HEV IgG, and HEV RNA.

Comparative Study of CTX-M-15 Producing ST131 Clone Isolated from Urinary Tract Infections and Acute Diarrhoea.

Background And Purpose: The alarming increase in the prevalence of CTX-M-15 extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing has been significantly linked to the clonal expansion of emerging sequence type (ST131). This study aimed to screen for the O16/O25-ST131 clones among different phylogenetic types of strains isolated from urinary and diarrhoeal samples.

Methods: A total of 205 strains isolated from patients with UTI and acute diarrhoea were investigated by phenotypic and genotypic methods for ESBL identification.

Gastric antral vascular ectasia in hepatitis C virus related liver cirrhosis: Fetching for predictors.

Background And Aim: Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is observed in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The exact pathophysiologic mechanism that underlies this condition is unknown. In our study, we estimate the prevalence of GAVE in hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis and attempted to determine if any of the hepatocellular manifestations, liver functions, serum gastrin, abdominal ultrasound and endoscopic picture have a relation to, or could predict, the occurrence of GAVE in cirrhotic patients.

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).

Role of biomarkers in the prediction and diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has progressively increased in recent years and is now the fifth and the second most common cancer in the World and in Egypt, respectively. Much work has focused in the development of assays for detecting hepatic carcinogensis before the observance of hepatic focal lesions. Particular attention has been directed towards HCC-specific biomarkers for use in the early diagnosis of HCC and in the confirmation of radiological studies.

Vascular endothelial growth factor level in chronic liver diseases.

Ninety individuals (76 males and 14 females) were classified into four groups. G1 (Control) included 20 healthy individuals. G2 (Chronic hepatitis) included 20 patients, G3 (Liver cirrhosis group) included 30 patients, and G4 (HCC) included 20 patients with HCC.