Efficacy of Linezolid in the management of pneumonic COVID-19 patients. Bioinformatics-based clinical study.

INTRODUCTION: At the beginning in July 2023, there has been a significant increase in daily hospital admissions attributed to the new variant of COVID-19. Aim of this study is to explore the clinical benefits and outcomes of using linezolid in the management of pneumonic COVID-19 patients. METHODOLOGY: The study included 230 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by RT-PCR. Group 1: 118 patients were managed with Linazolid alongside steroids. Group 2: (control group) patients treated according to the Protocol for Egyptian COVID-19 management outlines and WHO guidelines (112 patients). Each patient group was categorized into 3 age groups: 20-40 years, 41-65 years, and over 65 years. Patients were carefully followed up until recovery or mortality. A docking analysis was carried out to investigate the potential of linezolid to act as an Mpro inhibitor. RESULTS: Group 1's average recovery time was 15.1 days in contrast to 18.7 days for Group 2 (control). There were no deaths reported. In silico investigations revealed that Linezolid was able to achieve a binding mode comparable to that of the co-crystalized inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: Linazolid is considered an effective antiviral weapon against SARS-COV-2. It could be used in the management plan of pneumonic individuals due to SARS-COV-2 infection. We recommend using it to combat the current wave caused by Omicron EG-5 Variant.

Presentation and management of female breast cancer in Egypt.

Background: There have been system inefficiencies in the profiling and management of female breast cancer in Alexandria, Egypt. Aims: To identify barriers to full implementation of international guidelines for the management of female breast cancer patients. Methods: Female breast cancer data were extracted from records of 3 public oncology services in Alexandria, Egypt, from 2007 to 2016 and analysed. Results: A total of 5236 of the available 7125 records were usable. Median age of the patients was 54 years, and the median duration of pre-diagnosis complaint was 3.1 months. Some 522 (31.5%) of the patients had a family history of cancer. For tumour stage, 2527 (55.2%) were early, 1717 (37.6%) were locally advanced, and 331 (7.2%) were at stage IV. Estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 were positive in 3869 (85%), 3545 (78%), and 461 (15.3%) patients, respectively. Chemotherapy started after a median 1.03 months. Adjuvant chemotherapy was given to 3667 (91.7 %) patients and neoadjuvant chemotherapy to 333 (8.3%); 3686 (92.1%) received anthracycline-based combination chemotherapy, and 3613 (86%) received hormonal treatment. One hundred and eighty of 317 eligible patients received Trastuzumab. Local and/or distant recurrence was seen in 1109 (21.2%) patients. In nonmetastatic cases, median overall and disease-free survival were 149.1 and 77.1 months, respectively. In metastatic cases, median progression-free survival was 19.6 months. Conclusion: We observed defects in the record system, there was delay in diagnosis and treatment, and nonadherence to targeted therapy in many patients. Strengthening of national and hospital-based registries is needed in Alexandria, Egypt, with a robust patient navigation system and targeted information, education and communication strategies. Continuous outcomes monitoring and adaptation to implementation needs should be sustained.

Demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of patients with COVID-19 during the second and third waves of the pandemic in Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel virus that belongs to the coronaviruses and causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this study, we explored the demographic details, clinical features, and routinely conducted laboratory investigations of patients with COVID-19 during the second and third waves of the pandemic to understand their possible diagnostic and prognostic values in Egypt. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, the demographic characteristics, detailed medical history, laboratory findings, and symptoms of all enrolled patients with SARS-CoV-2 were collected from the medical records of Beni Suef University Hospitals between December 15, 2020, and April 15, 2021. RESULTS: This retrospective study included 473 patients, almost all of whom were elderly. The median age of the patients was 48 years, and those with moderate and severe disease were older than those with mild infections. The proportion of females was higher (63.4%) than males (36.6%). Diabetes mellitus (DM) was the most common comorbidity (17.3%), and fever was the most typical manifestation of COVID-19 (62.6%). Those with severe disease showed a higher C-reactive protein level (CRP) than those with moderate (p-value 0.009) or mild (p-value 0.01) diseases. Serum ferritin levels were significantly higher in patients with severe disease than in those with moderate disease (p-value 0.018). In contrast, d-dimer and serum creatinine were normal and showed no significant difference in all comparisons (p-value overall 0.21). CONCLUSION: This study observed several variations in COVID-19 patients' characteristics. The new manifestations included skin rash, bone and low back pains, and rigors. In contrast to females, most males had moderate-to-severe illness. Old age and higher body mass index was associated with increasing severity. d-dimer and complete blood count were normal and could not identify potential COVID-19 patients. Patients who had mild illness were still at risk of developing post-COVID complications.

External Cervical Resorption: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature, and Treatment Algorithms.

AIM: This report presents a case of external cervical resorption and illustrates the effects of a non-surgical approach in the amelioration of this condition and discusses the etiology, classifications, and treatment options. BACKGROUND: One of the most common root resorption forms is external cervical resorption, which initiates in the cervical area of the tooth and spreads out in the thickness of the dentin in an irregular way. This resorptive process may spread across the dentin leading to significant loss of tooth structure, with or without pulp involvement. CASE DESCRIPTION: During a routine radiographic examination of a 25-year-old female patient, external cervical resorption in a maxillary right second premolar was discovered. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) confirmed the extension of the lesion into the pulp and the need for root canal treatment. The defect was sealed with bioceramic putty. One year CBCT follow-up demonstrated the cessation of the resorption site with no clinical symptoms. CONCLUSION: CBCT examination and combining non-surgical root canal treatment with non-surgical repair using bioceramic putty was an effective treatment option. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Treatment selection of external cervical resorption depends on many factors, including the location and severity of the resorptive defect and the remaining tooth structure. If the resorptive defect has extended to the pulp, the management involves root canal treatment and subsequent placement of a direct restoration to restore the resorptive lesion.

Effect of vitamin D therapy on interleukin-6, visfatin, and hyaluronic acid levels in chronic hepatitis C Egyptian patients.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare serum levels of interleukin-6, visfatin, and hyaluronic acid in chronic hepatitis C Egyptian patients who received standard of care (SOC) therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) consisting of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) and in those who received SOC with vitamin D (vit D) for 48 weeks in HCV genotype 4a subjects. DESIGN AND METHODS: One hundred chronic HCV patients were classified into two groups: study 50 patients received SOC therapy PEG-IFN/RBV + vit D and control 50 patients received SOC PEG-IFN/RBV without vit D. Both groups were followed up at 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 48 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Results showed a significant elevation in vit D levels in the group treated with SOC and vit D compared to SOC group and a reduction in HCV RNA from the 12th week to reach zero level in the 24th week. Interleukin-6, visfatin, and hyaluronic acid levels were also reduced significantly. Alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase biomarkers were significantly reduced, indicating decreased liver injury. CONCLUSION: SOC PEG-IFN/RBV + vit D therapy for chronic HCV led to reduced interleukin-6, visfatin, and hyaluronic acid levels and follow up liver biochemical biomarkers as aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase indicates proper liver healing and monitoring.