Publications by authors named "Mohamad Kanso"

Article Synopsis
  • - Patients with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC) show better left atrial (LA) health, evidenced by lower LA volume, higher voltage, and fewer low-voltage zones (LVZs) compared to those without TIC.
  • - In a study of 139 persistent atrial fibrillation patients undergoing catheter ablation, those with TIC had less atrial remodeling and a 36-month follow-up showed no significant difference in the rate of atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) recurrence between TIC and non-TIC groups.
  • - Overall, the findings suggest TIC patients have similar, if not improved, outcomes following ablation procedures, despite possessing a less remodeled atrial substrate.
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Article Synopsis
  • Tobacco smoking is a major global public health issue linked to noncommunicable diseases and preventable deaths, especially in conflict areas like Gaza.
  • A 2020 study in Gaza involving over 4,500 participants revealed a 19.4% smoking prevalence, predominantly among men, and found that cigarette smoking was significantly associated with coronary artery disease and chronic lung disease.
  • The research indicates that understanding factors like age and education could help develop interventions to reduce smoking rates in this population.
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Background: CHADS-VASc score-related differences have been reported in atrial fibrotic remodeling and prognosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients after ablation. There are currently no data on the efficacy of low voltage zone (LVZ)-guided ablation in persistent AF patients according to CHADS-VASc score. We assessed in a cohort of persistent AF patients the extent of LVZ, the regional distribution of LA voltage and the outcome of LA voltage-guided substrate ablation in addition to PVI according to CHADS-VASc score.

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Tobacco smoking, a significant public health concern globally, is associated with a rise in noncommunicable diseases and preventable deaths, with pronounced impacts in conflict zones like Gaza. A study in Gaza focused on individuals over 40 years of age, aiming to identify predictors of tobacco use and its links to diseases like coronary artery disease, chronic lung disease, and stroke. The research, based on the Gaza NCD study data with 4576 participants and a 96.

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  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked to heart issues and involves changes in heart tissue; this study explores how activated factor X (FXa) impacts this process in atrial endothelial cells and human heart tissues.
  • The researchers used cells from pig hearts and human surgical samples, testing for various proteins, gene expressions, and signs of stress and fibrosis in response to FXa.
  • Findings showed that FXa boosts harmful responses like oxidative stress and inflammation in atrial cells while reducing protective factors, and these effects can be blocked by specific inhibitors targeting FXa.
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Background: Obesity is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). Data regarding left atrial (LA) remodeling in obese patients are scarce. Whether obesity favors AF recurrence after catheter ablation (CA) is still controversial.

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  • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is the preferred treatment for severe aortic stenosis, and a study of 705 patients at Strasbourg University Hospital examined long-term survival rates after the procedure.
  • The study found a 45.8% all-cause mortality rate over an average of 5.4 years, with no significant survival differences based on the type of valve used.
  • Key factors influencing mortality included being aged 90 or older, having diabetes, experiencing post-TAVR stroke, and acute kidney injury, while more than half of the participants survived beyond 5 years post-procedure.
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Background: Gender-related differences have been reported in atrial fibrotic remodeling and prognosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients after ablation. We assessed in persistent AF the regional distribution of left atrial (LA) bipolar voltage and the extent of low-voltage zones (LVZ) according to gender as well as the results of a voltage-guided substrate ablation.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent a voltage-guided AF ablation were enrolled.

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Background: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, several cardiovascular manifestations have been described. Among them, venous thromboembolism (VTE) seems to be one of the most frequent, particularly in intensive care unit patients. We report two cases of COVID-19 patients developing acute pulmonary embolism (PE) after discharge from a first hospitalization for pneumonia of moderate severity.

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  • The study examines the effective orifice area (EOA) and mean transvalvular aortic gradient (MG) of three types of transcatheter heart valves (Sapien 3, CoreValve, and Evolut R) in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI.
  • Using Doppler echocardiography, measurements were taken at multiple time points (discharge, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year) for 260 patients.
  • Results indicated that larger prostheses had higher EOAs and lower MGs, with the CoreValve and Evolut R performing better in smaller aortic annulus cases, while there were no significant differences in all-cause mortality between the valve types
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  • The study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on patients with aortic stenosis who had received transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and examines the role of ABO blood groups in disease susceptibility and outcomes.
  • Out of 702 patients analyzed, 22 (3.1%) contracted COVID-19, with 63.6% of those being hospitalized or dying as a result of the disease.
  • The A blood group was found to be a significant independent predictor for contracting COVID-19, and it also correlated with worse clinical outcomes, alongside a history of cancer.
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Purpose: Identification of clinical predictors of acute and surgical pathologies on abdominal CT in patients with non-traumatic abdominal pain (NTAP).

Methods: Retrospective chart review cohort study of adults who had abdominal CT scans for investigation of NTAP in the Emergency Department in a tertiary care center in Lebanon. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors of pathologies on CT scan.

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Article Synopsis
  • New-onset conduction abnormalities (CAs) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) can lead to increased hospitalizations and long-term mortality, but there are limited predictors for these outcomes.
  • A study involving 290 patients found that nearly half of those without prior left bundle branch block (LBBB) experienced new-onset LBBB or required a permanent pacemaker (PPM) after TAVR, with differences in membranous septal length and implantation depth identified as key predictors.
  • Patients with new CAs faced a significantly higher risk of adverse clinical events, highlighting the importance of assessing septal anatomy to potentially improve outcomes in future TAVR procedures.
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Objective: This study aims to explore the short-term and long-term prevalence and effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among victims of cluster munitions.

Design And Setting: A prospective 10-year longitudinal study that took place in Lebanon.

Participants: Two-hundred-and-forty-four Lebanese civilian victims of submunition blasts, who were injured in 2006 and were over 18 years old, were interviewed.

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Introduction: The tobacco epidemic is a major public health threat facing the world. Tobacco dependence is recognized as the greatest preventable cause of disease and death. Medical students are in key position influencing future tobacco cessation programs.

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