Life after 90: Predictors of mortality and performance of the ACS-NSQIP risk calculator in 4,724 nonagenarian patients undergoing emergency general surgery.

Background: The decision to emergently operate on nonagenarian patients (NONAs) can be complex due to the uncertainty about outcomes and goals of care at this advanced age. We sought to study: (1) the outcomes and predictors of mortality for NONAs undergoing emergency general surgery (EGS) and (2) the accuracy of ACS-NSQIP mortality risk calculator in this special population.

Methods: Using the 2007 to 2015 ACS-NSQIP database, we included all patients older than 90 years of age who underwent an emergent operation with a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code for "digestive system.

Brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) as a diagnostic tool for detecting early neurological changes in children with Wilson's disease.

Purpose: Although brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) imaging findings in adult Wilson disease (WD) have been explained in extensive details, a paucity of information currently exists regarding brain MRS imaging findings in pediatric WD. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of brain MRS in detecting early metabolite abnormalities in children with WD.

Patient And Methods: A case-controlled prospective study included 26 children with WD and 26 healthy controls.

Spectral contrast optical coherence tomography angiography enables single-scan vessel imaging.

Optical coherence tomography angiography relies on motion for contrast and requires at least two data acquisitions per pointwise scanning location. We present a method termed spectral contrast optical coherence tomography angiography using visible light that relies on the spectral signatures of blood for angiography from a single scan using endogenous contrast. We demonstrate the molecular sensitivity of this method, which enables lymphatic vessel, blood, and tissue discrimination.

Assessing the Psychometric Properties of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) Among Lebanese College Students.

Internet addiction is an emergent problem; yet, both a strong conception of the factors precipitating challenging activities and a gold standard tool for evaluating symptoms are deficient. The aim of this study was to carry out a psychometric analysis using the most commonly employed screening tool, the young Internet Addiction Test (IAT), comprising a sample of Lebanese University medical students. Two hundred and fifty-six undergraduate medical students from a university in Beirut, Lebanon were included in our IAT.

Venlafaxine and carvedilol ameliorate testicular impairment and disrupted spermatogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis by targeting AMPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways.

Testicular impairment has been commonly described in long-standing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Since depression and cardiovascular disorders are the most disturbing co-morbidities of RA, investigating the efficacy of the anti-depressant venlafaxine or the beta-blocker carvedilol in RA-associated testicular dysfunction may add to their clinical utility for RA patients. Previously, both agents have demonstrated significant in vivo anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory actions.

Co-infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza and duck hepatitis viruses in Egyptian backyard and commercial ducks.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus poses a major challenge to the poultry industry and human health in Egypt. Twenty one households and eight duck farms in Sharkia Province, Egypt were investigated for the presence of avian influenza virus (AIV) and/or duck hepatitis virus 1 (DHV-1). Mortality rates among the investigated farms and yards were, 18.

Caffeic acid and ellagic acid ameliorate adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats via targeting inflammatory signals, chitinase-3-like protein-1 and angiogenesis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory arthropathy that principally attacks the joints. The present study aimed to explore the potential anti-arthritic effects of caffeic acid and ellagic acid in adjuvant-induced arthritis, compared to celecoxib. The current study also explored the underlying molecular mechanisms e.

Trends of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: Soroka Acute Myocardial Infarction II (SAMI II) Project.

The last decade, patients with AMI became older with increased burden of CVRFs. Framingham risk score increased among patients with NSTEMI and decreased in patients with STEMI. These trends impact on risk stratification and secondary prevention programs.

New insight into the diagnostic cut-off value of serum anti- IgG for ocular toxocariasis in uveitis patients.

Uveitis is one of the commonest causes of vision loss worldwide and its exact etiology is still not clarified in most patients. The current study is a trial to assess the efficacy of serum anti-Toxocara immunoglobulin G (IgG) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a diagnostic tool for ocular toxocariasis (OT) and to detect OT prevalence and the associated ocular manifestations in sera of patients with uveitis. One hundred and twelve patients (62 females and 50 males) with uveitis were diagnosed by ophthalmologists, radiologists and rheumatologists according to ocular manifestations, laboratory and radiological investigations.

Chemical constituents, Antibacterial and Acetylcholine esterase inhibitory activity of leaves.

The chemical constituents of were investigated. A new neolignan glycoside (1) in addition to nine known compounds were isolated. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity and antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant (MRSA) of different fractions and isolates of were evaluated.

The role of α2-adrenergic receptors in hypertensive preeclampsia: A hypothesis.

Preeclampsia, a major disorder of human pregnancy, manifests as persistent hypertension and proteinuria presenting after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Multiple systemic symptoms might be associated with preeclampsia including thrombocytopenia, liver impairment, pulmonary edema, and cerebral disturbances. However, vascular dysfunction remains the core pathological driver of preeclampsia.

A Potential Link Between Oxidative Stress and Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Systemic Sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc), an autoimmune disease that is associated with a number of genetic and environmental risk factors, is characterized by progressive fibrosis and microvasculature damage in the skin, lungs, heart, digestive system, kidneys, muscles, joints, and nervous system. These abnormalities are associated with altered secretion of growth factor and profibrotic cytokines, such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), interleukin-4 (IL-4), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and connective-tissue growth factor (CTGF). Among the cellular responses to this proinflammatory environment, the endothelial cells phenotypic conversion into activated myofibroblasts, a process known as endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT), has been postulated.

Emergency Surgery Score Accurately Predicts the Risk of Post-Operative Infection in Emergency General Surgery.

Background: The Emergency Surgery Score (ESS) was validated recently as an accurate and user-friendly post-operative mortality risk calculator specific for Emergency General Surgery (EGS). ESS is calculated by adding one to three integer points for each of 22 pre-operative variables (demographics, co-morbidities, and pre-operative laboratory values); increasing scores accurately and gradually predict higher mortality rates. We sought to evaluate whether ESS can predict the occurrence of post-operative infectious complications in EGS patients.

Estrogen in vascular smooth muscle cells: A friend or a foe?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the leading cause of death worldwide. The effect of estrogen on these diseases has been assessed in in vitro and in vivo models, as well as in observational studies. Collectively, these studies alluded to a cardiovasculo-protective effect of estrogen.

Postoperative Monitoring Following Adenotonsillectomy for Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Introduction: Patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy (T&A) for severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are usually admitted for observation, and many surgeons use the intensive care unit (ICU) for observation due to the risk of postsurgical airway obstruction. Given the limited resources of the pediatric ICU (PICU), there is a push to better define the patients who require postoperative monitoring in the PICU for monitoring severe OSA.

Methods: Forty-five patients were evaluated.

Role of Methylglyoxal in Diabetic Cardiovascular and Kidney Diseases: Insights from Basic Science for Application into Clinical Practice.

Background: The incidence and prevalence of diabetes mellitus are increasing globally at alarming rates. Cardiovascular and renal complications are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. Methylglyoxal (MG) - a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound - is increased in patients with diabetes and has been implicated to play a detrimental role in the etiology of cardiovascular and renal complications.

SuPAR, an emerging biomarker in kidney and inflammatory diseases.

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a circulating form of a physiological and pathophysiological important cell surface receptor, implicated in inflammation. Recent studies showed that suPAR is a promising biomarker, useful for diagnosis, assessment and prognosis of several diseases. This review summarises the majority of preliminary studies and analyses the significance and the clinical application of suPAR in various clinical conditions.

Can the emergency surgery score (ESS) be used as a triage tool predicting the postoperative need for an ICU admission?

Background: The emergency surgery score (ESS) is a preoperative risk calculator recently validated as a mortality predictor in emergency surgery (ES) patients. We sought to evaluate the utility of ESS as an ICU admission triage tool.

Methods: A four-step methodology was designed.

The effect of glenohumeral plane of elevation on supraspinatus subacromial proximity.

Shoulder pain is a common clinical problem affecting most individuals in their lifetime. Despite the high prevalence of rotator cuff pathology in these individuals, the pathogenesis of rotator cuff disease remains unclear. Position and motion related mechanisms of rotator cuff disease are often proposed, but poorly understood.

Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors in Hypertension.

Chronic hypertension remains a major cause of global mortality and morbidity. It is a complex disease that is the clinical manifestation of multiple genetic, environmental, nutritional, hormonal, and aging-related disorders. Evidence supports a role for vascular aging in the development of hypertension involving an impairment in endothelial function together with an alteration in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) calcium homeostasis leading to increased myogenic tone.

The march of pluripotent stem cells in cardiovascular regenerative medicine.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Heart failure remains a major contributor to this mortality. Despite major therapeutic advances over the past decades, a better understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms of CVD as well as improved therapeutic strategies for the management or treatment of heart failure are increasingly needed.

Variation of Opioid Prescribing Patterns among Patients undergoing Similar Surgery on the Same Acute Care Surgery Service of the Same Institution: Time for Standardization?

Background: Diversion of unused prescription opioids is a major contributor to the current United States opioid epidemic. We aimed to study the variation of opioid prescribing in emergency surgery.

Methods: Between October 2016 and March 2017, all patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, or inguinal hernia repair in the acute care surgery service of 1 academic center were included.

Reliability of sonoelastography in predicting pediatric cervical lymph node malignancy.

Purpose: Controversy exists as regards the best non-invasive diagnostic tool for pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy. The current work aimed to evaluate the reliability, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of sonoelastography in diagnosing benign and/or malignant pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy.

Methods: Prospective study took place over a period of 4 years from January 2013 to December 2016.

L. (Sumac) Evokes Endothelium-Dependent Vasorelaxation of Rat Aorta: Involvement of the cAMP and cGMP Pathways.

L. (sumac) is widely used in traditional remedies and cuisine of countries of the Mediterranean as well as Central and South-West Asia. Administration of sumac to experimental models and patients with diverse pathological conditions generates multi-faceted propitious effects, including the quality as a vasodilator.

Prevalence of erectile dysfunction in Egyptian males with metabolic syndrome.

Determination of the potential effect of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on erectile function in Egyptian men and description of the sociodemographic characteristics of these men. A cohort of 615 patients presenting to urology department aged between 30 and 75 years were prospectively assessed and divided into two groups. Group I ( = 325) diagnosed with MetS and mean age of 56.