Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Is Rarely Detected at Early Stages Compared With Liver Diseases of Other Etiologies Worldwide.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Despite recent advances in treatment of viral hepatitis, liver-related mortality is high, possibly owing to the large burden of advanced alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). We investigated whether patients with ALD are initially seen at later stages of disease development than patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection or other etiologies. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of 3453 consecutive patients with either early or advanced liver disease (1699 patients with early and 1754 with advanced liver disease) seen at 17 tertiary care liver or gastrointestinal units worldwide, from August 2015 through March 2017. We collected anthropometric, etiology, and clinical information, as well as and model for end-stage liver disease scores. We used unconditional logistic regression to estimate the odds ratios for evaluation at late stages of the disease progression. RESULTS: Of the patients analyzed, 81% had 1 etiology of liver disease and 17% had 2 etiologies of liver disease. Of patients seen at early stages for a single etiology, 31% had HCV infection, 21% had hepatitis B virus infection, and 17% had nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, whereas only 3.8% had ALD. In contrast, 29% of patients seen for advanced disease had ALD. Patients with ALD were more likely to be seen at specialized centers, with advanced-stage disease, compared with patients with HCV-associated liver disease (odds ratio, 14.1; 95% CI, 10.5-18.9; P < .001). Of patients with 2 etiologies of liver disease, excess alcohol use was associated with 50% of cases. These patients had significantly more visits to health care providers, with more advanced disease, compared with patients without excess alcohol use. The mean model for end-stage liver disease score for patients with advanced ALD (score, 16) was higher than for patients with advanced liver disease not associated with excess alcohol use (score, 13) (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: In a cross-sectional analysis of patients with liver disease worldwide, we found that patients with ALD are seen with more advanced-stage disease than patients with HCV-associated liver disease. Of patients with 2 etiologies of liver disease, excess alcohol use was associated with 50% of cases. Early detection and referral programs are needed for patients with ALD worldwide.

Long Biliopancreatic Limb Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Versus One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass: a Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is the gold standard in bariatric surgery. The one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) procedure, first introduced by Dr. Rutledge, has demonstrated a 25% greater weight loss efficiency than the traditional Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) procedure due to the substantially longer biliopancreatic limb (BPL). AIM OF THE STUDY: The current work aimed to compare the outcomes of OAGB and long BPL RYGB regarding weight loss and comorbidity resolution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was done at our institution between September 2019 and January 2021. Patients who were candidates for bariatric surgery were randomly and equally allocated to two groups. Group A underwent OAGB, while group B underwent long BPL RYGB. Patients were followed up for 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: This study included 62 patients equally allocated to OAGB or long BPL RYGB, with no dropouts during follow-up. At 6 months, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding postoperative BMI (P = 0.313) and the EBWL (P = 0.238). There was comparable remission of diabetes mellitus (P = 0.708), hypertension (P = 0.999), OSA (P = 0.999), joint pain (P = 0.999), and low back pain (P = 0.999). Seven patients in the OAGB group experienced reflux symptoms (P = 0.011), which were managed by proton pump inhibitors. CONCLUSION: Extending the BPL in RYGB provides weight loss and comorbidity remission comparable to that of OAGB. Some OAGB-related reflux cases remain a concern. However, they were sufficiently controlled with PPIs. Due to OAGB superior technical simplicity, long BPL RYGB should be preserved for cases whom are more risky for bile reflux.

Translation and cultural adaptation of the WHO generic tuberculosis patient cost survey to an Egyptian context.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) represents a major health problem having serious financial impact on a substantial proportion of patients. This has necessitated the development of a valid tool for measuring TB-related expenditure by patients and their households so that appropriate measures can be taken to reduce the financial burden. Aims: To translate and culturally validate the generic WHO tuberculosis patient cost survey within the Egyptian context. Methods: The instrument was translated and culturally adapted using forward-translation, back-translation, expert panel assessment, pretesting, cognitive interviewing, and appraisal by the developer. Results: A final Arabic version with modifications to 35 descriptors of the original tool was produced after review by an expert committee and cognitive interviews with patients. Twelve questions were modified, 13 response options were changed, 6 questions were added, and 4 questions were removed. Pretesting of the tool ensured that the final version is culturally sensitive and fit for assessing the costs incurred by TB patients in an Egyptian context. Conclusion: Policymakers are encouraged to use the WHO tuberculosis patient cost survey tool for assessing the expenditure of TB patients with a view to developing appropriate policies to reduce the financial burden of patients.

Exploring enablers and barriers toward COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among Arabs: A qualitative study.

Background: With the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and rapid vaccine development, research interest in vaccine hesitancy (VH) has increased. Research usually focuses on quantitative estimates which largely neglected the qualitative underpinnings of this phenomenon. This study aimed to explore the beliefs and views towards COVID-19 vaccination among Arabs in different countries. Furthermore, we explored the effect of confidence in the healthcare system, misinformation, and scientific approaches adopted to mitigate COVID-19 on how individuals are following the recommended preventative actions including vaccination. Methods: This study was based on the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE)-VH Model: A qualitative design that utilized in-depth, online interviews. The study was conducted in seven Arab countries (Egypt, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Libya, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Jordan) from June 2020 to December 2021. Transcripts were analyzed using NVivo 12 Software. Results: A total of 100 participants, 44 males and 56 females, of different age groups (37.1 ± 11.56 years) were interviewed. Findings revealed six themes as enablers and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination. Many participants indicated trusting the vaccines, the healthcare systems, and the vaccination policies were the main driver to get the vaccine. Participants showed concerns towards potential long-term vaccine effects. A consistent inclination towards collective responsibility, which is the willingness to protect others by own vaccination, was also reported. Conclusion: Enablers and barriers of COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in the Arab region, from sociocultural and political perspectives, are critical to guide policymakers in designing target-oriented interventions that can improve vaccine acceptance.

Arabic validation and cross-cultural adaptation of the 5C scale for assessment of COVID-19 vaccines psychological antecedents.

BACKGROUND: In the Arab countries, there has not been yet a specific validated Arabic questionnaire that can assess the psychological antecedents of COVID-19 vaccine among the general population. This study, therefore, aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the 5C scale into the Arabic language. METHODS: The 5C scale was translated into Arabic by two independent bilingual co-authors, and then translated back into English. After reconciling translation disparities, the final Arabic questionnaire was disseminated into four randomly selected Arabic countries (Egypt, Libya, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia). Data from 350 Arabic speaking adults (aged ≥18 years) were included in the final analysis. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was determined by concurrent, convergent, discriminant, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. RESULTS: Age of participants ranged between 18 to 73 years; 57.14% were females, 37.43% from Egypt, 36.86%, from UAE, 30% were healthcare workers, and 42.8% had the intention to get COVID-19 vaccines. The 5 sub-scales of the questionnaire met the criterion of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha ≥0.7). The predictors of intention to get COVID-19 vaccines (concurrent validity) were young age and the 5C sub-scales. Convergent validity was identified by the significant inter-item and item-mean score of the sub-scale correlation (P<0.001). Discriminant validity was reported as inter-factor correlation matrix (<0.7). Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin sampling adequacy measure was 0.80 and Bartlett's sphericity test was highly significant (P<0.001). Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the 15 items of the questionnaire could be summarized into five factors. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the hypothesized five-factor model of the 15-item questionnaire was satisfied with adequate psychometric properties and fit with observed data (RMSEA = 0.060, GFI = 0.924, CFI = 0.957, TLI = 0.937, SRMR = 0.076 & NFI = 906). CONCLUSION: The Arabic version of the 5C scale is a valid and reliable tool to assess the psychological antecedents of COVID-19 vaccine among Arab population.

[A case study of post-traumatic common bile duct injury: an unusual lesion]. / Plaie isolée du cholédoque post traumatique, lésion inhabituelle: à propos d'un cas.

Traumatic injury of the common bile duct is extremely rare, especially when it is isolated. It usually occurs after laparoscopic biliary tract surgery. This lesion is often associated with one or multiple lesions of the neighborhood organs. We report a case of isolated injury of the common bile duct following abdominal trauma in a 5-year old child treated in our Department at the Mother-Child Hospital in Nouakchott. Radiological exploration didn't provide a conclusive diagnosis. Exploratory laparoscopy was performed because surgery had revealed diffuse biliary peritonitis secondary to a lesion at the bottom of the common bile duct. Emergency treatment was based on lavage with external biliary drainage followed, after a month, by bilio-digestive anastomosis. Life-threatening complication of common bile duct injuries is biliary peritonitis. In the literature, early postoperative morbidity is 20-30% while mortality rate is 0-2%. Isolated traumatic injury of the common bile duct in children is a lesion whose clinical course and therapy should be known in order to decrease morbi-mortality. Treatment is based on a multidisciplinary approach involving the pediatric surgeon, the radiologist and the resuscitating anaesthesiologist.

[Congenital mega urethra complicated by stones: about a case]. / Méga-urètre congénital compliqué de calculs: à propos d'un cas.

Congenital mega-urethra is a rare malformation causing micturition disturbance sometimes associated with upper urinary tract impairment. Despite the frequent association with other urinary and non-urinary abnormalities in children, stone-related complication has been reported only once in the literature. We report a case of congenital mega urethra complicated by stasis and stone formation in a 3 year old child successfully treated in the Department of Paediatric Surgery at the Mother-Child Hospital in Nouakchott. This study highlights the epidemiological clinical and therapeutic features of this association between congenital mega-urethra and urinary stones.

[Clubfoot in adult patients treated with tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis: about two cases (3 feet)]. / Pied varus équin de l'adulte traité par arthrodèse tibiocalcanéenne: à propos de deux cas (3 pieds).

Inveterate clubfoot (inveterate talipes equinovarus, ITEV) is a vicious attitude of the foot which doesn't rest on the floor through its normal base of support but weight is thrown to the outer side of the foot and to the foot point. When this vicious attitude persists a long time, it results in severe osteoarticular deformities in adults. Fixed ITEV is a good indication for tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis. In the majority of cases this provides painless and stable plantigrade foot. This study aims to assess the clinical and radiological outcomes of astragalectomy with tibiocalcaneal fusion. This case series involves 2 adult patients undergoing tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis due to severe and annoying equinovarus rearfoot deformity. Outcome was satisfactory with painless and stable plantigrade foot. At 90-day follow-up the patient with bilateral clubfoot had no inequality while the patient with unilateral clubfoot had a shortening of 2 cm compensated by right sole. In the majority of cases with severe and fixed deformities of the ankle and of the ITEV, tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis allows for painless and stable plantigrade foot, without vascular or cutaneous risk.