With the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infected patients increasing all over the world, a large number of survivors have reported changes in their quality of life or experienced re‐infection. So, we aimed to detect the percentage, type, and risk factors of persistent symptoms after improvement from acute COVID‐19 infection and to detect the percentage of COVID‐19 re‐infection and degree of severity of the second infection. One hundred seventy‐two (59 male, 113 female) patients who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) were followed up via mobile phone every 2 months for 8 to 10 months. After recovery, 105 patients (61%) (30 male, 75 female) reported one or more COVID‐19 persistent symptoms. Fatigue, dyspnea, and depression were the most common persistent symptoms representing 37.3%, 22%, 22%, respectively. We found that age was independently related to the persistence of symptoms. During the follow‐up, six females (3.5%) had laboratory‐confirmed COVID‐19 re‐infection. Their mean age was 35.7 ± 11 years. The mean interval from the complete recovery of the first infection to the onset of the second one was 53 ± 22.2 days and ranged from 30 to 90 days. The second infection was milder in severity than the first infection in 83.33% of cases. There was a high percentage of patients who complained of persistent symptoms after recovery from COVID‐19. Fatigue and headache were the most common persistent symptoms. Age was considered a risk factor for persistent symptoms. Re‐infection with SARS‐CoV‐2 can occur after recovery.

Purpose. To evaluate the role of medical treatment and assessing its effect on resolving epiphora and improving punctum size by high resolution AS-OCT imaging comparing punctal parameters in patients before and after treatment with topical combined antibiotic and steroid treatment in cases of inflammatory punctual stenosis. Patients and Methods. Double-blinded controlled randomized study which was conducted on two groups of patients who had acquired punctal stenosis and epiphora presented to Ophthalmology Clinics of Sohag University Hospitals in the period between Jan 2021 and April 2021. The study included 44 eyes of 50 subjects complaining of epiphora. They were divided into two groups, the epiphora group one (EG1) received eye drops containing combination of antibiotics and steroids (orchadexoline eye drops, each ml contains 5 mg chloramphenicol, 1 mg dexamethasone sodium phosphate, 0.25 mg tetryzoline hydrochloride, 2 mg hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, 10 mg α-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E), and 8 mg macrogol 400), 5 times daily for the first week, three times daily for the next two weeks, and one time daily for another one week. The second epiphora group (EG2) received preservative-free artificial tears (sodium hyaluronate-, polyethylene-, and propylene glycol-based), three times daily for four weeks. The patients were examined before treatment, one week, one month, and one and half months later. Results. Both groups were comparable regarding mean age (49 ± 13 vs 53 ± 11 years, P value = 0.2) and sex (males were 38.6% vs 31.8%, female were 61.4% vs 68.2%, P value = 0.6), respectively, with no statistically significant difference between both groups. Both groups were comparable regarding outer punctual diameter and length between the puncti before treatment. Outer punctal diameters were (EG1 228 ± 113 um, EG2 241 ± 115 um, P value = 0.5). Length between the puncti were (EG1 129 ± 73 um, EG2 137 ± 72 um, P value = 0.6). There was marked improvement of the outer punctual diameter (EG1 373 um ± 92 um, EG2 240 ± 109 um, ( P value < 0.0001) and length between the puncti (EG1 217 ± 109 um, 136 ± 71 um ( P value < 0.0002)) during the follow-up period. EG1 showed more improvement than EG2 when compared during the follow-up period. Conclusions. Topical combined antibiotic and steroid treatment was an effective method in treating cases of inflammatory punctual stenosis as found by monitoring of punctal parameter changes by AS-OCT. AS-OCT was found to be a useful method for evaluation of the lacrimal punctal parameters especially with different treatment modalities in epiphora cases.

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Since the start of the pandemic, the number of cases has been increased rapidly. Due to asymptomatic and mild cases and restricted testing in many geographic locations, the overall number of actual COVID-19 cases is likely significantly higher than the number of verified cases. Several COVID-19-related comorbid diseases impair immune system function, which has an impact on COVID-19 responsiveness. So, we evaluated the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 after the third wave of COVID-19 and assessed the effect of comorbid diseases on this immune response. The current cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2021 after the third wave of COVID-19. The study included 287 participants. All participants were asked about their epidemiological data, comorbid diseases, data suggesting COVID-19 infection, and precautions measures to minimize the exposure to the disease. Of the 278 participants, 50% had a positive IgG response to COVID-19. Regarding comorbid diseases, the IgG antibody titer was significantly lower in patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD) on dialysis, ischemic heart disease, and chronic obstructive lung diseases than other participants (p= 0.01, p= 0.02, p= 0.005, respectively). Neither precaution measures nor comorbid diseases had a role in risk factors of COVID-19 infections in our participants. In conclusion, high seroprevalence (50%) of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody after the third wave of COVID-19 was observed in the current study. Comorbid conditions as hypertension, chronic cardiac diseases, chronic chest problems, and CKD on dialysis could decrease the immune response against COVID-19 infection.

Purpose. To compare simple punctal dilation versus punctal dilation augmented by insertion of Punctal Plug Insertion (PPP) with assessing the effect on resolving epiphora and punctum size improvement by an objective method, high-resolution AS-OCT imaging comparing punctal parameters of the patients before and after both techniques. Patients and Methods. It is a prospective, interventional, double-blinded controlled randomized study, which was conducted on two groups of patients, the first epiphora group (EG1 25 eyes), who had acquired punctal stenosis and epiphora and managed by simple punctal dilatation. The second epiphora group (EG2 20 eyes) who managed by punctal dilatation augmented with an application of perforated punctal plugs for two months. Spectral Domain Anterior Segment-OCT Image Acquisition. AS-OCT for lower puncti was performed using RTVue (Optovue Inc., Fermont, CA). OCT images of the width and length of the lower puncti of the participants were captured by the same operator on the same machine. Measuring of punctal size (diameter and length) was performed before treatment, one week, one month, and three months later objectively by using AS-OCT. Results. The study included 45 eyes of 50 subjects; the total coverage of epiphora patients fulfilled inclusion criteria and presented to the ophthalmology clinics of Sohag University Hospitals in the period between June 2021 and December 2021. Both groups were comparable regarding mean age (39 ± 11 vs 50 ± 12 years, P value = 0.4) and sex (males were 36% vs 40%, female were 64% vs 60%, P value = 0.5) respectively with no statistically significant difference between both groups. The mean duration of epiphora was measured in both groups before treatment (EG1 = 1.656 ± 0.41 months, EG2 = 1.73 ± 0.32 months) with no statistically significant difference ( P value = 0.436). There was marked improvement of the outer punctual diameter and length between outer and inner puncti in EG1 (EG1 391um ± 122 um, EG2 692 ± 226 um ( P value < 0.007) and EG1 189 ± 43 um, 380 ± 169 um ( P value < 0.0002) during the follow-up period. EG2 showed more improvement than EG1 when compared during the follow-up period in both outer punctual diameter and length between outer and inner puncti with ( P value < 0.003 and < 0.0002) in favor of EG2. However; both groups show improvement with the statistically significant difference in both groups by using AS-OCT. Conclusions. Punctal dilation augmented by insertion of PPP was an effective method in treating cases of inflammatory punctual stenosis as found by monitoring of punctal parameters changes by AS-OCT. AS-OCT was found a useful method for the evaluation of the lacrimal punctal parameters, especially with different treatment modalities in epiphora cases.

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Background: Cancer cases are increasing with time evolution in Egypt. There are an increasing number of the attendant cancer patients and the Outpatient Clinic affiliated to the Oncology and Nuclear Medicine department, Sohag University Hospital and Sohag Cancer Centre are facing difficulties with work pressure. As a consequence, the most prevailing types of cancer among patients suffering this entity of diseases must be addressed to ensure continual and improved quality of care Purpose: find out the pattern of cancer among cancer patients in Sohag governorate Methods: The researcher collected data from 550 patients. Clinical observational study "evaluative type" was conducted at Sohag University hospital (SUH), oncology and nuclear medicine department and Sohag Cancer Center (SCC) in Sohag governorate. Descriptive statistical techniques ,percentages and proportions were used Findings: Commonest sites of cancer in Sohag Governorate were cancer breast (29.9%), then came lymphomas(9.7) and cancer bladder about (9%) followed by colorectal cancer (8.2). Conclusion: pattern of cancer indicated the increased burden of Breast cancer, comes after are lymphomas which occupy the second rank. Study of rates of individual sites of cancer might help in giving clues for preventive programs.

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