bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Study of diabetes mellitus among patients with hepatitis C virus
Authors: Raouf Mona Abdel , Yousry Zeinab A. , Hindy Olfat M. , Eissa Somayh S. , Soliman Dalia S. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and type 2 diabetes are two common disorders with high impact on health worldwide. There is growing evidence to support the concept that HCV is associated with type 2 diabetes.

Purpose
This work aimed to study the clinical phenotype of type 2 diabetes in HCV patients.

Patients and methods
Our study was conducted upon 100 nonobese, noncirrhotic hepatitis C positive patients who were classified into two groups according to homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) test for insulin resistance (HOMA IR). This study also included 15 nonobese type 2 diabetic patients negative for HCV and hepatitis B virus infection classified as control groups. We excluded alcoholics and drug addicts and patients with conditions that affect blood glucose such as endocrine diseases associated with disordered glucose metabolism and use of drugs. All participants were subjected to full history taking and complete clinical examination including BMI and the following investigations: complete blood count, fasting blood sugar, 2 h postprandial blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting insulin level, cholesterol level, HDL, LDL, triglyceride, serum urea, creatinine, complete urine analysis, liver function tests: total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, prothrombin time, INR, SGOT, SGPT, quantitative PCR for determination of HCV-RNA, surface antigen (HbsAg), abdominal ultrasonography, liver biopsy when needed and possible for HCV patients, and ECG.

Results
In this study, we found that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in group I is 24%. HCV can independently contribute to IR with viral genotypes 1 or 4. We noticed significant positive correlation between fasting insulin and HOMA IR in hepatitis C +ve patients. IR in HCV-infected patients is high irrespective of the degree of liver injury even before a minimal fibrosis is present. Both IR and diabetes can adversely affect the course of chronic hepatitis C, leading to enhanced steatosis and liver fibrosis, and even increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. A significant correlation between HOMA IR and steatosis, a significant positive correlation between fasting insulin and steatosis and a negative correlation between steatosis and BMI in HCV patients was found. No correlation was found between HOMA IR and the viral load (quantitative HCV RNA).

Conclusion
We can concluded that diabetic HCV patients had intermediate clinical phenotype lower BMI and LDL than control and development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in HCV patients was significantly higher in nontreated patients than treated patients. Antiviral therapy and clearance of HCV improves IR, β-cell function, the blood glucose abnormalities.
Correlations of folic acid, vitamin B12, homocysteine, and thrombopoietin to platelet count in HCV infection
Authors: Eissa Somayh S. , Hendy Olfat M. , Younis Fatma , Omar Samy Aziza K. , Abdallah Ayat R. , Ahmed Laila A. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Introduction
The platelet count is known to decrease in proportion to the advancement of the stage of liver disease in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) viral infection. The platelet count is currently used as an index for fibrosis staging. The pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia (TCP) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is not completely understood.

Purpose
This work aimed to study the correlations of folic acid (FA), vitamin B12 (Vit B12), homocysteine (Hcy), and thrombopoietin to the platelet count in HCV infection.

Patients and methods
Sixty-seven patients (51 men and 16 women) with HCV infection were included in this study. All patients were sero-negative for hepatitis B viral markers. In addition, 20 healthy volunteers, matched for sex and age, were included as a control group. All patients and control individuals were subjected to the following: assessment of medical history, thorough clinical examination, and laboratory investigations including the following: complete blood cell counts, viral hepatitis markers, liver and renal function tests, HCV-RNA by quantitative PCR, serum folate, Vit B12, thrombopoietin, and plasma Hcy. Abdominal ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided liver biopsy for histopathologic examinations were carried out for the patients. Patients were divided into two groups of 36 patients with CHC and 31 patients with cirrhosis with HCV liver cirrhosis (LC).

Results
The results indicated a significant decrease in the platelet count in CHC and LC patients compared with the healthy control group. There was a highly significant decrease in the FA level in CHC and LC patients compared with the control group; also, a significant decrease in the platelet count was found in LC patients compared with CHC patients. Hcy was significantly increased in CHC and LC patients. There was a nonsignificant decrease in Vit B12 in CHC patients, whereas it was significantly increased in LC patients. There was a nonsignificant decrease in thrombopoietin in CHC patients compared with the control group, whereas in LC patients, there was a highly significant decrease. There was a highly significant positive correlation between the platelet count and FA, but an insignificant correlation between the platelet count and Hcy, Vit B12, thrombopoietin, and viral load.

Conclusion
This study concluded that TCP in HCV-related chronic liver diseases is multifactorial and decreased FA is involved in its pathogenesis as an independent risk factor. Increased Hcy may cause TCP through platelet activation and endothelial dysfunction.
The importance of using ultrasonography in knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Ragab Gaafar , El-Ghobary Mohamed A. , El Gohary Rasmia M. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Radiographic features of osteoarthritis (OA) do not correlate with its symptoms at the individual patient level; thus, conventional radiography has limitations. Ultrasonography plays an important role in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders. It reveals soft-tissue abnormalities such as pes anserine bursitis, Baker’s cyst, effusion, synovial hypertrophy, meniscal tear, and collateral ligament injury.

Aim of work
The aim of this study was to detect changes in the knee that cannot be visualized using conventional radiography and to better understand and manage unexplained pain in OA.

Results
There was a discrepancy between the results obtained by clinical examination and those by ultrasonography. Knee effusion was found in 21 knees (70%); synovial hypertrophy was found in three knees (10%), of them two showed Baker’s cyst and marked effusion; Baker’s cyst was found in eight knees (27%); and pes anserine bursitis was found in one knee. Results that could not be found by clinical examination were: cartilage degeneration in 27 knees (90%) and meniscal degeneration in 26 (86%). Meniscal degeneration and synovial hypertrophy were correlated significantly with advanced cartilage degeneration (P < 0.001).

Conclusion
Ultrasonography can be used for diagnosing soft-tissue lesions, for grading the severity of OA, and for guiding and monitoring therapy.
Nonendoscopic predictors of large esophageal varices
Authors: ElNaggar Ahmed A. , Gomaa Mohamed S. , Fawzy May M. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
There is a particular need for noninvasive predictors of esophageal varices (EV) that might help reduce medical, social, and economic costs. Our study aimed at studying the noninvasive predictors of EV.

Patients and methods
A total of 100 live cirrhotic patients with compensated liver functions were subjected to full clinical, laboratory, and imaging investigations.

Results
A total of 55% of the studied groups showed EV; 39% showed high-grade EV (grades III, IV, and V). Platelet count and platelet count/splenic diameter ratio have the highest accuracy and specificity for predicting EV, whereas platelet count/splenic diameter ratio has the highest predictive accuracy for the presence of large EV.

Conclusion
The platelet count/splenic diameter ratio can predict the presence of EV and large-sized EV.
Sinus involvement in cases of rhinoscleroma: a cause of antibiotic resistance and early recurrence after medical treatment
Authors: Atef Ahmed , Talaat Nassim , El Farouk Ahmed , Qotb Mohamed , Fathi Hesham , Ilia Shady 
Published: September 2023

EnAbstract
Theory
To investigate the true incidence of sinus infection in cases of rhinoscleroma, and the possible role of reinfection from the sinuses to explain recurrence and resistant to treatment in cases of scleroma.

Materials and methods
Twenty-five patients with histologically proved granular rhinoscleroma were included in this cohort prospective study.

Results and conclusion
More than one-third of the cases of rhinoscleroma in our series were associated with histologically proved sinus lesions, and these sinus-positive lesions were associated with resistance to standard medical treatment and with early recurrence.
Lateral nasopharyngeal cysts
Authors: Khalifa Mohamed Adel , Makshat Mohsen 
Published: September 2023

EnAbstract
Objective
We report an extremely rare case of lateral nasopharyngeal cysts.

Method
Case reports and a review of the world literature on lateral pharyngeal cysts are presented.

Results
A 45-year-old male patient presented with a swelling in the nasopharynx. This swelling was oblong in shape, with a smooth bluish red surface with its inferior aspect projecting toward the oropharynx. Endoscopic nasal examination showed its attachment to be superior to the left side of the nasopharynx. Computed tomography scan axial cut showed a radio-opaque shadow of the cyst occupying the left half of the nasopharynx.

Conclusion
Congenital branchiogenic cysts of the nasopharynx are quite rare. They originate from the second pharyngeal pouch and attach to one side of the nasopharyngeal roof just behind the posterior choanal opening.
Anxiety in female teachers with dysphonia: correlation between the voice handicap index and anxiety state
Authors: Shoeib Rasha Mohammed , Nassar Jilan F. , Ghandour Hassan H. 
Published: September 2023

EnAbstract
Background
Female teachers are at particular risk of developing voice disorders. They are more likely to have psychiatric disorders such as anxiety or depression.

Aim
To assess the presence of anxiety in female teachers with dysphonia, paying particular attention to the association between the patient’s self-evaluation of her voice handicap and anxiety state.

Participants and methods
Thirty-nine female teachers with dysphonia were subjected to a voice assessment protocol, Arabic voice handicap index (VHI), to quantify the degree of handicap related to voice disorders and assessment of anxiety using the Manifest Anxiety Scale of Taylor. The results obtained were compared with the results of 34 normal female teachers who were subjected to the same assessment protocols.

Results
There were highly significant differences between both the groups in the scores of VHI and the anxiety scale. Anxiety showed a significant correlation with the duration of dysphonia, the grade of dysphonia, the total score of VHI, and its three domains.

Conclusion
Anxiety is frequent among dysphonic female teachers, with a significant association between the patient’s self-evaluation of her voice handicap and anxiety state. Such a high association advocates for both vocal education programs and psychiatric consultations.
Assessment of nonsymbolic communication skills in children with Down syndrome and autism
Authors: Hegazi Mona , Ismail Samira , Nasser Jilan , Mamdouh Mohammed 
Published: September 2023

EnAbstract
Introduction
Communication is among the most basic of human needs. Verbal communication is the highest level of communication, whereas nonverbal (nonsymbolic) communication may remain the only mode of communication in individuals with significant cognitive limitation. Assessment of nonsymbolic skills of two categories of patients with limited verbal output, namely, those with autism [autistic disorder (AD)] and those with Down syndrome (DS), is our main aim. We used the Dynamic Assessment of Nonsymbolic Communication (DANC) test to achieve our aim, because most traditional language tests underestimate this type of communication. Insight into the nonverbal communication abilities of AD and DS patients helps to maintain the communication between them and their caregivers.

Participants and methods
The current study recruited 20 patients with DS, 20 patients with AD, and 20 normal children as controls. The age of the AD and DS patients ranged from 2 to 5 years, whereas the age of controls ranged from 1 to 2 years. All participants were subjected to detailed personal, family, medical, and developmental history taking. Full clinical examination, hearing tests, and assessment of mental ability (intelligence quotient) were performed. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale was provided to evaluate the severity of autism. The DANC test was administered to evaluate the nonsymbolic skills of all participants.

Results
The control group achieved the highest score in all parts of the DANC test, followed by the DS group and the AD group, respectively. There was no significant difference between the DS group and normal group (P>0.05), whereas the autistic group showed highly significantly lower scores compared with both the normal and DS groups (P<0.001). There was also a highly significant difference in scores on the DANC test among the patients in the autistic group in terms of its severity.

Conclusion
Application of the DANC test reflected a specific pattern of nonsymbolic skills of AD and DS patients with respect to their relative strengths and weakness. Such patterns should be considered while designing their intervention program aiming either at developing verbal communication or at enhancing the nonverbal skills. Maintaining communication with such patients helps to fulfill their simple needs and prevents frustration among their caregivers caused by lack of communication.
Predictive outcomes of functional endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Talaat El Ghonemy Mohamed M. , Shehata Wael , Abd El Atti Rasha M. 
Published: September 2023

EnAbstract
Objective
This article aims at addressing some inflammatory markers obtained from patients who underwent a functional endoscopic sinus surgery for refractory chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) to predict the outcome of such surgeries according to the inflammatory load and to determine whether certain immune markers can predict a poor prognosis in these patients.

Methods
Fourteen patients (eight women and six men) with diffuse rhinosinusitis as evident from a computed tomography scan but without nasal polyposis underwent ethmoidectomy. All patients had undergone biopsies of the ethmoid sinuses at the time of surgery. All tissue samples were subjected to immunohistochemical staining using CD3, CD4, CD8, and interleukin (IL)-5 antibodies, and the number of lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD4, and CD8) and IL-5-expressing cells at the time of surgery were compared with the clinical response and nasal endoscopic findings 6 months after surgery.

Results
Only six patients showed an improvement with a decrease in nasal symptoms and a decrease in the need for medications. Eight patients had an unchanged status or worsened, with disabling rhinorrhea and repeated sinusitis.

Conclusion
Almost more than half of the patients with CRS and a diffuse mucosal disease do not respond to surgery. T lymphocytes play an important role in the pathophysiology of CRS. An increased number of IL-5-expressing cells in the ethmoid sinuses at the time of surgery could predict a poor prognosis. It may eventually be possible to classify patients with CRS into different groups with different prognoses.
Acute-phase reactants in children with recurrent tonsillitis treated by tonsillectomy versus long-acting penicillin
Authors: Mohamed Azza , El Tabbakh Mohamed , Zeitoun Alaa , El Hennawi Diaa 
Published: September 2023

EnAbstract
Introduction
Tonsillitis is widespread among children and has serious poststreptococcal complications, and both the patients and the otolaryngology surgeon have to face the question on what is the role and benefit of using long-acting penicillin and whether it is an alternative method of treatment to surgery? This study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of tonsillectomy compared with long-acting penicillin in the treatment of recurrent tonsillitis, comparing their effects on the levels of the antistreptolysin O titer (ASOT) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

Patients and methods
A total of 200 patients aged 4–15 years with recurrent tonsillitis and signs of chronic tonsillitis, after exclusion of patients with bleeding diathesis, anemia, chronic illness, and criteria of rheumatic fever, who were attending the Ismailia General Hospital were included in this study; they were divided to two groups comprising 100 patients each. The first group was treated by tonsillectomy, whereas the second group was treated using long-acting penicillin monthly for 6 months. They were clinically evaluated; ESR and ASOT levels were recorded for all patients before management, after 3 months, and after 6 months.

Results
The mean ESR readings before management, after 3 months, and after 6 months for the first group treated by tonsillectomy were 45.28, 22.36, and 7.4 ml/h, respectively (P-value<0.0021); for the second group treated with penicillin, they were 45.39, 14.98, and 6.48 ml/h, respectively (P-value<0.020). The mean ASOT readings for the tonsillectomy group were 518.29, 253.28, and 117.13 IU/ml, respectively (P-value<0.004), whereas for the penicillin group, they were 526.70, 413.39, and 262.98 IU/ml, respectively (P-value<0.072).

Conclusion
This study demonstrates that the first line of treatment of recurrent chronic tonsillitis is tonsillectomy, as it is both clinically effective and cost-effective for children and that the second line of treatment is long-acting penicillin with a long-term follow-up, and in patients, have contraindications for surgery such as bleeding diathesis.
Clinical balance tests for evaluation of balance dysfunction in children with sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Said Eman A. F. 
Published: September 2023

EnAbstract
Aim
Children with hearing impairment may have a potential risk for vestibular dysfunctions. They may undergo a sensory redistribution process whereby visual and somatosensory information becomes more essential for postural control. The aim of the study was to assess the balance ability in children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) compared with normal-hearing controls using clinical balance subset tests. A second aim was to determine the prognostic value of some etiological, audiological, and demographic (age and sex) factors in predicting a possibility for vestibular impairment for the early identification of children with vestibular deficits.

Participants and methods
Thirty children with normal hearing (17 girls and 13 boys) and 50 children with bilateral SNHL of varying degree, aged between 5 and 15 years, were recruited from the Audiology Unit of Assiut University Hospital. All of them were subjected to the following: basic audiological evaluation (pure tone, speech audiometry), immittancemetry and auditory brainstem responses, clinical balance subset tests of the standardized Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of motor proficiency (BOT-2), modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction for Balance (mCTSIB), one-leg stand (OLS), and tandem stand.

Results
Hearing-impaired (HI) children showed bilateral SNHL of varying degree, ranging from moderate to profound hearing loss (moderately–severe 32%, severe 18%, and profound 50%) and of different etiologies (heredofamilial 46%, acquired 38%, not known 16%).
Balance abilities as measured in this study were significantly poorer in HI children compared with normal-hearing children. HI children with acquired cause and profound degree of SNHL had the highest abnormal score in these clinical tests compared children with other etiologies and degrees of SNHL (although this difference did not reach statistical significance).
In most clinical balance tests that were done in this study, the youngest children in the HI group achieved scores that were almost lower than the scores obtained by the older age groups; the most significant difference was observed for tests performed with eyes closed.

Conclusion
Balance dysfunction occurs in a significant percentage of HI children and may have significant detrimental effects on motor development mainly in very young children. Therefore, information on the identification and treatment of these balance dysfunctions is crucial.
Effect of Yarrowia lipolytica yeast biomass with increased kynurenic acid content on selected metabolic indicators in mice
Authors: Matusiewicz Magdalena , Wróbel-Kwiatkowska Magdalena , Niemiec Tomasz , Świderek Wiesław , Kosieradzka Iwona , Rosińska Aleksandra , Niwińska Anna , Rakicka-Pustułka Magdalena , Kocki Tomasz , Rymowicz Waldemar , Turski Waldemar A. 
Published: September 2023

Background
The unconventional yeast species Yarrowia lipolytica is a valuable source of protein and many other nutrients. It can be used to produce hydrolytic enzymes and metabolites, including kynurenic acid (KYNA), an endogenous metabolite of tryptophan with a multidirectional effect on the body. The administration of Y. lipolytica with an increased content of KYNA in the diet may have a beneficial effect on metabolism, which was evaluated in a nutritional experiment on mice.

Methods
In the dry biomass of Y. lipolytica S12 enriched in KYNA (high-KYNA yeast) and low-KYNA (control) yeast, the content of KYNA was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Then, proximate and amino acid composition and selected indicators of antioxidant status were compared. The effect of 5% high-KYNA yeast content in the diet on the growth, hematological and biochemical indices of blood and the redox status of the liver was determined in a 7-week experiment on adult male mice from an outbred colony derived from A/St, BALB/c, BN/a and C57BL/6J inbred strains.

Results
High-KYNA yeast was characterized by a greater concentration of KYNA than low-KYNA yeast (0.80 ± 0.08 vs. 0.29 ± 0.01 g/kg dry matter), lower content of crude protein with a less favorable amino acid composition and minerals, higher level of crude fiber and fat and lower ferric-reducing antioxidant power, concentration of phenols and glutathione. Consumption of the high-KYNA yeast diet did not affect the cumulative body weight gain per cage, cumulative food intake per cage and protein efficiency ratio compared to the control diet. A trend towards lower mean corpuscular volume and hematocrit, higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and lower serum total protein and globulins was observed, increased serum total cholesterol and urea were noted. Its ingestion resulted in a trend towards greater ferric-reducing antioxidant power in the liver and did not affect the degree of liver lipid and protein oxidation.

Conclusions
The improvement of the quality of Y. lipolytica yeast biomass with increased content of KYNA, including its antioxidant potential, would be affected by the preserved level of protein and unchanged amino acid profile. It will be worth investigating the effect of such optimized yeast on model animals, including animals with metabolic diseases.