Pharmacokinetics, Safety, Efficacy and Acceptability of Daclatasvir Plus Sofosbuvir in Young Children With Chronic HCV Infection.

Background And Aims: Sofosbuvir (SOF) plus daclatasvir (DCV) is a primary chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in low- and middle-income countries. WHO guidelines recommend a half-adult dose for children (14-25 kg) based on pharmacokinetic modelling, requiring clinical validation. We evaluated the pharmacokinetics, safety, efficacy and acceptability of DCV (30 mg) and SOF (200 mg) in children weighing 14 to < 17 kg and 17-35 kg.

Assessing readiness for evidence-based practice among healthcare professionals in Egypt.

Background: Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) implements individual clinical experience along with the highest accessible clinical evidence. Nowadays, EBP is an essential part of decision-making in many healthcare fields including nursing, pharmacy, and physiotherapy to improve patient care and healthcare outcomes. Literature showed many barriers and considerable gaps between the available scientific evidence and the services provided by healthcare professionals (HCPs).

Immediate and short-term outcomes of in-hospital canagliflozin initiation in acute heart failure: Results from the CANA-AHF randomized clinical trial.

Background: Early initiation of empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, in acute heart failure (AHF) patients increases urine output, reduces hospital stays, and enhances quality of life post-hospital discharge.

Objectives: This trial aims to investigate the effectiveness and safety of early canagliflozin initiation compared to empagliflozin in hospitalized AHF patients with volume overload.

Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, open-labeled, randomized equivalence trial.

Efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin compared to pioglitazone in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a serious end-stage spectrum of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with associated high risk of hepatic and extrahepatic complications. Several studies showed the significant beneficial effect of dapagliflozin on body composition, hepatic and metabolic parameters on NAFLD/NASH patients. The study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in both diabetic and non-diabetic biopsy-proven NASH patients; compared to pioglitazone.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards Antibiotics Use Among Medical Sector Final-Year Students in Egypt.

Introduction: Medical sector students must be well-educated and competent to spread public awareness of antibiotics among the public to combat antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of students regarding antibiotic use and resistance in Egypt.

Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire was specially designed and self-administered by final-year students (medicine (MS), pharmacy (PS), dentistry (DS), and nursing (NS)) during the last semester at nine universities.

Population Pharmacokinetics of Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir in Pediatric Patients: Impact of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Purpose: The pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of direct-acting antivirals, namely ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF), might be altered in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), affecting the optimum dose needed for hepatitis C virus treatment. Limited data are available evaluating the population PK of LDV/SOF and SOF metabolite GS-331007. We aimed to study whether ALL could affect population PK parameters of LDV, SOF, and the SOF major metabolite GS-331007 in hepatitis C virus-infected children, develop and validate a predictive PK model of LDV/SOF disposition in this special population, and identify their explained and unexplained sources of variability.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of insulin among diabetic patients and pharmacists in Egypt: "cross-sectional observational study".

Background: Diabetes recently has been identified as a growing epidemic. Although insulin's vital role in both types of diabetes, it is considered one of the harmful medications if used incorrectly. In Egypt, effective usage of insulin remains a challenge due to insufficient knowledge of insulin and diabetes management, leading to errors in insulin therapy.

Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir in Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Children With Hematological Malignancies: A Pharmacokinetic Study.

Purpose: Children with hematological malignancies and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are at a higher risk for rapid progression of liver disease and malignancy relapse due to multiple hepatitis flares and chemotherapy interruption. They are therefore potential candidates for microelimination of HCV infection. This study aimed to assess the effect of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of direct-acting antivirals, namely ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) and the SOF major metabolite GS-331007.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Egypt: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy is a major problem. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

Methodology: A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted on a sample of the Egyptian population using an online survey distributed through social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn.

The effect of vitamin K4 supplementation on insulin resistance in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the possible clinical effects of vitamin K4 supplementation in individuals with type 2 diabetes namely insulin resistance, glycaemic control, and lipid profile.

Methods: This was a prospective randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 106 patients were randomised to receive either 1 mg of vitamin K4 (menadiol diacetate) or placebo for 24 weeks.

Comparison between topical cetirizine with minoxidil versus topical placebo with minoxidil in female androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss in both genders with a higher psychological impact on females. Currently, topical minoxidil is the only FDA-approved treatment for female AGA and it needs life-long application and causes side effects. Cetirizine is an antihistamine that may be effective in hair loss treatment.

Beta-thalassemia major alters sofosbuvir/ledipasvir exposure in Hepatitis C virus infected adolescent patients.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected adolescents with beta-thalassemia major (BTM) are considered a potential population for HCV micro-elimination model development where BTM may negatively impact the pharmacokinetic exposure parameters of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LED).

Objectives: The study aimed at studying the effect of BTM on SOF/LED and SOF metabolite (GS-331007) pharmacokinetics.

Methods: A prospective, controlled study recruiting BTM and control HCV infected adolescents (Clinicaltrials.

The EQ-5D-5L Valuation Study in Egypt.

Introduction: No value sets exist for either the EQ-5D-3L or the EQ-5D-5L in Egypt, despite local pharmacoeconomic guidelines recommending the use of the EQ-5D to derive utility. Most published Egyptian economic evaluation studies have used utility values from other published studies and systematic reviews.

Objective: Our objective was to develop an Egyptian EQ-5D-5L value set using the international EuroQol standardized protocol (EQ-VT-2.

The potential hepatoprotective effect of metformin in hepatitis C virus-infected adolescent patients with beta thalassemia major: Randomised clinical trial.

Background: Iron overload-induced oxidative stress and transfusion-acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are the main reasons of liver damage in beta thalassemia major (β-TM).

Objectives: Based on metformin's hepatic benefits in nondiabetic populations, the study aims to investigate the safety and the potential hepatoprotective effect of metformin in HCV-infected β-TM adolescent patients.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomised, parallel, controlled, open-label study in which 60 HCV-infected β-TM adolescent patients aged 11 to 18 years and receiving no antiviral therapy were selected and randomly assigned to treatment or control group in 1:1 allocation.

Pharmacokinetics of daclatasvir in Egyptian adolescents with genotype-4 HCV infection.

Background: Daclatasvir has potent antiviral activity against HCV infection when used in combination with sofosbuvir, however, its pharmacokinetics have not been described in adolescents. The aim is to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of daclatasvir in adolescents, and to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) model.

Methods: Seventeen adolescent patients with genotype-4 chronic HCV infection received once daily oral daclatasvir 60 mg in combination with 400 mg sofosbuvir for 12 weeks.

The impact of active vitamin D administration on the clinical outcomes of acne vulgaris.

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. Vitamin D deficiency has a role in various inflammatory skin diseases as acne. This study aimed to investigate the serum level of 25 hydroxy vitamin D in acne patients and to assess the efficacy and safety of active vitamin D in management of acne.

The Effect of Telephone-Based Follow-Up on Adherence, Efficacy, and Toxicity of Oral Capecitabine-Based Chemotherapy.

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Nebulized Versus IV Amikacin as Adjunctive Antibiotic for Hospital and Ventilator-Acquired Pneumonia Postcardiac Surgeries: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Nebulized antibiotics offer high efficacy due to significant local concentrations and safety with minimal blood levels. This study evaluates the efficacy and nephrotoxicity of nebulized versus IV amikacin in postcardiothoracic surgical patients with nosocomial pneumonia caused by multidrug-resistant Gram- negative bacilli.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled study on surgical patients divided into two groups.

Randomized comparative efficacy and safety study of intermittent simvastatin versus fenofibrate in hemodialysis.

Aim: Compare the safety and efficacy of intermittent fenofibrate versus simvastatin in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Patients & Methods: Sixty patients received either fenofibrate 100 mg or simvastatin 20 mg after their dialysis session (parallel study). The safety and efficacy of drugs on lipid profile, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), glutathione peroxidase and C-reactive protein were compared before and after 16-week treatment.

Effect of alfacalcidol on the pulmonary function of adult asthmatic patients: A randomized trial.

Background: Despite the use of alfacalcidol in the management of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis, it has never been considered an adjunct treatment for asthma management. It can target vitamin D deficiency, a possible risk factor for asthma, and, hence, improve pulmonary function of patients with asthma.

Objective: To explore the effect of alfacalcidol administration on pulmonary function and study the pattern of vitamin D deficiency in adults with asthma in Egypt.

Efficacy of Different Perioperative Statin Regimens on Protection Against Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Major Adverse Cardiac and Cerebral Events.

Objectives: Comparing different perioperative statin regimens for the prevention of post-coronary artery bypass grafting adverse events.

Design: A randomized, prospective study.

Setting: Cardiothoracic surgical units in a government hospital.

Obesity Does Not Affect Propofol Pharmacokinetics During Hypothermic Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Objective: Because of the lack of data regarding the impact of obesity on propofol pharmacokinetics in patients undergoing cardiac surgery using hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the authors sought to explore propofol pharmacokinetics and develop a predictive pharmacokinetic model that characterizes and predicts propofol pharmacokinetics in this population.

Design: A prospective, observational study.

Setting: A teaching hospital.

Can zinc levels predict response to pegylated-interferon and ribavirin therapy in hepatitis C genotype 4 infected Egyptian patients?

Background And Aims: Zinc has been found to be low in chronic hepatitis patients. Its level was correlated with response to Interferon/ribavirin therapy in patients infected with hepatitis C genotype 1. In Egypt, inexpensive predictors to treatment response in Hepatitis C genotype 4 infected patients are desperately needed.

A specially tailored vancomycin continuous infusion regimen for renally impaired critically ill patients.

Background: Vancomycin remains the gold standard for treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Specially designed continuous infusion of vancomycin leads to better therapy.

Methodology: A total of 40 critically ill patients who suffered from pneumonia susceptible to vancomycin, had serum creatinine >1.