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Mohamed Salaheldeen Noor,1 Magdy Elbarbary,2 Sherif N Embabi,1 Mohamed A Zaki,1 Hisham Awad,1 Mariam Al-Feky1 1Ophthalmology Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 2Paediatrics Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptCorrespondence: Mohamed Salaheldeen Noor, Ophthalmology Department, Ain Shams University, 22 Abdullah Ibn Eltaher street, Makram Edeid, Nasr city, Cairo, Egypt, Tel +201093769896, Email msn198840@gmail.comPurpose: To evaluate the retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) prevalence, risk factors and screening outcome in a tertiary hospital in Cairo, Egypt.Methods: A prospective observational study was done in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Ain Shams University Hospital. A total of 159 premature infants were screened for ROP based on the most inclusive criteria reported to date. Screening included premature infants with gestational age (GA) of ≤ 34 weeks or birth weight (BW) of ≤ 2000 grams, or GA > 34 weeks or BW > 2000 grams, with multiple co-morbidities. The prevalence of ROP, plus disease and their correlation with risk factors of interest were studied.Results: The GA of the included infants ranged from 27 to 36 weeks, mean (SD) 31.87 (± 1.81) weeks. The BW ranged from 640 to 3900 grams, mean (SD) 1784.71 (± 560.30) grams. The prevalence of ROP more than stage 0 was 25.8% (41 infants), 7.3% of the cases (11 infants) showed plus disease and 6.3% (10 infants) showed severe ROP requiring treatment. Of those, 2 cases (20%) fell outside the British Guideline’s criteria for Screening. There was a highly significant (p < 0.0001) correlation between ROP more than stage 0 and low GA, low BW, mechanical ventilation, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular haemorrhage, and blood transfusion. No significant correlation was found between appearance of ROP more than stage 0 and gender (p = 0.911), patent ductus arteriosus (p =0.187), or sepsis (p =0.998).Conclusion: ROP is a significant problem in the premature infants in Egypt. Extremely premature infants with lower BW are more prone to develop ROP. However, cases with higher GA and BW than mentioned in the British guidelines screening criteria especially with multiple comorbidities showed severe ROP requiring intervention, which implies the need to develop a screening guideline for the Egyptian population.Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity, screening, risk factors, epidemiology, prematurity

Ahmed Aly Khalil, Mohamed Elshawy, Mohab Elbarbary, Yasser Elghamrini Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptCorrespondence: Ahmed Aly KhalilDepartment of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptEmail drahmedaly83@gmail.comBackground: Pilonidal sinus (PNS) is a common disorder that mainly affects young adults. It can be asymptomatic or presented by discomfort, inflammation, abscess or sinus formation. Despite current advances in surgical techniques, the best option to treat PNS is not yet well defined. Many studies reported techniques that involved excision of the sinus and closure of the deep and superficial layers but leaving the skin open.Aim: We aim to compare between the excision and primary midline closure with suction drain versus the partial closure technique as treatment options for PNS in terms of recovery, wound complications and recurrence rate.Patients and Methods: A prospective comparative study at Ain Shams University Hospitals that included 80 patients with PNS was conducted from January 2018 to June 2019. They were divided randomly into group A; 40 patients that had the midline closed method with suction drain and group B; 40 patients that underwent the partial closure technique. Both groups were followed up for 1 year, detecting healing time, wound complications, return to usual activities and recurrence rate.Results: We detected significant differences between both groups as regards to pain and discomfort postoperatively, favoring the partial closure group. Mean time to wound healing was significantly shorter among group A (14.43 ± 3.13) though mean time of return to usual activities was faster among the partial closure group (14.45 ± 1.15). There were no statistically significant differences between both groups as regards to wound infection, dehiscence or hematoma formation. Wound seroma was more among group A.Conclusion: The partial midline closure technique showed comparable results to the closed method with suction drain in management of PNS disease. Indeed, it shows less postoperative complications and a faster return to usual daily activity. Yet, more studies are required to demonstrate its reproducibility.Keywords: pilonidal sinus, primary midline closure, partial closure, wound complications

Background: There is still a significant population of patients with embolic stroke of Undetermined Source (ESUS) whose specific attributable cause of the stroke remains unknown., Objectives: Our research aimed to assess clinical, electrocardiogram, laboratory, and echocardiographic parameters that may predict the propensity of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF)., Methods: We enrolled seventy-five ESUS patients who were in sinus rhythm at the time of stroke diagnosis to undergo in-hospital 7-day Holter monitoring, testing for Pro-BNP, and a standard echocardiographic examination. For statistical analysis, a P-value < 0.05 was considered significant., Results: The average age of the 75 ESUS patients was 58 years old. 60% of the patients were male, and the most prevalent concomitant condition was hypertension (53.3%). Forty patients had atrial cardiopathy, and 15 patients had PAF episodes. Hypertension and the E/e- > 12 were independent predictors of atrial cardiopathy, with p-values of 0.001 and 0.02, respectively. In patients with atrial cardiopathy, multivariable regression analysis was performed; PTFV > 5000 Mv.ms, LA volume index > 34 ml/m2, and ejection fraction < 45% were significant independent predictors of AF with significant p values of 0.001, < 0.001, and 0.001 respectively., Conclusions: In ESUS patients, atrial cardiopathy was prevalent. Hypertension and an E/e- ratio greater than 12 were independent predictors for it. Multivariable regression analysis identified PTFV1 > 5000 mV.ms, LA volume index > 34 ml/m2, and ejection fraction < 45% as independent predictors for new-onset atrial fibrillation.

Hypothyroidism is associated with atherosclerosis, which is attributed mainly to an atherogenic lipid profile. Increased intima-media thickness (IMT) is the first structural change detected in atherosclerosis. This prospective cohort study investigated lipid profile and abdominal aorta IMT in patients newly-diagnosed with hypothyroidism and their change one year post-treatment. It included fifty patients divided into three groups according to their diagnosis: congenital hypothyroidism (CH), Acquired and CH stopped treatment/uncontrolled group. They were subjected to history, auxological, blood pressure, non-fasting lipid profile, and abdominal aorta IMT measurement by abdominal ultrasound. These demonstrated high basal cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL (259.64 ± 82.06, 193.94 ± 71.54, and 144.70 ± 48.46 mg/dl, respectively) and significant reduction after treatment (216.66 ± 44.60, 165.70 ± 53.58 and 123.26 ± 29.79 mg/dl, respectively). Low basal HDL (47.92 ± 10.08 mg/dl) increased significantly (57.56 ± 7.94 mg/dl) after treatment. Abdominal aorta IMT decreased significantly after treatment and achievement of euthyroidism (1.47 ± 0.49 and 1.33 ± 0.41 mm, respectively). In conclusion, upon treatment of hypothyroidism and achievement of euthyroidism, abdominal aorta IMT, cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL decreased significantly, and HDL increased. Abdominal aorta IMT measurement is an easy and feasible way for the early detection of atherosclerosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Not available., (Copyright © 2024 Taiwan Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite a significant rise in cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), data are scarce regarding the quality of care provided, particularly for women., Methods: This is a prospective observational, cross-sectional study. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients presented to the Cardiology Department at Tanta University, Egypt, between September 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, were enrolled. The study assessed gender disparities by comparing men and women regarding presentation, management, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) occurrence during hospitalization and 30 days after discharge., Results: A total of 400 ACS patients were included, with 29.5% being women. Women were comparatively older (59 ± 9 years vs. 55 ± 13 years), with a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension (70.3% vs. 47.5%) and diabetes (55% vs. 36.8%). Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (Non-STEMI) was more common in women (35.29% vs. 21%). Dyspnea was expressed by 34.4% of women (vs. 21.35% of men). Women were hospitalized later (9.29 h vs. 6.74 h). In-hospital outcomes were poorer for women with worse NYHA classes III and IV. Additionally, the odds ratio (OR) for in-hospital cardiac mortality was 0.303 (95% CI 0.103-0.893) for women compared to men. However, a one-month follow-up for MACE post-hospital discharge did not indicate significant gender differences., Conclusions: The current study suggests that women with ACS in Egypt exhibit a higher risk profile for CVD compared to men and tend to present later with atypical symptoms. Women additionally experience poorer in-hospital MACE and higher cardiac mortality. Therefore, increasing awareness about ACS syndrome and eliminating obstacles that delay hospital admission are imperative., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Hypospadias is a wide-world congenital malformation that accounts for 1 of 300 live male births. Many procedures were considered for its management. As the tubularised incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty, the most prevalent technique, caused many complications, several modifications were applied to the original operation to improve the outcomes and alleviate complications. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of the ordinary TIP urethroplasty with the technique modified without dissection of the glans penis., Materials and Methods: A total of 82 patients with a mean age of 18.8 (±14.8) months, were randomly assigned to undergo TIP with either complete glans wings mobilisation (Group A, n = 42 patients) or without glans dissection (Group B, n = 40 patients). To evaluate the effect of modified TIP urethroplasty without glanular dissection for treatment of distal hypospadias in contrast to classical TIP repair., Results: Both techniques showed similar outcomes regarding functional repair, with good to excellent results between 88% and 90% after 6 months of follow-up. Most confronted post-operative complications were wound infection, oedema, urethrocutaneous fistulas and meatal stenosis. Less frequently haematoma, post-operative bleeding and glans dehiscence were encountered. The differences in complication rates between the two studied groups were statistically insignificant except for oedema (P = 0.04), and need for urethral dilatation (P = 0.002) that were more prevalent among patients who were treated with classic TIP repair with complete glans wings mobilisation., Conclusion: From our point of view, it seems that TIP without glanular dissection technique does not outweigh TIP with complete glans wings mobilisation regarding functional outcomes and post-operative complications., (Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © 2023 African Journal of Paediatric Surgery.)

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and is associated with poor outcomes. AKI is diagnosed by the dynamic change of serum Cr, but it could not predict AKI. This study aimed to evaluate a biomarker array that may fulfill this shortage. Setting: Cardiology Department, Tanta University Hospital. Design: Prospective interventional study included 280 acute STEMI patients who underwent emergency PCI. Serial samples of blood and urine were obtained at the time of admission to the hospital (T0) and PCI unit (T1) and at 12 h and 72 h (T12 and T72) after coronary revascularization to estimate levels of serum Cr, creatine phosphokinase, and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) and calculation of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and urinary liver-type FABP (L-FABP). AKI was diagnosed according to the recommendations of the European Renal Best Practice as the times of increased serum Cr concerning baseline level. 85 patients developed AKI. Regression analyses defined a high NLR ratio in the T0 sample as the most significant predictor for early AKI diagnosed at T1 time, while high NLR and serum H-FABP levels in T1 samples as the significant predictors for AKI defined at T12 time. However, high urinary L-FABP levels in T12 samples and high NLR are significant predictors for AKI at T72 time. Combined estimations of serum H-FABP and urinary L-FABP with the calculation of NLR could predict the oncoming AKI and discriminate its pathogenesis. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethical Committee at Tanta Faculty of Medicine by approval number: 35327/3/22. For blindness purposes, the authors will be blinded about the laboratory results till the end of 72 h after revascularization and the clinical pathologist will be blinded about the indication for the requested investigations., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Cleft lip and palate, which affects 0.5-1.6 out of every 1000 live births, is the most prevalent congenital defect of the head and neck. Several approaches, including quadrangular flaps, triangular flaps and rotation-advancement procedures, White Roll Vermilion Turn Down Flap (WRV flap) from the lateral lip element were employed by Mishra to modify Millard's technique to create the vermilion and white roll on the medial lip segment. This study aimed to use the anthropometric measurements taken pre- and post-operation to evaluate quantitative assessment of modified Millard technique compared with WRV flap technique in unilateral cleft lip (UCL) repair., Materials and Methods: Prospective, randomised controlled study recruited infants scheduled for UCL repair. Infants aged 3-6 months, either complete or incomplete deformity. A total of 42 patients were randomized in 1:1 ratio to undergo either WRV flap technique (group A) or modified Millard technique (group B) and another control included 21 age-matched healthy children. We compared WRV flap procedure to Modified Millard's procedure in terms of both qualitative (another surgeon's opinion) and quantitative (anthropometric) evaluation., Results: Vertical lip length and philtral lip height significantly longer in Millard group (B) than WRV flap group (A) in immediate postoperative assessment and nasal width was significantly wider in WRV flap group (A) than Millard group (B) in 3-month post-operative assessment. The lip shape, the vermilion shape was better in Millard technique than WRV flap technique; however, this was statistically insignificant. However, no major difference in the overall results between the WRV flap and Millard rotation-advancement repairs., Conclusion: Anthropometric measurement of surgical outcome evaluates the surgical technique used and helps to compare between cleft and non-cleft side showing the degree of deformity and we used subjective assessment to analyse facial aesthetics. Overall results demonstrate no significant differences between modified Millard technique and WRV flap technique., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 African Journal of Paediatric Surgery.)

Introduction: Inguinal hernia (IH) repair is a common procedure in the daily practice of pediatric surgeons. In a developing country with limited facilities, it is important to be able to predict and diagnose contralateral patent processus vaginalis (CPPV) to avoid the risk and cost of further surgery., Objectives: To assess the accuracy of ultrasound for the detection of CPPV, using laparoscopic evaluation as a confirmatory test. We also looked for various predictors of CPPV in our study population., Methods: 141 patients were included in this 2-year, cross-sectional prospective study. Inclusion criteria were unilateral inguinal hernia elective patients with no major comorbidities and aged between 2 months and 8 years. Each patient was assessed in outpatient clinics and then a pre-operative ultrasound was conducted. This was followed by laparoscopic evaluation during repair of the hernia., Results: Of the 141 patients included, 110 (78%) were males, 121 (85.9%) were born at full term, and 96 (68.1) had right-sided hernia. Mean age was 2.64 ± 1.9 years. Ultrasound was 85.7% sensitive in the detection of CPPV, 90.8% specific, and 90.1% accurate. In our analysis of patients younger than 1 year, right-sided hernia and defect size more than 10 mm were statistically significant predictors for a CPPV., Conclusions: Ultrasound has a high accuracy profile and is a useful alternative in limited resource settings with restricted access to minimally invasive surgery for the prediction of CPPV. Patients younger than 1 year with a right-sided hernia or a manifested hernia defect larger than 10 mm are at a higher risk of having a CPPV., (© 2023. Crown.)

Background and Aims: Hypertension (HTN) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality affecting about 30%-40% of the adult population in developed countries. Fewer data were published about the prevalence, sociodemographics, and clinical characteristics of the resistant hypertensive population in Egypt. Hence, our aim is to focus the attention on these determinants especially in the delta region of Egypt., Methods: Data belonging to patients visiting our HTN clinic in the Cardiovascular Department, Tanta University Hospital, Gharbeyah Governorate, Egypt, were collected over 12 months, between January 1, 2022, and 31 December 31, 2022, and then carefully analyzed., Results: We found that the prevalence of resistant hypertension (RHTN) in the delta region of Egypt was 18%. We noted more RHTN cases in older age, that is, mean ± Std. was 51.5 ± 13.24 and 62.1 ± 7.56 for non-RHTN and RHTN, respectively. Also, the prevalence was higher in women representing about 54.4% of cases. Sixty-two percent of the patients with RH were obese (mean ± Std. of body mass index was 30.7 ± 5.36 in HTN and 47.7 ± 30.3 in RHTN groups with p value <0.001). We found a significant relationship between chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and RHTN., Conclusion: Control of HTN among the Egyptian population in the delta region was unsatisfactory and higher than rates published globally. RH was more obvious in women, elderly, obese population, and diabetic and chronic kidney disease patients. Excessive use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, smoking, and high salt intake were clearly observed., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: The spread of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) producing E. coli from food animals and the environment to humans has become a significant public health concern. The objectives of this study were to determine the occurrence, pathotypes, virulotypes, genotypes, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of ESBL-producing E. coli in retail meat samples and workers in retail meat shops in Egypt and to evaluate the bactericidal efficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-H 2 O 2 ) against multidrug resistant (MDR) ESBL-producing E. coli., Results: A total of 250 retail meat samples and 100 human worker samples (hand swabs and stool) were examined for the presence of ESBL- producing E. coli. Duck meat and workers' hand swabs were the highest proportion of ESBL- producing E. coli isolates (81.1%), followed by camel meat (61.5%). Pathotyping revealed that the isolates belonged to groups A and B1. Virulotyping showed that the most prevalent virulence gene was Shiga toxin 2 (stx2) associated gene (36.9%), while none of the isolates harbored stx1 gene. Genotyping of the identified isolates from human and meat sources by REP-PCR showed 100% similarity within the same cluster between human and meat isolates. All isolates were classified as MDR with an average multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of 0.7. AgNPs-H 2 O 2 at concentrations of 0.625, 1.25, 2.5 and 5 μg/mL showed complete bacterial growth inhibition., Conclusions: Virulent MDR ESBL-producing E. coli were identified in retail meat products in Egypt, posing significant public health threats. Regular monitoring of ESBL-producing E. coli frequency and antimicrobial resistance profile in retail meat products is crucial to enhance their safety. AgNPs-H 2 O 2 is a promising alternative for treating MDR ESBL-producing E. coli infections and reducing antimicrobial resistance risks., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Masticatory myofascial pain is a musculoligamentous syndrome that can mimic odontogenic pain. Pain referral to odontogenic structures can be traced to hyperirritated myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). This pragmatic study evaluated the concordance between ultrasonography and palpation in detecting MTrPs in the masseter and temporalis muscles., Methods: Fifty-seven patients suspected to have temporomandibular disorder were included. MTrPs were palpated manually by expert clinicians. Ultrasonography was then performed by a blind sonographer. The quantity of MTrPs and the involved muscle sections, the pain occurrence, and the location of the MTrPs within the muscle sections were compared using the mean difference (MD) and concordance statistics (Cohen κ and the interclass correlation coefficient [ICC]) as applicable., Results: Ultrasonography located MTrPs as 2.1 ± 1.3 mm 2 hypoechoic nodules at a depth of 7 ± 3.3 mm. Ultrasonography moderately agreed with palpation on the quantity of MTrPs per patient (MD = 1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06-1.9; ICC = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.32-0.72). Palpation detected marginally more involved muscle sections per patient (MD = 0.7; 95% CI, 0.06-1.34.05; ICC = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44-0.77) with more pain occurrence per patient (MD = 1.4; 95% CI, 0.56-2.28; ICC = 0.13; 95% CI, -0.26 to 0.41). There was a discordance in the location of the MTrPs within the muscle sections per patient (κ = -0.46; 95% CI, -0.77 to -0.14)., Conclusions: Ultrasonography and palpation concurred moderately to substantially on the quantity of MTrPs and the involved muscle sections but disagreed on the location of the MTrPs within the muscle sections. Ultrasonography has the potential as a chairside diagnostic aid to help clinicians determine an accurate diagnosis, enhance patient experience during examination, and avoid unnecessary treatments that can mitigate the risk of iatrogenic damage., (Copyright © 2022 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To examine independent and interactive associations of physical activity and diet with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and physical activity, diet and adiposity-related (PDAR) cancer mortality., Methods: This population-based prospective cohort study (n=346 627) is based on the UK Biobank data with linkage to the National Health Service death records to 30 April 2020. A left-truncated Cox proportional hazards model was fitted to examine the associations between exposures (self-reported total moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) and a diet quality index (score ranged 0-3)) and outcomes (all-cause, CVD and PDAR cancer mortality)., Results: During a median follow-up of 11.2 years, 13 869 participants died from all causes, 2650 from CVD and 4522 from PDAR cancers. Compared with quartile 1 (Q1, 0-210 min/week), Q2-Q4 of MVPA were associated with lower risks of all-cause (HR ranged from 0.87 (95% CI: 0.83 to 0.91) to 0.91 (95% CI: 0.87 to 0.96)), CVD (HR ranged from 0.85 (95% CI: 0.76 to 0.95) to 0.90 (95% CI: 0.81 to 1.00)) and PDAR cancer mortality (HR ranged from 0.86 (95% CI: 0.79 to 0.93) to 0.94 (95% CI: 0.86 to 1.02)). Compared with no VPA, any VPA was associated with lower risk for all-cause and CVD mortality (HR ranged from 0.85 (95% CI: 0.80 to 0.89) to 0.88 (95% CI: 0.84 to 0.93) and from 0.75 (95% CI: 0.68 to 0.83) to 0.90 (95% CI: 0.80 to 1.02), respectively). Although not reaching statistical significance for all-cause and CVD mortality, being in the best dietary category (diet quality index=2-3) was associated with a reduction in PDAR cancer mortality (HR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.78 to 0.93). No additive or multiplicative interactions between physical activity categories and dietary quality was found. When comparing across physical activity and diet combinations, the lowest risk combinations consistently included the higher levels of physical activity and the highest diet quality score., Conclusions: Adhering to both quality diet and sufficient physical activity is important for optimally reducing the risk of mortality from all causes, CVD and PDAR cancers., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Chronic kidney disease has emerged as a significant independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular calcification is an active process involving a complex interaction of inducers and inhibitors. High sensitivity cardiac troponin T assay detects troponin T with higher sensitivity and precision at an earlier point of time than the conventional assays, and is associated with poor outcomes. Serum osteoprotegerin is classed as an inhibitory factor for cardiovascular calcification. It is involved in the pathological processes of vascular damage and linked to the excess cardiovascular morbidity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the extent of cardiovascular calcification and serum high sensitivity cardiac troponin T level, and their association with serum osteoprotegerin level in patients with chronic kidney disease stages 3-5., Methods: 90 chronic kidney disease patients were enrolled in this study, and they were divided into two groups: group (1) included 45 non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease patients (stages 3-5) and group (2) included 45 chronic hemodialysis patients. Each group further subdivided according to the presence of cardiovascular calcification into subgroup A and B. Vascular calcifications were assessed by lateral lumbar, pelvis and hands X-ray radiographs. Valvular calcification was assessed by echocardiography. Serum cardiac troponin T was measured by high sensitivity assay and serum osteoprotegerin was measured by ELISA., Results: Cardiovascular calcification distribution was 22.2% in group (1) and 33.3% in group (2). Serum osteoprotegerin and troponin T in calcification groups (1A and 2A) were significantly higher than non-calcification groups (1B and 2B; P < 0.001). Osteoprotegerin correlated positively with high sensitivity cardiac troponin T (rs = 0.72, P < 0.001). cardiovascular calcification correlated positively with osteoprotegerin, troponin T, and phosphorus. osteoprotegerin and phosphorus were significant independent predictors of cardiovascular calcification at cut-off values ≥4.6 ng/L and ≥6.95 mg/dl, respectively ( P < 0.001). Serum phosphorus and creatinine were independent predictors of osteoprotegerin ( P < 0.001 and 0.048, respectively)., Conclusion: Osteoprotegerin is strongly associated with cardiovascular calcification and high sensitivity cardiac troponin T. In addition, there is a positive association between calcification and troponin T. This suggests a role for osteoprotegerin in the pathogenesis and risk stratification of cardiovascular calcification and myocardial injury in chronic kidney disease patients with a potential role as a therapeutic target., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Okasha, Aboufreikha, Elrefaey, Ashmawy, Mourad, Elsebaey, Elnaggar, Mashaal, Metwally, Mashal, Shalaby, Elhoseny, Alkassas, Elbarbary, Shoeib, Ali, Baiomy and Alnabawy.)

Purpose: Open inguinal hernia repair in children with bladder exstrophy is challenging and associated with a high recurrence rate (15%-22%). We report our initial experience with laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernias in five children with repaired bladder exstrophy. This study is the third describing inguinal hernia repair in bladder exstrophy patients using the laparoscopic approach. In this study, we report a different laparoscopic technique., Methods: This retrospective study was performed on data regarding laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair collected over one year (July 2019-2020). We carried out the laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, closing the internal inguinal ring using a non-resorbable sliding knot suture and incorporating the transversalis fascia for reinforcement, followed by purse-string closure of the peritoneum. Peri- and postoperative outcome parameters, including recurrence rate, were evaluated over a follow-up period of 14 months., Results: A total of seven male patients from July 2019 to 2020 were admitted to our center with a history of repaired bladder exstrophy and reducible inguinal hernias. Two patients had open inguinal hernia repair due to parental preference and five patients had laparoscopic repair. In the laparoscopic group three patients had bilateral inguinal hernias in one of them a metachronous hernia was discovered intraoperstively, and the remaining two patients had unilateral hernias, one on the right side and the other on the left side. All patients in the laparoscopic group had an uneventful recovery and were discharged within 24 h and there were no complications or recurrences during follow-up., Conclusion: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is a better alternative to managing inguinal hernias in children with bladder exstrophy., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This scoping review aims to summarize the available literature on the clinical applications of ultrasonography and ultrasound in diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional dental applications., Materials and Methods: We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist and conducted a protocol-driven scoping review of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, and case series that assessed ultrasonography or ultrasound use as a stand-alone diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional tool in dentistry. We included studies published after 1980, study samples ≥ 10, with diagnostic, concordance, or therapeutic outcomes. We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and others (up to April 2021) and extracted information regarding study level, patient level, test or treatment level, and outcome level data., Results: Five interventional studies (related to oral medicine, temporomandibular disorders, and dental anesthesia), eight therapeutic studies (related to surgery and orthodontics), and seventy-five diagnostic studies (related to orthodontics, surgery, endodontics, oral medicine, temporomandibular disorders, restorative dentistry, and periodontology) were identified and presented in this review., Conclusion: Ultrasonography has a well-established niche in diagnostic dentistry, while therapeutic and interventional ultrasounds have a smaller, yet present, niche in dentistry. However, further research is needed to report the precise estimates of the diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional effects., Clinical Significance: Dentists are mostly unfamiliar with ultrasonography and ultrasound and their potential uses. This review maps the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of ultrasonography and ultrasound technology in dentistry and highlights the current challenges, gaps of knowledge, and research status of ultrasound technology in this regard., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Masticatory myofascial pain syndrome can present similarly to other dental conditions in odontogenetic structures. Endodontists should be familiar with the symptomology and pathophysiology of masticatory myofascial pain syndrome to avoid misdiagnosis, incorrect treatment, and medicolegal repercussions. The aim of this review was to provide a foundational summary for endodontists to identify and correctly manage masticatory myofascial pain syndrome., Methods: A narrative review of the literature was performed through a MEDLINE search and a hand search of the major myofascial pain textbooks., Results: Masticatory myofascial pain syndrome is a musculoligamentous syndrome that can present similarly to odontogenic pain or refer pain to the eyebrows, ears, temporomandibular joints, maxillary sinus, tongue, and hard palate. Currently, the most comprehensive pathophysiology theory describing masticatory myofascial pain syndrome is the expanded integrated hypothesis. The most widely accepted diagnostic guidelines for masticatory myofascial pain syndrome are the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders; however, their diagnostic capability is limited. There is no hierarchy of treatment methods because each patient requires a tailored and multidisciplinary management aimed at regaining the muscle's range of motion, deactivating the myofascial trigger points, and maintaining pain relief., Conclusions: The pain patterns for masticatory myofascial pain syndrome are well-known; however, there is a lack of consensus on the most proper method of trigger point diagnosis or pain quantification. The diagnostic strategies for masticatory myofascial pain syndrome vary, and the diagnostic aids are not well developed., (Copyright © 2021 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Inconsistencies in the definitions of endodontic outcome terminology jeopardize evaluations of proposed interventions and patient care quality. This scoping review aimed to provide groundwork to develop a set of basic outcomes in endodontics., Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature search for randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and case series (≥10 patients) published after 1980 with patients ≥10 years of age with any preoperative pulpal and periapical diagnosis in permanent teeth requiring nonsurgical root canal treatment, retreatment, or apexification. Abstracted data on outcome assessment methods, assessors, and domains were reported after univariate and bivariate analyses., Results: Treatment outcomes were evaluated radiographically (88%) or clinically (73%). Although 2-dimensional radiography exceeded 3-dimensional radiography, the use of the latter has increased since 2010, mostly for nonsurgical retreatments. Of 19 identified outcomes, 5 were most frequent: success (168 studies, 40%), radiographic healing (128 studies, 30%), survival (of an asymptomatic tooth [48 studies, 12%] or of a procedure code in administrative databases [31 studies, 7%]), pain assessment (14 studies, 3%), and quality of life (11 studies, 3%). Clinician-centered outcomes have been most frequently studied since the 1980s (71%), in academic settings (76%), and using a prospective design (45%). Patient-centered outcomes were reported in 19% of studies before 2010 and 30% since 2010. They were more common among retrospective studies (49%)., Conclusions: Patient-centered outcome measures are lacking in endodontic studies. The state of available research can provide a baseline for the development of a core outcome set in endodontics, which should represent the important patient-centered outcomes in conjunction with well-validated clinician-centered outcomes., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Despite initiatives to standardize reports, variances in study design, outcomes assessed, and tools used are persistent in the literature. This review scoped the existing literature on endodontic outcome studies for future development of core outcome sets., Methods: A comprehensive literature search of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and case series (≥10 patients) published after 1980 including patients ≥10 years of age with any preoperative pulpal and periapical diagnosis in permanent teeth requiring nonsurgical root canal treatment (NS-RCT), retreatment (NS-ReTx), or apexification was performed. Abstracted data were reported through descriptive statistics., Results: Of the 9957 studies screened, 354 were included. An increase in the quantity of endodontic outcome publications and levels of evidence in their study design was noted over the past 4 decades. Although 41% of the studies included participants 26-50 years of age, literature including participants >50 years old has increased since 2000. Apexification and NS-ReTx were mostly provided by specialists and postgraduate students. The most common follow-up period was 2-5 years (35%), and most randomized controlled trials (58%) reported follow-up times <1 year. Multiple-visit treatment was most common in apexification studies (85%). Deficiency, inconsistency, and ambiguity were observed across many reports., Conclusions: NS-ReTx and NS-RCT/NS-ReTx studies have increased over the past 2 decades, particularly those focusing on molars and patients >50 years old. Despite the progress in endodontic research, heterogeneity in reporting styles yields considerable limitations, particularly data standardization challenges and inconsistencies in methods and results reporting. This scoping review highlighted the state of available research and supported the development of standardized guidelines for future investigations., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Despite initiatives to standardize and improve reporting of rapidly growing endodontic outcome research studies, issues related to missing and ambiguous information are still of great concern. In this article, we propose a framework for standardized data collection and a compiled checklist for reporting of various study designs on endodontic outcome., Methods: A comprehensive search was carried out to locate randomized controlled trials, cohorts, case-control studies, or case series of >100 patients that reported on endodontic outcomes. We reviewed these articles to develop a Data Collection Template and compiled a checklist for reporting of future endodontic outcome research., Results: Out of 354 eligible articles previously reported in our scoping review on endodontic outcome studies, 109 articles were selected and screened for study variables or levels of categorization. Our complied Data Collection Template was developed in 19 domains to highlight important demographic, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables. Because of the specific needs for endodontic outcome literature, we also proposed a compiled checklist (consisting of 4 main domains) to facilitate the reporting of various study designs on endodontic outcome studies. This checklist included simple descriptions of the required items and examples on reporting from published endodontic studies., Conclusions: By facilitating the collection and reporting of relevant research data by investigators in private practice and academia, we hope that the proposed Data Collection Template and reporting guideline can highlight the importance of standardization among clinicians and researchers while producing valid scientific information that will support evidence-based treatment decisions., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

There is an established association between air pollution and cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is likely to be mediated by systemic inflammation. The present study evaluated links between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in an older Chinese adult cohort ( n = 7915) enrolled in the World Health Organization (WHO) study on global aging and adult health (SAGE) China Wave 1 in 2008-2010. Multilevel linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) on log-transformed hs-CRP levels and odds ratios of CVD risk derived from CRP levels adjusted for confounders. A satellite-based spatial statistical model was applied to estimate the average community exposure to outdoor air pollutants (PM with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or less (PM 10 ), 2.5 μm or less (PM 2.5 ), and 1 μm or less (PM 1 ) and NO 2 ) for each participant of the study. hs-CRP levels were drawn from dried blood spots of each participant. Each 10 μg/m 3 increment in PM 10 , PM 2.5 , PM 1 , and NO 2 was associated with 12.8% (95% confidence interval; (CI): 9.1, 16.6), 15.7% (95% CI: 10.9, 20.8), 10.2% (95% CI: 7.3, 13.2), and 11.8% (95% CI: 7.9, 15.8) higher serum levels of hs-CRP, respectively. Our findings suggest that air pollution may be an important factor in increasing systemic inflammation in older Chinese adults.

Background: Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution leads to respiratory morbidity and mortality; however, the evidence of the effect on lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in older adult populations is inconsistent., Objective: To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the associations between particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) exposure and lung function, as well as COPD prevalence, in older Chinese adults., Methods: We used data from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) China Wave 1, which includes 111 693 participants from 64 townships in China. A cross-sectional analysis explored the association between satellite-based air pollution exposure estimates (PM with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤10 µm [PM 10 ], ≤2.5 µm [PM 2.5 ] and NO 2 ) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ), forced vital capacity (FVC), the FEV 1 /FVC ratio and COPD (defined as post-bronchodilator FEV 1 /FVC <70%). Data on lung function changes were further stratified by COPD status., Results: Higher exposure to each pollutant was associated with lower lung function. An IQR (26.1 µg/m 3 ) increase in PM 2.5 was associated with lower FEV 1 (-71.88 mL, 95% CI -92.13 to -51.64) and FEV 1 /FVC (-2.81 mL, 95% CI -3.37 to -2.25). For NO 2 , an IQR increment of 26.8 µg/m 3 was associated with decreases in FEV 1 (-60.12 mL, 95% CI -84.00 to -36.23) and FVC (-32.33 mL, 95% CI -56.35 to -8.32). A 31.2 µg/m 3 IQR increase in PM 10 was linked to reduced FEV 1 (-8.86 mL, 95% CI -5.40 to 23.11) and FEV 1 /FVC (-1.85 mL, 95% CI -2.24 to -1.46). These associations were stronger for participants with COPD. Also, COPD prevalence was linked to higher levels of PM 2.5 (POR 1.35, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.43), PM 10 (POR 1.24, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.29) and NO 2 (POR 1.04, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.11)., Conclusion: Ambient air pollution was associated with lower lung function, especially in individuals with COPD, and increased COPD prevalence in older Chinese adults., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Health effects of air pollution on anaemia have been scarcely studied worldwide. We aimed to explore the associations of long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants with anaemia prevalence and haemoglobin levels in Chinese older adults., Methods: We used two-level linear regression models and modified Poisson regression with robust error variance to examine the associations of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) on haemoglobin concentrations and the prevalence of anaemia, respectively, among 10,611 older Chinese adults enrolled in World Health Organization (WHO) Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) China. The average community exposure to ambient air pollutants (PM with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or less (PM 10 ), 2.5 μm or less (PM 2.5 ), 1 μm or less (PM 1 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 )) for each participant was estimated using a satellite-based spatial statistical model. Haemoglobin levels were measured for participants from dried blood spots. The models were controlled for confounders., Results: All the studied pollutants were significantly associated with increased anaemia prevalence in single pollutant model (e.g., the prevalence ratios associated with an increase in inter quartile range in three years moving average PM 10 (1.05; 95% CI: 1.02-1.09), PM 2.5 (1.11; 95% CI: 1.06-1.16), PM 1 (1.13; 95% CI: 1.06-1.20) and NO 2 (1.42; 95% CI: 1.34-1.49), respectively. These air pollutants were also associated with lower concentrations of haemoglobin: PM 10 (-0.53; 95% CI: -0.67, -0.38); PM 2.5 (-0.52; 95% CI: -0.71, -0.33); PM 1 (-0.55; 95% CI: -0.69, -0.41); NO 2 (-1.71; 95% CI: -1.85, -1.57) respectively., Conclusions: Air pollution exposure was significantly associated with increased prevalence of anaemia and decreased haemoglobin levels in a cohort of older Chinese adults.

Over the past decades, air pollution has become one of the critical environmental health issues in China. The present study aimed to evaluate links between ambient air pollution and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). A multilevel linear and logistic regression was used to assess these associations among 7,770 participants aged ≥50 years from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) in China in 2007-2010. The average exposure to each of pollutants (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤10 μm/≤2.5 μm/≤1 μm [PM 10 /PM 2.5 /PM 1 ] and nitrogen dioxide [NO 2 ]) was estimated using a satellite-based spatial statistical model. In logistic models, a 10 µg/m 3 increase in PM 10 and PM 2.5 was associated with increased T2DM prevalence (Prevalence Odds Ratio, POR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.45 and POR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.46). Similar increments in PM 10 , PM 2.5 , PM 1 and NO 2 were associated with increase in HbA1c levels of 1.8% (95% CI: 1.3, 2.3), 1.3% (95% CI: 1.1, 1.5), 0.7% (95% CI: 0.1, 1.3), and 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4, 1.2), respectively. In a large cohort of older Chinese adults, air pollution was liked to both higher T2DM prevalence and elevated HbA1c levels.

Introduction: Dorsal inlay graft urethroplasty using inner-face preputial graft was described as an adjunct method to the classic tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty, aiming at reducing the risk of neourethral stenosis., Objectives: To evaluate the impact of dorsal inlay grafting of preservable narrow plates, in relation to native plate width., Methods: Consecutive children with penile hypospadias with narrow plate (width < 8 mm) were evaluated prospectively between Jan 2014 and Jun 2018. Included cases were stratified into two groups: group A (plate width: 4 to <8 mm) and group B (plate width: < 4 mm). All cases were approached by TIP urethroplasty, with dorsal inlay grafting (inner-face prepuce). Cases with significant chordee (non-preservable plates), circumcised cases, and redo cases were excluded., Results: A total of 104 hypospadias cases with narrow plates were included in this study. Among group A (n = 81), the need for postrepair urethral dilations was reported in two cases (2.5%) vs seven cases (30%) in group B (n = 23) (P-value < 0.001). Another two cases (2.5%) in group A developed urethrocutaneous fistulae vs three cases (13%) in group B (P-value = 0.0624). Surgical repair of the reported five cases with fistulae, revealed an ample neourethral wall; disclosing well-taken grafts in both groups., Discussion: Few published studies evaluated grafting the incised plate in penile hypospadias. To the authors knowledge, this is the first study that selectively evaluated the impact of grafting narrow plates in relation to its native pre-incision width., Conclusions: According to the presented authors' experience, 4 mm width is the border line of clinical relevance that defines poor urethral plate. Grafting that plate failed to compensate for its native poor characteristics; however, it offered a valuable neourethral wall that proved indispensable when redo surgery deemed necessary, without adding grafting-related problems. Nevertheless, further extended comparative studies came across as a necessity to verify the long-term outcomes of grafting the incised poor plates., (Copyright © 2019 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)