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).

Impact of pharmacist led mobile application on medication adherence and efficacy in chronic kidney disease.

Medication adherence is crucial for slowing chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. A specially designed pharmacist-led mobile application, Kidney Health, was evaluated in a single-center, prospective, 3 months, randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess its impact on medication adherence and efficacy in patients with CKD. 86 patients were randomly assigned to control group, who received standard of care, and app group, who in addition, had access to Kidney Health.

The nephroprotective effect of metformin with cisplatin in bladder cancer: randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy is the mainstay treatment strategy in various forms of carcinomas and sarcomas. However, its dosage and therapeutic efficacy are significantly limited by its nephrotoxicity. Based on metformin renal benefits in different studies, the study aims to determine safety and the potential nephroprotective effect of metformin when used with cisplatin in patients with bladder cancer.

Adjuvant nefopam versus standard of care in mechanically ventilated surgical critically ill patients: A randomized, double-blind controlled study.

Background: Multimodal analgesia, through combining different classes of analgesia that target pain pathways with different mechanisms reduces opioid consumption. This study aimed to determine the impact of adjunct nefopam infusion on opiate consumption when added to standard-of-care analgesia and sedation in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, active control, double-blind study.

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.

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.

The effectiveness and pharmacoeconomic study of using different corticosteroids in the treatment of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Purpose: Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are caused by inflammation and/or fibrosis of alveolar walls resulting in impaired gas exchange. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is the third most common type of ILDs. Corticosteroids are the mainstay treatment for HP.

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.

Virtual clinical pharmacy training in the era of COVID-19: A report on undergraduate students' perceptions and academic performance.

Introduction: The study objective was to explore the impact of the complete virtual transition of in-hospital clinical training on students' academic performance and to assess students' perceptions of the overall experience.

Methods: In-hospital clinical training was delivered via distance learning using daily synchronous videoconferences for two successive weeks to 350 final-year pharmacy students. The Virtual Faculty of Pharmacy Cairo University (VFOPCU) platform allowed trainees to virtually browse patient files interactively with their clinical instructors to simulate a typical rounding experience.

Testing P2Y12 platelet inhibitors generics beyond bioequivalence: a parallel single-blinded randomized trial.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Ticagrelor is an oral antiplatelet drug used in acute coronary syndrome. Although generic drugs are approved for their bioequivalence to the original product, they are not necessarily to be therapeutically equivalent.

Safety of inhaled ivermectin as a repurposed direct drug for treatment of COVID-19: A preclinical tolerance study.

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 replication in cell cultures has been shown to be inhibited by ivermectin. However, ivermectin's low aqueous solubility and bioavailabilityhinders its application in COVID-19 treatment. Also, it has been suggested that best outcomes for this medication can be achieved via direct administration to the lung.

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.

A prospective, randomised clinical study comparing triple therapy regimen to hydrocortisone monotherapy in reducing mortality in septic shock patients.

Objectives: This prospective, comparative and randomised clinical study evaluated the effectiveness of triple therapy regimen (hydrocortisone, thiamine and vitamin C) versus hydrocortisone alone in reducing the mortality rate and preventing progressive organ dysfunction in septic shock patients.

Methods: A total of 94 patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the first group received hydrocortisone 50 mg/6-h IV for 7 days or till intensive care unit (ICU) discharge, if sooner, followed by tapering. The second group received hydrocortisone 50 mg/6-h IV for 7 days or ICU discharge followed by tapering, vitamin C 1.

Antimicrobial stewardship solutions with a smart innovative tool.

Background: Antimicrobial consumption has been increasing lately. Hence, effective strategies are required to control antimicrobial use and decrease the development of antimicrobial resistance.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the use of a mobile app on the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) interventions.

Combined effect of high-dose vitamin A, vitamin E supplementation, and zinc on adult patients with diabetes: A randomized trial.

In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hyperglycemia leads to oxidative insult. Vitamins A and E have antioxidant potentials and may help in managing diabetes. The combined effect of high-dose vitamin A plus E supplementation with and without zinc on T2DM, has never been examined.

Short-term Effects of Alfacalcidol on Hospital Length of Stay in Patients Undergoing Valve Replacement Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in critically ill patients, and has been associated with more prolonged length of hospital stay and poor prognosis. Patients undergoing open-heart surgery are at higher risk due to the associated life-threatening postoperative complications. This study investigated the effect of alfacalcidol treatment on the length of hospital stay in patients undergoing valve-replacement surgery.

Enhanced skin targeting of retinoic acid spanlastics: characterization and clinical evaluation in acne patients.

is the most common dermatological disorder affecting millions of individuals. Acne therapeutic solutions include topical treatment with retinoic acid (RA) which showed a good efficacy in treatment of mild and moderate cases. However, the high prevalence of adverse events, such as skin dryness, shedding and skin irritation affects the patient convenience and obstruct the acne treatment.

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.

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.

The effect of α-antitrypsin deficiency combined with increased bacterial loads on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease pharmacotherapy: A prospective, parallel, controlled pilot study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is caused by α1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) genetic susceptibility and exacerbated by infection. The current pilot study aimed at studying the combined effect of AATD and bacterial loads on the efficacy of COPD conventional pharmacotherapy. Fifty-nine subjects (29 controls and 30 COPD patients) were tested for genetic AATD and respiratory function.