Search

There is a scarcity of studies focusing on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and anxiety in Egypt. Accordingly, our study aimed to assess the association between anxiety and IBS symptomatology among Egyptian females. Three hundred eighty-three females (145 IBS and 238 controls) were included in the study, and data were obtained using structured predesigned questionnaires. IBS and anxiety symptoms were assessed according to the Rome IV criteria and the Arabic version of the beck anxiety inventory, respectively. Both IBS and non-IBS groups showed increased anxiety during the pandemic, without a significant difference between both groups (P value = .657). Higher levels of education were significantly associated with severe anxiety (P value = .031). Multivariate analysis of IBS patients showed that intermediate education was significantly associated with 75% lower odds for increased IBS symptoms compared with illiterate or read-and-write IBS patients [odds ratio (OR): 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06-0.95, P value = .042]. Urban residence was significantly associated with 13.5 times greater odds of increased IBS symptoms, compared with rural residence (OR: 13.48, 95% CI 3.55-51.25, P value < .001). Moreover, patients who lost their job during the pandemic were 12.9 times more likely to have increased symptoms (OR: 12.89, 95% CI 1.84-90.15, P value = 0.01). A unit increase in patients age and beck anxiety inventory score was associated with 68% and 75% greater odds for increased IBS symptoms, respectively (OR: 1.68, 95% CI 1.12-2.53, P value = .012; OR: 1.75, 95% CI 1.08-2.84, P value = .024). Increasing anxiety is associated with increased IBS symptoms. Therefore, IBS patients should be screened for anxiety, and the role of psychiatric management of anxiety in the amelioration of IBS symptoms must be explored., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: In certain settings, the prevalence and severity of schistosoma infection do not lessen despite repeated rounds of preventative chemotherapy; these areas are known as hotspots. This study aimed to investigate the role of human practices, besides environmental and malacological factors, in the maintenance of the Schistosoma mansoni infection transmission chain in hotspot areas in Egypt., Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between July and November 2019 in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt. A pre-designed structured interviewing questionnaire was used to collect humanitarian data. Stool samples were collected from children aged 6-15 years on three successive days and examined using the Kato-Katz technique. Simultaneously, water and snail samples were taken from watercourses surrounding houses. Snails were identified based on their shell morphology and structure and tested for cercaria shedding. Water samples were analyzed for their physicochemical and biological characteristics., Results: A total of 2259 fecal samples (1113 in summer and 1146 in fall) were collected from 861 children. About 46.9% of the participants were males, and 31.8% were aged 6-10 years. The prevalence of S. mansoni infection was higher during the summer than during the fall (19.1% vs 7.2%, respectively, P < 0.01). The intensity of infection (light, moderate, and heavy) during summer versus fall was (93.55 vs 89.38%, 6.45 vs 8.85%, and 0.00% vs 1.77%), respectively (P < 0.05). A higher prevalence of human infection was observed among males than females [OR = 1.63, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.10-2.40, P = 0.015], children aged 11-15 years than among their counterparts aged 6-10 years (OR = 2.96, 95% CI: 1.72-5.06, P < 0.001), and mothers with a low level of education (OR = 3.33, 95% CI: 1.70-6.52, P < 0.001). The main identified risk factors were contacting the main body of water-canal for washing clothes (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.12-2.49, P = 0.015), land irrigation (OR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.32-4.96, P = 0.004), water collection (OR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.82-4.73, P < 0.001), bathing (OR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.21-4.31, P = 0.009), and garbage disposal (OR = 2.38, 95% CI:1.38-4.12, P < 0.001). The count of Biomphalaria alexandrina was distinct between seasons (P < 0.01) in consistent with statistically significant differences in water temperature, salinity, turbidity, the total concentration of coliforms, depth, velocity, and water level (P < 0.01). The presence of grasses and duckweeds was significantly associated with snail infection (P = 0.00 l). Significant effects of water depth, pH, temperature, and total dissolved solids on snail count were also observed (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: The persistence of the infection is due to adoption of risky behaviors and environmental factors that enhance snail survival and infection. Schistosomiasis elimination in hotspots requires an integrated control approach that combines preventive chemotherapy with other complementary measures., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is also called recurrent polyserositis. The salient features of this disease include brief recurrent episodes of peritonitis, pleuritis, and arthritis, which are usually associated with fever. Colchicine is highly effective in the treatment of FMF and in preventing the development of recurrent attacks and amyloidosis, and it is essential to make the correct diagnosis and institute daily therapy with colchicine (0.5-0.6 mg bid). Colchicine is used to treat a variety of conditions but it is known to have gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. In this study, effects of colchicines on the gastrointestinal tract were evaluated in patients with FMF treated with colchicine., Methods: Biopsies were reviewed from 43 patients attending Ain Shams University Hospital (Egypt) who were diagnosed with FMF and treated with colchicine. One-hundred and twelve GI biopsies, obtained over a 14-year period, were reviewed. This included biopsies from stomach body (38), stomach antrum (50), and colon (24). In addition, gastric biopsies were reviewed from 17 control patients who did not have FMF and were not on colchicine., Results: Three patients known to have FMF and on colchicine therapy showed typical histological features of colchicine (metaphase mitoses, epithelial pseudoproliferation, mucin depletion, and frequent apoptosis). These features were seen only in gastric antral biopsies and not in colonic biopsies. None of the control group showed the characteristic morphological features of colchicine toxicity., Conclusion: This is the first report of histological changes seen in the stomach following colchicine therapy. In contrast with previous reports, we did not find any definitive change in the large intestine. Our data show that gastric changes can be encountered in symptomatic patients who have recently had colchicine. If these finding are seen histologically, they merit correlation with the clinical impression and should not be interpreted as toxicity in isolation.