Early versus Late Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation: Timing Matters.

Despite the progressive course of atrial fibrillation (AF), the optimal timing of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) during disease course is still unknown. We aimed to investigate the impact of early RFCA within a year after AF diagnosis on procedural outcomes. A single-center retrospective study was conducted on symptomatic AF patients ( = 130) referred for RFCA with a 16-month median follow-up.

Protective effect of astaxanthin on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcerations in mice.

Gastric ulcer disease remains one of the common medical burdens affecting millions worldwide due to its prevalent risk factors with the chronic usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at the top, reportedly through the stimulation of oxidative stress and triggering of inflammatory and apoptotic cascades in the gastric mucosa. Astaxanthin, a dietary keto-carotenoid derived from marine organisms is gaining a wide interest as a nutraceutical for its pronounced antioxidant properties. Here, we aim to examine the potential modulatory role of astaxanthin on indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in experimental mice.

Prevalence and predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress among refugees in Egypt.

Background: Many Refugees show multiple distressing psychological and mental health problems associated with stressful and adverse conditions in host countries. Even though Egypt is one of the top five destination countries hosting refugees and asylum-seekers in the MENA region, there is a lack of studies investigating mental health problems among refugees in Egypt. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among refugees living in Egypt.

Silica-Derived Nanostructured Electrode Materials for ORR, OER, HER, CORR Electrocatalysis, and Energy Storage Applications: A Review.

Silica-derived nanostructured catalysts (SDNCs) are a class of materials synthesized using nanocasting and templating techniques, which involve the sacrificial removal of a silica template to generate highly porous nanostructured materials. The surface of these nanostructures is functionalized with a variety of electrocatalytically active metal and non-metal atoms. SDNCs have attracted considerable attention due to their unique physicochemical properties, tunable electronic configuration, and microstructure.

A scalable membrane electrode assembly architecture for efficient electrochemical conversion of CO to formic acid.

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to formic acid is a promising pathway to improve CO utilization and has potential applications as a hydrogen storage medium. In this work, a zero-gap membrane electrode assembly architecture is developed for the direct electrochemical synthesis of formic acid from carbon dioxide. The key technological advancement is a perforated cation exchange membrane, which, when utilized in a forward bias bipolar membrane configuration, allows formic acid generated at the membrane interface to exit through the anode flow field at concentrations up to 0.

Catheter-induced right bundle branch block: Practical implications for the cardiac electrophysiologist.

The right bundle branch (RBB), due to its endocardial course, is susceptible to traumatic block caused by "bumping" during right-heart catheterization. In the era of cardiac electrophysiology, catheter-induced RBB block (CI-RBBB) has become a common phenomenon observed during electrophysiological studies and catheter ablation procedures. While typically transient, it may persist for the entire procedure time.

Evaluation of 2,3-Dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepine Derivatives as Potential Tyrosinase Inhibitors: and Studies.

Benzothiazepines are pharmacologically active compounds, frequently utilized as a precursor for acquiring versatile molecules with several bioactivities including anti-inflammatory, anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV), analgesic, antitumor, antimicrobial, and antitubercular. In this study, the 2,4-diphenyl-2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepine scaffold was selected for their , docking, and druglikeness studies to evaluate their inhibitory potential against mushroom tyrosinase. All synthesized analogues, -, exhibited moderate to good IC values ranging from 1.

Adherence of healthcare workers to COVID-19 infection prevention practices and its relationship with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity.

Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) practices against COVID-19 should be adopted by healthcare workers (HCWs) at their workplaces to protect themselves, their patients, and their families from infection.

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the relationship between the healthcare-related COVID-19 infection prevention measures adopted by HCWs and their SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity.

Research Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the second and third COVID-19 waves in Egypt.

One-Pot Synthesis of Melamine Formaldehyde Resin-Derived -Doped Porous Carbon for CO Capture Application.

The design and synthesis of porous carbons for CO adsorption have attracted tremendous interest owing to the ever-soaring concerns regarding climate change and global warming. Herein, for the first time, nitrogen-rich porous carbon was prepared with chemical activation (KOH) of commercial melamine formaldehyde resin (MF) in a single step. It has been shown that the porosity parameters of the as-prepared carbons were successfully tuned by controlling the activating temperature and adjusting the amount of KOH.

A Single-lead ECG algorithm to differentiate right from left manifest accessory pathways: A reappraisal of the P-Delta interval.

Introduction: Despite numerous ECG algorithms being developed to localize the site of manifest accessory pathways (AP), they often require stepwise multiple-lead analysis with variable accuracy, limitations, and reproducibility. The study aimed to develop a single-lead ECG algorithm incorporating the P-Delta interval (PDI) as an adjunct criterion to discriminate between right and left manifest AP.

Methods: Consecutive WPW patients undergoing electrophysiological study (EPS) were retrospectively recruited and split into a derivation and validation group (1:1 ratio).

Chiari network for the interventional cardiologist: A hidden enemy at the heart gate - A systematic review of the literature.

Background: This study aimed to collect and analyze the literature data regarding Chiari network (CN) and other right atrium (RA) remnants comprising the Eustachian and Thebesian valves (EV, ThV) as a potential entrapment site during different percutaneous cardiac procedures (PCP).

Methods And Results: A systematic search was conducted using Pubmed and Embase databases following the PRISMA guidelines to obtain available data concerning PCP associated with entrapment of inserted materials within CN-EV-ThV. The final analysis included 41 patients who underwent PCP with reported material entrapment within these RA remnants.

Asymptomatic versus symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection: a cross-sectional seroprevalence study.

Background: Although symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection predisposes patients to develop complications, the asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection state is of public health importance being a hidden source of infection. Moreover, the asymptomatic state may camouflage the actual burden of the disease.

Methods: Data of 1434 seropositive participants for SARS-CoV-2 spike (anti-S) and/or nucleocapsid antibodies (anti-N) were retrieved from a larger cross-sectional survey on COVID-19.

The Need for Breathing Training Techniques: The Elephant in the Heart Failure Cardiac Rehabilitation Room: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Although solid evidence has indicated that respiratory symptoms are common amongst patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), state-of-the-art cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs do not typically include management strategies to address respiratory symptoms. This study investigated the effect of the addition of breathing exercises (BE) to the CR programs in CHF.

Methods: In a two parallel-arm randomized controlled study (RCT), 40 middle-aged patients with CHF and respiratory symptoms were recruited and randomized into two equal groups ( = 20); group (A): standard CR with BE and group (B): standard CR alone.

Determining the SARS-CoV-2 Anti-Spike Cutoff Level Denoting Neutralizing Activity Using Two Commercial Kits.

Background: The viral neutralization assay is the gold standard to estimate the level of immunity against SARS-CoV-2. This study analyzes the correlation between the quantitative Anti-SARS-CoV-2 QuantiVac ELISA (IgG) and the NeutraLISA neutralization assay.

Methods: 650 serum samples were tested for both SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike (anti-S) immunoglobulin G (IgG) and neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) using kits by EUROIMMUN, Germany.

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates and predictors among the Egyptian general population and Healthcare workers, the intersectionality of age and other factors.

The promise of COVID-19 vaccines in ending the pandemic can only be achieved by overcoming the challenge of vaccine refusal. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are the trusted advisors of vaccination decisions. Recommendations for vaccinating children against COVID-19 are recently gaining more public health attention due to the role of children in disease transmission and associated morbidities.

Genotoxicity, DNA damage and sperm defects induced by vinblastine.

Background: The treatment with chemotherapy may develop secondary tumors as a result of chemo genotoxicity. Sperm defects is another complication associated with chemo treatment. In this study the genotoxicity of vinblastine (VB) was estimated in both somatic and germ cells.

Oral mexiletine for ventricular tachyarrhythmias treatment in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients: a systematic review of the literature.

Introduction: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of oral mexiletine (oMXT) to treat ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTAs) in the era of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) technology.

Evidence Acquisition: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases following the PRISMA guidelines to collect literature data reporting oMXT efficacy and safety outcomes in treating VTAs in ICD recipients.

Evidence Synthesis: Final analysis included four studies accounting for a total of 91 patients with recurrent VTAs treated with oMXT.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis A, B and C Among a Sample of Refugees in Egypt: An Exploratory Survey.

Background: Estimating the prevalence of infectious diseases, including viral hepatitis, among refugees is important for evaluating their health needs and predicting the burden on the health system of the host country. This study aimed at estimating the seroprevalence of viral hepatitis among refugees in Egypt.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved a heterogeneous group of 501 refugees.

Protective role of Codiaeum variegatum against genotoxicity induced by carmustine in somatic and germ cells of male mice.

Background: Carmustine (Cr) is an important chemotherapeutic drug, widely used in the treatment of brain tumors. Herein, the protective role of Codiaeum variegatum leaves ethyl acetate fraction was determined against genotoxicity of Cr. The technique HPLC-qTOF-MS/MS was used to identify the constituents in C.

A pre-vaccine exploratory survey of SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity among Egyptian general population.

Background: Population-based studies on COVID-19 have important implications for modeling the pandemic and determining vaccination policies. Limited data are available from such surveys in Egypt.

Methods: This cross-sectional was conducted throughout the period between January and June 2021, which coincided with the second and third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Physical Therapy Undergraduates and Their Families. A Qualitative Study from the United Arab Emirates.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic closed most establishments in the United Arab Emirates except health care and other essential services from 8 March 2020 until 24 June. By 22 March, most citizens were working online, including physical therapy students, and a no-movement policy restricted exercise to homes. The lockdown ended partially in August 2021 and almost complete by January 2022.