Diagnostic Accuracy of Cranial Ultrasound for the Detection of Intracranial Hemorrhage in Preterm Neonates Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging As the Gold Standard.

Background and objective Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and white-matter damage are the main brain injuries in preterm infants. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the best way to examine cerebral bleeding. The evidence on cranial ultrasound diagnostic accuracy in neonates is limited in Pakistani publications, which show variability in evidence, necessitating the present study.

Positive Predictive Value of Contrast-Enhanced Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Diagnosis of Meningitis Among Pediatrics Taking Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis as Gold Standard.

Background And Objective: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is the gold standard for meningitis diagnosis. It is invasive, time-consuming, and can inoculate infection. CSF analysis is not appropriate for many children without significant clinical suspicion, and delaying decision-making can have negative consequences.

The Prediction of DLL4 as a Prognostic Biomarker in Patients with Gastric Cancer Using Anti-DLL4 Nanobody.

Background: Angiogenesis and cancer metastasis depend on the DLL4/Notch signaling pathway. A new approach to treating angiogenesis could inhibit or block this pathway. In the present study, we investigated DLL4 expression as a biomarker capable of predicting survival outcomes in gastric cancer patients using a novel anti-DLL4 Nanobody.

Assessing angiogenesis factors as prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer patients and their association with clinicopathological factors.

Introduction: Angiogenesis is fundamental for tumor growth and metastasis across many solid malignancies. Considerable interest has focused on the molecular regulation of tumor angiogenesis as a means to predict disease outcomes and guide therapeutic decisions.

Methods: In the present study, we investigated the prognostic value of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the serum of 120 women diagnosed with breast cancer using ELISA as well as examined their associations with clinical parameters and the outcome of the disease.

Single-Field Fundus Photography for Screening of Diabetic Retinopathy: The Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Population-Based Study.

Introduction: We aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a multi-primary healthcare facilities-based DR screening project by analyzing single-field fundus photographs among patients with diabetes in Rafsanjan City, Iran, based on the Rafsanjan Cohort Study, as a part of the prospective epidemiological research studies in IrAN (PERSIAN).

Methods: Of all participants in the Rafsanjan Cohort Study (performed in four primary healthcare facilities across Rafsanjan City from August 2015 to December 2017), patients with diabetes were recruited in this study. All participants underwent a standardized interview and clinical and paraclinical examinations for demographic characteristics, and medical conditions according to the PERSIAN's protocols.

Influenza Vaccine Booster Stimulates Antibody Response in Beta Thalassemia Major Patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate antibody response against influenza vaccine in beta thalassemia major patients from Iran. Thirty beta thalassemia major patients were enrolled and divided into three groups: single dose (group 1), double dose (group 2), and control (group 3). Seroconversion, seroprotection, and geometric mean titer (GMT) assays were performed through hemagglutination inhibition (HI) on days 0, 14, and 60.

The impact of intraoperative radiotherapy on breast cancer: focus on the levels of angiogenic factors.

Objective: Angiogenesis is one of the hallmarks of cancers that is involved in tumor progression. Angiogenic factors induce the formation of new blood vessels and tumor extension, and finally reduce the survival of patients. Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), in which radiation is delivered to the tumor bed can kill cells and change tumor microenvironment.

A Case of Peripartum Ventricular Tachycardia due to Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy is a predominantly inherited structural disease with a heterogeneous set of implicated genetic defects. For those patients not identified by targeted population screening programs, ventricular tachycardia can be their first presentation. We report a case of a female from the genetically isolated Hutterite colonies who presented with recurrent ventricular tachycardia.

High prevalence of occult hepatitis C virus infection in injection drug users with HIV infection.

One of the pathological forms of chronic hepatitis C is occult HCV infection (OCI), in which there is no detectable HCV RNA in plasma specimens but HCV RNA is present in PBMCs and liver biopsy specimens. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of OCI in HIV-positive people who are injection drug users (IDUs). From April 2015 to August 2018, 161 Iranian IDUs with HIV infection enrolled in the study.

The Association between the Pulmonary Arterial Obstruction Index and Atrial Size in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Purpose: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and potentially fatal form of venous thromboembolism. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the pulmonary arterial obstruction index and atrial size in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Basic Procedure: The study consisted of 86 patients with clinical symptoms of PE.

Post-Complex Myocardial Infarct Pseudoaneurysm Rupture and Subsequent Complications.

Ventricular pseudoaneurysm is an uncommonly encountered complication of myocardial infarction (MI) in the era of percutaneous coronary intervention. Its presentation can be very non-specific, and diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. Urgent surgical repair is generally warranted to prevent potentially catastrophic complications.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Human Adipose Tissue-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on T Cell Subsets in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSCs) have been reported to suppress the effector T cell responses and have beneficial effects on various immune disorders, like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study was designed to investigate the effects of co-cultured Ad-MSCs on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of RA patients and healthy individuals, through assessing transcription factors of T cell subsets. PBMCs from RA patients and healthy donors were co-cultured with Ad-MSCs with or without Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA).

Molecular diagnosis of occult hepatitis C virus infection in Iranian injection drug users.

Occult HCV infection (OCI) has been described as the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genomic RNA in hepatocytes and/or peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) specimens and the lack of HCV genomic RNA and anti-HCV antibodies (Abs) in plasma samples. Injection drug users (IDUs) are the most important high-risk group for infection with blood-borne viruses, particularly HCV. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of OCI in IDUs.

Recurrent Ischemic Stroke: A Manifestation of a Sinus of Valsalva Pseudoaneurysm.

An 83-year-old female presented to the emergency department with bilateral eye pain, dizziness, and acute shortness of breath. Her blood pressure (BP) at presentation was 184/93 mmHg. She was admitted for hypertensive emergency and her symptoms improved with BP control.

Meta-Analysis Comparing Catheter-Guided Ablation Versus Conventional Medical Therapy for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.

The prognostic benefit of catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation in the setting of heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF) is unclear. A systematic search of medical literature was limited to randomized controlled trials. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and secondary outcomes were HF hospitalizations, stroke, left ventricular EF improvement, change in 6-minute walk test, and change in Minnesota living with HF questionnaire (Δ MLHFQ).

The "Chimney Sweep Technique" and Recurrent Coronary Artery Dissections.

We are reporting a case of a 65-year-old female who experienced three ST elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMI) during the course of 3 weeks. The first infarct was related to intramural coronary hematoma that propagated proximally after stenting, the second involved progression of this hematoma with obstruction of the vessel lumen, and the third caused subacute stent thrombosis that required "stent cleaning" using the inflated balloon technique.

Chromogenic in situ Hybridization Compared with Real time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction to Evaluate HER2/neu Status in Breast Cancer.

Background And Objective: The assessment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status has become of great importance in the diagnosis of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) and Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization (CISH) to assess HER2 status of biopsy specimens.

Methods: To elucidate the status of HER2 gene amplification, biopsies of breast carcinoma from 120 patients with 2+ IHC status were analyzed by qPCR and CISH.

AngioVac System Used as an Adjunct Treatment for Intra-Cardiac Lead and Valvular Vegetations.

Infections are known complications of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). We describe a case of a 62-year-old male who presented with pulseless electrical activity (PEA) cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. He had a history of cardiac resynchronization device and defibrillator (CRT-D) implantation for nonischemic cardiomyopathy.

A novel and innovative hair test to determine glucocorticoid levels in racing camels for use in assessment of doping, health, and disease.

The aim of this project was to develop and validate a new test for the analysis of glucocorticoids in camel hair and to use the new test to analyse hair samples from a variety of camel breeds in sports and racing applications. These findings could be of importance when evaluating racing camels for suspected doping offenses or for injury and disease control. Camel hair samples were collected from 30 non-racing dromedary camels along with 3 racing camels in Al Ain, UAE and were decontaminated, pulverised, sonicated, and extracted prior to analysis.

Patient-Centered Home Model of Care and the Role of Patient Care Teams in the Treatment and Management of Chronic Disease.

Patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a concept of a team of providers caring for a panel of patients with the goals to improve the quality of care while simultaneously decreasing the cost of that care. The clinical evidence that the PCMH approach achieves either goal is mixed. More studies are in progress that will provide more data.

Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Due to Community Violence Among University Students in the World's Most Dangerous Megacity: A Cross-Sectional Study From Pakistan.

Community violence among the youth can lead to a number of adverse psychiatric outcomes including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, little research has been conducted in non-Western countries to assess this problem. This study aims to fill the void by assessing the lifetime exposure to traumatic events and burden of probable PTSD among university students in Karachi, Pakistan.

Outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting in a tertiary-care center in Pakistan.

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous coronary intervention are revascularization options for significant coronary artery disease. While international data support the use of coronary artery bypass in high-risk groups, regional data on outcomes in these groups are rare. We conducted a retrospective study to determine the outcomes of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass for left main and multivessel disease.