Discriminative features of immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) and associated autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) in a nationwide observational cohort: study from the Egyptian College of Rheumatology.

Objective: The objective of this study is to present the clinical characteristics of immunoglobulin G4-related diseases (IgG4-RD) patients and describe associated overlap with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs).

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 81 patients with IgG4-RD who were recruited from 13 specialized rheumatology departments and centers across the country in collaboration with the Egyptian College of Rheumatology (ECR). Patients underwent a thorough history-taking and clinical examination.

Outcome of cataract surgery in children with presumed trematode-induced granulomatous anterior uveitis.

Purpose: To examine the 6-month visual outcomes and complications following cataract surgery in patients with persumed trematode induced granulomatous anterior uveitis.

Setting: Assiut university hospital, Assiut, Egypt.

Design: This is a retrospective non comparative case series study.

Bridging the resources gap: deep learning for fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography macular thickness map image translation.

Background: To assess the ability of the pix2pix generative adversarial network (pix2pix GAN) to synthesize clinically useful optical coherence tomography (OCT) color-coded macular thickness maps based on a modest-sized original fluorescein angiography (FA) dataset and the reverse, to be used as a plausible alternative to either imaging technique in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: Original images of 1,195 eyes of 708 nonconsecutive diabetic patients with or without DME were retrospectively analyzed. OCT macular thickness maps and corresponding FA images were preprocessed for use in training and testing the proposed pix2pix GAN.

Effect of Thyroxine on Transforming Growth Factor β1, Collagen I, and V Expression in Keratoconus Corneal Fibroblasts and Keratocytes, in Vitro.

Background: Keratoconus (KC) is a corneal disorder, associated with oxidative stress, hypoxia and as several times discussed, potentially with thyroid gland dysfunction. We aimed to investigate the effect of thyroxine on transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), collagen I and V (Col I and V) expression in human corneal fibroblasts (HCFs) and human keratocytes of KC corneas, in vitro.

Methods: Primary human KC-keratocytes and normal keratocytes were isolated and cultured as corneal fibroblasts or keratocytes.

Ocular Manifestations of Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome, Upper Egypt Early Report.

Purpose: To evaluate the ocular manifestations of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome.

Methods: A retrospective, comparative study included 100 patients who had recovered from COVID-19 and 100 controls who were recruited by stratified randomization from hospital registration system and analyzed regarding history, full ophthalmological examination, general examination including internal medicine and neurological evaluation. Laboratory tests were done.

"IRIS SHELF" TECHNIQUE FOR MANAGEMENT OF POSTERIOR SEGMENT INTRAOCULAR FOREIGN BODIES.

Purpose: To describe "iris shelf" technique for removal of posterior segment intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) through a corneal incision combined with phacovitrectomy and to report its outcomes.

Methods: Medical records of patients with posterior segment metallic IOFBs who had combined phacovitrectomy were collected and analyzed. In all patients, the IOFB was placed on the iris surface after forming the anterior chamber with viscoelastic to be extracted through a corneal phacoemulsification incision.

Morphological Characteristics of Normal Foveal Avascular Zone by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Purpose: To provide quantitative measurements for the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and to describe its morphological characteristics by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A).

Design: Cross-sectional observational case series.

Methods: Healthy volunteers were recruited and evaluated using Triton-DRI SS-OCT Angiography.

Early weaning versus prolonged administration of aqueous suppressants for prevention of hyperencapsulation in paediatric Ahmed glaucoma valve.

Purpose: To investigate the role of early and prolonged administration of aqueous suppressants in reduction of hyperencapsulation and intraocular pressure (IOP) control after paediatric Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation.

Methods: A prospective randomized interventional study recruited children who had AGV implantation for paediatric glaucoma. All patients received postoperative Timolol 0.

Appearance of herpes simplex keratitis on anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To describe the anterior segment AS-OCT findings of herpetic simplex keratitis.

Methods: Forty-two eyes of 42 patients with proven herpetic keratitis of varying severity were included in this prospective, observational, non-comparative case series study. All subjects underwent ophthalmologic examination and AS-OCT imaging.

Trans-scleral posterior capsulorhexis in combined lens extraction and silicone oil removal.

Aim: The aim of this study was to study the safety and efficacy of posterior capsulorhexis in vitrectomized eyes undergoing combined phacoemulsification or irrigation/aspiration and silicone oil removal.

Methods: This prospective non-randomized interventional study involved 115 silicone-filled eyes of 115 previously vitrectomized patients. All patients underwent combined phacoemulsification or underwent irrigation/aspiration and silicone oil removal, followed by foldable intraocular lens implantation combined with primary posterior trans-scleral capsulorhexis.

Clinical significances and diagnostic utilities of both miR-215 and squamous cell carcinoma antigen-IgM versus alpha-fetoprotein in Egyptian patients with hepatitis C virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. It has been widely established that the early detection of HCC enables more treatment options with improvements in prognosis and survival.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of both circulating miR-215 and squamous cell carcinoma antigen-IgM (SCCA-IgM) as serum biomarkers for HCC by examining their diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and predictive values in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced HCC patients.

Prevalence of childhood and adolescence epilepsy in Upper Egypt (desert areas).

Background: A high prevalence of epilepsy in children is frequently found in developing countries.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical pattern of childhood and adolescence epilepsy in Upper Egypt.

Methods: This is a door-to-door study conducted on all inhabitants < 18 years in Al Kharga district and Al Qusier city (36,195 subjects).

Relevance of Swept-Source Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography for Corneal Imaging in Patients With Flap-Related Complications After LASIK.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in the diagnosis and management of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap-related complications.

Methods: This prospective study included 25 eyes with LASIK flap-related complications imaged using swept-source AS-OCT between February and August 2016 at Alforsan Eye Centre, Assiut, Egypt. The images were acquired using a 6-mm line scan.

Effect of single subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab on primary pterygium: clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical study.

Aim: To evaluate the effect (clinically, histopathologically and immunohistochemically) and safety of a single intra-pterygium injection of bevacizumab.

Methods: Prospective interventional study comprised 40 eyes of 40 patients with primary fleshy pterygia who attended the Outpatient Clinic of Department of Ophthalmology, Assiut University Hospitals, Egypt from May 2015 to May 2016. Patients were randomly classified into 2 groups: the first group received a single intralesional injection of bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, San Francisco, CA, USA); the second group comprised patients who did not receive subconjunctival bevacizumab.

Ultrastructural effects of silicone oil on the clear crystalline lens of the human eye.

Purpose: To evaluate light and electron microscopic changes of the anterior capsule and its epithelium after clear lens extraction of vitrectomized myopic eyes with silicone oil tamponade.

Methods: This prospective, controlled, non-randomized, interventional study included 20 anterior lens capsular specimens that were excised during combined clear lens extraction and silicone oil removal from previously vitrectomized highly myopic patients with silicone oil tamponade for previous retinal detachment surgeries. The specimens were examined via light microscopy and electron microscopy and compared with 20 anterior capsule specimens removed during clear lens extraction of non-vitrectomized highly myopic eyes.

Refractive Lens Exchange Combined with Primary Posterior Vitrectorhexis in Highly Myopic Patients.

. To evaluate efficacy and safety of primary vitrectorhexis for posterior capsulotomy in highly myopic patients undergoing refractive lens exchange. .

Macular choroidal thickness in normal Egyptians measured by swept source optical coherence tomography.

Background: To provide a normal database of choroidal thickness (CT) in nine Early Treatment Diabetes Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) subfields in Egypt using deep-range imaging swept source optical coherence tomography (DRI SS OCT).

Methods: This study included a total of 129 eyes of 71 normal Egyptian subjects, comprising 63 males and 66 females. The mean age was 36.

The grey fovea sign of macular oedema or subfoveal fluid on non-stereoscopic fundus photographs.

Purpose: To describe the grey fovea sign of fovea-involving macular oedema or subretinal fluid accumulation in red-free fundus photography.

Methods: A test set of 91 digital fundus photographs of good quality from 100 consecutive eyes in 72 patients with diabetic retinopathy or central serous chorioretinopathy was composed by one of the investigators and evaluated by four masked observers. The photographs were graded as to whether a normal dark fovea was present or absent.

Long-term follow-up of retropupillary iris-claw intraocular lens implantation: a retrospective analysis.

Background: The ideal intraocular lens in cases of aphakia without capsular support is debated. Choices include anterior chamber lenses, iris- or scleral-sutured lenses, and iris-claw lenses. Our aim was to report our long-term evaluation of the use of retropupillary implantation of the Artisan iris-claw intraocular lens (RPICIOL) in several aphakic conditions without capsular support.

Effect of intracameral triamcinolone acetonide on postoperative intraocular inflammation in pediatric traumatic cataract.

Purpose: To study the effect of a single intracameral injection of triamcinolone acetonide at the end of pediatric traumatic cataract surgery on postoperative inflammation.

Methods: This prospective interventional study comprised 40 eyes of children with unilateral traumatic cataract. Patients were classified into 2 groups: the study group, in which intraoperative intracameral triamcinolone acetonide (2 mg) was used at the end of surgery; and a control group, which did not receive intracameral triamcinolone acetonide.

Epidemiology and clinical presentation of stroke in Upper Egypt (desert area).

Background: Stroke is a common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Four out of five strokes occur in the low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to find lifetime prevalence of stroke in Upper Egypt and to identify clinical presentations and possible risk factors of stroke in this population.

A 24-week dietary and physical activity lifestyle intervention reduces hepatic insulin resistance in the obese with chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: Obesity- and virus-mediated insulin resistance (IR) are associated with adverse hepatic and metabolic outcomes in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). This study evaluates the tolerability and effects of a dietary and physical activity (PA) intervention in obese patients with insulin-resistant CHC.

Methods: Obese patients (body mass index, BMI ≥30 kg/m(2) ) with CHC were recruited prospectively.