A call to caution when hydroxychloroquine is given to elderly patients with COVID-19.

Introduction: Use of hydroxychloroquine in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was widespread and uncontrolled until recently. Patients vulnerable to severe COVID-19 are at risk of hydroxychloroquine interactions with co-morbidities and co-medications contributing to detrimental, including fatal, adverse treatment effects.

Methods: A retrospective survey was undertaken of health conditions and co-medications of patients with COVID-19 who were pre-screened for enrolment in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled hydroxychloroquine multi-centre trial.

Anti-estrogenic and anti-aromatase activities of citrus peels major compounds in breast cancer.

Estrogen signaling is crucial for breast cancer initiation and progression. Endocrine-based therapies comprising estrogen receptor (ER) modulators and aromatase inhibitors remain the mainstay of treatment. This study aimed at investigating the antitumor potential of the most potent compounds in citrus peels on breast cancer by exploring their anti-estrogenic and anti-aromatase activities.

Evidence for pathogenicity of variant ATM Val1729Leu in a family with ataxia telangiectasia.

Ataxia telangiectasia is a rare autosomal recessive multisystem disorder caused by mutations in the gene of ATM serine/threonine kinase. It is characterized by neurodegeneration, leading to severe ataxia, immunodeficiency, increased cancer susceptibility, and telangiectasia. Here, we discovered a co-segregation of two ATM gene variants with ataxia telangiectasia in an Egyptian family.

Neurotoxin-Induced Rodent Models of Parkinson's Disease: Benefits and Drawbacks.

Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by cardinal motor impairments, including akinesia and tremor, as well as by a host of non-motor symptoms, including both autonomic and cognitive dysfunction. PD is associated with a death of nigral dopaminergic neurons, as well as the pathological spread of Lewy bodies, consisting predominantly of the misfolded protein alpha-synuclein. To date, only symptomatic treatments, such as levodopa, are available, and trials aiming to cure the disease, or at least halt its progression, have not been successful.

The protective effect of Indian Catechu methanolic extract against aluminum chloride-induced neurotoxicity, A rodent model of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the commonest neurodegenerative disorder with a wide array of manifestations, courses, and contributing causes. Despite being clinically characterized a long time ago; no treatment has been developed that could improve the pathology or slow down the disease manifestation- so far. Indian Catechu methanolic extract (ICME) has proved to have multiple beneficial effects that support its use in several disorders- especially those with complex etiology.

Machine learning and augmented human intelligence use in histomorphology for haematolymphoid disorders.

Advances in digital pathology have allowed a number of opportunities such as decision support using artificial intelligence (AI). The application of AI to digital pathology data shows promise as an aid for pathologists in the diagnosis of haematological disorders. AI-based applications have embraced benign haematology, diagnosing leukaemia and lymphoma, as well as ancillary testing modalities including flow cytometry.

Important Pathologic Considerations for Establishing the Diagnosis of Myelofibrosis.

Diagnostic criteria for primary myelofibrosis as defined by the 2017 revised World Health Organization (WHO) classification system incorporate clinical and laboratory findings, including driver mutational status (JAK2, MPL, CALR. and triple negative). The WHO emphasized the role of histopathology in making an accurate diagnosis of primary myelofibrosis and successfully incorporated a fibrosis scoring system and scoring schemas for collagen fibrosis and osteosclerosis.

Severe hypothyroidism following a single topical exposure to iodine in a premature neonate.

A neonate, born at 24 weeks, underwent a patent ductus arteriosus ligation, with previous normal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, developed severe hypothyroidism from topical exposure to iodine following a single surgical procedure at 28 days of life. A low free T4 level of 0.05 ng/dL and a high TSH level of 228 mIU/L was detected with an increased urinary iodine excretion level of 178 mg/L (reference range 0.

Comparison between Sonography-based and Surgical Extent of Deep Endometriosis Using the Enzian Classification - A Prospective Diagnostic Accuracy Study.

Study Objective: To compare a preoperative evaluation of deep endometriosis (DE) by transvaginal sonography (TVS) according to the Enzian classification with the intraoperatively assessed extent of DE using the Enzian system.

Design: Prospective diagnostic accuracy study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center for endometriosis.

Conventional peritoneal cytology lacks the prognostic significance of detecting local or peritoneal recurrence in colorectal cancer: An Egyptian experience.

Background And Aim: Colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for over 8% of all deaths each year, with 1.2 million new cases diagnosed annually worldwide. It represents the seventh most common cancer in Egypt.

The Effect of HCV Eradication after Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents on Hepatic Steatosis: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background And Aim: Eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by direct-acting-antiviral- agents (DAAs) was followed by fibrosis regression, but little is available about hepatic steatosis changes after DAAs. The aim of this work was to assess the prevalence of hepatic steatosis among HCV Egyptian patients and the long term changes occuring after viral eradication.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 150 HCV patients with significant fibrosis.

New method of FACS analyzing and sorting of intact whole ovarian fragments (COPAS) after long time (24 h) cooling to 5 °C before cryopreservation.

As recently announced by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), human ovarian tissue cryopreservation is an established option for fertility preservation in prepubertal girls and young women undergoing gonadotoxic treatments for cancer as well as some autoimmune diseases. Proper ovarian tissue assessment before and after cryopreservation is essential to increase success rates. Ovarian fragments from 16 patients were divided into small pieces in form of cortex with medulla, and randomly divided into the following two groups.

The Rise of Endovascular Mechanical Circulatory Support Use for Cardiogenic Shock and High Risk Coronary Intervention: Considerations and Challenges.

: Cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction and decompensated advanced heart failure remains a source of significant morbidity and mortality. Endovascular mechanical circulatory support devices including intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), percutaneous left ventricular assist devices (Impella and Tandemheart pumps), and veno-arterial extracorporeal oxygenation (VA-ECMO) are utilized for a broadening range of indications.: This narrative review explores the specific devices, their distinctive hemodynamic profiles, and practical considerations.

Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Latent Brugada Syndrome in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Below 45 Years of Age.

This study aims to describe prevalence and clinical significance of latent Brugada syndrome (BrS) in a young population with atrial fibrillation (AF). Between September 2015 and November 2017, among 111 AF patients below 45 years of age, those without pre-existing pathologies and/or known risk factors were selected for the study. Based on baseline 12-lead-24-h Holter electrocardiogram (ECG), previous class 1C antiarrhythmic drug therapy, or ajmaline testing, patients were stratified as latent type 1 BrS or not.

Application of the Box-Behnken design for the production of soluble curcumin: Skimmed milk powder inclusion complex for improving the treatment of colorectal cancer.

The main objective of this study was to develop a soluble product of the practically insoluble curcumin (CMN) to treat colorectal cancer more effectively than with pure CMN. To improve the solubility of CMN, various hydrophilic carriers of skimmed milk powder (SMP), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and mannitol (MNT) were utilized to prepare solid dispersion (SD) binary complexes. The prepared complexes were characterized in terms of their aqueous solubility and in vitro drug release and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, powder X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and the novel dyeing test.

Direct acting antivirals are associated with more liver stiffness regression than pegylated interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Objectives: Extent of post-treatment fibrosis change in patients with different stages of fibrosis not fully known. We aimed to study changes in liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients who were treated with pegylated interferon/ribavirin (PEG/RBV) or direct acting antivirals (DAAs).

Methods: Retrospective evaluation of results of transient elastography (TE) was done before and 1 year after end of treatment for patients treated with PEG/RBV ( = 268) and DAAs ( = 245).

Gender differences in waterpipe tobacco smoking among university students in four Eastern Mediterranean countries.

Introduction: Males have a higher prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) than females in most Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries, with a smaller gender gap than that of cigarette smoking. The objective of this study was to determine gender differences among university students with respect to WTS initiation, smoking behavior, tobacco flavors, and expenditure on WTS, in four EMR countries.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted based on convenient samples of ever waterpipe smokers among university students in four EMR countries (Egypt, Jordan, Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the United Arab Emirates) in 2016.

Bioactive sphingolipids: Advancements and contributions from the laboratory of Dr. Lina M. Obeid.

Sphingolipids and their synthetic enzymes have emerged as critical mediators in numerous diseases including inflammation, aging, and cancer. One enzyme in particular, sphingosine kinase (SK) and its product sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), has been extensively implicated in these processes. SK catalyzes the phosphorylation of sphingosine to S1P and exists as two isoforms, SK1 and SK2.

Sudomotor Changes in Hepatitis C Virus Infection with or without Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Study in Egyptian Patients.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can affect the neurological system, and neuropathy is one of these manifestations. Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) type II, and diabetic patients are at higher risk of acquiring HCV infection. Sweat function has been proposed to assess early autonomic neuropathy.

Nomenclature and definition of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease: a consensus from the Middle East and north Africa.

With the increasing prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease associated with metabolic dysfunction is a global health problem, especially because it is one of the earliest consequences of obesity and it precedes diabetes development. Fatty liver disease associated with metabolic dysfunction is of particular concern in the Middle East and north Africa, where its prevalence is greater than that in the rest of the world. Despite the magnitude of the problem, no regional guidelines have been developed to address this disease.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of 101 Children with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: A Four-Year Single-Center Experience from Egypt.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening condition, arising either due to genetic mutations or from a variety of underlying diseases. This prospective observational study reports the clinical and laboratory data as well as the outcome of pediatric HLH in Egypt. HLH was diagnosed according to the Histiocyte Society HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria conducted at Alexandria University Children's Hospital over four years.