STAndardization of Reports (the STAR project) Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Quality Improvement Initiative.

Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy is the mainstay for the diagnosis and staging of precancerous and cancerous conditions of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Despite development of several validated classifications for UGI diseases, endoscopy reports differ between endoscopists and endoscopy departments. This document proposes a standardized high quality UGI endoscopy report, including preprocedural, periprocedural, endoscopic findings, and postprocedural information.

Epidemiologic threats and outcome of evolving COVID-19-associated mucormycosis from a referral hospital in Egypt.

Introduction: The present study aimed to explore the epidemiologic threats and factors associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated mucormycosis (CAM) epidemic that emerged in Egypt during the second COVID-19 wave. The study also aimed to explore the diagnostic features and the role of surgical interventions of CAM on the outcome of the disease in a central referral hospital.

Methodology: The study included 64 CAM patients from a referral hospital for CAM and a similar number of matched controls from COVID-19 patients who did not develop CAM.

Role of IL-6, TNF-α and VCAM-1 as predictors of renal impairment in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Background: Multiple mechanisms may contribute to the occurrence of renal impairment (RI) in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). One such mechanism is systemic inflammatory response syndrome, which involves the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-6 and vascular cell adhesion molecule [VCAM]-1). The goal of this research was to evaluate the role of IL-6, TNF-α and VCAM-1 as potential predictors of RI and mortality in cirrhotic patients with SBP.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion in gastrointestinal endoscopy: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Position Statement.

1:  The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) adheres to the overarching principles of equality of opportunity, fair treatment, nondiscrimination, and diversity of health care professionals. 2:  ESGE strongly supports the creation of collaborations within and between national and international endoscopy societies to disseminate the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. 3:  ESGE aims to reflect the diversity of its membership in all its scientific and educational activities.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Next Threat after Viral Hepatitis.

For many years, we have faced the complications of viral hepatitis and alcohol-related liver diseases such as cirrhosis, decompensation, portal hypertension, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, we have seen a dynamic change in the field of hepatology. With the significant achievements in eradicating the hepatitis C virus by direct-acting antiviral agents and the rising epidemic of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome, there is a paradigm shift in the leading cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Vibration Controlled Transient Elastography in Screening for Silent Liver Diseases.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to screen for significant hepatic fibrosis or steatosis in asymptomatic, apparently healthy subjects by using Vibration-controlled transient elastography and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP).

Methods: Prospectively, 433 asymptomatic apparently healthy adults were included. Fibroscan/CAP examination was performed for all of them.

Non-pulmonary involvement in COVID-19: A systemic disease rather than a pure respiratory infection.

During the early phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), diagnosis was difficult due to the diversity in symptoms and imaging findings and the variability of disease presentation. Pulmonary manifestations are reportedly the main clinical presentations of COVID-19 patients. Scientists are working hard on a myriad of clinical, epidemiological, and biological aspects to better understand SARS-CoV-2 infection, aiming to mitigate the ongoing disaster.

Clinical characteristics and predictors of esophagogastric variceal bleeding among patients with HCV-induced liver cirrhosis: An observational comparative study.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and predictors of esophagogastric variceal bleeding in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced liver cirrhosis.

Methods: This comparative observational study was carried out on 100 patients suffering from post hepatitis cirrhosis and portal hypertension who were admitted to the Internal Medicine Department, Al-Azhar University Hospital, Damietta Egypt. Patients were classified into two groups: 50 of them presented with esophagogastric varices with acute variceal bleeding, and 50 patients presented without bleeding.

Hemostatic system and COVID-19 crosstalk: A review of the available evidence.

Since the discovery of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its resultant coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, respiratory manifestations have been the mainstay of clinical diagnosis, laboratory evaluations, and radiological investigations. As time passed, other pathological aspects of SARS-CoV-2 have been revealed. Various hemostatic abnormalities have been reported since the rise of the pandemic, which was sometimes superficial, transient, or fatal.

Quality indicators for colonoscopy in Egypt: A prospective multicenter study.

Background And Study Aims: Despite its wide availability, we do not have sufficient data aboutthe quality of colonoscopy in Egypt. In this study, we proposed 13 indicators to assess the quality of colonoscopy procedures in the included study centers aiming to attain a representative image of the quality of CS in Egypt.

Patients And Methods: A multicenter prospective study was conducted between July and December 2020, which included all patients who underwent colonoscopy in the participating centers.

Clinico-Epidemiological Characteristics of Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Egypt: A Nationwide Multicenter Study.

Background And Aims: Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are the most common types of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with variable responses to traditional therapies and unpredicted prognosis. In Egypt and most developing countries, the lack of recent epidemiological and prognostic data adversely affects management strategies. We collected and analyzed data of patients with IBD from multiple centers across Egypt to evaluate patients' clinical and epidemiological characteristics.

Prediction of mortality in hospitalized Egyptian patients with Coronavirus disease-2019: A multicenter retrospective study.

We aimed to assess the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics associated with mortality among hospitalized Egyptian patients with COVID-19. A multicenter, retrospective study was conducted on all polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 cases admitted through the period from April to July 2020. A generalized linear model was reconstructed with covariates based on predictor's statistical significance and clinically relevance.

Survival and outcomes for co-infection of chronic hepatitis C with and without cirrhosis and COVID-19: A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Chronic liver disease, particularly cirrhosis, is associated with worse outcomes in patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Aim: To assess outcomes of COVID-19 infection among patients with pre-existing hepatitis C with or without liver cirrhosis.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective cohort study included all cases of confirmed co-infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and chronic hepatitis C with or without liver cirrhosis who were admitted to six hospitals (Al-Sahel Hospital, Al-Matareya Hospital, Al-Ahrar Hospital, Ahmed Maher Teaching Hospital, Al-Gomhoreya Hospital, and the National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute) affiliated with the General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes in Egypt.

Hepatic and gastrointestinal disturbances in Egyptian patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019: A multicentre cohort study.

Background: Various liver and gastrointestinal involvements occur in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at variable prevalence. Most studies report mild liver function disturbances correlated with COVID-19 severity, though liver failure is unusual.

Aim: To study liver and gastrointestinal dysfunctions in Egyptian patients with COVID-19 and their relation to disease outcomes.

Anxiety, depression and coping strategies among chronic medical patients with coronavirus disease-2019: a multicenter follow-up cohort study.

Background: Studies have shown that COVID-19 patients experience high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress during the pandemic. Patients adopt different coping strategies to reduce their psychological distress.

Aim: To compare the immediate and long-term psychological impact of COVID-19 disease on patients with and without chronic medical illnesses (CMI) and identify coping styles of both groups during the peak of COVID-19 disease in Egypt.

Safety and efficacy of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir and sofosbuvir/daclatasvir in the treatment of hepatitis C in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related decompensated cirrhosis is a severe life-threatening illness. The safety of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has opened a gate of hope for that subgroup of patients who were previously contraindicated for interferon therapy.

Objective: We aimed at the investigation of the safety and efficacy of different DAAs regimens in the treatment of HCV-related decompensated cirrhosis patients, to determine sustained virological response (SVR)12 rates and to analyze the factors associated with response.

Predictors of severity and development of critical illness of Egyptian COVID-19 patients: A multicenter study.

Objectives: We conducted the present multicenter, retrospective study to assess the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics associated with critical illness among patients with COVID-19 from Egypt.

Methods: The present study was a multicenter, retrospective study that retrieved the data of all Egyptian cases with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to hospitals affiliated to the General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes (GOTHI) through the period from March to July 2020. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was based on a positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) laboratory test.

Weekend and evening planned colonoscopy activity: a safe and effective way to meet demands.

Colonoscopy is the "gold standard" investigation for assessment of the large bowel that detects and prevents colorectal cancer, as well as non-neoplastic conditions. The Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recommends monitoring key performance indicators such as cecal intubation rate (CIR) and adenoma detection rate (ADR). We aimed to investigate the quality of colonoscopies carried out during evening and Saturday lists in our unit and compare them against JAG standards of quality for colonoscopies.

Gastrointestinal manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus and coronavirus disease 2019: Understanding the intersecting regions between the two epidemics.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a pandemic. As of February 2021, there were 107 million COVID-19 cases worldwide. As a comparison, there are approximately 38 million people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) worldwide.

Liver transplantation in the era of COVID-19.

Liver transplantation is considered the ultimate solution for patients with end-stage chronic liver disease or acute liver failure. Patients with liver transplant need special care starting from preoperative preparation, surgical intervention ending with postoperative care. Transplanted patients have to receive immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection.

Egyptian liver library: An indexed database for liver disease evidence in Egypt.

Liver diseases are among the most challenging health care problems worldwide. In Egypt, we established different care programs to combat liver diseases including schistosomiasis and viral hepatitides. A lot of research work addressing liver diseases in Egypt have been published with special focus on these two major fields.

High success rates for the use of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir containing regimens in treatment of naïve and experienced chronic hepatitis C genotype 4: Real world results.

Introduction And Aims: Treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 patient with fixed dose combination of ombitasvir-paritaprevir-ritonavir plus ribavirin (OBV/rPTV/RBV) has been proven efficacy and safety in many clinical trials. The current study reports the efficacy and safety of OBV/rPTV/RBV (for treatment-naïve), and OBV/rPTV/RBV/sofosbuvir (SOF) (for treatment-experienced), in chronic HCV genotype 4 patients in real life settings.

Methods: Prospective cohort study including all adult chronic HCV genotype 4 patients who were scheduled to receive OBV/rPTV/RBV ± SOF for 12 or 24 weeks in New Cairo Viral Hepatitis Treatment Center.

Clinical impact of serum α-fetoprotein and its relation on changes in liver fibrosis in hepatitis C virus patients receiving direct-acting antivirals.

Background: α-Fetoprotein (AFP) is used widely as a serological marker for hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the AFP value is elevated in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients without hepatocellular carcinoma. Yet, data on the impact of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) therapy on AFP levels after viral eradication are still lacking.

An account of the real-life hepatitis C management in a single specialized viral hepatitis treatment centre in Egypt: results of treating 7042 patients with 7 different direct acting antiviral regimens.

Background: A large Egyptian treatment program for HCV was launched in2014 after the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). This program depended mainly on establishing specialized independent centres for HCV treatment. These centres represent the major strengths in the Egyptian model of care, as they provide integrated care for HCV patients and have enabled Egypt to treat more than one million patients in 3 years.