Impact of COVID-19 on youth's mental health in Egypt.

Background: Youth represent 21% of the Egyptian population; such proportion can create a leading demographic power for economic development and transition. However, with the current COVID-19 pandemic, everyone is exposed to more than usual stressors, adding a burden to their mental health and well-being. Aim: This study aims to understand the pandemic's effect on youth's mental health in Egypt to strengthen the intervention areas needed to tackle such issues. Methods: This observational, analytical, cross-sectional study employed internet platforms of Facebook & WhatsApp groups for a web-based survey that included 412 respondents between 15 and 30 years old. RESULTS The median age of the respondents was 22 years. At least 30% reported increased violence in the street and/or household, and 27.4% of the respondents have considered visiting a psychiatrist during the last period. Conclusion: It is evident that the current situation is unprecedented and challenging for everyone; however, some populations are more vulnerable than others. Thus, it's important to support young people to ensure that the whole community can withstand the pandemic. The governments should support and mitigate some of the stresses that can be directly amended, like the education and job security concerns.

New Onset or Deterioration of Thyroid Eye Disease After mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines: Report of 2 Cases and Literature Review.

CONTEXT: Occurrence of Graves' disease (GD) has been reported following SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administration, but little is known about thyroid eye disease (TED) after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. OBJECTIVE: We describe 2 cases of TED activation following mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and review additional cases reported in the literature. METHODS: We report 2 cases of TED activation following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: 1 case of TED worsening in a patient with GD, and 1 of de novo active TED progressing to dysthyroid optic neuropathy in a patient with a history of Hashimoto hypothyroidism. Our literature search revealed 8 additional reported TED cases associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination until June 2022. We review the characteristics, duration, and management of TED following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in these cases. RESULTS: Of all 10 reported TED cases following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, 4 developed new-onset TED and 6 previously stable TED cases experienced significant deterioration. Six patients had known GD and 2 patients had Hashimoto thyroiditis. Two cases progressed to dysthyroid optic neuropathy, 6 had moderate/severe active disease, and 2 had mild disease that did not require treatment. Seven TED cases received teprotumumab and had a favorable response, 2 of whom had prior limited response to initial prednisone or methylprednisolone and tocilizumab therapy. CONCLUSION: New diagnosis or deterioration of TED after mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination can occur, with most cases described in patients with underlying autoimmune thyroid disease. Our report raises awareness to this potential complication to promote early recognition and prompt management of TED associated with mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Further studies are needed to explore the mechanism, risk factors, prevention, and treatment of TED following mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Teprotumumab-Related Hyperglycemia.

CONTEXT: Graves orbitopathy (GO) or thyroid eye disease is a potentially sight-threatening and disfiguring autoimmune disease. Teprotumumab is a monoclonal antibody against the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor that was recently approved for GO treatment. Hyperglycemia is a recognized adverse event of teprotumumab, occurring in 10% of patients in 2 recent randomized controlled trials. OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to report the incidence, severity, management, and longitudinal glycemic changes in patients treated with teprotumumab in an academic practice cohort. METHODS: This longitudinal, observational study included all consecutive patients treated with teprotumumab between March 2020 and May 2022 at 1 institution. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was measured every 3 months. RESULTS: Forty-two patients with baseline normoglycemia (n = 22), prediabetes (n = 10), and diabetes (n = 10) were followed for a mean of 47.5 weeks. Overall, HbA1c increased by 0.5% at 3 months. Least-squares mean changes in HbA1c at 3 months were 1.3 (P < .001), 0.7 (P = .01), and 0.1 (P = .41) in patients with diabetes, prediabetes, and normoglycemia, respectively. Twenty-two patients (52%) had hyperglycemia, which was graded as mild, moderate, and life-threatening in 55% (12/22), 41% (9/22), and 5% (1/22) of cases, respectively. Age, pre-existing diabetes, and Hispanic and Asian race/ethnicity were significant risk factors for hyperglycemia. Among patients with hyperglycemia, 36.4% (8/22) returned to baseline glycemic status at last follow-up. CONCLUSION: While effective, teprotumumab carries a significant risk of hyperglycemia, especially in patients with diabetes. Hyperglycemia may persist after stopping teprotumumab. These findings underscore the importance of guidelines for screening and management of teprotumumab-related hyperglycemia.

Ottawa Knee Rule: Investigating Use and Application in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital.

Background Knee injuries are encountered commonly in the emergency departments (EDs) in Ireland. Validated clinical decision rules such as Ottawa knee rule (OKR) can be used in acute knee injury settings to reduce the number of unnecessary radiography. Clinical judgment can be used to distinguish between suspected fractures and non-fractures in many cases; however, radiography is still routinely requested. Objectives We evaluated the OKRs in a high-volume tertiary teaching hospital in Ireland to determine whether the rule could be safely used to decide whether patients with acute blunt knee trauma should undergo radiography. Methods This was an observational study conducted in the ED over a three-month period in a tertiary referral hospital. A total of 110 patients with acute knee injuries were examined using OKR. Inclusion criteria included patients with acute knee injuries due to blunt trauma or twisting injury and patients with lacerations or contusions. Open fractures and fractures due to penetrating injury were excluded from the study. Results Fractures were seen in 12 (13.2%) of the 110 patents who met the inclusion criteria. The OKR predicted all 12 fractures. Sensitivity was 100%, and specificity was 39%. Conclusions The OKR is highly sensitive for fracture in this setting and can be safely used to decide whether patients with acute blunt knee trauma should undergo radiography.

Increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and impact of ethnicity in north Sudan.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus constitutes a global health threat, with increasing burden of disease in low and middle-income countries witnessing ongoing epidemiological transition including Sudan. AIMS: To study the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes and determine the relationship to gender, age, waist circumference, body mass index, residence and ethnicity among the adult population in north Sudan. METHODS: A cross-sectional, population-based study in Northern State and River Nile State using random multi-stage cluster sampling targeting 5376 participants from 14 localities divided into 60 urban and 40 rural clusters. In each cluster, 60 households were studied. Blood glucose level and anthropometric measurements were recorded and a questionnaire containing demographic data was obtained from each participant. RESULTS: The prevalence of T2DM among participants was 18.7% and prediabetes was 12.9%. Among people living with T2DM, 694(71.0%) were known cases of T2DM, whereas 284(29.0%) were newly diagnosed cases. The significant associated risk factors for T2DM included urban residence (AOR 1.23, 95%CI 1.09-1.41), age above 60 years (AOR 4.77, 95%CI 4.04-5.63), obese BMI (AOR 1.26, 95%CI 1.03-1.55) and central obesity (AOR 1.39, 95%CI 1.14-1.68). Compared to indigenous population, individuals of Egyptian descents (AOR 1.28, 95%CI 1.04-1.57) and mixed origin (AOR 1.24, 95%CI 1.04-1.48) had increased risk of T2DM. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of T2DM and prediabetes in north Sudan have increased significantly since 1996 with variations between ethnicities which showed to be an independent risk factor for T2DM. Health authorities are recommended to set plans to meet the health needs of these communities.