Effect of mindfulness-based meditation on blood pressure among adults with elevated blood pressure and hypertension: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Hypertension is a leading contributor to cardiovascular disorders globally. There has been a recent upsurge in non-pharmacological management involving mindfulness-based meditation (MBM) in lowering blood pressure (BP) among the hypertensive population; however, the level of supportive evidence among patients primarily diagnosed with hypertension remain limited. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to synthesize the evidence of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of MBM on BP explicitly in adults primarily diagnosed with elevated blood pressure or hypertension.

Population based treatment strategy of H pylori in Qatar: Through clinical and demographic insights.

Background And Study Aim: Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori), a widespread gastric pathogen, can have a range of presentations necessitating population based tailored treatment strategies. We aimed to study the clinical and demographic profile of patients with H pylori in Qatar, to determine the best treatment strategy for Qatar's population.

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation of auricular branch of the vagus nerve effectively and rapidly modulates the EEG patterns in patients with possible electrographic status epilepticus.

Background: Invasive vagal nerve stimulation (iVNS) is a known treatment approach for patients with refractory epilepsy. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) was developed to overcome the side effects and surgical complications of iVNS. tVNS is proven beneficial in refractory epilepsy.

Effectiveness of High-Intensity Interval Training and Continuous Moderate-Intensity Training on Blood Pressure in Physically Inactive Pre-Hypertensive Young Adults.

The likelihood of pre-hypertensive young adults developing hypertension has been steadily increasing in recent years. Despite the fact that aerobic exercise training (AET) has demonstrated positive results in lowering high blood pressure, the efficacy of different types of AET among pre-hypertensive young adults has not been well-established. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and continuous moderate-intensity training (CMT) on the blood pressure (BP) of physically inactive pre-hypertensive young adults.

Risk and protective factors for alcohol and tobacco related disorders: An umbrella review of observational studies.

The credibility of evidence of various environmental risk factors for alcohol and tobacco use disorders (AUD/TUD) needs to be graded to identify groups to target with selective prevention. A systematic umbrella review was conducted (PubMed/PsycINFO), grading credibility of meta-analyses of prospective/retrospective observational cohort studies assessing risk/protective factors for AUD/TUD, applying established quantitative criteria. Sensitivity analyses were conducted.

Larvicidal efficacy of Adiantobischrysene from Adiantum latifolium against Oryctes rhinoceros through disrupting metamorphosis and impeding microbial mediated digestion.

Background: Oryctes rhinoceros Linn. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is a serious pest of coconuts and other palms. Symbiotic gut bacteria play significant roles in the digestion of cellulosic materials as well as in some other physiological processes essential for the existence of O.

A second arterial conduit to the circumflex circulation significantly improves survival after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Objectives: Conventional coronary artery bypass surgery involves the use of a single left internal mammary artery to the left anterior descending artery and saphenous vein grafts reserved for other sites. This retrospective propensity-matched study investigated the impact of a second arterial conduit to the left-sided circulation on early and long-term survival after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from 2004 to 2014 for all revascularizations with at least 1 arterial and/or 1 venous graft to the circumflex circulation, in addition to an internal mammary artery to the left anterior descending artery.

Mean Platelet Volume, Red Cell Distribution Width to Platelet Count Ratio, Globulin Platelet Index, and 16 Other Indirect Noninvasive Fibrosis Scores: How Much Do Routine Blood Tests Tell About Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis C?

Background And Aim: Many indirect noninvasive scores to predict liver fibrosis are calculated from routine blood investigations. Only limited studies have compared their efficacy head to head. We aimed to compare these scores with liver biopsy fibrosis stages in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Does emerging Clarithromycin resistance signal an obituary to empirical standard triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection?

Despite 30 years of its discovery, the ideal therapeutic regimen against Helicobacter pylori is still evasive. Clarithromycin-based standard triple therapy which has been considered the first line empirical therapy has been failing in many parts of the world, due to rising resistance against Clarithromycin, forcing the use of alternate regimens. In this context, we studied the local antibiotic resistance patterns against H.

Clinical Application of AIMS65 Scores to Predict Outcomes in Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage.

Background/aims: To evaluate the ability of the recently proposed albumin, international normalized ratio (INR), mental status, systolic blood pressure, age >65 years (AIMS65) score to predict mortality in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB).

Methods: AIMS65 scores were calculated in 251 consecutive patients presenting with acute UGIB by allotting 1 point each for albumin level <30 g/L, INR >1.5, alteration in mental status, systolic blood pressure ≤90 mm Hg, and age ≥65 years.

Screening for hepatitis C in average and high-risk populations of Qatar using rapid point-of-care testing.

Background: Screening for hepatitis C has been found to be beneficial in high-risk individuals and 'baby boomers'.

Objective: Our aim was to screen for hepatitis C in average and high-risk individuals and compare the disease characteristics and response to treatment among the screened group (SG) and non-screened group (NSG).

Method: Community-based screening for hepatitis C was done in the average and high-risk populations of Qatar.

Noninvasive biomarkers FibroTest and ActiTest versus liver biopsy in chronic hepatitis C patients: the Middle East experience.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare noninvasive biomarkers, FibroTest and ActiTest in predicting fibrosis stage and inflammation grade in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with liver biopsy (LB).

Methods: In 107 patients with CHC, levels of six serum biomarkers (alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, total bilirubin, haptoglobin, apolipoprotein, α-2 macroglobulin) were determined at the time of LB. LB was evaluated by Metavir score for fibrosis and inflammation.

Reexamination of the relationship between the prevalence of hepatitis C virus and parenteral antischistosomal therapy among Egyptians resident in Qatar.

Egypt has the highest prevalence of recorded hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide, estimated nationally at 14.7%, which is attributed to extensive iatrogenic transmission during the era of parenteral antischistosomal therapy (PAT) mass-treatment campaigns. The objective of our study was to attempt to highlight to what extent HCV transmission is ongoing and discuss the possible risk factors.

High dose of Lamivudine and resistance in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background. Lamivudine is the most affordable drug used for chronic hepatitis B and has a high safety profile. With the daily dose of 100 mg there is progressive appearance of resistance to lamivudine therapy.

Emerging role for colorectal cancer screening in Asian countries.

Background And Aim: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer related mortality globally. Though Asia has traditionally been considered a relatively low incidence area for colorectal cancer, the incidence is reportedly increasing. The Asia Pacific Working Group for Colorectal Cancer has recommended screening of individuals at average risk starting from 50 years of age.

Non-typhoidal salmonella: an unusual cause of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in decompensated cirrhosis.

Salmonella typhimurium, a non-typhoidal salmonella, is an unusual cause of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). It is usually reported in asymptomatic patients with normal or high ascitic fluid protein levels with underlying immunosuppression, as high opsonic activity in the ascitic fluid of these patients protects them from the usual organisms causing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, unless they are exposed to a particularly virulent organism like salmonella. We report a case of culture-proven non-typhoidal salmonella in a patient with decompensated cirrhosis, with low protein and without any underlying immunosuppression, and no other source to explain its origin.

Liver biopsy for parenchymal liver disease - is routine real time image guidance unnecessary?

Liver biopsy even today remains the standard of care for grading and staging chronic hepatitis despite advances in noninvasive markers of liver fibrosis. Literature suggests an expanding role for real-time image guided liver biopsy and declining trend for blind liver biopsies. In our center, where we perform around 400 liver biopsies per year, we performed a prospective clinical audit of our practice of blind outpatient percutaneous liver biopsies.

The predictive value of IL28B rs12979860, rs11881222 and rs8099917 polymorphisms and IP-10 in the therapeutic response of Egyptian genotype 4 patients.

Unlabelled: Interleukin-28B (IL28B) polymorphisms have previously been reported to be strongly associated with spontaneous and treatment-induced HCV viral clearance.

Aim: To assess the impact of four different IL28B polymorphisms and their haplotype combination and interferon-c inducible protein 10 (IP-10) in response to treatment in Egyptian genotype 4 patients.

Method: 159 HCV-genotype 4 patients were included.

Interleukin-28 and hepatitis C virus genotype-4: treatment-induced clearance and liver fibrosis.

Aim: To investigate the association between interleukin-28B (IL28B) genotype and response to treatment and hepatic fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4.

Methods: Two hundred and one HCV-genotype 4 patients were included. All patients were treated with Peginterferon alph2a/Ribavirin for 48 wk.