Publications by authors named "Latif F"

Background: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) results in impaired blood flow in both epicardial vessels and the microvasculature and is a leading cause of poor outcomes in heart transplant (HT) recipients. Most patients have mild (ISHLT CAV 1) disease. This study examined outcomes amongst those with ISHLT CAV 1 and investigated the value of physiologic assessment via cardiac positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for added risk stratification.

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Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide, with the total number of cases increasing to 523 million in 2019. Despite the advent of new drugs, cardiovascular mortality has increased at an alarming rate of 53.7 % from 12.

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  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is linked to serious health issues like venous thromboembolism and higher death rates, making early post-traumatic prophylaxis (PTP) important for patient recovery.
  • A systematic review analyzed data from 20 studies with over 87,000 patients, revealing that early PTP significantly cuts the risks of VTE, DVT, PE, and overall mortality compared to later administration.
  • The results emphasize the effectiveness of early pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis in improving outcomes for TBI patients, although the timing of administration (within 48 hours) is particularly critical for achieving statistical significance.
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Background: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) leads to impaired myocardial blood flow (MBF), increasing the risk of cardiovascular death or retransplant among heart transplantation (HT) recipients. Data on elevation in donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) and CAV in the absence of rejection are mixed. We sought to test the hypothesis that CAV with reduced MBF (RMBF) is associated with elevated dd-cfDNA.

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ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Timely reperfusion with primary percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with improved outcomes. The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions puts forth this expert consensus document regarding best practices for cardiac catheterization laboratory team readiness, arterial access with an algorithm to help determine proper arterial access in STEMI, and diagnostic angiography.

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Objective: To determine the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in invasive cervical cancer samples from Ecuadorian women who attended the Cancer Institute (Sociedad de Lucha Contra el Cáncer - SOLCA).

Methods: Archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cervical cancer tissue samples collected during 2017-2021 were deparaffinized, and nucleic acid extraction and purification was performed using silica columns. The obtained nucleic acids were analyzed using INNO-LiPA® HPV Genotyping Extra II per the manufacturer's specifications.

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Two new fusarochromanone derivatives, deacetylfusarochromene () and deacetamidofusarochrom-2',3-diene (), along with the previously reported metabolites fusarochromanone TDP-2 (), fusarochromene (), 2,2-dimethyl-5-amino-6-(2'-ene-4'-hydroxylbutyryl)-4-chromone (), fusarochromanone (), (-)-chrysogine (), and equisetin (), were isolated from the marine fungus UBOCC-A-117302. The structures of the compounds were determined by extensive spectrometric (HRMS) and spectroscopic (1D and 2D NMR) analyses, as well as specific rotation. Among them, and showed inhibition of three protein kinases with IC values ranging from 1.

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Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following heart transplantation (HT). Prior studies identified distinct CAV trajectories in the early post-HT period with unique predictors, but the evolution of CAV in later periods is not well-described. This study assessed the prevalence of late CAV progression and associated risk factors in HT recipients with ISHLT CAV 0/1 at 10 years post-HT.

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Background: Donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) has emerged as a reliable, noninvasive method for the surveillance of allograft rejection in heart transplantation (HT) patients, but its utility in multi-organ transplants (MOT) is unknown. We describe our experience using dd-cfDNA in simultaneous MOT recipients.

Methods: A single-center retrospective review of all HT recipients between 2018 and 2022 that had at least one measurement of dd-cfDNA collected.

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Background: Cancer survivors (CS) comprise a particularly high-risk group for both de-novo and recurrent malignancies after solid organ transplantation.

Case Presentation: We report a case of relapsed melanoma, presented as metastatic disease seven months after heart transplantation in a patient who had an early-stage melanoma resected 25 years prior. Treatment with a combination of dabrafenib, a BRAF inhibitor, and trametinib, a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor resulted in a near-complete metabolic response, without major adverse effects.

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Solid supported catalysts have several synthetic applications. Herein, finely ground eggshells were used as a solid support for the preparation of transition metal (Ni, Zn, Cu, Sn and Co) based catalysts to synthesize 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (3) and dihydropyrimidinones (7 and 8). The effect of catalyst load, time and temperature on product yield was studied.

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As synthetic and nonbiodegradable compounds are becoming a great challenge for the environment, developing polymer electrolytes using naturally occurring biodegradable polymers has drawn considerable research interest to replace traditional aqueous electrolytes and synthetic polymer-based polymer electrolytes. This study shows the development of a highly conducting ionic liquid (1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide)-doped corn starch-based polymer electrolyte. A simple solution cast method is used to prepare biopolymer-based polymer electrolytes and characterized using different electrical, structural, and photoelectrochemical studies.

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  • The study investigated the link between cancer risks and the use of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with Type 2 diabetes by following established research guidelines and analyzing data from 19 randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
  • The findings indicated a potential increase in certain types of cancers, including reproductive and skin cancers, associated with SGLT2i use, but these results were not statistically significant.
  • The study calls for caution regarding SGLT2i prescriptions for diabetic patients and emphasizes the need for further research to better understand the cancer risk connections.
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Background: Chicken feathers contribute to large quantities of keratinaceous wastes that pose serious environmental problems and must be catered to properly. Chicken feathers are also a potential source of vital proteins, peptides, and amino acids, which could be used as low-cost animal feeds. Therefore, there has been increasing interest in keratinase-producing microbes for reprocessing and using keratinous biomaterials.

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  • Donation after circulatory death heart transplantation may expand donor options, particularly benefiting patients with lower urgency status who are using durable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs).
  • A study analyzed data from the United Network for Organ Sharing between 2019 and 2022, comparing outcomes of heart transplant recipients with LVADs to those receiving other bridging support, focusing on one-year mortality and several medical complications.
  • While the one-year mortality rates showed no significant difference, patients with LVADs experienced higher rates of acute rejection, suggesting the need for careful monitoring and management post-transplant.
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  • Valvular heart disease (VHD) encompasses various heart valve issues and has significantly impacted mortality rates among older adults in the U.S. from 1999 to 2019.
  • A study using CDC data found a general decline in mortality rates associated with VHD until 2007, followed by stability and then a significant decrease until 2019, with higher rates in men and disparities across different racial and geographic groups.
  • The research revealed notable differences in age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) by race, region, and type of valvular disease, with non-metropolitan areas and specific states showing higher mortality rates.
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  • This study analyzed the outcomes of 774 adult patients who received simultaneous heart-kidney transplants (SHK) under the revised UNOS heart allocation policy, focusing on 50 patients who were supported by veno-arterial extracorporeal life support (VA-ECLS) compared to 724 without.
  • Results showed that VA-ECLS patients were younger and had better kidney function before transplant but faced higher rates of temporary dialysis and lower survival rates after the procedure, with significant differences in early mortality and cardiac allograft failure.
  • The findings indicate that while VA-ECLS patients have similar renal outcomes post-transplant, they experience greater risks for early mortality and complications related to heart trans
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  • Cardiac hybrid PET/CT is used to assess cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) in heart transplant patients and visually estimated coronary artery calcium (VECAC) from CT scans can help predict cardiovascular outcomes.
  • A study of 430 heart transplant patients found that higher VECAC scores (specifically 10-99 and 100+) were linked to a significantly greater risk of death or retransplantation during a median follow-up of 4.2 years.
  • The findings suggest that VECAC can be a valuable independent marker for predicting adverse outcomes post-heart transplant and should be considered in patient evaluations.
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  • Preoperative assessment of pectoralis muscle area, which estimates sarcopenia, is linked to increased risks in LVAD patients, including higher postoperative mortality and gastrointestinal bleeding.
  • A study involving 254 LVAD patients found that those with low pectoralis muscle area (low-PMI cohort) exhibited significantly elevated inflammation and endotoxemia markers compared to others.
  • Patients with low pectoralis muscle area experienced longer hospital stays and a greater likelihood of readmissions within 90 days and one year after surgery.
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Introduction: This meta-analysis seeks to evaluate the efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) versus vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and undergoing hemodialysis (HD) who also have atrial fibrillation (AF).

Evidence Acquisition: A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, clinicaltrials.gov, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database for relevant studies reporting the usefulness of OAC therapy for CKD, ESRD, and HD patients with AF was conducted from its inception until 1 May 2023.

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  • The study examined the effects of glucagon-like-peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) on heart transplant recipients dealing with diabetes and obesity, as there has been limited research in this area.
  • A total of 74 patients were analyzed, with significant improvements in cardiometabolic parameters such as reduced BMI, lower blood sugar levels (HbA1C), and decreased LDL cholesterol after using GLP1-RA for around 383 days.
  • Results indicated that GLP1-RA therapy was effective in managing diabetes and weight in these patients, with minimal impact on their immunosuppression medication adjustments.
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  • - The study investigated the effects of two heart preservation methods—ice-cold storage (ICS) and the Paragonix SherpaPak CTS—on ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) following heart transplantation, as ischemic times have increased since the 2018 allocation system change.
  • - Analysis of biopsies from 90 heart transplant recipients showed similar IRI rates between the two methods, but the CTS group had a significant reduction in coagulative myocyte necrosis (CMN) from weeks 1 to 4, and both methods showed reductions by week 8.
  • - Despite longer ischemic times with CTS, the study found no significant differences in rejection rates or survival between the groups, suggesting that CTS is a viable option
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