Responses of health professionals to coronavirus, coronavirus variants, and vaccines: Cross-sectional study.

Background: COVID-19 has affected millions of people around the world since its first case in 2019. In this pandemic, health professionals have been among the most vulnerable groups to contracting the virus or spreading it to others; therefore, their appropriate response in line with health and safety is crucial and needs to be addressed.

Objective: This study evaluated health professionals' behaviors and attitudes toward COVID-19.

Unfolding the reality of the smoking paradox in a South Asian cohort of patients presenting with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: Smoking is a potent risk factor for coronary artery disease, but there is controversy about its protective nature in terms of prognosis in ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. So, the main objective of this study is to unfold this controversy in a South Asian population in terms of clinical angiographic parameters and its in-hospital outcomes.

Methods: In this study, we included 1756 consecutive patients diagnosed with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Robust genetic machine learning ensemble model for intrusion detection in network traffic.

Network security has developed as a critical research subject as a result of the Rapid advancements in the development of Internet and communication technologies over the previous decades. The expansion of networks and data has caused cyber-attacks on the systems, making it difficult for network security to detect breaches effectively. Current Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) have several flaws, including their inability to prevent attacks on their own, the requirement for a professional engineer to administer them, and the occurrence of false alerts.

Increasing Incidence of ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome in Young South Asian Population, a Challenge for the World? An Assessment of Clinical and Angiographic Patterns and Hospital Course of Premature Acute Myocardial Infarction.

The incidence of premature ischemic heart disease (IHD) is increasing because of urbanization, a sedentary lifestyle, and various other unexplored factors, especially in South Asia. This study aimed to assess the distribution of premature ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (STE-ACS) with its clinical and angiographic pattern along with hospital course in a contemporary cohort of patients who underwent primary percutaneous intervention at a tertiary care center in the South Asian region. We included consecutive patients of either gender diagnosed with STE-ACS and who underwent primary percutaneous intervention.

Levels of perceived stress according to professional standings among dental surgeons of Karachi: a descriptive study.

Background: Globally, occupational stress is a common finding among dentists. The present study aimed to assess prevalence of perceived stress among practicing dentists of Karachi, Pakistan, and assess the perceived stress levels according to the professional standing among dental surgeons.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a convenience sampling technique in which 200 dentists from Karachi were recruited.

Effect of Reperfusion Therapies on Incidence of Early Post-Stroke Seizures.

This study aimed to determine the effect of reperfusion therapies on the occurrence of early post-stroke seizures (PSS) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Reperfusion therapies are paramount to the treatment of stroke in the acute phase. However, their effect on the incidence of early seizures after an AIS remains unclear.

Keeping up with venetoclax for leukemic malignancies: key findings, optimal regimens, and clinical considerations.

Introduction: Venetoclax has transformed the treatment landscape in hematologic malignancies, especially in elderly population. With high rates of remission, deep and durable responses, and safe toxicity profile, venetoclax in combination therapy has been extremely effective, garnering accelerated approval and becoming standard of care in lymphoid and myeloid malignancies.

Areas Covered: Preclinical and clinical experience of venetoclax monotherapy and combination therapy in relapsed/refractory and frontline CLL, AML, ALL, high-risk MDS and BPDCN with an emphasis on key clinical trials and efficacy of combination regimens in distinct mutational landscapes.

Sustained MRD negative remission in del17p and TP53 mutated B cell prolymphocytic leukemia with ibrutinib and venetoclax.

B cell prolymphocytic leukemia is a rare and aggressive disorder often with high risk features including TP53 mutation, deletion 17p and complex karyotype. There is scarcity of data regarding treatment and existing therapies induce short lived remissions. Ibrutinib, a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has had success in some patients with high risk features.

Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome; appropriate surgical strategies.

Objective: To evaluate patients presenting with Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome to a tertiary care hospital and their surgical management.

Methods: The retrospective study was conducted at Congenital Cardiac Services, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, and comprised data of Tetralogy of Fallot patients between April 2007 and June 2012. Data was analysed together with follow-up echocardiography.

Effect of steroids on inflammatory markers and clinical parameters in congenital open heart surgery: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with systemic inflammatory response. Steroids suppress this response, although the therapeutic evidence remains controversial. We hypothesised that intravenous steroids in children undergoing open-heart surgery would decrease inflammation leading to better early post-operative outcomes.

Intraoperative air embolism originating from a pulmonary vein.

Air embolism entering the systemic arterial system originating from the pulmonary circuit itself is an extremely rare occurrence. We report the case of an 18-year-old female undergoing correction of an atrial septal defect, who had an air embolism that is believed to have originated from the right superior pulmonary vein. Although the exact mechanism of air entry remains a matter of speculation, several plausible hypotheses are proposed and discussed.

Aggressive angiomyxoma: swirled configuration on ultrasound and MR imaging.

Aggressive angiomyxoma is a rare, myofibroblastic tumour, of pelvi-perineum of young women. It is a slow growing, low grade neoplasm with a high risk of recurrence following initial resection. Aggressive angiomyxoma is often clinically misdiagnosed because of its variable presentation as a soft tissue mass of the vulva, perianal region, buttock or pelvis.

Midterm results of bovine jugular vein conduit for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction.

Objective: To evaluate the midterm results of Contegra conduit.

Methods: The retrospective study comprised patient record at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, of conduits implanted between May 2007 and June 2012. Data collection was made from the clinical notes and from serial echocardiograms by a single cardiologist.

Contegra valved conduit in the paediatric population: an exciting prospect for right ventricle to pulmonary artery reconstruction; experience and outcomes at Aga Khan University.

Objective: The focus of this study is to share the experience and outcomes of Contegra graft implantation in the paediatric and adult population in Pakistan.

Methods: Between May 2007 and July 2011, 16 patients, underwent implantation of a Contegra valved conduit. All operations were performed through a median sternotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Clinical outcomes of surgically corrected atrial septal defects.

Objective: To examine the outcomes of surgical repair of atrial septal defects in paediatric and adult patients.

Methods: The retrospective study comprised data of 84 patients who had undergone surgical correction of atrial septal defect at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, between June 2006 and December 2011. All patients with isolated atrial septal defect (ostium secundum, ostium primum and sinus venosus with or without partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection) were included.

Surgical rescue of embolized amplatzer devices.

Background And Aim: Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with Amplatzer septal/duct occluder (ASO/ADO) is an established, safe, and efficient procedure with high success. However, device embolization remains a major complication requiring immediate intervention (either percutaneous or surgical) for retrieval and correction of the heart defect. The aim of this study is to share the experience of managing embolized ASO/ADO.