Can short-term heart rate variability predict coronary artery disease in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography due to typical chest pain?

Background: Presence of typical chest pain and normal coronary angiography suggests the possibility of microvascular ischemia of the myocardium as well as other non-cardiac causes that are also likely to decrease heart rate variability (HRV). This raises a question of whether poor HRV can predict abnormal elective coronary angiography (ECA).

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare HRV in patients with typical chest pain when they are classified according to ECA outcomes.

Indicators of metabolic syndrome in normotensive normoglycemic asthmatic patients.

Background: Pathophysiology of hypertension and bronchial asthma (BA) shares many similarities, especially those related to the metabolic syndrome (MS).

Aim: In this study, the indicators of the MS were evaluated in normoglycemic normotensive asthmatic patients to clarify if the components of the MS can still interact to increase the risk of BA, provided that blood pressure and glucose level are kept within the normal physiological ranges.

Methods: Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting blood insulin (FBI) levels, the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), serum lipid profile, and spirometric measurements were all compared between 120 asthmatic patients and 59 non-asthmatic subjects.

Thyroid hormones profile among obese pregnant Sudanese women.

Background: Previous studies evaluating thyroid function among obese pregnant women failed to demonstrate a consistent pattern of thyroid hormones profile, probably due to the variations in biological/environmental determinants of thyroid function in different countries.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate thyroid hormones profile in Sudanese pregnant women with varying degrees of obesity.

Patients And Methods: Obstetric/sociodemographic characteristics were gathered from 178 singleton pregnant Sudanese women using questionnaires.

Heart rate variability and hematological parameters in pregnant women.

Background: There are few researches on hematological parameters (hemoglobin, red cell distribution width [RDW], white blood cells [WBCs], mean platelets volume [MPV], and heart rate variability [HRV]). There are no published data on this concept (HRV and hematological parameters) during pregnancy.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Saad Abul Ela hospital in Khartoum, Sudan during the period of July to August 2018.

Chest Pain Characteristics in Cardiac Syndrome X Compared to Coronary Artery Disease.

Aim: This study aimed to assess if clinical remarks gained by analysis of the present and past medical history of patients undergoing elective coronary angiography (ECA) due to typical chest pain can help to predict the outcome of ECA.

Material And Methods: One hundred and fifty-four ECA candidates with a history of typical chest were seen on the same day intended for ECA in the cardiac centre of AlShaab Teaching Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan. The details of the present complaints, characteristics of chest pain, past medical and socioeconomic history were recorded from each subject guided by a questionnaire.

Effect of combined gliclazide/metformin treatment on oxidative stress, lipid profile, and hepatorenal functions in type 2 diabetic patients.

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that requires pharmacotherapy interventions. Metformin and gliclazide are widely used drugs in monotherapy. However, their complementary action made utilization of the combination of these drugs an appealing approach.

Maternal Heart Rate Variability during the First Stage of Labor.

Labor necessitates continuous adjustments of cardiac autonomic reflexes by alternate activation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The division of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) that predominates during the first stage of labor is unclear and needs to be further investigated. The study aimed to compare heart rate variability (HRV) in pregnant women in the third trimester with those during the first stage of labor.

Higher Rate of Iron Deficiency in Obese Pregnant Sudanese Women.

Aim: To assess the association between obesity and iron deficiency (ID).

Material And Methods: Pregnant women were recruited from Saad Abualila Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan, during January-April 2015. Medical history (age, parity, gestational age) was gathered using questionnaire.

Thyroid function/antibodies in sudanese women with polycystic ovarian disease.

Objective: To evaluate thyroid function and hormonal profile in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: A case-control study was conducted at Saad Abualila Center, Khartoum, Sudan. The cases were women with confirmed PCOS based on Rotterdam criteria.

Trimester Pattern of Change and Reference Ranges of Hematological Profile Among Sudanese Women with Normal Pregnancy.

Trimester specific reference ranges of hematological indices were described in several populations; however, comparable reports among Sudanese women with normal pregnancy are lacking. To evaluate trimester pattern of change and reference ranges of hematological profile among Sudanese women with normal pregnancy, we followed 143 women with singleton gestation since early pregnancy until the third trimester in Saad Abu-Alela Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan, during the period of January-December 2015. Obstetrics and medical history was gathered using questionnaire and hematological profile was investigated using hemo-analyser.

The physiological basis and clinical significance of lung volume measurements.

From a physiological standpoint, the lung volumes are either dynamic or static. Both subclasses are measured at different degrees of inspiration or expiration; however, dynamic lung volumes are characteristically dependent on the rate of air flow. The static lung volumes/capacities are further subdivided into four standard volumes (tidal, inspiratory reserve, expiratory reserve, and residual volumes) and four standard capacities (inspiratory, functional residual, vital and total lung capacities).

Ventricular late potential in cardiac syndrome X compared to coronary artery disease.

Background: Although ventricular late potential (VLP) was extensively studied in risk stratification of myocardial infarction (MI) patients, comparable researches evaluating presence of VLP in MI-free coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiac syndrome X (CSX) subjects are scarce. This study aimed to compare presence of VLP between CSX and CAD patients.

Methods: Signal average ECG (SAECG) was performed to 49 patients with a history of typical cardiac pain before undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography (DCA) in Al-Shaab cardiac center, Khartoum, Sudan.

Anxiety Level and Cardiac Autonomic Modulations in Coronary Artery Disease and Cardiac Syndrome X Patients.

Background: Anxiety and cardiac autonomic modulations (CAM) were thoroughly investigated in coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiac syndrome X (CSX) patients worldwide, but not among Sudanese with similar pathology.

Aims: To compare levels of anxiety and CAM between Sudanese patients with CSX and CAD.

Materials And Methods: Anxiety was evaluated in 51 CAD and 26 CSX patients using Taylor Manifest anxiety score (TMAS) questionnaire while heart rate variability derived indices were used to assess CAM, namely natural logarithm of low frequency (LnLF), high frequency (LnHF) and LF/HF ratio (LnLF/HF).

Trimester-specific thyroid hormone reference ranges in Sudanese women.

Background: Trimester-specific reference ranges for T3, T4, and TSH need to be established in different communities. Neither Sudan nor other African countries have established trimester-specific reference ranges for TSH, free T3 (FT3), and free T4 (FT4) in healthy pregnant women. This study aimed to establish trimester-specific reference ranges for TSH, FT3, and FT4 in healthy pregnant Sudanese women.

QT Interval Derived Measurements in Patients with Cardiac Syndrome X Compared to Coronary Artery Disease.

Previous studies assessing effect of ischemia on ventricular repolarization are mostly directed toward patients with coronary artery disease (CAD); however, similar reports on cardiac syndrome X (CSX) are scarce. Whether microvascular dysfunction of CSX and ischemia induced by CAD produce comparable effect on ventricular repolarization is unclear and deserve further studies. In the present study, ECG measures of ventricular repolarization were compared between CAD and CSX patients (40 subjects in each group).

Effect of Fasting Blood Glucose Level on Heart Rate Variability of Healthy Young Adults.

Background: Previous studies reported increased risk of cardiac events in subjects with fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels lower than the diagnostic threshold of diabetes mellitus. However, whether increased cardiac events in those with upper normal FBG is secondary to the shift of their cardiac sympathovagal balance towards sympathetic predominance is unknown.

Aims: To assess the association between FBG levels and cardiac autonomic modulation (CAM) in euglycaemic healthy subjects based on heart rate variability (HRV) derived indices.

Diagnostic accuracy of resting left ventricular akinesia/hypokinesia in predicting abnormal coronary angiography.

Background: Although several reports demonstrate the efficacy of stress echocardiography in diagnosing coronary artery disease, comparable studies on the competence of the same imaging technique at rest are limited. This study aimed to evaluate whether ventricular akinesia/hypokinesia and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 55 % at rest are useful in predicting abnormal coronary angiography.

Methods: This study prospectively enrolled 100 diagnostic coronary catheterization candidates.

Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Modulations in Preeclampsia.

Background: Although the exact pathophysiology of preeclampsia is not well understood, autonomic nervous system imbalance is suggested as one of the main factors.

Aims: To investigate heart rate variability (HRV) and autonomic modulations in Sudanese pregnant women with preeclampsia.

Subjects And Methods: A case-control study (60 women in each arm) was conducted at Omdurman Maternity Hospital-Sudan, during the period from June to August, 2014.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Euphorbia aegyptiaca extract in rats.

Background: There were no studies on the anti-inflammatory activity of Euphorbia aegyptiaca, though it is commonly used by Sudanese herbalists in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To determine phytochemical constituents of Euphorbia aegyptiacaTo investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of Euphorbia aegyptiaca in rats.

Methodology: Plant material was extracted by ethanol and phytochemical screening was done according to standard methods.

Patterns of changes and diagnostic values of FEF50%, FEF25%-75% and FEF50%/FEF25%-75% ratio in patients with varying control of bronchial asthma.

Background: The pattern of change in FEF50%, FEF25%-75% and FEF50%/FEF25%-75% ratio depends on mechanics of forceful expiration, provided that non-homogenous lung emptying is faithfully recorded in the expiratory flow-volume loops.

Objective: To assess the potential clinical value of FEF50%, FEF25%-75% and FEF50%/FEF25%-75% ratio as an indicator of bronchial asthma (BA) control.

Methodology: The study involved 75 patients with BA matched for age and gender with 45 non-asthmatic subjects.

Hypertriglyceridemia in Infants and Children with Hypernatremia.

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia in association with hypernatremia was reported in a few children; however, studies exploring this association are limited.

Objective: To determine the pattern of change in serum triglycerides levels in hypernatremia patients.

Design And Setting: A prospective case-control study done at North West Armed Forces Hospital, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia from April 2008 to March 2011.

Patterns of heart rate variability and cardiac autonomic modulations in controlled and uncontrolled asthmatic patients.

Background: Previous heart rate variability (HRV) studies in asthmatic subjects (AS) demonstrate predominance of parasympathetic drive concomitant with low HRV, which is against the general belief that enhanced parasympathetic modulation improves HRV. The aim of this study was to compare patterns of HRV and cardiac autonomic modulations of AS to healthy control subjects (HS).

Methods: Eighty AS and forty HS were enrolled in the study.

Zinc and copper levels are not correlated with angiographically-defined coronary artery disease in sudanese patients.

We investigated zinc and copper levels in angiographically defined obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography in El-Shaab Hospital, Sudan. We performed a cross-sectional study. One hundred forty-two patients were enrolled.

Thyroid Function/Antibodies in Sudanese Patients with Preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is an important cause of maternal and prenatal morbidity and mortality in the developing countries. Changes in thyroid function/antibodies profiles in preeclamptic women are controversial and were never investigated before in Sudan. A case-control study was conducted at Medani Hospital, Sudan, to investigate thyroid function/antibodies in preeclampsia.

Oxidative/nitrosative stress in rats subjected to focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

Background: Ischemic stroke usually initiates inflammation and oxidative/nitrosative stress leading to neuronal death.

Aim: To investigate the existence of oxidative/nitrosativestress in rats subjected to focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and its effects on the consequent neurological deficits.

Material And Method: Experimental procedures were performed on 30 adult males Wister rats.