Inflammatory bowel disease evolution in the past two decades: a chronological multinational study.

Background: The multifactorial nature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which manifests differently in individuals creates a need for a better understanding of the behaviour and pattern of the disease due to environmental factors. The current study aimed to study the changes in IBD behaviour, presentation, and characteristics in patients over the past two decades with a goal of improving patients' diagnosis, management and outcomes. Methods: During a 6-month period (1/02/2022-30/07/2022), the information of patients with IBD who attended IBD outpatient clinics of 11 referral centre's in six countries was collected, and based on the first time of diagnosis with IBD, they were allocated as group A (those who were diagnosed more than 15 years ago), group B (those who were diagnosed with IBD between 5 and 15 years ago) and group C (IBD cases who diagnosed in recent 5 years). Then the most prevalent subtypes and characters of the disease are evaluated and compared to make clear if the presenting pattern and behaviour of the disease has changed in the last 2 decades. Findings: Overall 1430 patients with IBD including 1207 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) (84.5%) and 205 patients with Crohn's disease (CD; 14.3%) included. Mean age of participants at the first time of diagnosis with IBD was 30 years. The extra-intestinal involvement of IBD in groups A and B was more prevalent in comparison with group C. Most of those in groups A & B had academic education but in group C, the most prevalent educational status was high school or diploma (P = 0.012). In contrast to groups A and B, the relative prevalence of medium socioeconomic level in group C had decreased (65%). Relative prevalence of UC subtypes was similar among groups A and B (extensive colitis as most prevalent) but in group C, the most prevalent subtype is left side colitis (38.17%). The most prevalent subtype of CD in groups A and B was ileocolic involvement while in group C, upper GI involvement is significantly increased. The rate of food sensitivity among groups A and B was more than group C (P = 0.00001). The relative prevalence of patients with no flare has increased with a steady slope (P < 0.00001). Relative prevalence of presenting symptoms among patients with UC in group C differs and nowadays the rate abdominal pain (70.7%) and bloating (43.9%) have increased and frequency of diarrhoea (67.4%) has decreased. Interpretation: In the recent 5 years, the pattern of UC presentation has changed. The rate of upper GI involvement in CD and relative prevalence of patients with no disease flare increased and the rate of extra intestinal involvement decreased. Funding: None.

Dormia Basket versus Extraction Balloon in Proximally Migrated Biliary Stents.

Objectives: To compare balloon extraction versus Dormia basket in the retrieval of proximally migrated stent. Method: The prospective study was conducted at Tanta University Hospital and Kafrelsheikh University Hospital, Egypt, from December 2019 to December 2020, and comprised adult patients of either gender who presented with proximally migrated biliary plastic stent who were evaluated with respect to risk factor for migration. The difference in efficacy of and Dormia basket group A and balloon extraction group B was evaluated. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 80 patients, 43(53.8%) were males and 37(46.3%) were females. The overall mean age was 55.7±14.2 years. Group A had 40(50%) patients; 21(52.2%) males and 19(47.5%) females with mean age 56.9±14.1 years. Group B had 40(50%) patients; 22(55%) males and 18(45%) females with mean age 54.6±14.5 years. (p>0.05). Change-over to the other method was done in 15(37.5%) patients of group A and in 8(20%) of group B (p=0.084). Mean time of the procedure was 57.4±21.7min in group A and 37.5±21.6min in group B (p≤0.001). Complications occurred in 3(7.5%) group A patients and 2(5.0%) group B patients (p=1.0). CONCLUSIONS: Balloon extraction was found to be more successful than Dormia basket in the extraction of proximally migrated stent.

Narrow band imaging as a noninvasive tool for evaluation of the severity of inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis in Kafr-El-Sheikh university, Egypt.

Objectives: To analyse the effectiveness of narrow-band imaging in determining the severity of inflammation in ulcerative colitis patients in relation to histological activity. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Kafrelsheikh University Hospital, Egypt, from June 2021 to May 2022, and comprised patientsregardless of age and gender who had ulcerative colitis and visited the endoscopy unit. After taking detailed history, the patients were subjected to physical examination and laboratory tests which included complete blood count, international normalised ratio, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and faecal calprotectin. Colonoscopy with narrow-band imaging, biopsy and histopathological assessment were done as part of clinical evaluation. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients, 55(55%) were male and 45(45%) were females. The overall mean age was 33.72±10.29 years (range: 11-56 years). There were 73(73%) patients who were married, 12(12%) had positive family history and 19(19%) were smokers. Besides, 18(18%) patientsreceived biological therapy. There wassignificant positive correlation between histopathological and endoscopic scores(p<0.05). Also, there was a significant positive correlation between histopathologicalscore and findings of narrow-band imaging (p<0.05). There were 10(10%) patients who were found to have dysplasia that was not diagnosed with colonoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Narrow-band imaging was found to have a significant correlation with the histologically determined degree of inflammation.

Fecal calprotectin as a predictor of COVID-19 severity

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is highly transmittable through contact with respiratory droplets. The virus is also shed in fecal matter. Some patients may present with effects in more than one system; however, there are no defined biomarkers that can accurately predict the course or progression of the disease. The present study aimed to estimate the severity of the disease, to correlate the severity of the disease with biochemical predictors, to identify valuable biomarkers indicative of gastrointestinal disease, and to determine the cutoff values. A cross-sectional study was conducted on COVID-19 patients admitted to the Kafrelsheikh University Hospital (isolation unit) between July 10, 2020, and October 30, 2020. The diagnosis of COVID- 19 was confirmed via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which was employed for the detection of the viral RNA. We conclude that lymphopenia, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and liver enzymes were among the most important laboratory findings in COVID-19 patients. Statistically significant differences in platelet count, neutrophil count, D-dimer level, and fecal calprotectin levels were observed among patients presenting with chest symptoms only and patients with both chest and gastrointestinal symptoms (p=0.004;<0.001; 0.010; 0.003; and<0.001, respectively). C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and fecal calprotectin levels positively correlated with disease severity. The cutoff value for fecal calprotectin that can predict gastrointestinal involvement in COVID-19 was 165.0, with a sensitivity of 88.1% and a specificity of 76.5%. (AU)

Serotyping and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Invasive Streptococcus agalactiae in Egyptian Patients with or without Diabetes Mellitus.

Streptococcus agalactiae serotype distribution and its antibiotic susceptibility affect disease prevention strategies, but the serotype distribution varies among patient groups. The objectives of this study were to establish the group B Streptococcus (GBS) serotype distribution in patients from Egypt and to assess antibiotic sensitivity of invasive GBS isolates. A total of 490 patients participated in this multicenter study; 160 had urinary tract infection, 115 complained of diabetic foot ulcers, 125 men had genital tract infections, and 30 women females had genital tract infections. Others had bronchopneumonia, otitis media, synovitis, or meningitis. Serotyping of the isolated GBS was performed at the CDC in the United States. Antibiotic sensitivity patterns were determined using the disk diffusion method. In men, the most common serotypes were II, III, and V, whereas types Ia, II, III, and V were isolated from women. Macrolides (erythromycin) resistance occurred in 4.1% of the isolates; 10.2% were resistant to both clindamycin and inducible resistance of macrolides, lincomycin, and streptogramin; 17.3% were resistant to quinolones; and 95.9% were resistant to tetracyclines. GBS primarily infected the urinary tract, skin, soft tissue, and genital tract in both genders. Isolates were sensitive to beta-lactam drugs, vancomycin, and linezolid; 14.0% were resistant to macrolides with or without clindamycin. Only 6.0% of the strains were sensitive to tetracyclines. Although GBS causes invasive infections in Egyptian adults, it rarely causes neonatal meningitis or sepsis. Future studies should determine whether GBS isolates are transmitted sexually, by performing a follow-up study of the partner of the infected patient.

Ocular Affection as an Extraintestinal Manifestation in Cases of Inflammatory Bowel Disease at the Kafrelsheikh Governorate / Afecção ocular como manifestação extraintestinal em casos de doença inflamatória intestinal

Abstract Introduction The manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are not restricted to the gastrointestinal tract. Musculoskeletal conditions are considered the most common extraintestinal manifestations, followed by mucocutaneous and ocular diseases. Many general practitioners are unaware of the variety and severity of the ocular affection in IBD patients. Objective To assess the prevalence of extraintestinal manifestations in IBD patients at Kafrelsheikh governorate, and to evaluate the different ocularmanifestations and their relationship to the severity of the disease. Methods A cross-sectional study evaluating 120 patients treated at the Kafrelsheikh University Hospital. The diagnosis of IBD was made between December 2018 and December 2019 through clinical, endoscopic and histopathological examinations. All patients were assessed for any extraintestinal manifestation or evidence of ocular affection through slit-lamp examinations, tonometry, visual acuity, and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Results The mean age of the sample was 35.5 ± 13.3 years. In total, 52 (43.3%) patients were male and 68 (56.7%) were female. Ocular manifestations represent ~ 22.5% of extraintestinal manifestations. The most common ocular findings were conjunctivitis (25.8%) and anterior uveitis (10.8%), followed by scleritis (9.2%) and cataract (8.3%). Other extraintestinal manifestations were observed in 41 (34.1%) 29 (29.9%) of ulcerative colitis cases, and 12 (52%) of Crohn disease cases. There was no statistically significant difference in the presence of ocular involvement in relation to the two types of IBD included in the Montreal classification. Conclusion Ocular manifestations in cases of IBD are common and usually nonspecific in presentation. The severity of the IBD does not reflect the severity of the ocular affection.

Resumo Introdução As manifestações da doença inflamatória intestinal (DII) não se restringem ao trato gastrointestinal. Distúrbios musculoesqueléticos são considerados as manifestações extraintestinais mais comuns, seguidos de doenças oculares e mucocutâneas. Muitos clínicos gerais desconhecem a variedade e a severidade das afecções oculares em casos de DII. Objetivo Determinar a prevalência das manifestações extraintestinais em pacientes com DII na província de Kafrelsheikh, no Egito, e avaliar as diferentes manifestações oculares e sua relação com a gravidade da doença. Métodos Um estudo transversal que avaliou 120 pacientes tratados no Kafrelsheikh University Hospital. O diagnóstico de DII foi feito entre dezembro de 2018 e dezembro de 2019 por meio de exames clínicos, endoscópicos e histopatológicos. Por meio de exames de lâmpada de fenda, tonometria, acuidade visual, e oftalmoscopia indireta, todos os pacientes foram avaliados para se determinar a ocorrência de quaisquer manifestações extraintestinais ou afecções oculares. Resultados Amédia de idade da amostra foi de 35,5 ± 13,3 anos. No total, 52 (43,3%) pacientes com DII eram do sexo masculino, e 68 (56,7%), do sexo feminino. As manifestações oculares representaram ~ 22,5% das manifestações extraintestinais. Os achados oculares mais comuns foram conjuntivite (25,8%) e uveíte anterior (10,8%), seguidas de esclerite (9,2%) e catarata (8,3%). Outras manifestações extraintestinais foram observadas em 41 (34,1%) pacientes, entre elas, 29,9% de casos de colite ulcerativa, e 52% de casos de doença de Crohn. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa na presença de envolvimento ocular com relação aos dois tipos de DII descritos na classificação de Montreal. Conclusão Asmanifestações oculares empacientes de DII são comuns e, geralmente, não específicas em termos de apresentação. A gravidade da DII não reflete a gravidade da afecção ocular.

Ketonuria with or without ketoacidosis as the presenting manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) among uncontrolled type 2 diabetic patients.

We present three diabetic patients cases presented with kentonuria as the presenting manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Sudomotor Changes in Hepatitis C Virus Infection with or without Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Study in Egyptian Patients.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can affect the neurological system, and neuropathy is one of these manifestations. Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) type II, and diabetic patients are at higher risk of acquiring HCV infection. Sweat function has been proposed to assess early autonomic neuropathy. This study aimed to evaluate small fiber neuropathy in asymptomatic HCV-related cirrhotic patients with or without DM through sweat function assessment by Sudoscan test. Three groups were involved: 47 healthy controls, 48 HCV-related cirrhotic patients without DM (group 1), and 49 HCV-related cirrhotic patients with DM type II (group 2). All participants were subjected to liver panel tests, renal function tests, cell blood counts, HbA1c, and abdominal ultrasound. Sweat function was assessed in all patients and controls by measuring hand and feet electrochemical skin conductance (ESC, microSiemens [µS]) using Sudoscan. Peripheral neuropathy was detected in none of the controls, 39% of group 1 patients, and 62% of group 2 patients (P < 0.0001). The mean feet ESC (FESC) was 88.3 ± 6.8 µS in controls, 67.2 ± 19.2 µS in group 1, and 57.9 ± 19.4 µS in group 2 (P < 0.0001). A significant correlation was observed between FESC and bilirubin, albumin, creatinine, international normalized ratio, transaminases, and splenic size. Electrochemical skin conductance measurement is a valuable, noninvasive method for early detection of small fiber neuropathy in asymptomatic HCV-related cirrhosis, with or without DM.