Population Pharmacokinetics of Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir in Pediatric Patients: Impact of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Purpose: The pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of direct-acting antivirals, namely ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF), might be altered in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), affecting the optimum dose needed for hepatitis C virus treatment. Limited data are available evaluating the population PK of LDV/SOF and SOF metabolite GS-331007. We aimed to study whether ALL could affect population PK parameters of LDV, SOF, and the SOF major metabolite GS-331007 in hepatitis C virus-infected children, develop and validate a predictive PK model of LDV/SOF disposition in this special population, and identify their explained and unexplained sources of variability.

Best practices for hepatitis C linkage to care in pregnant and postpartum women: perspectives from the Treatment In Pregnancy for Hepatitis C Community of Practice.

There is an increasing burden of hepatitis C virus among persons of reproductive age, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, in many regions worldwide. Routine health services during pregnancy present a critical window of opportunity to diagnose and link women with hepatitis C virus infection for care and treatment to decrease hepatitis C virus-related morbidity and early mortality. Effective treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in women diagnosed during pregnancy also prevents hepatitis C virus-related adverse events in pregnancy and hepatitis C virus vertical transmission in future pregnancies.

Early topical mitomycin-C prevents stricture formation in children with caustic ingestion.

Aim: Stricture formation is the most common remote complication of caustic ingestion. The aim of this study was evaluation of the efficacy of early topical endoscopic application of mitomycin C (MMC) in prevention of stricture formation after corrosive ingestion in children.

Methods: We enrolled 78 children with a history of caustic ingestion within 48 h in a prospective, randomised-controlled study.

Acceptability of hepatitis C screening and treatment during pregnancy in pregnant women in Egypt, Pakistan, and Ukraine: A cross-sectional survey.

Chronic hepatitis C (HCV) in women of childbearing age is a major public health concern with ∼15 million women aged 15-49 years living with HCV globally in 2019. Evidence suggests HCV in pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes. This includes ∼6% risk of infants acquiring HCV vertically, and this is the leading cause of HCV in children globally.

Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir in Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Children With Hematological Malignancies: A Pharmacokinetic Study.

Purpose: Children with hematological malignancies and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are at a higher risk for rapid progression of liver disease and malignancy relapse due to multiple hepatitis flares and chemotherapy interruption. They are therefore potential candidates for microelimination of HCV infection. This study aimed to assess the effect of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of direct-acting antivirals, namely ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) and the SOF major metabolite GS-331007.

Enhancing interventions for prevention of mother-to-child- transmission of hepatitis B virus.

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a cornerstone of efforts to support progress towards elimination of viral hepatitis. Current guidelines recommend maternal screening, antiviral therapy during the third trimester of high-risk pregnancies, universal and timely HBV birth dose vaccination, and post-exposure prophylaxis with hepatitis B immunoglobulin for selected neonates. However, serological and molecular diagnostic testing, treatment and HBV vaccination are not consistently deployed, particularly in many high endemicity settings, and models predict that global targets for reduction in paediatric incidence will not be met by 2030.

Pathway to global elimination of hepatitis B: HBV cure is just the first step.

Hepatitis B (HBV) is a major cause of global morbidity and mortality, and the leading cause of liver cancer worldwide. Significant advances have recently been made toward the development of a finite HBV treatment that achieves permanent loss of HBsAg and HBV DNA (so-called "HBV cure"), which could provide the means to eliminate HBV as a public health threat. However, the HBV cure is just one step toward achieving WHO HBV elimination targets by 2030, and much work must be done now to prepare for the successful implementation of the HBV cure.

Hepatitis B Virus in West African Children: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of HIV and Other Factors Associated with Hepatitis B Infection.

While Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are endemic in West Africa, the prevalence of HBV/HIV coinfection and their associated risk factors in children remains unclear. In this review, we sought to assess HBsAg seroprevalence among 0- to 16-year-olds with and without HIV in West African countries and the risk factors associated with HBV infection in this population. Research articles between 2000 and 2021 that reported the prevalence of HBV and associated risk factors in children in West Africa were retrieved from the literature using the Africa Journals Online (AJOL), PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases as search tools.

Biodegradation of ochratoxin A by endophytic Trichoderma koningii strains.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. that causes a threat to food safety and human health.

Microneedling and 5-flurouracil can enhance the efficacy of non-cultured epidermal cell suspension transplantation for resistant acral vitiligo.

Acral vitiligo is often resistant to medical and surgical treatments. Non-cultured epidermal cell suspension (NCES) transplantation is a common surgical therapeutic modality for vitiligo. 5-Flurouracil (5-FU) in combination with microneedling has been found to be useful in treating vitiligo.

Challenge of managing hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections in resource-limited settings.

The global burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and coinfection represents a major public health concern, particularly in resource-limited settings. Elimination of HCV by 2030 has become foreseeable, with effective direct-acting antiviral oral therapies and the availability of affordable generics in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). However, access to oral nucleos(t)ide therapy for HBV remains critical and is limited outside the existing global HIV program platforms despite affordable prices.

Nationwide hepatitis C virus screening and treatment of adolescents in Egyptian schools.

Until 2018, Egypt had the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection globally, affecting approximately 7% of the population. Despite efforts in diagnosis and treatment since 2006, nearly 2 million individuals with chronic HCV infection had yet to be diagnosed as of early 2018. In December, 2018, a mass HCV screening campaign for adolescents aged 15-18 years was initiated.

Egyptian revalidation of non-invasive parameters for predicting esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients: A retrospective study.

Background And Study Aims: In resource-limited countries, non-invasive tests for assessing liver fibrosis are a potential alternative to costly endoscopic screening for esophageal varices. We aimed to validate several non-invasive parameters for predicting the presence of varices.

Patients And Methods: Between September 2006 and August 2017, a total of 46,014 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy as one of the perquisites for receiving hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy were enrolled and divided into group I (without varices) and group II (with varices).

Ledipasvir-sofosbuvir in Adolescents With Chronic Hepatitis C and Hematological Malignancies Undergoing Chemotherapy.

Objectives: In children with hematological malignancies, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with more rapid liver disease progression and higher risk of malignancy relapse due to chemotherapy interruption. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of ledipasvir-sofosbuvir for 12weeks in these patients.

Methods: In a phase 2, open-label study, at one site in Egypt, patients ages 12-<18years with chronic HCV genotype 1 or 4 infection undergoing maintenance chemotherapy for hematological malignancies received ledipasvir-sofosbuvir (90 mg/400 mg) once daily for 12weeks.

Vaccination at the forefront of the fight against hepatitis B and C.

Vaccination is a key intervention for the elimination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections to fulfil the WHO’s 2030 global elimination goal. Innovations in 2021 promise to curb HBV transmission by reducing mother-to-child transmission and enhancing vaccine immunogenicity in at-risk adult groups. Additionally, an HCV vaccination trial was conducted, and there were also advances in our understanding of the immunology underpinning the lack of protection against HCV reinfection.

Iron stress response and bioaccumulation potential of three fungal strains isolated from sewage-irrigated soil.

Aims: Contamination with heavy metal (HM) is a severe environmental issue. Therefore, there is a pressing need to create environmentally safe and cost-effective HM bioremediation approaches.

Methods And Results: Three iron-tolerant fungal strains were isolated from sewage-irrigated soils, molecularly identified and deposited in the GenBank as Aspergillus flavus MT639638, A.

Non-cultured epidermal cells suspended in either platelet-rich plasma or ringer lactate for stable vitiligo: A prospective comparative study.

Background: Noncultured epidermal cell suspension (NCES) transplantation is a commonly used surgical treatment for resistant stable vitiligo. The combination of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with different therapeutic modalities for vitiligo yielded higher repigmentation response, probably due to platelet-derived growth factors.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of PRP-suspended NCES compared to NCES suspended in Ringer's lactate (RL) solution in the treatment of stable vitiligo.

The outcome of re-treatment of relapsed hepatitis C virus infection in a resource-limited setting.

The aim of this study was to compare efficacy and safety of different combination regimens in re-treatment of HCV in the setting of inaccessibility of resistance testing. This real-life prospective study included 86 chronic HCV infected patients who experienced failure of treatment treated at Faculty of Medicine Ain shams Research Institute (MASRI) since 2018. 64% of the patients were males, with median age 50.