Publications by authors named "Abdelrahman Hafez"

Esaxerenone, a novel non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, has shown promising results in the treatment of essential hypertension (HTN). This study aims to comprehensively analyze the effectiveness of esaxerenone to control BP in patients with essential HTN. A systematic search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), and Cochrane Library from inception until January 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing esaxerenone with standard HTN usual care.

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Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a life-threatening condition complicated by cerebral vasospasm and deterioration of neurological functions. Statins have been proven to reduce the incidence of vasospasm and limit the neurological deterioration with controversial data. We aimed to give a comprehensive assessment of statins in patients with aSAH.

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The symptoms of long COVID (LC) can be debilitating and may be associated with anxiety, social stigma, and quality of life deterioration. Identifying patients at risk of LC is important to offer follow-up care and plan population-level public health measures. The current multinational study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of LC in the general population.

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Background: The effects of high-volume exercise on coronary atherosclerosis remain controversial.

Objectives: The authors aimed to evaluate the impact of endurance exercise on coronary atherosclerosis assessed by cardiac computed tomography (CT) in athletes and nonathletes, and analyze differences based on sex.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central for relevant studies from inception to September 2024, assessing the impact of different exercise volumes on subclinical coronary artery atherosclerosis assessed by coronary artery calcification (CAC) scoring or CT angiography (CCTA).

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Background: Drug-coated balloons (DCB) have promising results in the management of large coronary artery lesions (CAD), still their role in treating small CAD is not well established. We aimed to provide a comprehensive appraisal of the efficacy and safety of DCBs in patients with small CAD.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, web of science, Ovid, and Cochrane Central from inception until 30 March, 2023.

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Background: Drug-coated balloons (DCB) have promising results in the management of in-stent restenosis (ISR), still their role remains a major challenge, and not well established in contemporary clinical practice.

Aims: To provide a comprehensive appraisal of the efficacy and safety of DCBs in patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR).

Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, web of Science, Ovid, and Cochrane Central from inception until 30 March, 2023.

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Background: Retrograde approach has notably improved success rates of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, longer procedural time, increase use of fluoroscopy and contrast dye have been reported in retrograde techniques in CTO PCI. We aimed to study in-hospital and long-term outcomes of retrograde approach versus antegrade approach in CTO PCI.

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Liver cancer, primarily hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. It is typically characterized by rapid progression, poor prognosis, and high mortality rates. Given these challenges, the search for molecular targets aiding early diagnosis and targeted therapy remains imperative.

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Insomnia, as a difficulty in initiating and maintaining sleep, coupled with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) increase the risk of aggravate daytime symptoms, mortality, and morbidity. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is thought to have a significant impact on insomnia treatment, but in patients with CVDs, there is a paucity of data. To provide a comprehensive appraisal on the impact of CBT on the treatment of insomnia in patients with CVDs.

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Background: Intranasal fentanyl (INF) has gained popularity in pediatric emergency departments (EDs) as an effective alternative to intravenous morphine for treating acute moderate to severe pain. Intranasal fentanyl eliminates the need for invasive access, making it advantageous for patients with minor injuries. Our study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the available evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of INF administration in pediatric emergency wards, particularly compared with other treatment options described in the literature.

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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, immune-mediated disease affecting the central nervous system. Natalizumab, an FDA-approved monoclonal antibody for MS, has been explored for its off-label extended interval dosing (EID), suggesting a potential reduction in the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) compared to standard interval dosing (SID). Our objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of EID in comparison to SID for natalizumab treatment in patients with MS.

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This study aimed to determine the dosimetric value of flattening filter-free (FFF) beams compared to flattening filter (FF) beams using different algorithms in the treatment planning of thoracic spine stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). A total of 120 plans were created for 15 patients using the Anisotropic Analytical Algorithm (AAA) and the Acuros External Beam (AXB) algorithm with FF and FFF beams at 6 MV and 10 MV energies. Various dosimetric parameters were evaluated, including target coverage, dose spillage, and organs-at-risk sparing of the spinal cord and esophagus.

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Background: Invasive revascularization is recommended for cohorts of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). However, the optimal timing of invasive revascularization is still controversial and no defined consensus is established. We aim to give a comprehensive appraisal on the optimal timing of invasive strategy in the heterogenous population of ACS.

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Article Synopsis
  • Interventional cardiologists often struggle with chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions, and this meta-analysis compares the effectiveness of rotational atherectomy (RA) to conventional percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  • A review of seven studies with over 5,400 patients found that RA and PCI had similar rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and other clinical outcomes over an average follow-up of 43 months.
  • The results suggest that RA is as effective as conventional PCI for CTO lesions, providing cardiologists with more options for treating calcified lesions.
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Background: Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) are an established strategy for coronary artery disease. However, the new generation drug-eluting stent (DES) is recommended for patients with Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) for coronary artery revascularization. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive appraisal of the efficacy of DCBs in patients with AMI undergoing PCI.

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The use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) is still a subject of debate, with conflicting outcomes reported in different studies when compared to non-CTO lesions. This meta-analysis aims to clarify the clinical outcomes of PCI in CTO cases compared to non-CTO lesions, both in the short and long-term. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Ovid, and Cochrane Central were searched until March 2023 for relevant studies addressing short- and long-term outcomes of PCI in CTO vs non-CTO lesions.

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Article Synopsis
  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after heart surgery, often linked to fluid buildup in the pericardium (the heart's outer layer).
  • This study investigated whether performing a posterior pericardiotomy (PP) during surgery could reduce the incidence of postoperative AF compared to not performing it.
  • Results from 25 clinical trials showed that patients who had PP experienced significantly lower rates of AF and related complications, leading to shorter hospital stays and suggesting that PP is both effective and cost-efficient.
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Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women. In the past few years, surgical interventions for breast cancer have experienced massive changes from radical excision to conserving approaches. In this study, we aim to compare the two breast surgery interventions, including conventional breast-conserving surgery (CBCS) versus oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (OPBCS).

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Leukemia is the 15th most commonly diagnosed cancer and the 11th leading cause of cancer mortality. The high mortality rate of leukemia could be attributed to numerous factors. Therefore, we aimed to identify the demographic and treatment risk factors influencing mortality among patients diagnosed with leukemia.

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. The aim of the current study was to compare between the deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique and free-breathing (FB) method in the treatment delivery uncertainty of breast cancer radiotherapy using skin dose measurements..

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Aim: The purpose of the current study was to compare between deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) and free-breathing (FB) method in the setup reproducibility and to perform a dosimetric comparison between both methods in left-sided breast cancer patients who undergo the UK FAST trial.

Materials And Methods: The online matching correction data were retrospectively collected for 50 patients treated with the FAST trial. They were equally divided into DIBH and FB groups to compare between both methods in the setup reproducibility and create the appropriate planning target volume (PTV) margin.

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