bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum level of osteopontin in patients with alopecia areata and its correlation with ocular changes
Authors: El Gareh Mai Mohamed A.A. , Omar Ghada Abd El-Badea A. , Shalaby Sawsan A.S. , Morsy Amal A. , Kamel Radwa O.M. 
Published: March 2024

Background
Alopecia areata (AA) is a type of nonscarring hair loss affecting anagen-stage hair follicles with a multifactorial autoimmune pathogenesis and an unknown etiology. Osteopontin (OPN), also known as bone sialoprotein I and early T-lymphocyte activation-1, is a member of the small integrin-binding ligand N-linked glycoprotein family. OPN is widely distributed in human tissues and expressed in several cell types. The significant increase in the immunopositivity of the perifollicular inflammatory cells for OPN in AA cases as well as its strong expression in the hair follicles, especially the miniaturized ones, offers further proof for its role in AA. OPN was found to be strongly expressed in retina, trabecular meshwork, optic nerve, iris, and vitreous humour. Ocular findings associated with AA, the most prevalent of these, are cataracts and retinal pigment epithelial changes.

Aim
The aim of the present study is to evaluate serum level of OPN in patients with AA and correlate it with ocular changes to assess its possible role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Patients and methods
This case–control study included 40 patients who presented with AA diagnosed on the basis of typical clinical features, representing the patient group. Moreover, 40 age-matched and sex-matched apparently healthy individuals were also included, representing the control group. All patients were recruited (according to inclusion and exclusion criteria) from the Outpatient Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology of Al-Zahra University Hospital during the period from February 2017 to February 2018.

Results
In our study, there was a highly statistically increase in serum level of OPN in the patient group. There was no significant difference between male and female regarding serum levels of OPN. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between serum OPN level in patient group and duration of disease. There was no correlation between serum OPN and age and severity of alopecia tool score. There was more significant increase in eye manifestations in patients than controls. Mean break-up time was statistically higher among patients than controls. There was a statistically highly significant positive correlation between serum OPN level and break-up time, lens abnormalities, and fundus abnormalities.

Conclusion
Patients with alopecia may have more lenticular and retinal abnormal findings than individuals without alopecia, but those findings do not interfere with visual acuity.
Effect of letrozole plus misoprostol in terminating nonviable first-trimester pregnancies
Authors: Hanaa Nada G. , Abdel Wahed Rania M. , Al Noor Iman I. 
Published: March 2024

Background
The abortion rate is roughly 15–20%, and it is the most common complication of early pregnancy in humans. Over the past decade, medical termination of pregnancy in the first-trimester gained popularity with the highly effective regimen combining mifepristone and misoprostol.

Objective
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of letrozole plus misoprostol to terminate nonviable pregnancies in first-trimester compared with the use of misoprostol alone.

Patients and methods
This was a single-blind randomized controlled study conducted at Itay El-Baroud General Hospital, where 90 pregnant women diagnosed as missed abortions were approached and divided into two groups. Group A included 45 women who received letrozole 10 mg daily for 3 days before receiving 600 μg misoprostol orally. Group B included 45 women who received four tablets of placebo for 3 days before receiving 600 μg of oral misoprostol.

Results
There were significant differences between the two groups, with better outcomes found for the letrozole group in terms of complete abortion rate, decreased rate of surgical intervention, and decreased major adverse effects compared with misoprostol alone.

Conclusion
The use of 10 mg daily for 3 days of oral letrozole combined with 600 μg of oral misoprostol in missed abortion can significantly the increase rate of complete abortion, decrease surgical intervention, decrease blood loss, decrease the time to induce abortion, and decrease the major adverse effects when compared with misoprostol alone.
Effect of third trimester formation of lower uterine segment on the thickness of previous cesarean scar measured by transvaginal sonography
Authors: Moustafa Asmaa O. , El-Mallah Samira Y. , Abd-ElMonem Hind S. 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundSeveral studies have been conducted using various methods to evaluate the correlation of lower uterine segment (LUS) measurement with the risk of uterine rupture or dehiscence, with relative success.Patients and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 patients admitted for cesarean section. The patients were subjected to complete general, obstetric examination, and ultrasound measurement of LUS scar by transabdominal ultrasound (TAS) on partially full bladder and by transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) on empty bladder, and measurement of actual thickness intraoperatively.ResultsUterine dehiscence was found in 24 (12%) cases. At 28 weeks, the mean scar thickness as measured by TAS was 6.796±1.84 mm, with a range of 3.6–11 mm, and by TVS was 4.11±1.29 mm, with a range of 3–10.1 mm, and at 38 weeks, the mean scar thickness as measured by TAS was 6.796±1.84 mm, with a range of 3.6–11 mm, and by TVS it was 2.9±0.9 mm, with a range of 1.3–3.9 mm. However, intraoperatively, it was 4.12±1.25 mm, with a range of 3–9 mm, by TVS. The cutoff value was 2.33 mm, and this yields a sensitivity of 96.2% and a specificity of 90%.ConclusionThe LUS scar thickness measured sonographically is a good predictor of uterine scar dehiscence in pregnant women at term with previous cesarean section. Data from the present study demonstrated the superiority of TVS over TAS for the assessment of LUS scar thickness.
A study of leukocyte surface antigen CD64, as a marker of early-onset and late-onset sepsis in preterm and full-term neonates
Authors: Younis Doaa H. , Algohary Eglal H. , Ahmed Eman A. , Elaal Hala M.A. 
Published: March 2024

Background
Neonatal sepsis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among newborns. Its diagnosis depends mainly on blood culture that takes at least 48 h to give results. Therefore, searching for biomarkers for early diagnosis is of value. We aimed to assess neutrophil CD64 as an early diagnostic biomarker in early-onset and late-onset neonatal sepsis in full-term and preterm neonates and to compare it with other diagnostic markers, blood culture, and neonatal scores of sepsis.

Patients and methods
A case–control study was conducted on 60 neonates with clinical sepsis and 30 neonates as control aged from 1 to 28 days of life admitted to NICU in Damanhour Teaching Hospital during the period from 1/8/2018 to 1/4/2019. Studied neonates were evaluated using clinical and laboratory indicators for sepsis, and neutrophil CD64 was measured by flow cytometry.

Results
There was a statistically significant increase in CD64 of early-onset sepsis and late-onset sepsis groups than control group (P>0.001), either in full-term and preterm neonates, whereas there was no statistically significant difference between early-onset sepsis group and late-onset sepsis group regarding CD64. CD64 at a cutoff point more than 30% had sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100, negative predictive value 100, and area under a curve=1, which means CD64 is the gold standard test. However, C-reactive protein (CRP) at a cutoff point more than 6 mg/l had sensitivity of 71.67%, specificity of 83.33%, and area under a curve=0.78, which means CRP is a good test.

Conclusion
The level of CD64 was equally increased in neonates with early-onset and late-onset neonatal sepsis and not affected by age or sex and was highly sensitive and specific in diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. There were positive significant correlations between CD64 and both CRP and neonatal score of sepsis, whereas there was an insignificant relation between mean values of CD64 and blood cultures results.
The relationship between rheumatoid arthritis disease and hearing loss
Authors: El Reheem Marwa A. , Elkholy Tawfik A. , Zidan Mohammed F. , Eladawy Iman 
Published: March 2024

Background
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common systemic autoimmune diseases, characterized by chronic persistent and progressive erosive polyarthritis, leading to irreversible joint disability and increased mortality. It is a disease that affects 1% of the population. The auditory system may be involved during the course of disease; however, the association of RA and hearing impairment (HI) has not been clearly defined.

Aim
The aim of this work was to evaluate the pattern of HI in patients with RA and to examine the possible associations between RA and hearing loss.

Patients and methods
A total of 55 patients with RA (mean age of 42.10±11.80 years; female sex: 100%) and 55 healthy controls (mean age of 40.92±8.70 years; female sex: 100%) were included in this study. The two groups were matched for age and sex (P>0.05). The mean RA duration is 88.10±27.39 months. Otoscopic examination was normal in all participants. HI was evaluated by pure tone audiometry and tympanometry including the static compliance and acoustic reflex threshold test. Complete medical history and thorough physical examination were taken along with full investigation (including rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and the presence of anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies).

Results
Both groups were comparable regarding age and sex. However, there was a significant increase of HI in the studied group when compared with control group (36.7 vs 3.3%, respectively). Audiometric tests revealed significant increase in the hearing threshold and increased air bone gap. The immitancemetry revealed decrease of static compliance and significant increase of average acoustic reflex in the study group when compared with the control group.

Conclusion
Hearing loss is statistically increased in RA, and disease activity is usually associated with HI.
Studying the changes of ocular wavefront aberrations after neodymium
Authors: Badawi Nermeen M. 
Published: March 2024

Aimof the study
The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes of wavefront aberrations after performing neodymium : yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd : YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy for the management of posterior capsular opacifications.

Patients and methods
This study is a prospective study that was performed on 100 eyes of 87 patients with posterior capsule opacification following phacoemulsification, in the period from March 2017 to October 2017. A complete ophthalmic examination and optical wavefront imaging were performed to every patient. Patients underwent posterior capsulotomy using Nd : YAG laser with a follow-up period of 6 months.

Results
There were no significant changes in postoperative refraction at P value more than 0.05 still the best-corrected visual acuity showed a clinically significant at P value less than 0.05. The intraocular pressure was statistically significantly increased on the first postoperative day (P<0.05) but not in other postoperative visits. Regarding higher order aberrations there was a statistically significant improvement in total third-order aberrations (P<0.05), coma aberration (P<0.05), total fourth-order aberrations (P<0.05), spherical aberration (P<0.05), and total higher order aberrations (P<0.05) while quadrafoil and fifth-order aberrations showed no statistically significant changes.

Conclusion
Nd : YAG laser posterior capsulotomy causes a significantly decrease in wavefront aberrations in patients with posterior capsule opacification.
Effect of sofosbuvir and ribavirin therapy on hearing
Authors: Ismail Naema , El-Serafy Gamal , Ewida Amal , Eladawy Iman , Abd-Elmo′men Mona 
Published: March 2024

Introduction
An estimated 185 million people worldwide are currently infected with chronic hepatitis C virus and ∼3–4 million new infections occur each year. Sofosbuvir (SOF) administered in combination with ribavirin (RBV) resulted in high sustained virological response rates across genotype (GT) 1–6 patients. It is also the first available regimen for patients who are unsuitable for interferon. A combination of SOF and RBV was safe and well tolerated with no death or discontinuation of treatment due to adverse events. The most frequent adverse events were headache, anemia, fatigue, and nausea.

Objective
This study was designed to detect the effect of dual treatment with SOF/RBV on hearing and on cochlear hair cells in 50 patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Subjects and methods
Fifty adult male patients with chronic HCV infection and fulfilling the indications to start the medical treatment with Sovaldi, they were subjected to pre and post treatment hearing assessment by Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) and Oto Acoustic Emission (OAEs).

Results
According to pure-tone audiometry, no statistically significant difference was detected in hearing threshold among patients at different frequencies, pretreatment and post-treatment. According to distortion-product otoacoustic emission (S/N), there was a highly statistically significant difference in distortion-product otoacoustic emission (S/N), at the most of frequencies in pretreatment and post-treatment. This differences confirmed (outer hair cell) damage as an ototoxic effect for SOF/RBV therapy.

Recommendation
Long-term follow-up to determine this effect on the outer hair cell either temporary or permanent.
Diabetic foot syndrome in relation to cardiovascular risk factors and morbidities
Authors: Ahmed Sally A.-A. , Hassan Zainab A.-B. , Sayed Ghada M. , Aly Eman M. 
Published: March 2024

Introduction
Diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is as a major source of morbidity and a leading cause of hospitalization in patients with diabetes.

Aim
To study the presence of cardiovascular morbidities among patients with DFS.

Patients and methods
This study was conducted on 60 patients having type 2 diabetes. They were divided according to presence or absence of DFS into two groups. Each group included 30 patients. History taking; vital signs with calculation of ankle–brachial index (ABI); systemic examination; laboratory investigations, including blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin, lipid profile, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and insulin resistance index; carotid ultrasonography; and echocardiography were performed for all study participants.

Results
Patients with DFS had longer duration of diabetes; higher waist circumference, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein; and lower ABI, eGFR, and insulin resistance index. Carotid intima-media thickness was higher in patients with DFS. Regarding echocardiography, significant differences were found between both groups in mitral valve E/A ratio, ejection fraction, and left ventricle end systolic volume. There was a significant positive correlation between Wagner grade of diabetic foot and glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein, and a significant negative correlation between Wagner grade of diabetic foot and eGFR and ABI.

Conclusion
Presence of DFS was associated with cardiovascular morbidities.
Histological and immunohistochemical study of telocytes in the heart of male albino rats in different age groups
Authors: Abdel Gawad Soad K.M. , Al-Shahed Fatma Al-Zahraa N. , Abd El-Zaher Mariam H. 
Published: March 2024

Background
Telocytes (TCs) have been newly discovered as a type of interstitial cells in the heart. They have been suggested to have a role in cardiac renewal and repair.

Aim
To study the number and distribution of TCs in the heart of male albino rats and the effect of aging on their numbers.

Materials and methods
A total of 24 male albino rats were used in the present study. They were subdivided into four groups: group I included six rats that were 1 week old, group II included six rats that were 1 month old, group III included six rats that were 3 months old, and group IV included six rats that were 1 year old. Specimens were taken from both atria and ventricles and subdivided into two parts: a part processed and examined by light microscope and the other part processed and examined by electron microscope. CD117 and CD34 immunohistochemical stains were used for demonstration of sites, numbers, and distribution of TCs.

Results
By CD117 and CD34 immunohistochemical stains, there was a statistically significant increase in the number of TCs in atria more than in ventricles. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the number of TCs with aging. In Masson's trichrome-stained sections, there was an increase in collagen fibers between cardiomyocytes and around the blood vessels with age. By electron microscopic examination, TCs appeared as branched spindle, triangular, or cubical cells with long processes (telopodes) arising from the cell body. Telopodes showed variation in diameter, which had a narrow part (podomer) and a dilated part (podom). They showed homocellular junction with another TC's telopodes and heterocellular junctions between TCs and cardiomyocytes; moreover, multivesicular bodies were also seen.

Conclusion
There was a decrease in the number of TCs in the heart together with minimal changes in its shape and structure with aging.
Effect of nebulized ketamine versus betamethasone gel on postoperative pharyngo-laryngeal complications after proseal laryngeal mask insertion in day case surgery
Authors: Emara Ayman S. 
Published: March 2024

Background
General anesthesia with laryngeal mask airway can lead to trauma of the airway mucosa resulting in postoperative pharyngo-laryngeal complications. We compared between the effects of betamethasone gel applied over proseal laryngeal mask and nebulized ketamine in reducing pharyngo-laryngeal complications such as sore throat, hoarseness of voice, dysphagia, and cough during the first, 12 postoperative hours after elective day case surgical procedures.

Patients and methods
In all, 120 patients (aged 16–45 year) American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II, scheduled for elective day case surgery with proseal laryngeal mask, were enrolled into this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study. The patients were randomly allocated into four groups of 30 participants each: group C received nebulized saline and lubricant gel over laryngeal mask; group B received nebulized saline and 0.05% betamethasone gel over laryngeal mask; group K received nebulized ketamine (1 mg/kg) and lubricant gel over laryngeal mask; group KB received nebulized ketamine (1 mg/kg) and 0.05% betamethasone gel over laryngeal mask. The incidence and the severity of postoperative sore throat, hoarseness of voice, dysphagia, and cough were graded at 30 min, 2, 4, 8, and 12 h.

Results
The incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat, hoarseness of voice, dysphagia, and cough were significantly lower in groups KB, K, and B, compared with control group (P<0.05). The incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat, hoarseness of voice, dysphagia, and cough were lower in group KB compared with groups K and B at all times after removal of laryngeal mask up to 12 h without significant difference.

Conclusion
The prophylactic use of betamethasone gel or nebulized ketamine significantly reduced the incidence and severity of postoperative pharyngo-laryngeal complication. Betamethasone gel and nebulized ketamine were significantly more effective than using each of these drugs alone.
Evaluation of nutritional deficiencies and health-related quality of life during the first year after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass
Authors: Ahmed Mohammed S. , Ahmed Mostafa El Sayed , Razik Mahmoud A. Abdel 
Published: March 2024

Background
Nutritional deficiencies and health-related quality of life represent a major concern after bariatric procedures and can cause serious complications. Bariatric procedures have different effects on the domains of quality of life.

Objective
To prospectively compare between the effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass (LMGB) on nutritional deficiencies and quality of life during the first postoperative year.

Patients and methods
We included 40 patients. In the first group, 20 patients underwent LSG, whereas 20 patients in the second group underwent LMGB. Postoperative assessment of nutritional parameters and quality of life was performed every 3 months. Quality of life was assessed using bariatric analysis and reporting outcome system (BAROS) and short form-12 questionnaires.

Results
All nutritional parameters showed significant decrease with more significant deficiencies after LMGB. Quality of life improved significantly after both procedures. Using BAROS questionnaire, LMGB was associated with significant better results.

Conclusion
LSG and LMGB are associated with significant decrease of nutritional parameters and significant improvement of quality of life. However, LMGB is associated with significantly more nutritional deficiencies and better improvement of quality of life than LSG.
Role of multidetector computed tomography in evaluation of intestinal diseases in adults
Authors: Elsayed Sharaf Hend H.A. , Glal Heba M. , Zarad Mohammed S. , Abdellatif Nahed A. 
Published: March 2024

Introduction
Many diseases affect the intestine and need dedicated evaluation and proper characterization by continuous advances in multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) techniques.

Objective
To emphasize the role of MDCT in evaluation of different intestinal disorders in adults.

Patients and methods
An MDCT was performed on patients referred to the Radiology Department for diagnosis of suspected intestinal diseases at Zahra Hospital and private radiology centers from September 2018 to September 2020. Patients’ selection was based on the need for evaluation of suspected intestinal diseases in adults that were not precisely diagnosed. We used a 128-GE MDCT and 160-Toshiba MDCT.

Results
A total of 92 patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 47.71±15.66 years, and 67.4% were males. Abdominal pain represented the highest distribution (58.7%) of clinical presentation, whereas abdominal trauma and heart burn represented the lowest distribution (1.1%). Cases with malignancy have the highest distribution of pathological abnormalities (28%), whereas cases with intestinal ischemia have the lowest distribution (1.1%). The most common site for intestinal lesion was large intestine (71.7%), whereas lesions of both small and large intestine represented lowest distribution (8.7%). In addition, 95.7% of the cases had intestinal wall thickening. White pattern represented the highest distribution of enhancement (43.5%), whereas homogenous pattern represented lowest distribution (3.3%) (P<0.05). Besides, segmental pattern represented the highest distribution of large-bowel extension (33.75%), and diffuse pattern represented lowest distribution (23.9%).

Conclusion
Our results showed MDCT is an accurate and sensitive tool that aids in the diagnosis of a wide range of intestinal diseases.