Population Pharmacokinetics of Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir in Pediatric Patients: Impact of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Purpose: The pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of direct-acting antivirals, namely ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF), might be altered in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), affecting the optimum dose needed for hepatitis C virus treatment. Limited data are available evaluating the population PK of LDV/SOF and SOF metabolite GS-331007. We aimed to study whether ALL could affect population PK parameters of LDV, SOF, and the SOF major metabolite GS-331007 in hepatitis C virus-infected children, develop and validate a predictive PK model of LDV/SOF disposition in this special population, and identify their explained and unexplained sources of variability.

Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir in Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Children With Hematological Malignancies: A Pharmacokinetic Study.

Purpose: Children with hematological malignancies and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are at a higher risk for rapid progression of liver disease and malignancy relapse due to multiple hepatitis flares and chemotherapy interruption. They are therefore potential candidates for microelimination of HCV infection. This study aimed to assess the effect of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of direct-acting antivirals, namely ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) and the SOF major metabolite GS-331007.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Egypt: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy is a major problem. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

Methodology: A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted on a sample of the Egyptian population using an online survey distributed through social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn.

Comparison between topical cetirizine with minoxidil versus topical placebo with minoxidil in female androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss in both genders with a higher psychological impact on females. Currently, topical minoxidil is the only FDA-approved treatment for female AGA and it needs life-long application and causes side effects. Cetirizine is an antihistamine that may be effective in hair loss treatment.

Efficacy and safety of azithromycin in Covid-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Azithromycin (AZM) is commonly used in Covid-19 patients based on low-quality evidence, increasing the risk of developing adverse events and antimicrobial resistance. The current systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the safety and efficacy of AZM in treating Covid-19 patients using published randomized controlled trials. Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Clinical Trials.

A prospective, randomised clinical study comparing triple therapy regimen to hydrocortisone monotherapy in reducing mortality in septic shock patients.

Objectives: This prospective, comparative and randomised clinical study evaluated the effectiveness of triple therapy regimen (hydrocortisone, thiamine and vitamin C) versus hydrocortisone alone in reducing the mortality rate and preventing progressive organ dysfunction in septic shock patients.

Methods: A total of 94 patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the first group received hydrocortisone 50 mg/6-h IV for 7 days or till intensive care unit (ICU) discharge, if sooner, followed by tapering. The second group received hydrocortisone 50 mg/6-h IV for 7 days or ICU discharge followed by tapering, vitamin C 1.

The EQ-5D-5L Valuation Study in Egypt.

Introduction: No value sets exist for either the EQ-5D-3L or the EQ-5D-5L in Egypt, despite local pharmacoeconomic guidelines recommending the use of the EQ-5D to derive utility. Most published Egyptian economic evaluation studies have used utility values from other published studies and systematic reviews.

Objective: Our objective was to develop an Egyptian EQ-5D-5L value set using the international EuroQol standardized protocol (EQ-VT-2.

The potential hepatoprotective effect of metformin in hepatitis C virus-infected adolescent patients with beta thalassemia major: Randomised clinical trial.

Background: Iron overload-induced oxidative stress and transfusion-acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are the main reasons of liver damage in beta thalassemia major (β-TM).

Objectives: Based on metformin's hepatic benefits in nondiabetic populations, the study aims to investigate the safety and the potential hepatoprotective effect of metformin in HCV-infected β-TM adolescent patients.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomised, parallel, controlled, open-label study in which 60 HCV-infected β-TM adolescent patients aged 11 to 18 years and receiving no antiviral therapy were selected and randomly assigned to treatment or control group in 1:1 allocation.

Short-term Effects of Alfacalcidol on Hospital Length of Stay in Patients Undergoing Valve Replacement Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in critically ill patients, and has been associated with more prolonged length of hospital stay and poor prognosis. Patients undergoing open-heart surgery are at higher risk due to the associated life-threatening postoperative complications. This study investigated the effect of alfacalcidol treatment on the length of hospital stay in patients undergoing valve-replacement surgery.

Pharmacokinetics of daclatasvir in Egyptian adolescents with genotype-4 HCV infection.

Background: Daclatasvir has potent antiviral activity against HCV infection when used in combination with sofosbuvir, however, its pharmacokinetics have not been described in adolescents. The aim is to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of daclatasvir in adolescents, and to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) model.

Methods: Seventeen adolescent patients with genotype-4 chronic HCV infection received once daily oral daclatasvir 60 mg in combination with 400 mg sofosbuvir for 12 weeks.

Conceptual Framework of the Impact of Health Technology on Healthcare System.

The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes health systems strengthening as a means of improving population health, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals highlight the importance of investing in workforce development to improve population health and economic well-being. In relation to pharmaceuticals, health systems face challenges in terms of i) guaranteeing access to needed drugs, ii) rationalizing medicines use, and iii) avoiding harm from adverse events.

Association of vitamin D binding protein polymorphisms with response to therapy in Egyptian chronic hepatitis C patients.

Introduction: Vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) is a potential modulator of immune response and is associated with clinical progression of many diseases. Our aim was to assess influence of baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and VDBP single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs4588 (C > A) and rs7041 (G > T), on baseline clinical parameters and response to interferon based therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients in Egypt.

Methodology: Genotyping was performed by RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) in 112 treatment naïve hepatitis C patients and 50 healthy controls.

Randomized comparative efficacy and safety study of intermittent simvastatin versus fenofibrate in hemodialysis.

Aim: Compare the safety and efficacy of intermittent fenofibrate versus simvastatin in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Patients & Methods: Sixty patients received either fenofibrate 100 mg or simvastatin 20 mg after their dialysis session (parallel study). The safety and efficacy of drugs on lipid profile, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), glutathione peroxidase and C-reactive protein were compared before and after 16-week treatment.

Adverse drug reactions reporting: a questionnaire-based study on Egyptian pharmacists' attitudes following an awareness workshop.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: Hospital pharmacists can promote medication safety through spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). However, different educational interventions and different factors (socio-demographic and professional) have been implicated to influence the reporting process. The aims of this study were to assess the impact of pharmacovigilance awareness workshop on knowledge of hospital pharmacists; and to identify the main factors and barriers that influence ADRs reporting.

Development and validation of LC-MS/MS assay for the determination of the prodrug Midodrine and its active metabolite Desglymidodrine in plasma of ascitic patients: Application to individualized therapy and comparative pharmacokinetics.

Midodrine (MD) is a prodrug that is converted after oral administration to Desglymidodrine (DMD). In this study, an LC-MS/MS assay was developed and validated for investigation of the pharmacokinetics of MD and DMD in non azotemic patients with liver cirrhosis and tense ascites. Results were compared to those noted with healthy volunteers following the adminstration of a single oral dose of MD.

The impact of a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel in diabetic and non-diabetic patients undergoing elective PCI.

Background: High platelet reactivity (HPR) and suboptimal response to dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) may explain high recurrent rates of ischemic events in type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of diabetes mellitus on clopidogrel activity in cardiac patients undergoing PCI.

Methods: This is an observational study.

The role of clinical pharmacists as perceived by Egyptian physicians.

Objectives: Clinical pharmacists play an important role in ensuring the safe and rational use of medicines; however, physicians in developing countries may not always recognize the wide scope of services that a pharmacist can provide to improve patient safety and achieve clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions and experience of physicians regarding the role of the pharmacists, the pharmacists' ability to perform clinical services, their acceptance of new pharmacist roles and the extent of collaboration that can occur between the two disciplines.

Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, 583 randomly selected physicians from the Grand Cairo area were invited to complete a survey composed of 25 questions designed to determine their perceptions of the role of clinical pharmacists.

Antibiotic dispensing in Egyptian community pharmacies: an observational study.

Background: Antibiotics are commonly dispensed medications from community pharmacies, and they are frequently prescribed for inappropriate indications. In many countries, they are easily accessible without prescriptions. The inappropriate use of antibiotics results in the emergence of resistant bacterial strains, which represents a considerable public health problem, particularly in developing countries.

Hepatoprotective efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid in pediatrics acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) possesses a hepatoprotective effect in drug-induced hepatotoxicity. In a prospective randomized parallel study, 39 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were randomized to receive UDCA with chemotherapy for 6 months, then discontinued UDCA and were followed up for 3 months, (UDCA group) (N = 19) or receive chemotherapy without UDCA and followed up for 9 months (control group) (N = 20). In this pilot study, UDCA treatment was associated with a trend toward decreased levels of hepatic transaminases when concomitantly administered with chemotherapy and, therefore, safer outcome in children with ALL.

Management of intraepithelial and invasive neoplasia of the cornea and conjunctiva: a long-term follow up.

Purpose: The aim of this work is to report the long-term results of using immunotherapy for the management of cornea and conjunctiva intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma after surgical excision of the neoplasm.

Methods: Ten eyes of 10 patients with cornea and conjunctiva intraepithelial neoplasia or squamous cell carcinoma had wide surgical excisions of the neoplasm after evaluation of the level of corneal involvement using ultrasound biomicroscopy. All eyes received topical cyclosporine A (0.

Subconjunctival bevacizumab for corneal neovascularization.

Purpose: This work aimed to study and evaluate the effect of subconjunctival bevacizumab injection in patients with corneal neovascularization (CNV) resulting from different ocular surface disorders.

Methods: Ten eyes with CNV caused by different ocular surface disorders were studied. All eyes had both major and minor vessel CNV caused by factors such as healed corneal ulcers, long-standing chronic inflammatory diseases and corneal ischaemia (caused by contact lenses).

Relative bioavailability of griseofulvin lyophilized dry emulsion tablet vs. immediate release tablet: a single-dose, randomized, open-label, six-period, crossover study in healthy adult volunteers in the fasted and fed states.

The oral bioavailability of griseofulvin (GF) formulated as a fast disintegrating lyophilized dry emulsion (LDE) tablet was studied and compared to the commercially available immediate release (IR) tablet, as a reference, in both the fasted and fed states in nine healthy volunteers after a single oral dose (125 mg) in a crossover design. Furthermore the LDE tablets were ingested with and without water under both the fasted and fed states. In the fasted state, the rate of absorption was found to be significantly faster from LDE tablets, in the presence and absence of water, as shown by a higher C(max) (more than two times higher, p=0.