Forgotten Biliary Plastic Stents: Complications, Management, and Clinical Outcomes.

: Endoscopic biliary plastic stenting is a safe and effective temporary therapeutic modality used in various benign biliary disorders. Long-term indwelling stents for more than one year without retrieval are termed "forgotten biliary stents". In clinical practice, the forgotten stents are underestimated and the majority of data were obtained from case reports.

The Efficacy and Safety of Endoscopic Balloon Dilatation in the Treatment of Functional Post-Sleeve-Gastrectomy Stenosis.

: Functional gastric stenosis, a consequence of sleeve gastrectomy, is defined as a rotation of the gastric tube along its longitudinal axis. It is brought on by gastric twisting without the anatomical constriction of the gastric lumen. During endoscopic examination, the staple line is deviated with a clockwise rotation, and the stenosis requires additional endoscopic manipulations for its transposition.

Resolved hepatitis B infection in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy: Monitor versus prophylaxis against viral reactivation.

Risk of hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBVr) in patients with resolved HBV infection receiving immunosuppressive therapy has been a growing concern, particularly in the era of biological and targeted therapies. HBV monitoring versus antiviral prophylaxis against HBVr in those patients remains controversial. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of HBVr and HBV-related hepatitis in resolved HBV patients who received immunosuppressive therapy with or without antiviral prophylaxis.

Association of Serum Osteoprotegerin Level With Myocardial Injury and Cardiovascular Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.

Background: Chronic kidney disease has emerged as a significant independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular calcification is an active process involving a complex interaction of inducers and inhibitors. High sensitivity cardiac troponin T assay detects troponin T with higher sensitivity and precision at an earlier point of time than the conventional assays, and is associated with poor outcomes.

Sofosbuvir/Ledipasvir for Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection in Adult Patients with β- Thalassemia Major: A Real-Life Study.

Background & Aims: Patients with thalassemia have a lifelong need for blood transfusion, which makes them more risky to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Iron overload and chronic HCV are considered risk factors for patients with thalassemia to develop liver insults. The aim of the present study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir in the treatment of chronic HCV infection in Egyptian adult patients with β- thalassemia major.

Intermittent versus Daily Eltrombopag Dosage Protocols for the Treatment of Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia: Real-Life Experience.

Introduction/aim: Eltrombopag is recommended for the treatment of refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Based on its half-life, it may be practical to use an intermittent dosage. Our aim was to compare the effectiveness and safety of intermittent vs daily eltrombopag dosage protocols for the treatment of primary ITP refractory to prior therapies.

Galectin-3 as a prognostic biomarker for diabetic nephropathy.

Introduction: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) represents one of the main causes of end-stage renal disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Galectin-3 has been implicated in pathogenesis of many pathological conditions. To date, there are limited data regarding the relationship between galectin-3 and DN.

Impact of Helicobacter pylori Infection on Gastric Variceal Bleeding among Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: Currently, it is well known that Helicobacter pylori- (-) related peptic ulcer is one of the main causes of nonvariceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients. However, there is a lack of data to identify the exact effect of infection on variceal bleeding. This study was conducted to identify the impact of infection on gastric variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients.

Predictors for eltrombopag response in patients with hepatitis C virus-associated thrombocytopenia.

Background And Aims: Thrombocytopenia is a common hematological abnormality observed in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The use of eltrombopag has been approved for HCV-associated thrombocytopenia. This is the first study aiming to determine the predictive factors of response to eltrombopag therapy in patients with HCV-associated thrombocytopenia.

Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy versus N-Butyl-2 Cyanoacrylate injection in the management of actively bleeding esophageal varices: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The management of acute esophageal variceal bleeding remains a clinical challenge. Band ligation is the main therapeutic option, but it may be technically difficult to perform in active bleeders. This may necessitate an alternative therapy for this group of patients.

Outcomes of Treatment and Predictors of Response to Sofosbuvir Plus Simeprevir in Hepatitis C Virus with Genotype-4 Infection.

Background & Aims: Treatment plan of chronic HCV infection has dramatically improved after the introduction of different groups of Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) drugs. These drugs have been found to be safe and effective. Sofosbuvir (SOF) plus simeprevir (SMV) regimen has been shown to be tolerable and effective in treatment of patients with HCV genotype 1.

Predictors of in-hospital mortality in a cohort of elderly Egyptian patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) affects large number of elderly with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Early identification and management of the factors predicting in-hospital mortality might decrease mortality. This study was conducted to identify the causes of acute UGIB and the predictors of in-hospital mortality in elderly Egyptian patients.

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.