Publications by authors named "Akhtar W"

Background: This prospective, randomized trial aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of different intravenous diuretic regimens in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients.

Methods: ADHF patients were enrolled and randomized into three groups: continuous intravenous furosemide infusion (cIV), bolus furosemide injection (bI), and furosemide plus hypertonic saline solution (HSS). Clinical outcomes were assessed over 48 h.

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This study, conducted under the oversight of National Health Service Blood & Transplant, aimed to evaluate the current feasibility and implementation of both comprehensive and focused donor echocardiography in United Kingdom Intensive Care Units through a nationwide survey. Responses from 95 hospitals across all 4 UK nations showed each ICU had median 4 (IQR 2, 6) personal with 3 (IQR 2, 5) consultants and 1 (IQR 0, 2) registrar trained in focused echocardiography. A comprehensive echocardiogram can be acquired in 48% ( = 46) of hospitals within 6 h during regular working hours.

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Stroke is a debilitating neurological disorder that causes substantial morbidity and mortality on a global scale. Ischemic stroke, the most common type, occurs when the brain's blood supply is interrupted. Oxidative stress is a key factor in stroke pathology, contributing to inflammation and neuronal cell death.

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The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant-based derivatives is getting attention for biological applications because of their small dimensions and shape. In this study, AgNPs were prepared using leaf extract of Argyrolobium roseum (A. roseum) (Camb.

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Context: Data dashboards have emerged as critical tools for surveillance and informing resource allocation. Despite their utility and popularity during COVID-19, there is a growing need to understand what tools and training are tailored to nonprofit community-based organizations that may partner with public health officials.

Program: In June 2021, the Rhode Island Department of Health and Brown University partnered to create Project SIGNAL (Spatiotemporal Insights to Guide Nuanced Actions Locally), which utilizes spatiotemporal analytics to identify Rhode Island's largest disparities in COVID-19-related outcomes (eg, testing, diagnosis, vaccinations) at the neighborhood level.

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  • Echocardiography is recommended as a primary diagnostic tool for patients in shock, but its implementation in critical care is inconsistent and not well defined.
  • A study involving 178 critical care units in the UK tracked 1015 patients, revealing that 54% received an echocardiogram, which helped clarify diagnoses or change treatment plans in over half of the cases.
  • Despite its benefits, only 25% of echocardiograms complied with national governance guidelines, indicating a need for improved usage and adherence in future practices.
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  • The study evaluated the PECS II block's effectiveness in 120 patients undergoing cardiac device implantation, focusing on cases completed without additional anesthesia.
  • 65% of patients required extra local anesthetic during the procedure, but 81.7% reported high satisfaction with their pain management.
  • The findings suggest that while the PECS II block alone didn't eliminate the need for supplemental anesthesia, it notably improved the overall surgical experience and provided effective pain relief post-operation.
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We sought to remedy the limited guidance that is available to support the resuscitation of patients with the Impella Cardiac Power (CP) and 5.0 devices during episodes of cardiac arrest or life-threatening events that can result in haemodynamic decompensation. In a specialist tertiary referral centre we developed, by iteration, a novel resuscitation algorithm for Impella emergencies, which we validated through simulation and assessment by our multi- disciplinary team.

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The Fabaceae is renowned for its diverse range of chemical compounds with significant biological activities, making it a valuable subject for pharmacological studies. The chemical composition and biological activities of three Fabaceae species were investigated using methanol separately and in combination with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and glycerol for extraction. The results revealed the highest phenolic (49.

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This study, conducted in Pakistan, examines the perspectives of 1200 physicians across diverse specialties regarding Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (LAAO) procedures for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Using a random sampling approach, physicians participated in a survey that assessed their familiarity with LAAO, views on its effectiveness and safety, experience levels, and encountered challenges. The results unveil a spectrum of knowledge levels among physicians, reinforcing the need for tailored medical education and training programs.

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This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare the outcomes of graft angiography using these two approaches. Medical records and angiographic data of adult patients who underwent graft angiography between January 2020 and December 2022 were analyzed. The study included 452 patients in the distal radial access (DRA) group and 960 patients in the femoral access group.

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This retrospective study aims to explore the sex disparity in dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) noncompliance among left main stem percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients with drug-eluting stent (DES) and identify predictors associated with non-adherence. Data were collected from the medical records of 1585 patients, including 1104 males and 481 females, who underwent left main stem PCI with DES. Baseline characteristics, angiographic features, and DAPT compliance rates at 1 month and 12 months were analyzed.

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One of the most important areas of nanotechnology is the use of nanoparticles (NPs) for a variety of environmental and biological applications, with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) gaining a lot attention due to their distinct properties. The current study deals with the synthesis of Ag-NPs from Dicliptera bupleuroides Nees leaf extract and to determine their antioxidant, antimicrobial potential and effects on wheat seed germination and growth. UV-Visible spectrum revealed a prominent absorption peak at 442 nm, elucidating the conformation of the Ag-NPs synthesis.

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Cancer nanomedicine has the potential to take advantage of the multifunctionality and diverse biological activity of nanostructures based on biomolecules. Novel drug delivery vehicles can be designed by programming the supramolecular features of biomolecules to achieve multiple therapeutic goals at once, including efficient in vivo transport and targeted drug administration. Proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides can all be engineered into multipurpose nanomedicines.

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Background: Semaglutide, a once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, has shown promise in weight management and cardiovascular outcomes in other populations. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of semaglutide in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients with obesity.

Methods: A retrospective study analyzed 318 patients with HFpEF, of which 104 received semaglutide and 214 received placebo.

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  • Accurate estimates of drug use and related health issues among marginalized populations, especially persons who use drugs (PWUD) in rural areas, are essential for effective intervention and understanding health disparities.* -
  • The study used respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit PWUD and evaluated the assumptions behind RDS to ensure the reliability of its prevalence estimates, analyzing various drug usage variables and health indicators among participants.* -
  • Findings indicated a median participant age of 34, with opioids being the most commonly used drug; however, recruitment chains often lacked sufficient length for reliable sample representation, and different weighting methods showed minimal differences in prevalence estimates.*
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  • An implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is used in the UK mainly as a temporary solution for patients awaiting heart transplants or recovery.
  • LVADs create a unique hemodynamic state, making standard measurements like blood pressure and pulse difficult to obtain, leading to challenges in patient assessment.
  • To address these challenges, UK experts developed specific guidelines for managing emergencies in LVAD patients, aimed at healthcare providers in advanced heart failure centers, ensuring appropriate care during critical situations.
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Introduction And Objective: There is a paucity of data on patients with myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) and a decompensated diabetic state, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the outcomes of patients with MINOCA presenting with or without DKA.

Methods: We conducted this retrospective propensity score-matched analysis from January 1, 2015, to December 4, 2022.

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Objective: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 0/1-h Algorithm with high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) has shown promising results in risk stratification and management of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, its outcomes and clinical implications in the context of developing countries remain understudied.

Methods: This cohort study aimed to evaluate the outcomes and clinical significance of the ESC 0/1-h Algorithm in a developing country setting.

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DNA nanostructures, with their fascinating luminescent and detecting capabilities, provide a basis that can accommodate a wide range of applications. The unique electronic configurations, and physical and chemical properties of aptamer-assembled gold nanoclusters (apt-AuNCs) as a novel type of fluorophore have gradually piqued the interest of the scientific community. Bending DNA sequences and other templates/legends as a stabilizing agent with Au metal has produced an abundance of biosensors, along with catalytic and imaging properties.

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  • Magnetic FeO nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed with varying SiO coating thickness, and their structural and magnetic properties were analyzed using advanced techniques like X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy.
  • Scanning electron microscopy revealed a nonporous core-shell structure of silica coatings on the FeO nanoparticles, which helped control their agglomeration through electrostatic interactions.
  • The study found that at room temperature, the magnetic coercivity of the SiO@FeO nanocomposites was significantly higher than that of thin films and other nanoparticles, and the Stoner-Wohlfarth model was used to explain the observed hysteresis effects related to different iron oxidation states.
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  • The right ventricle (RV) plays a crucial role in critical illness, but its functions and pathologies are less understood compared to the left ventricle, leading to a greater need for study.
  • With the rise of point-of-care echocardiography in critical care, there's a growing ability to detect and monitor RV issues in patients earlier than before.
  • The article discusses different states of RV injury, highlighting a lack of a universal definition and emphasizing the importance of understanding RV-pulmonary circulation dynamics to improve diagnosis and treatment.
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Background: Our study hypothesized that an intelligent gradient boosting machine (GBM) model can predict cerebrovascular events and all-cause mortality in mitral stenosis (MS) with atrial flutter (AFL) by recognizing comorbidities, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters.

Methods: The machine learning model was used as a statistical analyzer in recognizing the key risk factors and high-risk features with either outcome of cerebrovascular events or mortality.

Results: A total of 2184 patients with their chart data and imaging studies were included and the GBM analysis demonstrated mitral valve area (MVA), right ventricular systolic pressure, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, and surgery as the most significant predictors of transient ischemic attack (TIA/stroke).

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The Rural Opioid Initiative surveyed 2693 people who inject drugs (PWID) in eight rural U.S. areas in 2018-2020 about self-reported HIV testing in the past 6 months.

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The current study attempts to evaluate the formation, morphology, and physico-chemical properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) synthesized from extract at different pH values and to investigate their antimicrobial and biomedical application potential. The reduction of zinc ions to ZnO NPs was determined by UV spectra, which revealed absorption peaks at 390 nm at pH 5 and 348 nm at pH 9, respectively. The spherical morphology of the nanoparticles was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the size was 47 nm for pH 5 and 45 nm for pH 9.

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