The Substitution of Fifty Percent of Combustible Tobacco Smoke Exposure With Either Electronic Cigarettes or Heated tobacco Products Did Not Attenuate Acute Lung Injury in an Animal Model.

Background: To reduce the harmful health effects of combustible cigarette smoke (CS), some (CS) users attempt to substitute CS with electronic cigarettes (ECIG) and/or heated tobacco products (HTP). In this animal study, we evaluated the acute effects of substituting CS consumption with ECIG or HTP thus mimicking the dual users' approach, on the lungs of a mouse model.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice were divided into Control, ECIG, HTP, CS, ECIG + CS, HTP + CS, and HTP + ECIG groups.

Role of diabetes in lung injury from acute exposure to electronic cigarette, heated tobacco product, and combustible cigarette aerosols in an animal model.

Background: Patients with diabetes are more vulnerable to the detrimental respiratory effects of combustible cigarette smoke (CS) when compared to the general population. Electronic cigarettes (ECIG) and heated tobacco products (HTP) are marketed as less harmful alternatives to CS. In this study, we compared the effects of acute ECIG, HTP and CS exposure on the lungs of type II diabetes versus non-diabetic mice in an animal model.

Increased incidence of massive hemorrhage at uncommon sites after initiation of systemic anticoagulation in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.

Background: The management of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infected patients continues to be challenging. Critically ill COVID patients are at increased risk of serious thrombotic events and hence increased mortality. On the other side, COVID-19 patients are also showing major life-threatening bleeds, especially when systemic anticoagulation is used.

Sex-based differences in myocardial infarction-induced kidney damage following cigarette smoking exposure: more renal protection in premenopausal female mice.

The impact of cigarette smoking (CS) on kidney homeostasis in the presence of myocardial infarction (MI) in both males and females remains poorly elucidated. C57BL6/J mice were exposed to 2 weeks of CS prior to MI induction followed by 1 week of CS exposure in order to investigate the impact of CS on kidney damage in the presence of MI. Cardiac hemodynamic analysis revealed a significant decrease in ejection fraction (EF) in CS-exposed MI male mice when compared with the relative female subjects, whereas cardiac output (CO) comparably decreased in CS-exposed MI mice of both sexes.

Conservative recovery and replacement of a ruptured percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube; a case report.

Background: Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) feeding tubes are frequently placed in patients to provide enteral nutrition. We report a case of a complete rupture of a PEG tube intra-abdominally with associated peritonitis after more than a month of PEG placement and utilization. To our knowledge, this is a very rare case of a complete PEG rupture with the succeeding replacement and recovery of the fractured segments conservatively.

Gender-biased kidney damage in mice following exposure to tobacco cigarette smoke: More protection in premenopausal females.

Multiple clinical studies documented renal damage in chronic cigarette smokers (CS) irrespective of their age and gender. Premenopausal female smokers are known to exert a certain cardiovascular and renal protection with undefined mechanisms. Given the multiple demographic variables within clinical studies, this experimental study was designed to be the first to assess whether gender-biased CS-induced kidney damage truly exists between premenopausal female and age-matched C57Bl6J male mice when compared to their relative control groups.

Tobacco cigarette smoking exacerbates aortic calcification in an early stage of myocardial infarction in a female mouse model.

Despite increased social awareness, marketing restraints, tobacco taxation, and available smoking cessation rehab programs, active and passive smoking remain a worldwide challenging epidemic and a key risk factor for cardiovascular diseases development. Although cardiovascular (CV) protection is more pronounced in women than in men due to estrogenic effects, tobacco cigarette smoking exposure seems to alter this protection by modulating estrogen actions via undefined mechanisms. Premenopausal cigarette smoking women are at higher risk of adverse CV effects than non-smokers.

Life Threatening Complications Post-Liposuction.

Background: Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed aesthetic procedures. It is performed worldwide as an outpatient procedure. However, the complications are underestimated and underreported by caregivers.

Pomegranate Juice Prevents the Formation of Lung Nodules Secondary to Chronic Cigarette Smoke Exposure in an Animal Model.

Background: Cigarette smoke (CS) induces an oxidative stress, DNA damage, and lung cancer. Pomegranate juice (PJ) possess potent antioxidant activity attributed to its polyphenols. We investigated whether PJ supplementation would prevent the formation of lung nodules, attenuate mitotic activity, and reduce hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) expression secondary to CS exposure in an animal model.

Acute Exposure to Cigarette Smoking Followed by Myocardial Infarction Aggravates Renal Damage in an Mouse Model.

Cigarette smoking (S) is a risk factor for progressive chronic kidney disease, renal dysfunction, and renal failure. In this study, the effect of smoking on kidney function was investigated in a mouse model of myocardial infarction (MI) using 4 groups: control (C), smoking (S), MI, and S+MI. Histological analysis of S+MI group showed alterations in kidney structure including swelling of the proximal convoluted tubules (PCTs), thinning of the epithelial lining, focal loss of the brush border of PCTs, and patchy glomerular retraction.

Cigarette Smoking-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy, Vascular Inflammation and Injury Are Attenuated by Antioxidant Supplementation in an Animal Model.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cigarette smoking remains a global health epidemic with associated detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system. In this work, we investigated the effects of cigarette smoke exposure on cardiovascular system in an animal model.

Antioxidant activity of pomegranate juice reduces emphysematous changes and injury secondary to cigarette smoke in an animal model and human alveolar cells.

Background: Cigarette smoke (CS) increases oxidative stress (OS) in the lungs. Pomegranate juice (PJ) possesses potent antioxidant activities, attributed to its polyphenols. This study investigates the effects of PJ on the damaging effects of CS in an animal model and on cultured human alveolar cells (A549).

Acute Exposure to Electronic and Combustible Cigarette Aerosols: Effects in an Animal Model and in Human Alveolar Cells.

Background: Smoking electronic cigarettes (ECIG) is promoted as a safer alternative to smoking combustible cigarettes. This study investigates the effects of ECIG aerosol and cigarette smoke (CS) in an animal model and in human alveolar cell cultures (A549).

Methods: Mice were divided into Control, ECIG, and CS.

The SF-36 and 6-Minute Walk Test are Significant Predictors of Complications After Major Surgery.

Background: Major surgeries are associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality. Current preoperative evaluation fails to identify patients at increased risk of postoperative complications. This study is aimed to determine whether the Short Form-36 health survey (SF-36) and the 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) are useful predictors of postoperative complications after major surgery.

Antioxidant activity of pomegranate juice reduces acute lung injury secondary to hyperoxia in an animal model.

Background: Hyperoxia triggers the release of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). Pomegranate Juice (PJ) is a rich source of potent antioxidants. We assessed the effects of PJ supplementation on Acute Lung Injury (ALI) in adult rats exposed to hyperoxia for 5 days.

Effect of heliox- and air-driven nebulized bronchodilator therapy on lung function in patients with asthma.

Background: This study compares the effect of heliox-driven to that of air-driven bronchodilator therapy on the pulmonary function test (PFT) in patients with different levels of asthma severity.

Methods: One-hundred thirty-two participants were included in the study. Participants underwent spirometry twice with bronchodilator testing on two consecutive days.

The untold story of Dabigatran etexilate: alveolar hemorrhage in an elderly patient with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.

We report an 85-year-old male, with history of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), who was presented with progressive dyspnea, hypoxia, and anemia of 2 months duration. Six months before presentation, the patient was placed on Dabigatran etexilate (Dabigatran) (110 mg BID) for atrial fibrillation. His prior anemia workup included a negative upper endoscopy and colonoscopy.

The effect of snoring on voice: a controlled study of 30 subjects.

We conducted a study to determine the prevalence of vocal symptoms in snorers. A total of 30 patients with a history of snoring were investigated for the presence or absence of three vocal symptoms immediately after they awoke from sleep: hoarseness, voice weakness, and other changes in voice quality. All patients were also asked to complete a voice-related quality-of-life (V-RQOL) questionnaire.

Transduodenal EUS-guided FNA of the right adrenal gland to diagnose lung cancer where percutaneous approach was not possible.

Although endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-guided FNA) of the left adrenal gland is safe and accurate compared to the percutaneous approach, there are no reports to our knowledge about EUS-guided FNA of the right adrenal gland performed in Lebanon and the Middle East. We report the case of a 64-year-old male who presented with a swollen right calf and right flank pain and was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis with a right calf deep venous thrombosis. A computerized tomography of the chest and abdomen revealed a round solid mass of the right adrenal gland, a right upper lobe mass and centrilobular emphysema of both lungs.

Persistent snoring under conscious sedation during colonoscopy is a predictor of obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by cessation of breathing during sleep. Conscious sedation (CS) induces sleep and may uncover sleep-related breathing disorders.

Objective: To determine whether snoring during CS is a sensitive predictor of OSA.

Activated protein C attenuates acute lung injury and apoptosis in a hyperoxic animal model.

Evidence suggests that activated protein C (APC) attenuates acute lung injury (ALI) through antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of APC on ALI in adult rats exposed to hyperoxic environment. Rats were divided into control, hyperoxia, hyperoxia + APC, and APC.

Critical care clinicians' knowledge of evidence-based guidelines for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the most common hospital-acquired infection among patients receiving mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit. Different initiatives for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia have been developed and recommended.

Objective: To evaluate knowledge of critical care providers (physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists in the intensive care unit) about evidence-based guidelines for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia.