Liver stiffness measurement and spleen diameter as predictors for the presence of esophageal varices in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Although it is an invasive and unpleasant procedure, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is still the gold standard for esophageal varices (EV) detection. The aim of this study was to investigate liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and spleen diameter as simple noninvasive tools for EV prediction in chronic hepatitis C patients (CHC).A total of 123 Egyptian patients with CHC have been included and were classified based on screening EGD result into 2 groups; group A (without EV) and group B (with EV).

Systematic Review: Land Cover, Meteorological, and Socioeconomic Determinants of Aedes Mosquito Habitat for Risk Mapping.

Asian tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes ( and ) are global nuisances and are competent vectors for viruses such as Chikungunya (CHIKV), Dengue (DV), and Zika (ZIKV). This review aims to analyze available spatiotemporal distribution models of mosquitoes and their influential factors. A combination of five sets of 3-5 keywords were used to retrieve all relevant published models.

Molecular and Phenotypic Identification and Speciation of Malassezia Yeasts Isolated from Egyptian Patients with Pityriasis Versicolor.

Introduction: Pityriasis Versicolor (PV) is a common health problem caused by genus , a lipophilic fungi found as a part of the normal flora of skin. Although PV is common in Egypt, there is little information regarding the species distribution in PV patients to date.

Aim: To spot a light on the distribution and clinico-epidemiological features of the species in PV patients and healthy individuals that were established by conventional phenotypic and molecular techniques.

Carboxylate cross-linked cyclodextrin: A nanoporous scaffold for enhancement of rosuvastatin oral bioavailability.

Cyclodextrins play an important role in supramolecular chemistry acting as building blocks than can be cross-linked by various linker molecules forming nano-porous structures called nanosponges (NS). NS have the ability to enhance the stability, solubility and bioavailability of various actives. This work aimed at elaborating rosuvastatin (ROS) loaded NS to improve its oral bioavailability.

Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Vector-Host Contact (VHC) Ratios and Ecological Niche Modeling of the West Nile Virus Mosquito Vector, Culex quinquefasciatus, in the City of New Orleans, LA, USA.

The consistent sporadic transmission of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the city of New Orleans justifies the need for distribution risk maps highlighting human risk of mosquito bites. We modeled the influence of biophysical and socioeconomic metrics on the spatio-temporal distributions of presence/vector-host contact (VHC) ratios of WNV vector, , within their flight range Biophysical and socioeconomic data were extracted within 5-km buffer radii around sampling localities of gravid female . The spatio-temporal correlations between VHC data and 33 variables, including climate, land use-land cover (LULC), socioeconomic, and land surface terrain were analyzed using stepwise linear regression models (RM).

The Physiological and Ergogenic Effects of Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) Extract.

Background: Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) is a natural psychoactive substance which contains two main addictive substances; Cathine and Cathinone. Khat is widely used in east Africa and southern Arabian Peninsula. Khat chewers believe that it improves work capacity and increases energy level and alertness.

Dendritic optical antennas: scattering properties and fluorescence enhancement.

With the development of nanotechnologies, researchers have brought the concept of antenna to the optical regime for manipulation of nano-scaled light matter interactions. Most optical nanoantennas optimize optical function, but are not electrically connected. In order to realize functions that require electrical addressing, optical nanoantennas that are electrically continuous are desirable.

Genetic characterization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmission in the Middle East and North Africa.

Background: The HIV-1 spread in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has not been previously characterised using the phylogenetic approach. The aim of the current study was to investigate the genetic diversity and domestic transmission of HIV-1 in the MENA.

Methods: A total of 2036 HIV-1 sequences available in Genbank and collected in the MENA during 1988-2016 were used together with 715 HIV-1 reference sequences that were retrieved from Genbank based on genetic similarity with the MENA sequences.

Ongoing Transmission of HCV: Should Cesarean Section be Justified? Data Mining Discovery.

Background And Objectives: Over the past few decades, cesarean section (CS) rates are steadily increasing in most of the middle- and high-income countries. However, most of the pregnant women (particularly undergoing CS) are not screened for hepatitis C virus (HCV); hence, neonates born to HCV-positive mother could be a source of future HCV infection. In this study, the role of the CS and other surgical interventions in HCV transmission in Egypt, the highest endemic country of HCV-4, was investigated.

Decreasing prevalence of transmitted drug resistance among ART-naive HIV-1-infected patients in Iceland, 1996-2012.

Resistance to antiretroviral drugs can complicate the management of HIV-1 infection and impair control of its spread. The aim of the current study was to investigate the prevalence and transmission of HIV-1 drug resistance among 106 antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve patients diagnosed in Iceland (1996-2012). HIV-1 polymerase sequences were analysed using the Calibrated Population Resistance tool.

Laboratory validation of formal concept analysis of the methylation status of microarray-detected genes in primary breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. DNA methylations play important roles in cancer development and progression. Formal concept analysis was previously utilized for data mining hypermethylated and hypomethylated genes in breast cancer molecular subtypes in illumina methylation-based microarray database, to laboratory validate their outputs; HS3ST2 (heparan sulfate d-glucosaminyl 3-O-sulfonyl transferase-2) and MUC1 (mucin-1) were retrieved.

Mechanistic Analysis of Human Skin Distribution and Follicular Targeting of Adapalene-Loaded Biodegradable Nanospheres With an Insight Into Hydrogel Matrix Influence, In Vitro Skin Irritation, and In Vivo Tolerability.

This work aimed at the development of a biocompatible, non-oily nanomedicine for follicular delivery of adapalene (AD) ameliorating its irritation potential for convenient localized topical treatment of acne vulgaris. AD was efficiently incorporated into poly-ε-caprolactone nanospheres (NS) with an encapsulation efficiency of 84.73% ± 1.

Uniportal VATS for treatment of bullous lung disease.

This tutorial shows the resection of a bulla by uniportal video assisted thoracoscopic surgery in bullous lung disease. This disease is a benign condition requiring treatment in cases of severe dyspnea, spontaneous secondary pneumothorax, repeated infection, hemoptysis, and an increase in bulla size. The uniportal VATS approach results in less pain, better cosmoses, and a quicker recovery for the patient.

Hexagonal Liquid Crystalline Nanodispersions Proven Superiority for Enhanced Oral Delivery of Rosuvastatin: In Vitro Characterization and In Vivo Pharmacokinetic Study.

This study aimed to explore the potential of tailoring the liquid crystalline structure for augmenting the oral absorption and biopharmaceutical performance of rosuvastatin. Rosuvastatin (ROS)-loaded liquid crystalline nanodispersions (LCNDs) were prepared via emulsification technique. The effect of incorporating oleic acid (OA) in various proportions in the lipid domain of the LCNDs was studied.

Incidence of HCV induced-Esophageal varices in Egypt: Valuable knowledge using data mining analysis.

Esophageal varices is one of the most important comorbidity related liver cirrhosis, patients usually presented with hematemesis, melena, or both, ultimately 20% is the mortality during the first attack, hence we aimed to investigate the incidence of such esophageal varices related chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in randomized Egyptian population.One thousand eighteen Egyptian patients, aged between 17 and 58 years, positive for Hepatitis C virus genotype 4 (HCV-4) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay Ab and HCV RNA-polymerase chain reaction were screened for the presence of esophageal varices.Incidence of esophageal varices was 62.

Cyclosporine counteracts endotoxemia-evoked reductions in blood pressure and cardiac autonomic dysfunction via central sGC/MAPKs signaling in rats.

The immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine A (CSA) improves survivability in endotoxemia and offsets associated loss in vascular reactivity and hypotension. We tested the hypothesis that central phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)/mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) cascade modulates the CSA counteraction of endotoxic hypotension and cardiac autonomic dysfunction. The effects of pharmacologic inhibition of these molecular substrates in central pools on CSA interaction with cardiovascular responses evoked by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were evaluated in conscious rats.

Molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Iceland: Early introductions, transmission dynamics and recent outbreaks among injection drug users.

The molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Iceland has not been described so far. Detailed analyses of the dynamics of HIV-1 can give insights for prevention of virus spread. The objective of the current study was to characterize the genetic diversity and transmission dynamics of HIV-1 in Iceland.

Homo-C-nucleoside analogs IV. Synthesis of 4-(2,5-anhydro-D-altro-pentitol-1-yl)-2-phenyl-2H-1,2,3-triazole homo-C-nucleoside. CD assignment of the absolute configuration of the carbon bridge.

Dehydrative cyclization of 4-(D-altro-pentitol-1-yl)2-phenyl-2H-1,2,3-triazole in basic medium with one moler equivalent of p-toluene sulfonyl chloride in pyridine solution gave the homo-C-nucleoside 4-(2,5-anhydro-D-altro-1-yl)-2-phenyl-2H-1,2,3-triazole. The structure and anomeric configuration was determined by acylation, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and mass spectroscopy. The stereochemistry at the carbon bridge of homo-C-nucleoside 2-phenyl-2H-1,2,3-triazoles was determined by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy.

A novel combination approach of human polyclonal IVIG and antibiotics against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria.

Background: Gram-positive bacteria, especially methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and enterococci, have shown a remarkable ability to develop resistance to antimicrobial agents.

Objective: We aimed to assess possible enhancement of the antimicrobial activity of vancomycin, amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin by human polyclonal intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) against 34 multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial isolates, including MRSA, , and .

Materials And Methods: Double combinations of the antibiotics with the IVIG were assessed by checkerboard assay, where the interaction was evaluated with respect to the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the antibiotics.

Serum 25-OH vitamin D level in treatment-naïve systemic lupus erythematosus patients: Relation to disease activity, IL-23 and IL-17.

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the vitamin D status in treatment-naïve SLE patients and its association with clinical and laboratory markers of disease activity, including serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23. Methods Fifty-seven treatment-naïve SLE patients along with 42 matched controls were included. SLEDAI score was used to estimate disease activity.

Paliperidone-Loaded Nanolipomer System for Sustained Delivery and Enhanced Intestinal Permeation: Superiority to Polymeric and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles.

Paliperidone (PPD) is the most recent second-generation atypical antipsychotic approved for the treatment of schizophrenia. An immediate release dose causes extrapyramidal side effects. In this work, a novel nanolipomer carrier system for PPD with enhanced intestinal permeability and sustained release properties has been developed and optimized.

Methacrylate micro/nano particles prepared by spray drying: a preliminary in vitro/in vivo study.

Delivery systems controlling drug release only in the colon holds great promises since they improve utilization of drug and decrease the dosing times comparison with conventional forms. The aim of the present study was to prepare polymeric microparticles on the basis of Ciprofloxacin via oral route for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Ciprofloxacin was selected because of its extensive coverage for intestinal flora, relatively favorable side-effect profile and preliminary data suggesting its efficacy in the treatment of active Crohn's Disease.

Sustained versus intermittent lung inflation for resuscitation of preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: To evaluate efficacy and safety of delivery room (DR) sustained lung inflation (SLI) in resuscitation of preterm neonates.

Methods: Randomized Controlled Trial including 112 preterm infants randomized to either SLI (n = 57) using T-piece resuscitator [maximum three inflations with maximum pressure of 30 cmHO for 15 s followed by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) of 5-7 cmHO] or conventional bag/mask inflation (CBMI) (n = 55) using traditional self-inflating bag (maximum pressure of 40 cmHO at a rate of 40-60 per min). Failure was defined as the need for DR or first 72 h intubation.

Ecological niche modeling of mosquito vectors of West Nile virus in St. John's County, Florida, USA.

Background: The lack of available vaccines and consistent sporadic transmission of WNV justify the need for mosquito vector control and prediction of their geographic distribution. However, the distribution of WNV transmission is dependent on the mosquito vector and the ecological requirements, which vary from one place to another.

Methods: Presence/density data of two WNV mosquito vectors, Culex nigripalpus and Cx.

Rationally designed nanocarriers for intranasaltherapy of allergic rhinitis: influence of carrier type on in vivo nasal deposition.

The aim of this study is to develop a locally acting nasal delivery system of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for the maintenance therapy of allergic rhinitis. The effect of encapsulating TA in different nanocarriers on its mucosal permeation and retention as well as in vivo nasal deposition has been studied. A comparative study was established between polymeric oil core nanocapsules (NCs), lipid nanocarriers such as nanoemulsion (NE), and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs).