Assessing hand and global disability in a cohort of Algerian patients with systemic sclerosis: Construct validities of the Arab Hand Function Index and the Arabic Health Assessment Questionnaire.

Objective: The study aimed to assess the construct validity of the Arab Hand Function Index and the Arabic Health Assessment Questionnaire in Algerian patients with systemic sclerosis.

Methods: Consecutive Algerian patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria for systemic sclerosis were included. In addition to disease characteristics, global disability and hand disability were assessed using the Arabic Health Assessment Questionnaire and the Arab Hand Function Index, respectively.

Molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Clostridioides difficile isolates in Algerian hospitals.

Introduction: Clostridioides difficile is a major pathogen responsible for hospital-associated diarrhoea. This study investigated the molecular epidemiology and antibiotic resistance of C. difficile isolates in five Algerian hospitals.

Ventricular Extrasystoles after First Dose of Sofosbuvir in a Patient Treated with Propranolol but not with Amiodarone: A Case Report.

Background: Sofosbuvir is a direct-acting antiviral drug used to treat chronic hepatitis C infection. In 2015, Gilead Sciences, the manufacturer of sofosbuvir, warned that bradycardia could occur when sofosbuvir is administered in combination with amiodarone. Interestingly, among the reported cases of patients with sofosbuvir and amiodarone related bradycardia, some of them were also treated with propranolol.

Insulin resistance and liver steatosis in chronic hepatitis C infection genotype 3.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a common chronic liver disease worldwide. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and insulin resistance (IR) are the major determinants of fibrosis progression and response to antiviral therapy. The pathogenetic link between IR and chronic HCV infection is complex, and is associated with HCV genotype.

Pharmacotherapy of acute alcoholic hepatitis in clinical practice.

Severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is an acute form of alcohol induced liver disease with a poor prognosis that is seen in the patients who consume large quantities of alcohol. The diagnosis of AH is based on the appropriate alcohol intake history and is supported with clinical and histological features, and several scoring systems. Glucocorticoids are the mainstay for treating severe AH with pentoxifylline used as an alternative to steroids in addition to total alcohol abstinence.

Metformin in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: safety, efficacy and mechanism.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease etiology worldwide. It encompasses a spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Although the physiopathology of NAFLD is partly known.

Co-occurrence of diffuse large B cell non-hodgkin lymphoma and chronic hepatitis C in Algerian patients: two case reports.

For the first time in Algeria, we report on the presentation, diagnosis and management of two cases of diffuse large B cell NHL with chronic HCV infection. Both Algerian patients came for medical consult without HCV-related symptoms. Systematic serological tests to identify HIV and hepatitis B and C infections which performed on all patients led to HCV diagnosis.

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in north eastern Algeria: A retrospective study.

Aim: To determine the frequency of various hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes present in patients from north eastern Algeria.

Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of 435 HCV infected patients from northeast Algeria, detected in the Sadelaoud laboratory and diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2012. The patients were diagnosed with HCV infection in their local hospitals and referred to be assessed for HCV genotype before the antiviral treatment.

Probiotics in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: which and when.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common and serious disease. Literature reports the central role of the gut-liver axis in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, and recently suggests that the microbiota is a casual factor of the disease, involved in the interactions between intestinal lumen and liver. Probiotic are commensal bacteria, able to modulate the microbiota with benefits for the health of humans.

Prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Algerian patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of, and risk factors for, diabetes mellitus (DM) in Algerian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and in a control group.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken. A total of 416 consecutive patients with viral chronic hepatitis attending the Internal Medicine Department of the University Hospital Center Touhami Benflis in Batna [290 HCV-infected and 126 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients] were prospectively recruited.

Remittent non-destructive polysynovitis in P-ANCA-positive vasculitis patients with anti-CCP antibodies.

Patients with antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AASV) commonly suffer from arthralgias and, sometimes, polyarthritis during disease flares. Although rheumatoid factor (RF) can be detected in up to 37-50% of AASV patients, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies are rare. Herein, we describe the clinical features of five P-ANCA-positive vasculitis patients, who had persistent and/or high anti-CCP levels and, more importantly, suffered from remittent non-destructive arthralgias and polysynovitis, independently of the vasculitis course and without evidence of RA.

Association of hepatitis C virus infection and diabetes.

Epidemiologic studies have suggested a relation between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and diabetes mellitus. HCV infection is emerging as a metabolic disease, and diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for HCV infection. However, some data on the prevalence of antibodies to HCV in patients with diabetes are conflicting.

[Insulin autoimmune syndrome revealing systemic lupus erythematosus].

A 22-year-old woman was admitted in August 2001 for loss of consciousness due to hypoglycemia. Her serum insulin level during the hypoglycemic episode was high at 121 mU/l (normal range: 5-25 mU/l). She had never received an insulin injection.