Early Basal Cuspal Tear of a Porcine Bioprosthetic Mitral Valve Causing Massive Mitral Regurgitation.

Although porcine mitral bioprostheses provide predictably good long-term outcomes, unexpected leaflet tears leading to abrupt haemodynamic changes may occur. Here, we report on a patient who was presented with acute dyspnea due to a cuspal tear of a porcine bioprosthetic mitral valve causing severe mitral regurgitation. Her condition was subsequently complicated by a systemic infection, probably pneumonia, and was successfully managed with an urgent redo-mitral valve replacement.

Sex-specific differences in mitochondria biogenesis, morphology, respiratory function, and ROS homeostasis in young mouse heart and brain.

Sex-specific differences in mitochondrial function and free radical homeostasis are reported in the context of aging but not well-established in pathogeneses occurring early in life. Here, we examine if sex disparity in mitochondria function, morphology, and redox status starts early and hence can be implicated in sexual dimorphism in cardiac as well as neurological disorders prevalent at young age. Although mitochondrial activity in the heart did not significantly vary between sexes, female brain exhibited enhanced respiration and higher reserve capacity.

A comparative study between propofol and dexmedetomidine as sedative agents during performing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Objective: The type of sedative drugs could play a major role in providing hemodynamic stability which is crucial during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure. The aim of this study is to compare propofol with dexmedetomidine for conscious sedation during TAVI.

Design: A prospective randomized pilot study.

Metabolomic fingerprints of 21 date palm fruit varieties from Egypt using UPLC/PDA/ESI-qTOF-MS and GC-MS analyzed by chemometrics.

Date palm fruits of the species Phoenix dactylifera exhibit a great diversity in sensory attributes including skin color, smell and taste. This study attempts to elucidate the primary and secondary metabolite profiles of 21 date varieties from Egypt. A major difficulty is sugar rich matrix and skin-fibers embedding the secondary metabolites.

Analysis of cadmium and lead in mice organs: effect of Nigella sativa L. (Black Cumin) on the distribution and immunosuppressive effect of cadmium-lead mixture in mice.

Analysis and distribution of Pb and Cd in different mice organs, including the liver, kidney, spleen, heart, and blood, were evaluated before and after treatment with different aqueous concentrations of Nigella sativa (1.25-10.0 mg/L).

Phytochemical study and cytotoxicity evaluation of Colchicum stevenii Kunth (Colchicaceae): a Jordanian meadow saffron.

Isolation, characterization, and biological evaluation of active components of Colchicum stevenii Kunth (Colchicaceae) are described. Colchicum stevenii is an unexplored Jordanian specie with toxic reputation. Directed by brine shrimp lethality test (BST), methanolic extraction, liquid-liquid partition, preparative TLC, and semi-preparative HPLC, it resulted in the isolation of six cytotoxic compounds.