Automated Fibrosis-4 Index: Simplifying Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease for Diabetologists.

: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have a high prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (55%) and are at increased risk for developing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, a severe form of NAFLD. Early detection of advanced fibrosis in patients with T2D and NAFLD is crucial and can prevent progression to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, screening for liver disease and risk-stratification pathways are not established in patients with T2D.

New insights into the anti-inflammatory and anti-melanoma mechanisms of action of azelaic acid and other Fusarium solani metabolites via in vitro and in silico studies.

Metabolites exploration of the ethyl acetate extract of Fusarium solani culture broth that was isolated from Euphorbia tirucalli root afforded five compounds; 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (1), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (2), tyrosol (3), azelaic acid (4), malic acid (5), and fusaric acid (6). Fungal extract as well as its metabolites were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperpigmentation potential via in vitro cyclooxygenases and tyrosinase inhibition assays, respectively. Azelaic acid (4) exhibited powerful and selective COX-2 inhibition followed by fusaric acid (6) with IC values (2.

Hazardous impacts of heavy metal pollution on biometric and biochemical composition of pearl oyster Pinctada radiata from five sites along Alexandria coast, with reference to its potential health risk assessment.

This study investigated the effect of heavy metals on the pearl oyster Pinctada radiata from 5 sites along the coast of Alexandria, with focus on its ecological health and potential risks to human consumption. Pollution results showed that Abu-Qir had the highest Cu and Cd values. Montaza and Eastern Harbor had the highest Fe and Pb values, respectively.

The future of International Classification of Diseases coding in steatotic liver disease: An expert panel Delphi consensus statement.

Background: Following the adoption of new nomenclature for steatotic liver disease, we aimed to build consensus on the use of International Classification of Diseases codes and recommendations for future research and advocacy.

Methods: Through a two-stage Delphi process, a core group (n = 20) reviewed draft statements and recommendations (n = 6), indicating levels of agreement. Following revisions, this process was repeated with a large expert panel (n = 243) from 73 countries.

Beyond genotype-4: Direct-acting antiviral agents in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Background And Aims: Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) have revolutionized the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, resulting in a high sustained virologic response (SVR) rate. However, the published data from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia are limited to small patient groups and specific DAAs used for patients with genotype-4.(GT-4).

A novel candidate hepatitis C virus genotype 4 subtype identified by next generation sequencing full-genome characterization in a patient from Saudi Arabia.

Background And Aim: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major global public health concern, being a leading cause of chronic liver diseases such as chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The virus is classified into 8 genotypes and 93 subtypes, each displaying distinct geographic distributions. Genotype 4 is the most predominant in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean and is associated with high rates of hepatitis C infection worldwide.

Purification and fractionation of phycobiliproteins from Arthrospira platensis and Corallina officinalis with evaluating their biological activities.

Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) are a class of water-soluble pigments with a variety of biological functions that are present in red macroalgae and cyanobacterial species. The crude forms of phycocyanin (C-PC) from the blue green alga Arthrospira platensis and allophycocyanin (APC) from the red macroalga Corallina officinalis were extracted and purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, anion exchange chromatography, and size exclusion chromatography methods, respectively. The obtained C-PC and APC from A.

Trophic status determination of the Egyptian Eastern Mediterranean Sea based on phytoplankton diversity and their biochemical contents.

The present study attempted to test the applicability of using phytoplankton as a bioindicator for assessing water quality along the Eastern Alexandria coast, Egypt. Eight stations were selected to cover the different characteristics of seawater during the summer 2022. Six algal groups were detected in different ratios: Bacillariophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Dinophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Silicoflagellata, and Euglenophyceae.

Prediction of High-Risk Varices in Patients with Compensated Advanced Chronic Liver Disease in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: Liver stiffness and low platelet count can predict portal hypertension and high-risk varices (HRVs) in patients with cirrhosis. Thus, screening endoscopy may not be required for all patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD). However, data from Saudi Arabia are limited.

Surgical Management of Intra-gastric Balloon Complications, Single-Center Experience, and Literature Review.

Introduction: In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of obesity has multiplied in the last decades leading to a surge in bariatric surgery and other endoscopic modalities. The intra-gastric balloon (IGB) is the most used endoscopic modality. Surgical management for IGB complications is required for gastrointestinal perforation and/or obstruction.

Morpho-anatomical, and chemical characterization of some calcareous Mediterranean red algae species.

Climatic changes are anticipated to have a detrimental effect on calcifying marine species. Calcareous red algae may be especially vulnerable to seasonal variations since they are common and essential biologically, but there is little research on the morpho-anatomical, and chemical characterization of such species. This study conducted the seasonal investigation of the three dominant Mediterranean calcified red algae.

Emergence of Post COVID-19 Vaccine Autoimmune Diseases: A Single Center Study.

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) became a major concern since the announcement that it is a pandemic in early 2020. Vaccine trials were started in November 2020, and completed rapidly due to the urgency to get over the infection. Side effects to vaccines started to be reported.

Molecular and Genetic Characterization of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) among Saudi Chronically HBV-Infected Individuals.

The study aimed to characterize the genotype and subgenotypes of HBV circulating in Saudi Arabia, the presence of clinically relevant mutations possibly associated with resistance to antivirals or immune escape phenomena, and the possible impact of mutations in the structural characteristics of HBV polymerase. Plasma samples from 12 Saudi Arabian HBV-infected patients were analyzed using an in-house PCR method and direct sequencing. Saudi patients were infected with mainly subgenotype D1.

Hepatobiliary manifestations of COVID-19 and their impact on severity and outcomes in a single center in Saudi Arabia.

Recognizing hepatic manifestations of COVID-19 and their impact on the severity and outcome is crucial in managing this emerging pandemic. However, we lack such reported data in Saudi Arabia regarding this clinical entity. This is a retrospective observational study conducted on 387 patients with COVID-19 disease who were hospitalized at King Fahad Hospital of the University from March-September 2020.

Variation in Anti-inflammatory, Anti-arthritic, and Antimicrobial Activities of Different Extracts of Common Egyptian Seaweeds with an Emphasis on Their Phytochemical and Heavy Metal Contents.

The anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, and antimicrobial activities of some common Egyptian seaweeds in addition to their phytochemical and heavy metal contents were investigated. Phytochemical screening of the seaweed extracts showed the presence of different primary and secondary metabolites with different concentrations according to their species and the used solvent. The ethanolic extract of Colpmenia sinuosa (CSBE2) exhibited the maximum anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity at 1000 μg/ml concentration compared to other seaweed extracts.

Insulin resistance induced by de novo pathway-generated C16-ceramide is associated with type 2 diabetes in an obese population.

Background: Obesity and diabetes are two chronic metabolic diseases whose prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate globally. A close association between obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance has been identified, and many studies have pinpointed obesity as a causal risk factor for insulin resistance. However, the mechanism underlying this association is not entirely understood.

Gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19 in a single center in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Several gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms have been associated with novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Their prevalence and relation to the severity and hospital outcome of COVID-19 have not been well reported in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. We aimed to examine the GI manifestations of COVID-19 and their association with the severity and hospital outcome of COVID-19 infection.

Seaweed as bioindicators of organic micropollutants polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs).

This study highlights the role of seaweed as important indicators of pollutants as they respond immediately to change in water chemistry and have high survival capabilities. Concentration and risk assessment of 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as well as 20 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), were examined in the seaweed from El-Mex Bay, Mediterranean Sea during spring and autumn seasons. The green alga Ulva compressa had a maximum ability to accumulate both PAHs and OCPs.

Genetic Subtypes and Natural Resistance Mutations in HCV Genotype 4 Infected Saudi Arabian Patients.

This study aimed to characterize the HCV genetic subtypes variability and the presence of natural occurring resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) in Saudi Arabia patients. A total of 17 GT patients were analyzed. Sequence analysis of NS3, NS5A, and NS5B regions was performed by direct sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses were used to determine genetic subtypes, RAS, and polymorphisms.

Crude sulfated polysaccharides extracted from marine cyanobacterium with evaluation antioxidant and cytotoxic activities.

Background And Objectives: Microalgae have been widely used as a novel source of bioactive substances. These substances exhibit various biological actions including, antioxidant and antitumor effects material. The present work is carried out to evaluate potential applications of cyanobacterium containing mainly polysaccharides.

Clinical and Metabolic Characteristics of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients in Saudi Arabia: Data from the Systematic Observatory Liver Disease (SOLID) Registry.

Background And Aims: The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing in Saudi Arabia (SA), but descriptions of the clinical and metabolic characteristics of these patients are limited. The present study aims to fill this gap.

Methods: Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of all NAFLD patients from 2009 to 2019 were retrieved from the Systematic Observatory Liver Disease Registry (SOLID) [n=832 (337 males; 495 females); mean (± standard deviation, SD) age was 42.