Over-prescription of Watch antibiotics in primary healthcare settings in Sudan: results from routinely collected prescription data.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance represents a significant challenge in Sudan, further exacerbating the burden on healthcare systems already grappling with infectious disease epidemics. This study aims to examine the patterns of antibiotic prescription in primary healthcare settings (PHC) in Sudan and its compliance to the World Health Organization (WHO) Access, Watch and Reserve (AWaRe) antibiotic book.

Methodology: We collected retrospective data on antibiotic prescriptions at 325 PHCs in five states in Sudan for 2022.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Next Threat after Viral Hepatitis.

For many years, we have faced the complications of viral hepatitis and alcohol-related liver diseases such as cirrhosis, decompensation, portal hypertension, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, we have seen a dynamic change in the field of hepatology. With the significant achievements in eradicating the hepatitis C virus by direct-acting antiviral agents and the rising epidemic of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome, there is a paradigm shift in the leading cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Recording of a left ventricle assist device electrical current with a neurally adjusted ventilation assist (NAVA) catheter: a small case series.

Background: Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) is an adaptive ventilation mode that recognizes electromyographic diaphragmatic activation as a sensory input to control the ventilator. NAVA may be of interest in prolonged mechanical ventilation and weaning, as it provides effort-adapted support, improves patient-ventilator synchronization, and allows additional monitoring of neuromuscular function and drive. Ventricular assist devices (VAD), especially for the left ventricle (LVAD), are increasingly entering clinical practice, and intensivists are faced with distinct challenges such as the interaction between the system and other measures of organ support.

Guillain-Barré syndrome following COVID-19 vaccination: An updated systematic review of cases.

Key Clinical Message: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare but possible complication that may occur after COVID-19 vaccination. In this systematic review, we found that GBS presented in patients with an average age of 58. The average time for symptoms to appear was 14.

Safety and efficacy of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir and sofosbuvir/daclatasvir in the treatment of hepatitis C in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related decompensated cirrhosis is a severe life-threatening illness. The safety of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has opened a gate of hope for that subgroup of patients who were previously contraindicated for interferon therapy.

Objective: We aimed at the investigation of the safety and efficacy of different DAAs regimens in the treatment of HCV-related decompensated cirrhosis patients, to determine sustained virological response (SVR)12 rates and to analyze the factors associated with response.

Liver transplantation in the era of COVID-19.

Liver transplantation is considered the ultimate solution for patients with end-stage chronic liver disease or acute liver failure. Patients with liver transplant need special care starting from preoperative preparation, surgical intervention ending with postoperative care. Transplanted patients have to receive immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection.

Impact of treating chronic hepatitis C infection with direct-acting antivirals on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: The debate continues - A mini-review.

Hepatitis C virus clearance is expected in more than 95% of patients treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). However, an extensive debate about the impact of DAAs on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently ongoing. This review aimed to explore currently available evidence about the relationship between DAAs and HCC development.

Egyptian liver library: An indexed database for liver disease evidence in Egypt.

Liver diseases are among the most challenging health care problems worldwide. In Egypt, we established different care programs to combat liver diseases including schistosomiasis and viral hepatitides. A lot of research work addressing liver diseases in Egypt have been published with special focus on these two major fields.

Fib-4 Predicts Early Hematological Adverse Events Induced by Interferon-Based Triple Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Patients.

Interferon-alpha (IFN-α)-based therapy is associated with several hematological adverse events in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients with advanced fibrosis. We performed this study to evaluate the association between Fibrosis-4 (Fib-4) index and hematological adverse events in patients with chronic HCV infection, undergoing IFN-α-based triple therapy. We included 120 HCV-infected patients, receiving triple therapy: weekly PegIFN-α, daily ribavirin (1,000-1,200 mg), and daily sofosbuvir (400 mg) for 12 weeks.

Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Cirrhotic Patients with Acute Kidney Injury.

Introduction And Aim: It is well known that development of acute kidney injury (AKI) increases mortality in hospitalized cirrhotic patients; therefore many novel markers have been studied for early detection, differential diagnosis and prognosis in cirrhotic patients with AKI. The aim of the current work is to evaluate urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (uNGAL) as a diagnostic biomarker for different causes of acute kidney injury in liver cirrhosis and to assess it as a prognostic marker.

Material And Methods: Out of 83 cirrhotic patients with AKI admitted between October 2015 and June 2016; 70 patients were included in this prospective study.

An account of the real-life hepatitis C management in a single specialized viral hepatitis treatment centre in Egypt: results of treating 7042 patients with 7 different direct acting antiviral regimens.

Background: A large Egyptian treatment program for HCV was launched in2014 after the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). This program depended mainly on establishing specialized independent centres for HCV treatment. These centres represent the major strengths in the Egyptian model of care, as they provide integrated care for HCV patients and have enabled Egypt to treat more than one million patients in 3 years.

Effect of selective alpha-blocker tamsulosin on erectile function in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Objective: To study the effect selective of α-blocker (tamsulosin HCl) on erectile function in married male patients who are suspected to have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Materials And Methods: Our study was a prospective randomized single blinded study in one-to-one fashion conducted upon 60 patients, all of them married, between May 2010 and May 2011, the patients under the study were attending the outpatient clinic of the New Kasr Al-Aini Teaching Hospital and Students Hospital, Cairo University, complaining of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) either obstructive, irritative, or both and erectile dysfunction (ED). History was taken from all patients; all patients were examined by digital rectal examination and abdominal examination.