Knowledge sharing among academics from Egyptian medical schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Sharing knowledge among scientists during global health emergencies is a critical issue. So, this study investigates knowledge-sharing behavior and attitude among staff members of 19 Medical schools in Egyptian universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Across-sectional study was conducted using a web-based questionnaire. A total of 386 replies from the 10,318 distributed questionnaires were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were computed using SPSS (version 22) to summarize the demographic data. Inferential statistics such as the independent and chi-square test were used to achieve the study aims. RESULTS: More than half of the respondents (54.4%) indicated that their levels of knowledge of COVID-19 were good. Most participants (72.5%) reported that scientific publications and international websites were the most reliable source of their knowledge concerning COVID-19. More than 46% stated they sometimes share their knowledge. The lack of time to share and organizational culture were the most important factors that could affect their knowledge sharing. Additionally, about 75% of participants shared knowledge about treatment.

Case item creation and video case presentation as summative assessment tools for distance learning in the pandemic era.

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need for more diverse methods for student evaluation, given the sudden shift to online learning necessitated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Innovative assessment tools will need to cover the required competencies and should be used to drive self-learning. Self-assessments and peer assessments may be added to the traditional classroom-based evaluations to identify individual insecurities or overconfidence. Identification of these factors is essential to medical education and is a focus of current research. METHODS: A modified operational assessment was introduced for the evaluation of third-year medical students. This intervention has facilitated sustained education and has promoted interactive student learning. Members of the entering class of 2017 participated in an integrated team and a competency-based online project that involved innovative item creation and case presentation methods. RESULTS: The new assessment process has been implemented successfully with positive feedback from all the participants; a usable product has been generated. CONCLUSIONS: We created new assessment tools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that have been used successfully at our institution. These tools have provided a framework for integrated and interactive evaluations that can be used to facilitate the modification of traditional assessment methods.

Serum ACE2 and S19P gene polymorphism in Egyptian patients with COVID-19 infection: correlation with disease severity.

The expression of ACE2 is linked to disease severity in COVID-19 patients. The ACE2 receptor gene polymorphisms are considered determinants for SARS-CoV-2 infection and its outcome. In our study, serum ACE2 and its genetic variant S19P rs73635825 polymorphism were investigated in 114 SARS-CoV-2 patients. The results were compared with 120 control subjects. ELISA technique and allele discrimination assay were used for measuring serum ACE2 and genotype analysis of ACE2 rs73635825. Our results revealed that serum ACE2 was significantly lower in SARS-CoV-2 patients (p = 0.0001), particularly in cases with hypertension or diabetes mellitus. There was a significant difference in the genotype distributions of ACE2 rs73635825 A > G between COVID-19 patients and controls (p-value = 0.001). A higher frequency of the heterozygous AG genotype (65.8%) was reported in COVID-19 patients. The G allele was significantly more common in COVID-19 patients (p < 0.0001). The AG and GG genotypes were associated with COVID-19 severity as they were correlated with abnormal laboratory findings, GGO, CXR, and total severity scores with p < 0.05. Our results revealed that the ACE2 S19P gene variant is correlated with the incidence of infection and its severity, suggesting the usefulness of this work in identifying the susceptible population groups for better disease control.

Multiplex PCR: Aid to more-timely and directed therapeutic intervention for patients with infectious gastroenteritis.

BACKGROUND: Multiplex PCR is a sensitive and rapid method compared with conventional methods. Therefore, we use multiplex PCR for the rapid detection of the four major intestinal pathogens causing gastroenteritis (Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp., Aeromonas spp. and Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli [EHEC]) in stool specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective randomized study using 200 stool samples obtained from patients presented with acute gastroenteritis during the study period (between February 2019 and December 2021). Bacteria in stool samples were identified using conventional culture methods and multiplex PCR for stool samples. RESULTS: The identified organisms using conventional cultures; were Shigella (27%), Aeromonas species (10%) and EHEC (O157) (8%). Using multiplex PCR. Shigella spp. was the most commonly identified pathogen (detected in 40.5% of positive samples), followed by Aeromonas spp. (30%), EHEC (20%) and Campylobacter species was only detected in (1%) of positive samples. The diagnostic evaluation of multiplex PCR in relation to conventional method in diagnosis of Shigella, EHEC and Aeromonas showed, sensitivity of 100% (for each), specificity of 88.5%, 92.4%, 77.8% respectively. However, the diagnostic evaluation of multiplex PCR in relation to conventional method in diagnosis of Campylobacter showed specificity of 99% and NPV of 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Multiplex PCR is an accurate and rapid method for detection of common intestinal pathogens causing severe gastroenteritis. a rapid method that could be used in outbreaks for diagnosis of the common enteric pathogens causing fatal gastroenteritis.

Biofilm testing of microbiota: An essential step during corneal scrap examination in Egyptian acanthamoebic keratitis cases.

PURPOSE: To detect co-infections in the culture-proven acanthamoebic keratitis (AK) cases, and to test the capability of biofilm formation in the isolated microbiota. The clinical findings, habit of wearing contact lens and in-vitro antibiotic resistance were analyzed further according to the biofilm formation capability. METHODS: After clinical examination, corneal scraps and swabs were taken from 240 clinically suspected AK cases, for Acanthamoeba and microbiological cultures. In cases of keratoplasty, trimmed corneal tissue was collected and sent for histopathological examination. Scanning electron microscopy was done for some samples. Biofilm formation capability was investigated using a tissue culture plate method. Antibiotic resistance pattern was determined using a modified-Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. RESULTS: In 102 AK culture proven cases, 11 had no co-infection, 74 had a single co-infection and 17 had double co-infections. Enterobactericae and Aspergillus were the commonest bacterial and fungal isolates, respectively. Regarding the biofilm formation, 64.7% of Enterobactericae, 50% of Pseudomonas aeuroginosa, 43.75% of Staph aureus, 76.92% of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 28.57% of Corynebacterium, 60% of α-haemolytic streptococci, 40% of Acinetobacter, 100% of Candida and 77.8% Aspergillus isolates were biofilm producers. Severe manifestations were more frequently reported in cases co-infected with biofilm producers than with non-biofilm producers. Generally, high percentages of the biofilm forming bacterial isolates were sensitive to antibiotics in-vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Routine investigations for co-infection and biofilm formation in addition to Acanthamoeba culture are strongly recommended in suspected AK cases. Co-infection with biofilm producers may precipitate extrinsic in-vivo drug resistance despite of the in-vitro sensitivity. Designing a biofilm-dissolving topical drug is highly recommended to enhance the response to the standard therapeutic regimen especially in the resistant AK cases.

Evaluation of pelvic inflammatory disease potential in cholinesterase inhibitor pesticide-exposed females.

Cholinesterase inhibitor pesticides, mainly organophosphates and carbamates, are commonly used in Egypt. Chronic exposure of males and females working in agriculture is expected. The study aimed to relate exposure to cholinesterase inhibitor pesticides to the development of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This is a case-control study that was conducted among 84 females. Seventy patients complained of pelvic inflammatory disease visited the outpatient Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic. Fourteen females were not suffering from PID and were chosen as a control group. Red blood cells' cholinesterase activity was measured in blood. Cervical swaps were collected, and cultures were submitted for microbiological examination. The results showed that cholinesterase activities were significantly depressed in exposed females (6.36 ± 0.8 µmoles/min/ml red cells) when compared to non-exposed (7.5 ± 1.2 µmoles/min/ml red cells), and both were significantly depressed when compared with healthy females (9.17 ± 0.7 µmoles/min/ml red cells). The correlation coefficient (r) between previous exposure and the laboratory confirmed cervical infection was 0.31, with a P value of 0.009. The study concluded that exposure to cholinesterase inhibitor pesticides could increase the occurrence of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Epidemiology of liver cancer in Nile delta over a decade: A single-center study.

BACKGROUND: In Egypt, there has been a remarkable increase in the proportion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among chronic liver diseases patients. This rising proportion may be explained by the increasing risk factors as hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, improvement of the diagnostic tools of HCC as well as the extended survival among patients with cirrhosis to allow time for some of them to develop HCC. The aim of this study was to study the epidemiology of HCC in Nile delta over the last decade. METHODS: The study was carried out on patients diagnosed as HCC in liver cancer clinic in Tanta University Hospital, Egypt, from January 2005 to January 2015. This retrospective study reviewed the files of HCC patients with special stress on age, sex, residence, occupation, smoking, and viral markers. RESULTS: Over the last decade, 1440 HCC patients were diagnosed or referred to liver cancer clinic in Tropical Medicine Department in Tanta University Hospital from January 2005 to January 2015. The mean age of HCC patients was 56.13 ± 9.53 years. Nearly, half of the patients with HCC were smokers and quarter of HCC patients were diabetics. HBV surface antigen-positive patients were only 3.26%, and the majority of patients were HCV-Ab positive (94.86% of patients). CONCLUSIONS: In Nile delta, hepatitis C rather than hepatitis B was linked to the development of HCC in our region which may be related to the high prevalence of HCV in this area.