Ultrasound-guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block Versus Paravertebral Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Children Undergoing Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Randomized, Comparative Study.

Objectives: This study compared the postoperative analgesic efficacy of serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) and thoracic paravertebral block (PVB) in children undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Setting: Operating room and intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital.

Design: A single-center, randomized, comparative, open-labeled study.

Transient elastography and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for assessment of liver fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a health burden with consequent morbidity and mortality. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for evaluating fibrosis and assessing disease severity and prognostic purposes post-treatment. Noninvasive alternatives for liver biopsy such as transient elastography (TE) and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) are critical needs.

Screening and determinant of suspected developmental delays among Egyptian preschool-aged children: a cross-sectional national community-based study.

Background: Early childhood life is critical for optimal development and is the foundation of future well-being. Genetic, sociocultural, and environmental factors are important determinants of child development.

Aim: The objectives were to screen for suspected developmental delays (DDs) among Egyptian preschool children, and to explore the determinants of these delays based on sociodemographic, epidemiological, maternal, and child perinatal risk factors.

Thermodynamic parameters of phenylglycine interaction with UO, La and Zr.

Phenylglycine interactions with (UO, La and Zr) transition metal ions were studied at different ionic strengths and different temperature degrees applying Bjerrum's method. The work determine and discuss both the thermodynamic stabilities and the degree of interactions [Formula: see text]. Also the work calculate and discuss the thermodynamic parameters of interactions of phenylglycine with (UO, La and Zr).

Seroprevalence of HBV/HCV coinfection among patients with HCV screened during the national campaign for HCV eradication in Egypt.

Background And Study Aims: Little is known about the true prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). This multicenter nationwide study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of HBV among Egyptian patients with HCV and its possible risk factors.

Patients And Methods: This is a cross-sectional, multicenter, nationwide study.

Hepatologists' Awareness and Knowledge of NAFLD and the Familiarity with Renaming NAFLD to MAFLD.

Background & Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging epidemic; it is a negative diagnosis that depends mainly on the presence of hepatic steatosis with or without inflammation after the exclusion of other chronic liver diseases and excess alcohol intake. However, the new definition of MAFLD is a shift towards a diagnosis of inclusion based on the presence of metabolic dysfunction, regardless of alcohol consumption or other concomitant liver diseases. Given the growing relevance of the disease, data on hepatologists' views and understanding of NAFLD are limited, we aimed to determine hepatologists' awareness and expertise of NAFLD screening, diagnosis, and therapeutic options as well as the influence of changing the NAFLD name to MAFLD on awareness of the fatty liver disease (FLD).

Role of IL-17A in enhancing liver fibrosis induced by TGF-β1 and IL-13 in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice.

Schistosoma mansoni liver fibrosis is a complicated multicellular process involving numerous cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-1) and interleukin (IL)-13 have been identified as critical pro-fibrotic mediators in many studies. IL-17A was linked to enhanced TGF- and IL-13-induced pathologies.

Editorial: The Metabolic (Dysfunction)-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Debate: Why the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Consensus Process is Not Representative.

A debate has recently arisen in hepatology on the redefinition of fatty liver disease associated with metabolic dysfunction. The definition of metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has been widely endorsed by multiple stakeholders and societies. More importantly, although robust evidence supports the utility of the definition of MAFLD in clinical practice and research, and for increasing awareness of liver disease, controversy still abounds.

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.

Application of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) in Sex Identification of Parrots Bred in Egypt.

Over 400 of the 3800 tropical avian species are endangered or threatened. One of many solutions to conserve animal biodiversity is breeding animals in zoos or private animal farms. Animal breeding programs are difficult to implement in species with sexual monomorphism, such as parrots.

The Association of Dental Pulp Stones to Cardiovascular and Renal Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Pulp stone (PS) is a dystrophic calcification in the tooth's pulp chamber and was suggested in the literature to be associated with other calcifications in the body. This study aimed to investigate the association of PS to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and renal stones (RS).

Methods: Three databases were searched until June 2021 in addition to manual searching of Google Scholar and grey literature.

Efficacy of Dexmedetomidine versus Propofol in Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Transnasal Transsphenoidal Pituitary Tumor Resection.

Background: Dexmedetomidine is associated with good perioperative hemodynamics together with decreased opioid requirements. Furthermore, propofol has been used to achieve hypotensive anesthesia as a part of total intravenous anesthesia.

Aims: This study was performed to compare dexmedetomidine and propofol on the adequacy of hypotensive anesthesia during transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors.

Real-life experience of treating HCV co-infection among HIV-infected population in Egypt: single-center experience.

Background: Liver disease has emerged as a leading cause of death among PLHIV coinfected with HCV.

Methods: A retrospective study involving all HCV viremic patients coinfected with HIV who presented to HCV/HIV multidisciplinary clinics located at Embaba fever hospital. Patients were assigned to receive DAAs according to the national treatment guidelines.

Evaluation of factors affecting patients' refusal of HCV treatment in a cohort of Egyptian patients.

Background: Treatment refusal, defined as active refusal of a patient to receive treatment despite physician recommendations, has not been extensively evaluated before in hepatitis C virus in the era of direct acting antivirals.

Objective: To investigate the reasons for refusal to receive hepatitis C virus treatment in Egypt.

Methods: an observational study conducted between July 2018 and November 2019 in Egypt.

The oral microbiome of treated and untreated chronic HCV infection: A preliminary study.

Objectives: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a debilitating disease that is lately treated using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Changes in the oral microbiome were detected in other liver diseases; however, oral microbiome was never investigated in patients having chronic HCV infection, whether pre- or post-treatment.

Materials And Methods: This case-control preliminary study enrolled three equal groups: Group (I): untreated HCV patients; group (II): HCV patients who achieved viral clearance after DAA administration; and group (III): healthy controls.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and autoimmune hepatitis: an overlooked interaction.

Introduction: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the most common liver disease globally, and affects about a quarter of the general population. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a severe (sometimes fatal) liver disease that affects children and adults, with a rising prevalence. Thus, not surprisingly, both conditions can frequently coexist, with potential synergistic impact on the course of the disease and response to therapy of both entities.

Impact of successful HCV treatment using direct acting antivirals on recurrence of well ablated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: There are many contradictory studies that dealt with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence rate of well ablated hepatitis C virus (HCV) related HCC. We aim to assess the recurrence rate of previously ablated HCC in patients who received direct acting antiviral (DAA) for their HCV.

Research Design And Methods: This is a retrospective data analysis of 523 HCV patients who have a history of successfully ablated HCC and eligible for HCV treatment.

Long-term clinical outcomes in sustained responders with chronic hepatitis C after treatment with direct-acting antivirals.

Objective: Little is known about how the achievement of sustained virological response (SVR) after treatment with direct-antiviral agents (DAAs) affects fibrosis and clinical outcomes in the long term. Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of achieving SVR on long-term changes in fibrosis and clinical outcomes in CHC patients treated with different DAAs-based regimens.

Methods: a prospective, 3-year follow-up study of 113 CHC patients who had achieved SVR after treatment with different DAAs-based regimens between January and June 2015 was conducted.

Efficacy of combined Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir in the treatment of COVID-19 patients with pneumonia: a multicenter Egyptian study.

Background: Limited experimental and clinical evidence suggests a potential role for sofosbuvir/daclatasvir in treating COVID19. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of generic sofosbuvir/daclatasvir in treating COVID-19 patients with pneumonia.

Research Design And Methods: This multicenter prospective study involved 174 patients with COVID-19.

Gastrointestinal manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus and coronavirus disease 2019: Understanding the intersecting regions between the two epidemics.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a pandemic. As of February 2021, there were 107 million COVID-19 cases worldwide. As a comparison, there are approximately 38 million people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) worldwide.