Search

Ashraf Omar,1 Ahmed Kaseb,2 Tamer Elbaz,1 Mohamed El-Kassas,3 Amr El Fouly,3 Abdel Fatah Hanno,4 Ahmed El Dorry,5 Ahmed Hosni,6 Amr Helmy,7 Amr S Saad,8 Ashwaq Alolayan,9 Basem Elsayed Eysa,10 Emad Hamada,11 Hamdy Azim,11 Hany Khattab,12 Hesham Elghazaly,8 Hesham Tawfik,13 Hisham Ayoub,14 Hussein Khaled,11 Ibtessam Saadeldin,11 Imam Waked,15 Eman MF Barakat,16 Mahmoud El Meteini,17 Mohamed Hamed Shaaban,6 Mohamed EzzElarab,10 Mohamed Fathy,17 Mohamed Shaker,5 Mohamed Sobhi,5 Mohamed Kamal Shaker,16 Mohamed ElGharib,5 Mohammed Abdullah,11 Mohesn Mokhtar,11 Mostafa Elshazli,18 Omar Mohamed Khaleil Heikal,14 Osama Hetta,5 Reda Mahmoud ElWakil,16 Sameh Abdel Wahab,5 Samir Shehata Eid,19 Yousri Rostom20 On behalf of the Egyptian Liver Cancer Committee Study Group1Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 2Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; 3Department of Endemic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt; 4Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; 5Department of Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 6Department of Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 7Department of Surgery, National Liver Institute Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt; 8Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 9Department of Oncology, National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 10Department of Gastroenterology, National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt; 11Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 12Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 13Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta Egypt; 14Department of Gastroenterology, Military Medical Academy, Cairo, Egypt; 15Department of Gastroenterology, Menoufia Liver Institute, Menoufia, Egypt; 16Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 17Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 18Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 19Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 20Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, EgyptCorrespondence: Ashraf Omar, Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, Email abdelazizashraf@hotmail.comAbstract: Globally, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most common cause of death from cancer. The prevalence of this pathology, which has been on the rise in the last 30 years, has been predicted to continue increasing. HCC is the most common cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in Egypt and is also the most common cancer in males. Chronic liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis C, which is a primary health concern in Egypt, are considered major risk factors for HCC. However, HCC surveillance is recommended for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and liver cirrhosis; those above 40 with HBV but without cirrhosis; individuals with hepatitis D co-infection or a family history of HCC; and Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients exhibiting significant fibrosis or cirrhosis. Several international guidelines aid physicians in the management of HCC. However, the availability and cost of diagnostic modalities and treatment options vary from one country to another. Therefore, the current guidelines aim to standardize the management of HCC in Egypt. The recommendations presented in this report represent the current management strategy at HCC treatment centers in Egypt. Recommendations were developed by an expert panel consisting of hepatologists, oncologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, pathologists, and radiologists working under the umbrella of the Egyptian Society of Liver Cancer. The recommendations, which are based on the currently available local diagnostic aids and treatments in the country, include recommendations for future prospects.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, clinical recommendations, Egyptian society of liver cancer, hepatitis c virus, Egypt, guidelines

Abstract Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a typical complex degenerative articular ailment that shows focal cartilage loss, new bone formation with involvement of entire joint tissues. Dkk-1 assumes a job in controlling the pattern of bone repair and regeneration in both OA and RA. This study aimed to determine serum and synovial fluid levels of Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) in patients with primary OA of the knee joint and study their correlations with disease activity and severity. This study included 45 patients, 30 of them were diagnosed as primary knee OA. Fifteen rheumatoid arthritis patients as well as 15 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study as control groups, serum and synovial levels of Dkk-1 were estimated utilizing the ELISA technique. Results Serum levels of Dkk-1 were significantly higher in OA patients than healthy subjects (p < 0.001), although it was even significantly higher in RA patients than OA patients (p < 0.001). There was a highly significant decrease in the median synovial level of Dkk-1 in OA patients compared to the RA control group (p < 0.001). There was a highly statistically significant inverse correlation between circulating as well as synovial fluid Dkk-1 levels and radiological disease grading in knee OA (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant decrease in serum levels of Dkk-1 in patients with severe OA (grade 3, 4) compared to those with mild OA (Grade 2) (p < 0.001). Conclusion Dkk-1 is an interesting marker that is related to articular disease .It could play an important role in decelerating the degenerative process of OA and can reflects radiographic severity of the disease as well.

The present work is concerned with the recovery of Cu and REEs from the processed Alloga carbonaceous shale (almost free from U) of Abu Zeneima area at Southwestern Sinai using H2SO4 acid agitation leaching method. The working processed sample assays 0.18% Cu and 0.068% REEs. The applied optimum leaching conditions realized dissolution efficiencies of 91.2% for Cu and 99.1% for REEs. For selective separation of Cu, LIX973N diluted in kerosene was used. Cu was regenerated from the loaded organic phase under the optimum stripping conditions of 12% H2SO4 acid with shaking time of 3 min at A/O ratio of 1/1 and then precipitated directly as Cu (OH)2. With respect to REEs extraction, the raffinate solution left behind after Cu recovery and assayed 0.16 g/L of REEs was subjected to Dowex50 W-X8 cation-exchange resin in its hydrogen form realizing loading efficiency of 79.5%. About 99% of eluted REEs was precipitated by the addition of 10% oxalic acid at pH of 1.1. A flowsheet for the preparation of CuO and RE2O3 was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The fibrinogen to albumin ratio (FAR) has risen to prominence as a novel biomarker for various conditions, including systemic inflammation. Therefore, this study aims to assess the role of FAR in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and its correlation with disease activity, severity, and functional status of AS patients. Thirty adult patients with AS were enrolled, along with 20 healthy age- and sex-matched subjects as controls. Bath Indices were used to determine the disease activity, severity, and functional status. Results The patients’ mean age was 35.3 years, including 22 males (73.3%) and eight females (26.7%). The median disease duration was 10 years, ranging from 1 to 28 years. AS cases showed higher FAR than the control group (P < 0.001). Active cases were associated with significantly higher FAR when compared to cases in remission (P < 0.001). FAR showed significant positive correlations with Bath Indices including BASDAI, BASFI, and BASMI scores (P = 0.002, 0.002, < 0.001, 0.019, 0.022). Conclusion FAR has been increased in AS, particularly in active cases. FAR has also been associated with the impaired functional status of AS patients. FAR can represent a novel inflammatory parameter for monitoring disease activity and severity in AS.

Abstract Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease with variable clinical manifestations that can affect various organs and tissues. Estrogen is an important element that performs a vital role in the pathology of SLE. It acts on target cells through binding to estrogen receptors (ERs). This study aimed to assess the effect of ER alpha gene polymorphism on SLE disease activity and clinical manifestations. This study included 30 SLE female patients and 20 healthy subjects as controls. ERα gene ( pvull and xbal) polymorphisms were genotyped using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and correlated with clinical and laboratory manifestations of SLE as well as the activity and severity scores. Results Regarding ERα (rs1 2234693 Pvull) polymorphism, the TC and CC genotypes were mainly associated with SLE patients, with a high frequency of the mutant C allele. The TT genotype was found mainly in the control group. Concerning rs2 9340799 Xbal polymorphisms, the AG, AA, and GG genotypes frequencies were not significantly different between patient and controls. The TC/AA, CC/GG, and CC/GG genotypes were the most prevalent combinations among SLE patients, while the later combination is completely absent from the control group. There was a significant statistical association with the AA genotype with the neurological disorders and/or hematological affection in SLE patients. The TC genotype was more related to serositis, leucopenia and pyuria, while the AA polymorphism was associated only with leucopenia. Conclusions We conclude that the study offers a clue to the associations of ERα gene polymorphisms in SLE disease, and the combinations relevant to certain clinical manifestations. Estrogen level itself does not affect SLE susceptibility or activity but the mutations in its receptors are the main pathogenic factor.