Automatically optimized vectorcardiographic features are associated with recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion.

Electrical cardioversion presents one of the treatment options for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the early recurrence rate is high, reaching ~40% three months after the procedure. Features based on vectorcardiographic signals were explored to find association with early recurrence of AF.

Trivalent chromium versus baricitinib for rheumatoid arthritis treatment: first phase 2/3 randomized controlled trial, is trivalent chromium the upcoming immune-modulator?

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating disease mainly treated by DMARDs. Baricitinib is one of the emerging DMARDs with strong anti-rheumatic effects but has serious side effects. Trivalent chromium (Cr III) is a natural element with anti-inflammatory properties.

Periprocedural Intravascular Hemolysis During Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: A Comparison of Pulsed Field With Radiofrequency Ablation.

Background: Hemolysis-related renal failure has been described after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with pulsed-field ablation (PFA).

Objectives: This study sought to compare the potential for hemolysis during PVI with PFA vs radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Methods: In consecutive patients, PVI was performed with PFA or RFA.

RIS-assisted near-field localization using practical phase shift model.

Our research focuses on examining the problem of localizing user equipment (UE) in the uplink scenario using reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) based lens. We carry out a thorough analysis of the Fisher information matrix (FIM) and assess the influence of various RIS-based lens configurations using an actual RIS phase-dependent amplitude variations model. Furthermore, to reduce the complexity of the maximum likelihood (ML) estimator, a simple localization algorithm-based angular expansion is presented.

Catheter ablation for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. A review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The higher mortality is due to the risk of heart failure and cardioembolic events. This in-depth review focuses on the strategies and efficacy of catheter ablation for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Myocardial Damage, Inflammation, Coagulation, and Platelet Activity During Catheter Ablation Using Radiofrequency and Pulsed-Field Energy.

Background: Pulsed-field ablation (PFA) represents a new, nonthermal ablation energy for the ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Ablation energies producing thermal injury are associated with an inflammatory response, platelet activation, and coagulation activation.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the systemic response in patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using pulsed-field and radiofrequency (RF) energy.

Configuring reconfigurable intelligent surfaces using a practical codebook approach.

It is proven that the scattering, reflection, and refraction properties of electromagnetic signals can be adapted and managed by using reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs). In this paper, we have investigated the performance of a single-input-single-output (SISO) wideband system in terms of achievable data rate by optimizing the phases of RIS elements and performing a fair power allocation for each subcarrier over the entire bandwidth. A new beamforming codebook is developed from which the maximizing signal-to-noise (SNR) configuration is selected.

Vaccination with Toxoplasma lysate antigen or its encapsulated niosomes form immunomodulates adjuvant-induced arthritis through JAK3 downregulation.

Background: Inflammatory autoimmune arthritis like that present in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is treated by medications with many side effects. This study was a trial to benefit from Toxoplasma immune-modulatory effects on its host to treat arthritis in rat model resembling joints affection of RA. To avoid hazards of infection, Toxoplasma lysate antigen (TLA) was given instead of the whole infection, in addition to giving its encapsulated niosomes form, assuming that it would enhance the effect of TLA alone, to compare effects of both on disease activity with that of prednisolone.

Prediction of post-operative atrial fibrillation in patients after cardiac surgery using heart rate variability.

Purpose: Post-operative atrial fibrillation (PoAF) occurs in ~ 30% of patients after cardiac surgery. The etiology of PoAF is complex, but a disbalance in autonomic systems plays an important role. The goal of this study was to assess whether pre-operative heart rate variability analysis can predict the risk of PoAF.

Trivalent chromium supplementation ameliorates adjuvant induced rheumatoid arthritis through up-regulation of FOXP3 and decrease in synovial Cathepsin G expression.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a known debilitating autoimmune disease. Immune-suppressants that are used for disease treatment have serious side effects, therefore, trivalent chromium (Cr (III)); which has shown evidence of its influences on some inflammatory pathways and cytokines; was used in this study for the first time to be assessed for its therapeutic effect in RA rat model and was compared to prednisolone in a trial to find a treatment with lesser side effects.

Methods: Adult male albino rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal, untreated RA, prednisolone treated RA (1.

MicroRNA155 Expression in Different Phenotypes and Genotypes of Behçet's Disease in a Sample of Egyptian Patients.

Aim: To display microRNA155 (miRNA155) expression in different entities of Behçet's disease (BD), and to find out if expression is affected in more than one of disease status than another, either phenotypically, according to HLA B51 expression, presence of family history, or patients' age.

Methods: Thirty BD patients (13 of which were HLAB51 positive) and 15 healthy subjects' samples were obtained. White blood cell miRNA155 expression in both types of samples was estimated.

MicroRNA155 Expression in Relation to BDCAF Scored Behçet's Disease in an Egyptian Patients' Sample.

Objective: To discover the possibility of using microRNA155 (miRNA155) expression level as a biomarker of Behçet's Disease (BD) activity or remission.

Methods: Thirty BD patients' white blood cells (WBCs) miRNA155 expression was measured and compared to WBCs miRNA155 expression in 15 healthy subjects. Assessment of disease activity was done using Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF).

A comprehensive hepatitis C virus risk factors meta-analysis (1989-2013): do they differ in Egypt?

Background & Aims: The prevention and control of HCV infection is complex and challenging in terms of describing risk factors and modes of transmission. This meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the best available data on HCV risk factors worldwide and in Egypt.

Methods: Through exhaustive literature searches (1989-2013) of HCV risk factors, 357 original eligible articles were included in this study.

Cowpea rhizobia producing dark nodules: use in competition studies.

During a program of screening rhizobia from West Africa, it was found that some strains produced nodules of unusually dark appearance on cowpeas, but not on peanuts, soybeans, pigeon peas, or mung beans. The dark pigmentation was in the bacteroid zone, was not correlated with nodule effectiveness, and was additional to the leghemoglobin pigment. Only rhizobial strains with a nongummy ("dry") colony morphology produced dark nodules.