Effect of Direct-Acting Antiviral Drugs on Erectile Functions among Hepatitis C Patients: A Prospective Interventional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Alhefnawy ◽  
Ahmed Mohey ◽  
Ahmed Fathi ◽  
Ahmed Mansour ◽  
Sherief Abd-Elsalam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Erectile Function ◽  
Therapy Group ◽  
Antiviral Drugs ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Interventional Study ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Background & Objective: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C virus infection that greatly affects patients’ quality of life. Unfortunately, some of the drugs used for HCV treatment may have a negative impact on the patient’s erectile function such as the pegylated interferon. Currently, with the introduction of directacting antiviral drugs, there are scarce data in the literature about its potential impact on erectile function. In these settings, we aimed to assess the impact of sofosbuvir-based therapy on male erectile function. Methods: This prospective interventional study was carried out in Benha University hospitals between January 2019 and May 2020. The study included all consecutive HCV patients with simultaneous ED coming to the hepatology outpatient clinic. Patients were divided into a study group who received sofosbuvir-based therapy (group A) or a control group who received silymarin therapy (group B). The International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) was used for assessment of erectile function at different time points (pretreatment, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment). Different variables in both groups have been statistically analyzed. Results: Overall, 75 patients who received sofosbuvir-based therapy and a control group (n = 35) matched for age and pretreatment variables (Child–Turcotte–Pugh score and Fibrosis‐ 4 score). There was no significant difference between both groups in the pretreatment data. On the other hand, the posttreatment IIEF-5 was significantly higher in the sofosbuvir arm compared to the silymarin arm both at six months (p<0.001) and at 12 months (p<0.001). Furthermore, the age and the stage of liver fibrosis were negatively correlated with IIEF-5 at all-time points. Conclusion: The age and the stage of liver fibrosis are significantly correlated with the degree of ED. Furthermore, sofosbuvir-based therapy may be associated with significant improvement in the patients’ erectile function.

Reducing the Social Stigma Associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Controlled Trial of an Intervention Program in a Turkish Community Sample

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-120
Author(s):  
Ayça Aktaç Gürbüz ◽  
Orçun YORULMAZ ◽  
Gülşah DURNA
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Case Vignette ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Scientific research into the reduction of stigmatization, particularly related to specific problems such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), is scarce. In the present study, we examine the impact of a video-based antistigma intervention program for OCD in a pretest-posttest control group research. After being randomly assigned to either an intervention (n= 101) or control group (n= 96), the participants reported their attitudes on a hypothetical case vignette before and after OCD vs. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) videos, and again six months later as a follow up assessment. The mixed design analyses for the group comparisons indicated that although there was no significant difference in the measures of the control group, the participants watching the anti-stigma OCD video, in which the focus was psychoeducation and interaction strategies, reported significantly lower scores on social distances and negative beliefs for the case vignettes they read, and this difference was maintained six months later. Then, the present results indicate the effectiveness of our anti-stigma intervention program for OCD. Interventions to reduce stigmatization can also be viewed as effective tools for changing the attitudes of people toward OCD, although further research and applications are needed related to specific disorders if a longlasting impact is to be achieved.

scholarly journals Effect of “Spatially Separated Speech in Noise Training” on speech perception in noise in children with bimodal fitting

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Younes Lotfi ◽  
Mahdieh Hasanalifard ◽  
Abdollah Moossavi ◽  
Enayatollah Bakhshi ◽  
Mohammad Ajalloueyan
Keyword(s):  
Speech Perception ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Auditory Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Interventional Study ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Speech Perception In Noise ◽  
Speech In Noise ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Recognition Ability

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of “Spatially separated speech in noise” auditory training on the ability of speech perception in noise among bimodal fitting users. The assumption was that the rehabilitation can enhance spatial hearing and hence speech in noise perception. This study was an interventional study, with a pre/post-design. Speech recognition ability was assessed with the specific tests. After performing the rehabilitation stages in the intervention group, the speech tests were again implemented, and by comparing the pre- and post-intervention data, the effect of auditory training on the speech abilities was assessed. Twenty-four children of 8–12 years who had undergone cochlear implantation and continuously used bimodal fitting were investigated in two groups of control and intervention. Results The results showed a significant difference between the groups in different speech tests after the intervention, which indicated that the intervention group have improved more than the control group. Conclusion It can be concluded that “Spatially separated speech in noise” auditory training can improve the speech perception in noise in bimodal fitting users. In general, this rehabilitation method is useful for enhancing the speech in noise perception ability.

scholarly journals Cytotoxicity assessment of different doses of ozonated water on dental pulp cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferdiye Küçük ◽  
Sibel Yıldırım ◽  
Serap Çetiner
Keyword(s):  
Cell Viability ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Dental Pulp ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Dental Pulp Cells ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Pulp Cells ◽  
Time Point ◽  
Ozonated Water

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to assess the cytotoxicity of various concentrations of ozonated water (OW) on human primary dental pulp cells. Methods Human primary dental pulp cells were isolated from exfoliated primary canine teeth of an 11-year-old patient with good systemic and oral health. Afterwards, cells were divided into 6 experimental groups; four groups of OW in concentrations of 2 mg/L, 4 mg/L, 8 mg/L, and 16 mg/L, untreated control group, and cell culture without cells. Cytotoxicity was evaluated after exposure for 5-min exposure using Mosmann’s Tetrazolium Toxicity (MTT) assay at 0 h and 48 h time points. Data were analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance and Post-hoc tests were performed using Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Results All experimental groups showed proliferation at 0 h time point. However, all groups also experienced a decrease in overtime at 48 h time point (p < 0.05). At both time points 2 mg/L OW showed the highest cell viability as well as proliferation. At 0 h time point, the increase in cell viability for all experimental groups was found statistically significant when compared to positive control group (p < 0.05). At 48 h time point, although 8 mg/L and 16 mg/L OW showed statistically significant reduction in compare to 0 h time point, 2 mg/L and 4 mg/L OW groups didn’t experience any statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Conclusion Considering our findings, due to ozonated water's induced a higher proliferation rate of dental pulp cells, indicating their biocompatibility and a possible adjuvant on irrigating agent in regenerative endodontic procedures.

scholarly journals The Antioxidant Effect of Curcumin and Rutin on Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Experimentally Induced Periodontitis in Hyperglycemic Wistar Rats

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1332
Author(s):  
Gilda M. Iova ◽  
Horia Calniceanu ◽  
Adelina Popa ◽  
Camelia A. Szuhanek ◽  
Olivia Marcu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Diabetic Rats ◽  
Gingival Tissue ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimentally Induced

Background: There is a growing interest in the correlation between antioxidants and periodontal disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of oxidative stress and the impact of two antioxidants, curcumin and rutin, respectively, in the etiopathology of experimentally induced periodontitis in diabetic rats. Methods: Fifty Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into five groups and were induced with diabetes mellitus and periodontitis: (1) (CONTROL)—control group, (2) (DPP)—experimentally induced diabetes mellitus and periodontitis, (3) (DPC)—experimentally induced diabetes mellitus and periodontitis treated with curcumin (C), (4) (DPR)—experimentally induced diabetes mellitus and periodontitis treated with rutin (R) and (5) (DPCR)—experimentally induced diabetes mellitus and periodontitis treated with C and R. We evaluated malondialdehyde (MDA) as a biomarker of oxidative stress and reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), GSH/GSSG and catalase (CAT) as biomarkers of the antioxidant capacity in blood harvested from the animals we tested. The MDA levels and CAT activities were also evaluated in the gingival tissue. Results: The control group effect was statistically significantly different from any other groups, regardless of whether or not the treatment was applied. There was also a significant difference between the untreated group and the three treatment groups for variables MDA, GSH, GSSG, GSH/GSSG and CAT. There was no significant difference in the mean effect for the MDA, GSH, GSSG, GSH/GSSG and CAT variables in the treated groups of rats with curcumin, rutin and the combination of curcumin and rutin. Conclusions: The oral administration of curcumin and rutin, single or combined, could reduce the oxidative stress and enhance the antioxidant status in hyperglycemic periodontitis rats.

scholarly journals Impact of failed ab-interno trabeculectomy (trabectome) on subsequent XEN45 gel stent implantation in pseudophakic eyes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kiessling ◽  
C. Rennings ◽  
M. Hild ◽  
A. Lappas ◽  
T. S. Dietlein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stent Implantation ◽  
Open Angle Glaucoma ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Repeat Surgery ◽  
Medication Score ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Ab Interno Trabeculectomy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ab Interno

Abstract Purpose To determine the impact of failed ab-interno trabeculectomy on the postoperative outcome of subsequent XEN45 gel stent (Allergan, CA, USA) implantation in pseudophakic eyes. Methods In this retrospective single-center study, we included 60 pseudophakic eyes from 60 participants who underwent XEN45 gel stent implantation. Thirty eyes each underwent primary stent implantation (control group) or had previously undergone a failed ab-interno trabeculectomy (trabectome group). The groups were matched at a 1:1 ratio based on the following criteria: preoperative and maximum Intraocular pressure (IOP), preoperative medication score, cup/disk-ratio, follow-up time, best-corrected visual acuity at baseline, age, and the proportion of patients classified as primary open angle glaucoma or exfoliation glaucoma. We defined a successful surgery by the following three scores: an IOP reduction > 20% and IOP at the longest follow-up < 21 mmHg (Score A) or < 18 mmHg (Score B) or IOP ≤ 15 mmHg and an IOP reduction ≥ 40% (Score C). One open conjunctival revision was allowed in all scores, and a repeat surgery was considered a failure. Results Following an average follow-up period of 22 ± 12 months, we observed a mean IOP reduction of 38%, from 23.5 ± 5.2–14.5 ± 5.0 mmHg. Comparative analyses between the groups did not reveal a significant difference in the postoperative IOP, postoperative medication score, side effects, revision rate, repeat surgery rate, or success rate. Conclusions Trabectome is a viable first-line procedure for medically uncontrolled glaucoma before filtering ab-interno microstent surgery is considered.

S275 – Nasal Morphology and Nasal Patency in Leprosy Patients

2008 ◽  
Vol 139 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. P167-P167
Author(s):  
Maria Teresa Torres Larrosa ◽  
Luis Jorge Peréz Peréz ◽  
Juan-Jose Artazkoz-del Toro
Keyword(s):  
Drug Therapy ◽  
Therapy Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Nasal Patency ◽  
Multidrug Therapy ◽  
Airway Patency ◽  
Expiratory Resistance ◽  
Leprosy Patients ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact

Objectives 1) To assess the impact of multi-drug leprosy therapy on the development of nasal deformities and nasal airway patency. 2) Evaluate the nasal morphology and nasal patency in leprosy patients treated with the multidrug therapy in comparison with patients treated with 1 drug therapy and a group of healthy volunteers. Methods In an overall group of 84 patients studied, 38 were treated with a therapy based on a single drug, and 22 were treated with multi-drug therapy, while 24 subjects formed a control group. We used anterior rhinoscopy to analised the morphology of the nose. We meassured the nasal inspiratory and expiratory resistance of the right and left nostrils and total nasal inspiratory and expiratory resistance at a transnasal pressure of 150 Pa. by using active anterior rhinomanometry. The statistical analysis was carried out using the Varianza analisys. Results The nasal structures in the 1-drug therapy group underwent bone and cartilaginous resorption with an increase in nasal resistances. We found significant statistical differences between the resistance values obtained in this group and the control group (p<0,05). In the multidrug therapy group, the morphology of the nose remains as in healthy patients. No significant statistical differences were found between the resistance values obtained in the multidrug therapy patients and the control group (P>0,05). Conclusions The multidrug therapy prevents developing nasal deformities and maintains a normal nasal airflow.

scholarly journals The effect of prophylactic bilateral salpingectomy on ovarian reserve in patients who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shizhuo Wang ◽  
Jiahui Gu
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Ovarian Reserve ◽  
Premenopausal Women ◽  
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy ◽  
Ovarian Tumors ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Bilateral Salpingectomy ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Bilateral salpingectomy has been proposed to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, but it is not clear whether the surgery affects ovarian reserve. This study compares the impact of laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign disease with or without prophylactic bilateral salpingectomy on ovarian reserve. Methods Records were reviewed for 373 premenopausal women who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy with ovarian reserve for benign uterine diseases. The serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and three-dimensional antral follicle count (AFC) were assessed before surgery and 3 and 9 months postoperatively to evaluate ovarian reserve. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they underwent prophylactic bilateral salpingectomy. The incidence of pelvic diseases was monitored until the ninth month after surgery. Results There was no significant difference between the two surgery groups in terms of baseline AMH, E2, FSH, LH, and AFC (all P > 0.05). There was no difference in potential bias factors, including patient age, operative time, and blood loss (all P > 0.05). There was also no significant difference between the two groups 3 months after surgery with respect to AMH (P = 0.763), E2 (P = 0.264), FSH (P = 0.478), LH (P = 0.07), and AFC (P = 0.061). Similarly, there were no differences between groups 9 months after surgery for AMH (P = 0.939), E2 (P = 0.137), FSH (P = 0.276), LH (P = 0.07) and AFC (P = 0.066). At 9 months after the operation, no patients had malignant ovarian tumors. The incidences of benign ovarian tumors in the salpingectomy group were 0 and 2.68 % at 3 and 9 months after surgery, respectively, and the corresponding values in the control group were 0 and 5.36 %. The incidences of pelvic inflammatory disease in the salpingectomy group were 10.72 and 8.04 % at 3 and 9 months after surgery, respectively, while corresponding values in the control group were 24.13 and 16.09 %. Conclusions Prophylactic bilateral salpingectomy did not damage the ovarian reserve of reproductive-age women who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy. Prophylactic bilateral salpingectomy might be a good method to prevent the development of ovarian cancer. Larger clinical trials with longer follow-up times are needed to further evaluate the risks and benefits.

Evolving oncology provider perspectives on care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18609-e18609
Author(s):  
Divya Ahuja Parikh ◽  
Meera Vimala Ragavan ◽  
Sandy Srinivas ◽  
Sarah Garrigues ◽  
Eben Lloyd Rosenthal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
The United States ◽  
Advanced Practice ◽  
Curative Surgery ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Provider Perspectives ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

e18609 Background: The COVID-19 pandemic prompted rapid changes in cancer care delivery. We sought to examine oncology provider perspectives on clinical decisions and care delivery during the pandemic and to compare provider views early versus late in the pandemic. Methods: We invited oncology providers, including attendings, trainees and advanced practice providers, to complete a cross-sectional online survey using a variety of outreach methods including social media (Twitter), email contacts, word of mouth and provider list-serves. We surveyed providers at two time points during the pandemic when the number of COVID-19 cases was rising in the United States, early (March 2020) and late (January 2021). The survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-squared tests to evaluate differences in early versus late provider responses. Results: A total of 132 providers completed the survey and most were white (n = 73/132, 55%) and younger than 49 years (n = 88/132, 67%). Respondents were attendings in medical, surgical or radiation oncology (n = 61/132, 46%), advanced practice providers (n = 48/132, 36%) and oncology fellows (n = 16/132, 12%) who predominantly practiced in an academic medical center (n = 120/132, 91%). The majority of providers agreed patients with cancer are at higher risk than other patients to be affected by COVID-19 (n = 121/132, 92%). However, there was a significant difference in the proportion of early versus late providers who thought delays in cancer care were needed. Early in the pandemic, providers were more likely to recommend delays in curative surgery or radiation for early-stage cancer (p < 0.001), delays in adjuvant chemotherapy after curative surgery (p = 0.002), or delays in surveillance imaging for metastatic cancer (p < 0.001). The majority of providers early in the pandemic responded that “reducing risk of a complication from a COVID-19 infection to patients with cancer” was the primary reason for recommending delays in care (n = 52/76, 68%). Late in the pandemic, however, providers were more likely to agree that “any practice change would have a negative impact on patient outcomes” (p = 0.003). At both time points, the majority of providers agreed with the need for other care delivery changes, including screening patients for infectious symptoms (n = 128/132, 98%) and the use of telemedicine (n = 114/132, 86%) during the pandemic. Conclusions: We found significant differences in provider perspectives of delays in cancer care early versus late in the pandemic which reflects the swiftly evolving oncology practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies are needed to determine the impact of changes in treatment and care delivery on outcomes for patients with cancer.

Studying Subjective Well-Being during a Quarantine

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Browning ◽  
E. Scott Geller
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Mood State ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Mood States ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Psychology Class ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

To investigate the impact of writing a gratitude letter on particular mood states, we asked students in two university classes (a research class and a positive psychology class) to complete a 15-item mood assessment survey (MAS) twice a day (once in the morning and once at night). The research students who signed up for one or two pass/fail field-study credits in a research class also completed the MAS twice a day, but they did not write the weekly gratitude letter that was expected from the students in the positive psychology class. Each mood state was averaged per each day for the participants in each group and compared between the Gratitude Group and the Control Group. No group difference occurred for some mood states like “incompetent,” but for the “unmotivated” mood state, a significant difference was found. To investigate the potential effect of weekday, we compared the average mood rating between groups for each day of the week. For the mood state of “unmotivated”, a remarkable dip occurred on Wednesday for the Gratitude group, but not for the Control group. These results indicated that writing a gratitude letter increased the benefactor’s motivation, especially on the day when it was accomplished.

The impact of direct-acting antivirals on liver fibrosis in Egyptian hepatitis C virus patients: a single center experience

QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Abdelaaty Abdelkader ◽  
Amira Mahmoud AlBalakosy ◽  
Ahmed Fouad Helmy Sherief ◽  
Mohamed Soliman Gado
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Liver Fibrosis ◽  
Transient Elastography ◽  
Liver Stiffness ◽  
Treatment Unit ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects approximately 170 million people worldwide, causing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and leading to liver transplantation and ultimately death. Accurate evaluation of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases is crucial, as liver fibrosis is important in order to make therapeutic decisions, determine prognosis of liver disease and to follow-up disease progression. Multiple non-invasive methods have been used successfully in the prediction of fibrosis; however, early changes in noninvasive biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis under effective antiviral therapy are widely unknown. The aim of this study is to evaluate changes of transient elastography values as well as FIB-4 and AST to platelet ratio index (APRI) in patients treated with DAAs. Objectives The aim beyond this study is to evaluate the changes in liver stiffness in hepatitis C Egyptian patients before and at least one year after treatment with DAAs using transient elastography and non-invasive liver fibrosis indices as FIB-4 and APRI scores. Patients and methods The present study was conducted on 100 patients with chronic hepatitis C patients attended to Ain Shams University Hospitals, Viral hepatitis treatment unit between October 2017 and December 2018, who were followed-up during treatment and after treatment for at least one year (retrospective and prospective study). Total number of cases during the study period was 117 patients. 17 patients were excluded from the study due to missed follow-up. Eventually, 100 patients were enrolled in the study fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Results The mean age of our patients is 47.9 years with Male predominance (52 males and 48 females). There was a significant improvement of, platelets counts, ALT and AST levels, which in turn cause significant improvement in FIB-4 and APRI scores. There was a significant improvement of liver stiffness after end of treatment, regardless of the DAA regimen used, as evidenced by Fibroscan. Conclusion Fibrosis regression –assessed by non-invasive markers of fibrosis is achievable upon removal of the causative agent.

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