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Sampling of fouling organisms carried out during January 2019 at Al-Max (west of the city of Alexandria) on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt revealed the presence of larval populations belonging to the genus Telmatogeton (Chironomidae), which is reported for the first time from the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. The larvae were found among clumps of fine filamentous green algae (Enteromorpha compressa). A description of the larva with taxonomic remarks and comments on its ecology and geographical distribution are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation is the first to provide systematic information about marine dipteran larvae of the genus AphrosylusHaliday, 1851 (Dolichopodidae), collected from the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea. During May 2017, fouling samples were scraped from natural coastal rocks in the Abu Qir area, east of Alexandria city, Egypt. Only two larvae of Aphrosylus sp. were recorded. This is a new record for the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea fauna. A concise description supplied with drawings, habitat, and distribution of the recorded genus is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Central obesity and diabetes mellitusare recorded at high percentages among Egyptians. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular risk factors among a group of middle-aged and elderly Egyptians. Methods Our study included 220 middle-aged and senior Egyptians voluntary screened in an Egyptian private hospital with 800-bed capacity. Detailed medical history was obtained from all subjects, followed by clinical examination with weight and height measurement, body mass index calculation, waist hip ratio and arterial blood pressure measurement. Laboratory investigations done were complete blood picture, lipid profile and fasting blood glucose measurements. The diagnosis of MetS was based on the American Heart Association/Updated NCEPATP III criteria. Cardiovascular risk assessment was calculated for each subject based on the Framingham/ATP III criteria. Results The prevalence of MetS in this study was of 55% among the whole sample, 85.6% among diabetics and 76.6% among hypertensive patients. Based on Framingham scoring system, 48.2% of the sample had moderate to high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Odds ratio for patients with MetS for developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years was 2.8 (95% confidence interval: 1.6-4.8). Conclusion The high prevalence of MetS among middle-aged and elderly Egyptians with the documented high prevalence of chronic diseases in Egypt calls for a nationwide screening program to detect MetS and tackle preventive strategies to face the epidemic of obesity and outcomes of MetS, particularly cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of keratoconus (KC) among children with ocular allergy., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on all children presenting with ocular allergic disease from September 2017 to September 2018. All study participants were subjected to history taking (a specially designed questionnaire), routine ophthalmological examination, and corneal tomography., Results: A total of 79% of the study patients had vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) while the remaining had perennial allergic conjunctivitis (10%), seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (9%) and atopic keratoconjunctivitis (2%). Manifest KC was seen in 7% of cases, suspect KC was found in 27% of cases, and 66% had no evidence of KC. For the manifest KC, 56% had clinical signs, while 44% were diagnosed by tomography. For the purpose of statistical analysis, the cohort was divided into group KC (manifest or suspicious KC) and group non-KC (no KC). The mean age was 11.2 years in group KC, and 9 years in group non-KC ( p < 0.001). The mean duration of allergic symptoms was 3.75 years in group KC, and 2.5 years in group non-KC ( p = 0.001). The mean duration of eye rubbing was 2.5 years in group KC, and 0.83 years in group non-KC ( p = 0.02). Systemic atopy was present in 35.3% of group KC, and in 12.5% in group non-KC ( p = 0.005)., Conclusion: The overall prevalence of KC was 34%. Risk factors for the development of KC in patients with ocular allergy were age, duration of symptoms specially eye rubbing, systemic atopy and VKC. Tomographic diagnosis of KC can be present in absence of clinical signs.

Previous Western studies showed a consistent and marked reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, these studies were conducted on patients whose knowledge of their serological status may have affected their HRQOL. This HRQOL survey conducted in the Egyptian rural population provides a unique opportunity to clarify this issue among a population whose serological status is unknown. HRQOL was assessed by an Arabic translation of the Short-Form 12, and a visual analog scale of the relative severity of one's health status. HCV chronic infection was defined by positive tests for anti-HCV antibody and HCV-RNA. HRQOL was compared according to HCV chronic infection status in linear mixed models adjusted for potential confounding factors, such as age, sex, education, and health care-related risk factors, and adjusted for interviewer as a random effect. One hundred forty-six Egyptians chronically infected with HCV had similar Short-Form 12 and visual analog scale scores, compared with 1,140 uninfected controls from the same rural community. In individuals chronically infected with HCV, serum aminotransferase levels did not correlate with HRQOL. In conclusion, this study did not find a significant reduction of HRQOL in patients chronically infected with HCV compared with uninfected, contemporaneous controls. This may be explained in part by a lower morbidity amongst patients chronically infected with HCV in rural Egypt and a higher morbidity amongst uninfected controls as compared with those of Western studies, as well as a lack of awareness of hepatitis C serological status.