Relationship between New York functional class and duke activity status index with the severity of mitral valve stenosis and echocardiographic parameters: is left atrial strain a better predictor?

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the relationship between symptoms of patients with severe mitral stenosis (MS), evaluated by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class and Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) score, and echocardiographic parameters. We evaluated patients with severe rheumatic MS diagnosed as mitral valve area (MVA) less than 1.5 cm.

Liver Enzymes and Uric acid in Acute Heart Failure.

Background: Acute heart failure (AHF) is defined as the new onset or recurrence of gradual or rapidly worsening signs and symptoms of heart failure, requiring urgent or emergent therapy.

Objectives: This study attempts to assess the association of liver function tests (LFT) and uric acid level with in hospital outcome and echocardiography parameters, in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Patients And Methods: A total of 100 patients (aged 16 - 90 years, 60% men) admitted with AHF were enrolled.

The 19-bp deletion polymorphism of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate: evidence for a protective role.

Objective: Nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NS-CL/P) are among the most common congenital birth defects worldwide. Several lines of evidence point to the involvement of folate, as well as folate metabolizing enzymes in risk reduction of orofacial clefts. Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzyme participates in the metabolic cycle of folate and has a crucial role in DNA synthesis, a fundamental feature of gestation and development.