Support for increased cardiovascular risk in non-segmental vitiligo among Egyptians: A hospital-based, case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Data have been accumulating in the past few years that identify vitiligo as a disorder with systemic implications. RESULTS AND METHODS: In this hospital-based, cross-sectional, case-control study, 50 patients with non-segmental vitiligo and 50 age- and sex-matched controls underwent analysis of serum lipid profile, oxidative stress biomarkers and carotid duplex. Hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly higher in patients than controls (p-value < .001, <.001, respectively); on the other hand, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was significantly lower in patients than controls (p-value = .001). A significantly higher percentage of patients had hypercholesterolemia and borderline high, high or very high levels of LDL-C, compared to controls (p-value = .001 and .001, respectively). Atherosclerotic plaques and increased common carotid intima media thickness were significantly detected in patients versus controls. DISCUSSION: Results of the present study suggest that a subset of patients with vitiligo are at a higher risk of developing dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis, which might increase their future risk for the development of cardiovascular disease. Confirmation of these findings would subsequently influence investigative and the treatment strategies in the management plan of vitiligo patients in the near future. SIGNIFICANCE: Vitiligo patients might be at a higher risk of developing dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis, which might increase their risk for the development of cardiovascular disease necessitating prophylactic measures to improve prognosis. Our results might influence the investigative and treatment strategies in the management plan of vitiligo patients in the near future.

An Epidemiological and Clinical Analysis of Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions Seen in a Tertiary Care Outpatient Clinic in Cairo, Egypt.

A cutaneous adverse drug reaction (CADR) is any undesirable change in the structure or function of the skin, its appendages, or mucous membranes caused by a drug. The frequency of CADRs is variable, with only few studies evaluating it. Our aim was to identify the clinical spectrum of CADRs and document the epidemiological data of different types of drug eruptions among Egyptian patients attending a tertiary care center. An observational hospital-based analytical study was planned for a period of six months (January-June 2015). All patients attending the outpatient Dermatology Clinic at Kasr El Aini hospital were examined to detect patients with CADRs, who were subjected to a detailed questionnaire with a detailed drug history. A skin biopsy was taken to confirm the diagnosis and to detect the type of CADRs. The primary incidence of CADRs reported in our study was 0.28% (78 patients) from a total number of 27,093 patients. The most common CADRs were SJS/TEN in 12 patients (15.3%) and lichenoid drug eruptions in 12 patients (15.3%), followed by exanthematous drug eruptions in 11 patients (14.1%) and vasculitic drug eruptions in 9 patients (11.5%). The most common drug incriminated was ibuprofen in 6 patients (7.6%), followed by penicillin in 4 patients (5.1%) and aspirin in 3 patients (3.8%). In conclusion, incidence of CADRs in our study was similar to incidence reported in different countries; however, the incidence of life-threatening reactions such as SJS/TEN was higher compared with studies conducted abroad.

Health Research and Millennium Development Goals: Identifying the Gap From Public Health Perspective.

Assessing the research output within the universities could provide an effective means for tracking the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) progress. This analytical database study was designed to assess the trend of research theses conducted by the Public Health Department (PHD), Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University during the period 1990 to 2014 as related to the: MDGS, Faculty and department research priority plans and to identify the discrepancies between researchers' priorities versus national and international research priorities. A manual search of the theses was done at the Postgraduate Library using a specially designed checklist to chart adherence of each thesis to: MDGs, Faculty and department research plans (RPs). The theses' profile showed that the highest research output was for addressing the MDGS followed by the PHD and Faculty RPs. Compliance to MDGs 5 and 6 was obvious, whereas; MDGs 2, 3, and 7 were not represented at all after year 2000. No significant difference was found between PH theses addressing the Faculty RPs and those which were not before and after 2010. A significantly lower percent of PH theses was fulfilling the PHD research priorities compared to those which were not after 2010. This study showed a definite decline in research output tackling the MDGS and PHD research priorities, with a non-significant increase in the production of theses addressing the Faculty RPs. The present study is a practical model for policy makers within the universities to develop and implement a reliable monitoring and evaluation system for assessment of research output.

Evaluation of an isolation program of hepatitis C virus infected hemodialysis patients in some hemodialysis centers in egypt.

Introduction. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Several studies demonstrated nosocomial transmission of HCV among HD patients. Aim. We aimed to evaluate the isolation program of HCV seropositive patients among a group of Egyptian haemodialysis patients to decrease the incidence of HCV seroconversion. Methods. One hundred and fourteen HCV seronegative patients who were receiving regular haemodialysis in different four haemodialysis units in Egypt. The first group included forty six patients on regular hemodialysis in two centers following strict isolation of the HCV seropositive patients, and the second group included sixty eight patients on regular hemodialysis in the other two centers not following this strict isolation. All these patients were followed up over a period of 36 months. Results. There was a significantly higher incidence of HCV seroconversion of patients on hemodialysis in units not following strict isolation of HCV seropositive patients (42.9%) than those on regular hemodialysis in units following strict isolation (14.8%). Conclusions. In HD units with a high prevalence of HCV+ patients, strict isolation of HCV+ patients in combination with implementation of universal prevention measures can limit the spread of HCV infection in HD patients.