Attacking the Achilles heel of cardiac amyloid nuclear scintigraphy: How to reduce equivocal and false positive studies.

Background: Planar and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) nuclear imaging techniques with bone seeking radiotracers have been increasingly adopted for diagnosis of ATTR cardiac amyloidosis. However, inherent limitations of these techniques due to lack of anatomical landmarks have been recognized, with consequent high numbers of equivocal or false positive cases. SPECT/computed tomography (CT) fusion imaging offers a significant advantage to overcome these limitations by substantially reducing inaccurate interpretations.

Gene Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Unlocking the Opportunities in Countries in the Middle East and Beyond.

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe neuromuscular disorder which leads to progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. Most patients die from cardiac or respiratory failure. Gene transfer therapy offers a promising approach to treating this disorder.

From Clinical Clues to Final Diagnosis: The Return of Detective Work to Clinical Medicine in Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Cardiac amyloidosis is frequently misdiagnosed, denying patients the opportunity for timely and appropriate management of the disease. The purpose of this review and case studies is to raise awareness of the diagnostic "red flags" associated with cardiac amyloidosis and the currently available non-invasive strategies for diagnosis. The review focuses on the identification of one of the two main types of cardiac amyloidosis, transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, and non-invasive tools to distinguish this from light-chain amyloidosis.

Promoting cross-regional collaboration in antimicrobial stewardship: Findings of an infectious diseases working group survey in Arab countries of the Middle East.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global issue that presents an increasing threat to patients' wellbeing. Although a global concern, the emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms is of particular significance in the Middle East. In recent years, this region has seen an alarming increase in antimicrobial resistance presenting a major challenge to physicians managing various infectious diseases.

Management of infections caused by WHO critical priority Gram-negative pathogens in Arab countries of the Middle East: a consensus paper.

Antimicrobial resistance is an important global issue that impacts the efficacy of established antimicrobial therapy. This is true globally and within the Arab countries of the Middle East, where a range of key Gram-negative pathogens pose challenges to effective therapy. There is a need to establish effective treatment recommendations for this region given specific challenges to antimicrobial therapy, including variations in the availability of antimicrobials, infrastructure and specialist expertise.