Structural Retinal Assessment Using Optical Coherence Tomography and Fundus Fluorescein Angiography in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients.

Background: Ocular manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can be the presenting symptom of the disease or a sight-threatening complication.

Objectives: To detect different structural retinal changes in patients with SLE who had no ophthalmological symptoms and investigate the relationship between different retinal changes and the disease activity assessed by the Systemic Lupus Erythromatosus Disease Activity Index score.

Study Design: A descriptive pilot study from January 2016 to January 2017.

Atorvastatin: In-Vivo Synergy with Metronidazole as Anti- Therapy.

is an enteric Straminopile in tropical, subtropical and developing countries. Metronidazole has been a chemotheraputic for blastocystosis. Failures in its regimens were reported and necessitate new studies searching for alternative therapeutic agents.

SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC RISK FACTORS OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS MANSONI IN PATIENTS WITH GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS: A SEROPREVALANCE STUDY IN EGYPT.

Limited data is available on the epidemiologic status of schistosomiasis mansoni in Egypt. The present work aimed to explore the seroepidemiological status of Schistosoma inansoni infection in Egypt by screening inhabitants of different Egyptian govemorates and its correla- tion with morbid symptoms and risk factors. Health questionnaires and indirect haemagglutination test (IHAT) were performed upon a cross-sectional study of 1788 individuals from 22 govemorates.

The Liver MicroRNA Expression Profiles Associated With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Genotype-4 Infection: A Preliminary Study.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been repeatedly shown to play important roles in liver pathologies, including hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Egypt has the highest hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection rate worldwide, predominantly involving genotype-4.

Objectives: In this study, we attempted to characterize the miRNA profile of the poorly studied genotype 4 of HCV in chronically infected Egyptian patients to obtain a better understanding of the disease and its complications and help in the design of better management protocols.

Plasma Osteopontin Level in Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted glycoprotein and is frequently associated with various tumors.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the clinical usefulness of the level of plasma OPN, compared to α-fetoprotein (AFP), as a biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate its diagnostic value in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its relationship with clinical and laboratory features of HCC and NAFLD.

Patients And Methods: The study was performed on 120 subjects classified into 5 groups: Group I included 25 chronic non-cirrhotic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients; Group II encompassed 25 patients with chronic HCV infection with liver cirrhosis; Group III comprised 25 patients with chronic HCV with liver cirrhosis and HCC; Group IV was comprised of 25 patients with NAFLD; and Group V consisted of 20 healthy age- and sex-matched controls.

Impact of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in pathogenesis of Type-1 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (TIDM) results from an immune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing-cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. There are clear differences in immunogenetic predisposition to type1 diabetes among countries. Studies have indicated that vitamin D supplementation in early childhood decreases the risk of TIDM.

Diagnostic Value of Serum Level of Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor IIα in Egyptian Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unfavorable and needs serum markers that could detect it early to start therapy at a potentially curable phase.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the value of serum soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-IIα (sTNFR-IIα) in diagnosis of HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Patients And Methods: The study was performed on 110 subjects who were classified into five groups.

Molecular identification of giardia intestinalis in patients with dyspepsia.

Background/aims: Giardia intestinalis triggers symptoms of functional dyspepsia. The aim of this study was to distinguish genotypes of G. intestinalis isolated from dyspeptic patients to evaluate their correlation with dyspeptic symptoms.

P selectins and immunological profiles in HCV and Schistosoma mansoni induced chronic liver disease.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Schistosoma mansoni are major causes of chronic liver disease (CLD) in which immune alteration is common. Recent studies suggested that certain platelets and lymphocytes activation markers may have an impact on progression of CLD. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of platelets and lymphocytes activation molecules expression on the pathogenesis of CLD in distinct or concomitant chronic HCV and schistosomiasis mansoni infections.

Noninvasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of specific biochemical markers for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-four patients with chronic HCV infection were included in this study; 124 patients were non-cirrhotic, and 30 were cirrhotic. The following measurements were obtained in all patients: serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin, total bilirubin, prothrombin time and concentration, complete blood count, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), HCVAb, HCV-RNA by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, abdominal ultrasound and ultrasonic-guided liver biopsy.

The pathogenic role of different Blastocystis hominis genotypes isolated from patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Background And Study Aims: The pathogenic role of Blastocystis hominis is still regarded by some as controversial. Studies have been in progress for years to evaluate the role of blastocystosis in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and demonstrated that faecal carriage of B. hominis was frequent in these patients.