The Impact of Drain and Reinforcement on the Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery: A Prospective Study.

Purpose We aimed to investigate the impact of reinforcement and abdominal drains on the outcome of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Methods The present study was a prospective study that included obese patients scheduled to undergo LSG. Patients were assigned to receive drain, reinforcement, or both according to the surgeon's preference and followed up for one month after surgery.

Survival and outcomes for co-infection of chronic hepatitis C with and without cirrhosis and COVID-19: A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Chronic liver disease, particularly cirrhosis, is associated with worse outcomes in patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Aim: To assess outcomes of COVID-19 infection among patients with pre-existing hepatitis C with or without liver cirrhosis.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective cohort study included all cases of confirmed co-infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and chronic hepatitis C with or without liver cirrhosis who were admitted to six hospitals (Al-Sahel Hospital, Al-Matareya Hospital, Al-Ahrar Hospital, Ahmed Maher Teaching Hospital, Al-Gomhoreya Hospital, and the National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute) affiliated with the General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes in Egypt.

Effect of Vitamin D supplementation in patients with liver cirrhosis having spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: a randomized controlled study.

Objective: Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) is one of the most serious liver cirrhosis with ascites complications. Vitamin D (Vit D) deficiency has been associated with a high risk of infection and mortality in cirrhotic patients. Herein, the assessment of Vit D level as a prognostic marker in SBP patients and the impact of Vit D supplementation on their treatment plan was studied as well.

Practical approach to linear EUS examination of the mediastinum.

EUS has become a substantial diagnostic and therapeutic modality for many anatomical regions. The extent of endosonographic assessment is wide, and among others, allows for the evaluation of the mediastinal anatomy and related pathologies such as mediastinal lymphadenopathy and staging of central malignant lung lesions. Moreover, EUS assessment has proved more accurate in detecting small lesions missed by standard imaging examinations such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance.

Improvement of Coronary Calcium Scores After Bariatric Surgery in People with Severe Obesity.

Background: Obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a direct measure of coronary atherosclerosis. The study investigated the effect of bariatric surgery on CAC scores in people with severe obesity subjected to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

Correlation Between Preoperative Gastric Volume and Weight Loss After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Purpose: Long-term studies reported inadequate weight loss or weight regain after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). This study investigated a possible relationship between preoperative gastric volume (GV) measured by CT volumetry and weight loss one year after LSG.

Methods: This prospective study included 120 patients scheduled for LSG.

Management of liver disease patients in different clinical situations during COVID-19 pandemic.

Chronic liver diseases are common worldwide, especially in developing countries. The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)/(COVID-19) leads to the infection of many patients with underlying chronic liver diseases. As a relatively new disease, management of COVID-19, in the context of chronic liver disease, is mainly based on the experience of the treating physician and the available data.

Real-life experience of treating HCV co-infection among HIV-infected population in Egypt: single-center experience.

Background: Liver disease has emerged as a leading cause of death among PLHIV coinfected with HCV.

Methods: A retrospective study involving all HCV viremic patients coinfected with HIV who presented to HCV/HIV multidisciplinary clinics located at Embaba fever hospital. Patients were assigned to receive DAAs according to the national treatment guidelines.

COVID-19 outcomes among pregnant and nonpregnant women at reproductive age in Egypt.

Background: To describe demographic, clinical and epidemiological characteristics of pregnant and nonpregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 at reproductive age and determine risk factors of COVID-19 severe outcomes during pregnancy.

Methods: A retrospective study for females aged 18-49 with confirmed COVID-19 by RT-PCR in Egypt, February-July 2020. Data were obtained from Egypt National Surveillance, bivariate and multivariate analysis for demographic and clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 between pregnant and nonpregnant women including ICU admission, need for ventilator and death was performed.

Clinical evaluation of pregnant women with SARS-COV2 pneumonia: a real-life study from Egypt.

Background: Knowledge about the outcome of COVID-19 on pregnant women is so important. The published literature on the outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 is confusing. The aim of this study was to report our clinical experience about the effect of COVID-19 on pregnant women and to determine whether it was associated with increased mortality or an increase in the need for mechanical ventilation in this special category of patients.

Predictors for Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Healthcare Workers.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are still at higher risk of acquiring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections than the general population. Identifying risk factors associated with severe SARS-CoV-2 infections is of paramount importance to protect HCWs and the non-infected patients attending different healthcare facilities.

Purpose: To recognize the predictors for severity of SARS-CoV2 infection among HCWs working in either COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 healthcare settings.

Molecular Noninvasive Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Microsatellite Instability.

Objective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for more than 80% of primary liver cancers. Moreover, in the next 10 years, more than one million patients are expected to die from liver cancer as estimated by the World Health Organization. The aim of the present study is to define the microsatellite phenotype in the blood, tumor and nontumor tissue samples from hepatocellular carcinoma cases to develop a simple non-invasive method for diagnosis and detection of the disease.

Vector-borne and zoonotic infections and their relationships with regional and socioeconomic statuses: An ID-IRI survey in 24 countries of Europe, Africa and Asia.

Background: In this cross-sectional, international study, we aimed to analyze vector-borne and zoonotic infections (VBZI), which are significant global threats.

Method: VBZIs' data between May 20-28, 2018 was collected. The 24 Participatingcountries were classified as lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income.

NAFLD mark: an accurate model based on microRNA-34 for diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients.

Background: It remains essential for non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) patients, to develop a sensitive and specific diagnostic model. Data regarding the use of micro (mi)RNA-34 for NAFLD diagnosis are few. Routine clinical assessment, laboratory tests were done for Egyptian individuals (n = 314) were included (100 healthy individuals and 214 NAFLD patients).

Evaluation of factors affecting patients' refusal of HCV treatment in a cohort of Egyptian patients.

Background: Treatment refusal, defined as active refusal of a patient to receive treatment despite physician recommendations, has not been extensively evaluated before in hepatitis C virus in the era of direct acting antivirals.

Objective: To investigate the reasons for refusal to receive hepatitis C virus treatment in Egypt.

Methods: an observational study conducted between July 2018 and November 2019 in Egypt.

IL28B rs12979860 polymorphism and zinc supplementation affect treatment outcome and liver fibrosis after direct-acting antiviral hepatitis C therapy.

Background: Impact of interleukin 28B (IL28B) rs12979860 polymorphism on response to direct-acting antivirals agents in HCV genotype 4-infected patients is under investigation. Zinc may have an advantage in improvement of liver damage and treatment outcome. We aimed to evaluate IL28B polymorphism and zinc administration impact on patient response to treatment and amelioration of liver fibrosis.

Anxiety, depression and coping strategies among chronic medical patients with coronavirus disease-2019: a multicenter follow-up cohort study.

Background: Studies have shown that COVID-19 patients experience high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress during the pandemic. Patients adopt different coping strategies to reduce their psychological distress.

Aim: To compare the immediate and long-term psychological impact of COVID-19 disease on patients with and without chronic medical illnesses (CMI) and identify coping styles of both groups during the peak of COVID-19 disease in Egypt.

Role of EUS in detection of liver metastasis not seen by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging during staging of pancreatic, gastrointestinal, and thoracic malignancies.

Background And Objectives: Liver metastases might not be detected by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to their small size, but they can be detected by EUS. Furthermore, EUS-FNA has a significant impact on improving the diagnostic accuracy of EUS. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of EUS in detection of occult small hepatic focal lesions at the time of primary tumor staging, not seen by CT or MRI.

Impact of Hypothyroidism on Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Liver Transplantation.

Background: This work endeavored to explore the effect of hypothyroidism on mortality in subjects with HCC who underwent living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Methods: This prospective study included 107 patients with HCC subjected to LDLT, divided into hypothyroid group (n=53) and euthyroid group (n=54). The primary objectives were overall and disease-free survival (DFS).

Predictors of severity and development of critical illness of Egyptian COVID-19 patients: A multicenter study.

Objectives: We conducted the present multicenter, retrospective study to assess the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics associated with critical illness among patients with COVID-19 from Egypt.

Methods: The present study was a multicenter, retrospective study that retrieved the data of all Egyptian cases with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to hospitals affiliated to the General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes (GOTHI) through the period from March to July 2020. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was based on a positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) laboratory test.

Rifaximin microbial resistance and its efficacy and safety as a secondary prophylaxis of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis.

Background And Aim: Rifaximin is an oral antibiotic with promising efficacy in the reduction of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) recurrence. Development of microbial resistance to rifaximin is not studied yet in HE. The study aim was to assess the microbial resistance, safety and efficacy of rifaximin as secondary prophylaxis of HE.

Restoring NK cells functionality via cytokine activation enhances cetuximab-mediated NK-cell ADCC: A promising therapeutic tool for HCC patients.

Natural Killer (NK) cells are considered the first line of defense against viral infections and tumors. Several factors affect NK cytotoxic activity rendering it dysfunctional and thereby impeding the ability to scavenge abnormal cells as a part of immune escaping mechanisms induced by different types of cancers. NK cells play a crucial role augmenting the activity of various types of anticancer mAb since dysfunctional NK cells are the main reason for the low response to these therapies.

Norepinephrine is More Effective Than Midodrine/Octreotide in Patients With Hepatorenal Syndrome-Acute Kidney Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Terlipressin is the first-line pharmacological treatment for hepatorenal syndrome. When terlipressin is unavailable, midodrine/octreotide or norepinephrine, with albumin, represent the alternative treatments. The comparative efficacy of these alternative regimens remains unclear.