Potential impact of combined influenza and pneumococcal vaccines on the severity of respiratory illness in COVID-19 infection among type 2 diabetic patients.

To retrospectively assess the impact of regular yearly administration of recombinant influenza and single administration of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on the occurrence of serious respiratory infection including COVID-19 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hundred patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were given Vaxigrip and Prevnar13 vaccines and were evaluated by comprehensive clinical review, airflow screening questionnaire, and routine laboratory investigations with follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic and compared to a control group of diabetic patients with the same inclusion criteria (n = 100). After Vaxigrip and Prevnar13, there is a significant improvement in respiratory symptoms and a decrease in the airflow screening questionnaire (p = 0.

The Additive Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Actively Bleeding Peptic Ulcer.

Background/aims: Peptic ulcer bleeding is the most common cause of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) enhances tissue repair, and is therefore used in various medical treatments. A combination of mechanical or electrothermal hemostasis has been recommended for upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding treatment.

Impact of laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the complexity of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Background And Objectives: A scarce number of researches discussed the impact of cholecystectomies on the anatomy of common bile duct (CBD) and intern if this will affect the difficulty of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The objective of present study was to assess the impact of complicated cholecystectomy on the complexity and safety of the ERCP procedure.

Study Design: A total of 100 patients were enrolled after meeting the following inclusion criteria - study group (group A): 50 patients with previous history of complicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy and control group (group B): 50 patients with previous noncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Management of a Portal Hypertensive Polyp: Case Report of a Rare Entity.

Portal hypertensive polyposis is a rare finding represented in about 2.5% of all patients with portal hypertension. The diagnostic criteria are not yet clearly defined.

Evaluation of Different Sedatives for Colonoscopy.

Background And Aims: Sedation and analgesia are important elements of endoscopic examinations; sedation for colonoscopy aims to relieve patient discomfort and anxiety, improve the outcome of the examination, diminish the patient's memory of the event and achieve comfortable and technically successful endoscopic procedure.

Methods: Our prospective study was carried out on 150 patients who were referred for colonoscopy; they were divided into two groups based on the pre-endoscopic sedation given for them: propofol fentanyl or propofol ketamine. Detailed histories, thorough physical examinations, and routine laboratory investigations were performed for all patients, along with monitoring of their vital signs and oxygen saturation levels (before, during and after colonoscopy), to assess safety, efficacy, recovery times, complications of the sedative drugs, comfort of the patients and endoscopists.

Efficacy of a non-invasive model in predicting the cardiovascular morbidity and histological severity in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) in cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is connected to remarkable liver cell inflammation and cardiovascular complications. Given the prevalence of NAFLD and its association with potential sequels, there is a strong need for an accurate non-invasive tool to monitor the progression of NAFLD.

Methods: 272 patients with NAFLD and cardio-metabolic risk factors were tested for HOMA-IR, mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), uric acid, ferritin, lipid profile, liver stiffness measurement (LSM), controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) by fibroscan and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT).

Residual hepatitis C virus in peripheral blood mononuclear cell as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma after achieving a sustained virological response: a dogma or fiction.

Background: Clinical worsening after achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) needs to be clarified and explained. Persistence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen interacts with the host proteins to interfere with signaling pathways and increases the susceptibility to hepatic carcinogenesis.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors that increase the progression of liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma in a subgroup of HCV patients who achieved a SVR.

Role of Both Protein C and Antithrombin III as Predictors of Stage of Liver Disease in Chronic Viral Hepatitis B or C Infected Patients.

Background & Aims: Chronic liver disease is characterized by complex hemostatic disorders because the liver is the site where most of the coagulation factors and their inhibitors are synthesized. The aim of this study was the evaluation of protein C and antithrombin III in different stages of chronic hepatitis B and C and to determine their possible role as markers of liver cell damage in different clinical stages.

Methods: The study included 60 subjects who were subdivided into 4 groups: (Group I): 15 patients diagnosed as chronic viral hepatitis B or C, (Group II): 15 patients with compensated liver cirrhosis, (Group III): 15 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, and (Group IV) (control group): 15 healthy individuals.

Refractory Helicobacter pylori gastritis: The hidden predictors of resistance.

Objectives: Failure of Helicobacter pylori eradication is documented in 20% of patients. Some patients show a negative faecal antigen test (FAT) with persistent symptoms after therapy. The aim of this study was to detect occult H.

Impact of non-selective beta blockers on portal hypertension and hepatic elasticity in hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis.

Portal hypertension and its complications are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. Noninvasive assessment of liver stiffness had been an effective tool for assessment of fibrosis progression in chronic liver disease. It was intended to assess liver stiffness measurement (LSM), portal vein diameter (PVD), splenic bipolar diameter (SD), and the platelet count/spleen diameter (PC/SD) ratio in patients who test positive for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and to study the impact of non-selective beta blockers (NSBB) on the grade of esophageal varices (EVs) and liver elasticity.

Endoscopic management of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Objective: Despite the therapeutic and surgical interventions for the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), yet the high cost and the post-operative complications had led to a significant socioeconomic burden. The aim was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic band ligation (EBL) in the management of refractory GERD.

Methods: A total of 150 patients with refractory GERD were assigned to an EBL group (banding was done at four quadrants just at the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) (n = 75) or to a control group (optimized dose of PPI, n = 75).

Management of different types of gastric varices with band ligation: a 3-year experience.

Background And Aim: Gastric varices (GVs) occur with an incidence of 20% in patients with portal hypertension. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic band ligation (BL) as an option in the management of small-to-moderate nonbleeding GVs in cirrhotic patients.

Patients And Methods: A total of 50 patients (GOV2; n=6, IGV1; n=34, IGV2; n=10) with nonbleeding small-to-moderate-sized GVs without local risk signs of bleeding, such as large size, red-colored elevated areas or red wales, and systemic factors of bleeding risk such as an international normalized ratio of at least 2 and a platelet count of 80 000/µl or less were subjected to endoscopic BL.

Differential expression of Toll-like receptors 7 & 8 mRNA in monocytes of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection: correlation with interferon and ribavirin treatment.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been identified as key regulators of innate and adaptive immune responses in viral infection. The contribution of the host immune response to sustained virologic response is not clear in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study aimed to investigate the expression of TLRs 7 & 8 mRNA in monocytes of patients with chronic (HCV) infection showing different responses to interferon and ribavirin treatment.