Prognostic tools and candidate drugs based on plasma proteomics of patients with severe COVID-19 complications.

COVID-19 complications still present a huge burden on healthcare systems and warrant predictive risk models to triage patients and inform early intervention. Here, we profile 893 plasma proteins from 50 severe and 50 mild-moderate COVID-19 patients, and 50 healthy controls, and show that 375 proteins are differentially expressed in the plasma of severe COVID-19 patients. These differentially expressed plasma proteins are implicated in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and present targets for candidate drugs to prevent or treat severe complications.

Gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy: the Qatari experience.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder characterized by hypotonia, progressive muscle weakness, and wasting. Onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma) is a novel gene therapy medicine, FDA-approved in May 2019 for the treatment of SMA. This study aimed to describe Qatari experience with onasemnogene abeparvovec by reviewing the clinical outcomes of 9 SMA children (7 SMA type 1 and 2 with SMA type 2) aged 4‒23 months treated between November 2019 and July 2020.

Eradication of hepatitis C virus infection in kidney transplant recipients using direct-acting antiviral therapy: Qatar experience.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has detrimental effects on patient and graft survival after kidney transplantation. In the pre-direct-acting antiviral (DAA) era, treatment of HCV infection was associated with low response rates, poor tolerance, and increased risk of allograft rejection. However, DAAs have revolutionized HCV treatment.

Prevalence and trends of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors in the State of Qatar, 2013-2017.

Background: Millions of lives around the world are being saved annually through blood transfusion. However, blood transfusion is among the essential vehicles for transmitting infections. The overall prevalence of Transfusion Transmissible Infections among blood donors differs around the world, reflecting the variation in the prevalence of these infections.

Rheumatic manifestations of inflammatory bowel diseases: A study from the Middle East.

Objective To examine the prevalence of rheumatic manifestations among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods This prospective study enrolled patients with IBD in whom the diagnosis and extent of IBD were confirmed by colonoscopy and histopathology. Patients were interviewed and examined by a rheumatologist.

Measles hepatitis in a vaccinated liver transplant recipient: case report and review of literature.

Measles infection, postliver transplant, may lead to a fatal graft loss. Individuals who have been previously exposed to the measles antigen may have a modified disease presentation. Although vaccination may not provide solid immunity, it ameliorates the severity of the disease.

Aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index in hepatitis C virus and Schistosomiasis coinfection.

Aim: To assess the diagnostic accuracy, of aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) alone and with antischistosomal antibody (Ab) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and schistosomiasis coinfection.

Methods: This retrospective study included medical records of three hundred and eighty three Egyptian men patients who had undergone percutaneous liver biopsy between January 2006 to April 2014 in tertiary care hospital in Qatar for diagnosis or monitoring purpose were selected. Data of patients > 18 years of age were included in the study.

Clinical Application of AIMS65 Scores to Predict Outcomes in Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage.

Background/aims: To evaluate the ability of the recently proposed albumin, international normalized ratio (INR), mental status, systolic blood pressure, age >65 years (AIMS65) score to predict mortality in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB).

Methods: AIMS65 scores were calculated in 251 consecutive patients presenting with acute UGIB by allotting 1 point each for albumin level <30 g/L, INR >1.5, alteration in mental status, systolic blood pressure ≤90 mm Hg, and age ≥65 years.

First liver transplant in Qatar: an evolving program facing many challenges.

Objectives: Beginning to do liver transplants in a developing country is challenging. We report on the first few liver transplants performed in Qatar and discuss future exceptions and challenges facing our program.

Materials And Methods: The first liver transplant was performed in Qatar on December 6, 2011.

The predictive value of IL28B rs12979860, rs11881222 and rs8099917 polymorphisms and IP-10 in the therapeutic response of Egyptian genotype 4 patients.

Unlabelled: Interleukin-28B (IL28B) polymorphisms have previously been reported to be strongly associated with spontaneous and treatment-induced HCV viral clearance.

Aim: To assess the impact of four different IL28B polymorphisms and their haplotype combination and interferon-c inducible protein 10 (IP-10) in response to treatment in Egyptian genotype 4 patients.

Method: 159 HCV-genotype 4 patients were included.

Interleukin-28 and hepatitis C virus genotype-4: treatment-induced clearance and liver fibrosis.

Aim: To investigate the association between interleukin-28B (IL28B) genotype and response to treatment and hepatic fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4.

Methods: Two hundred and one HCV-genotype 4 patients were included. All patients were treated with Peginterferon alph2a/Ribavirin for 48 wk.

The epidemiology of viral hepatitis in Qatar.

Viral hepatitis is a major public health problem in many countries all over the world and especially in Middle East, Asia, East-Europe, and Africa. The aim of our study was to assess the incidence of viral hepatitis A, B and C in Qatar and compare it with other countries. This is a retrospective cohort study, which was conducted at Hamad General Hospital, State of Qatar from 2002-2006.

Clinical characteristics of Crohn s disease in Qatar.

Objective: To assess the clinical characteristics of Crohn's disease (CD) in Qatar.

Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study. We studied 50 CD patients admitted to Hamad General Hospital over a period of 8 years from January 1995 to December 2002.