Severity and Morphological Characteristics of Anaemia Among 6 to 59 Months Old Children in Temeke, Dar es Salaam-Tanzania: Clinics Based Cross Sectional Analysis.

Background: Anaemia is a global public health indicator of both poor nutrition and poor health. Besides, it stands as a silent signal of mal-aligned health system across the entire human lifespan. Globally, the importance of anaemia is most pronounced among children.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography as a single-modality 'gold-standard' treatment for common bile duct stones in the elderly.

Background: There are more octogenarians presenting with gallstone disease each year. Many are not suitable for surgical intervention. An alternative treatment option for common bile duct stones in the elderly is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with or without stent insertion.

Improved outcomes of conduction system pacing in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Conduction system pacing (CSP)-His bundle pacing (HBP) and left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP)-are emerging alternatives to biventricular pacing (BVP) for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in heart failure. However, evidence is largely limited to small and observational studies. We conducted a meta-analysis including a total of 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs that compare CSP (HBP and LBBAP) with BVP in patients with CRT indications.

Three-Dimensional Multi-detector Computed Tomography (3D-MDCT) Gastric Volumetry in Patients with obesity and Normal-Weight Individuals.

Background: Obesity is a widely prevalent medical and socioeconomic problem. Bariatric surgery is indicated for patients with clinically severe obesity. Reduction of gastric volume is an important factor that contributes to weight loss after laparscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

Pacing-induced cardiomyopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of definition, prevalence, risk factors, and management.

Pacing-induced cardiomyopathy is a potential complication of right ventricular pacing. Definition varies between studies and the optimal management approach is uncertain. We aimed to characterize definition, prevalence, risk factors, and treatment strategies of pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PiCM).

Secondary Hyperparathyroidism Before and After Bariatric Surgery: a Prospective Study with 2-Year Follow-Up.

Purpose: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is linked to obesity. Bariatric surgery may be associated with calcium and vitamin D deficiencies leading to SHPT. This study aimed to detect the prevalence of SHPT before and after bariatric surgery.

Ursodeoxycholic acid for the prevention of gall stones after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a prospective controlled study.

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for cholelithiasis. Besides, rapid weight loss after bariatric surgery upsurges the rate of cholelithiasis and acute cholecystitis. This study aimed to compare gallstone development frequency after LSG under ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) prophylaxis.

Miniaturized implantable cardiac monitor with a long sensing vector (BIOMONITOR III): Insertion procedure assessment, sensing performance, and home monitoring transmission success.

Background: Implantable Cardiac Monitors (ICMs) are used for long-term monitoring of arrhythmias. BIOMONITOR III is a novel ICM with a miniaturized profile, long sensing vector due to a flexible antenna, simplified implantation with a dedicated insertion tool for pocket formation and ICM placement in a single step, and daily automatic Home Monitoring (HM) function.

Methods: In 47 patients undergoing BIOMONITOR III insertion for any ICM indication, 16 investigators at 10 Australian sites assessed handling characteristics of the insertion tool, R-wave amplitudes, noise burden, P-wave visibility, and HM transmission success.

Septo-optic dysplasia with amniotic band syndrome sequence: a case report.

Introduction: De Morsier syndrome, or septo-optic dysplasia, is a rare, heterogeneous, complex condition with a highly variable phenotype. It is characterized by optic nerve hypoplasia, pituitary gland hypoplasia, and midline brain abnormalities, including absence of septum pellucidum and corpus callosum dysgenesis. Diagnosis is made clinically by the presence of any two or more features from the clinical triad.

Pacing: a new look. Don't be deceived.

CLINICAL INTRODUCTION: A 78-year-old man presents following a syncopal episode in the setting of intermittent sinus bradycardia and left bundle branch block (LBBB). With symptoms likely due to documented intermittent sinus node dysfunction, and finding of a diseased left bundle, a pacemaker was inserted (online supplementary figure 1 shows the electrode position in a PA fluroscopy view). His baseline ECG is shown in figure 1A, with a QRS width of 160 ms, and his echocardiogram revealed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 45%.

BioMonitor 2 Pilot Study: Early Experience With Implantation of the Biotronik BioMonitor 2 Implantable Cardiac Monitor.

Background: The BioMonitor 2 Pilot Study assessed the implantation procedure, the sensing amplitude and the remote monitoring transmission success rate of the second generation implantable cardiac monitor, the BioMonitor 2 (Biotronik, Berlin, Germany).

Methods: This was a prospective, multi-centre, single-arm, non-randomised study involving seven operators in five sites across Australia. Data were collected at implantation, during clinic visits at 1 week and 1 month post-implantation, and through wireless remote monitoring.

An Innovative Approach to Retention: Thermoplastic Retainer.

Aim: The aim of this study was to design and introduce a retainer that overcomes the common shortcomings seen in other retainers.

Materials And Methods: Hard thermoplastic sheet of 0.5 mm thickness is vacuum or pressure-molded onto the patient cast.

High osmolarity effect of intravitreal plasmin enzyme on rabbit retina.

We conducted a study of the effect of intravitreal plasmin on retinal thickness in rabbits. Forty rabbit eyes were injected with 0.4, 1, 2, and 5 IU of plasmin (8 eyes/group).

Twenty five-gauge sutureless vitrectomy versus 20-gauge vitrectomy in epiretinal membrane surgery.

Purpose: To compare visual outcomes, intraoperative and postoperative complications of 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (25-G TSV) versus conventional 20-gauge vitrectomy in epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery.

Methods: A retrospective comparative study was conducted on 200 eyes with idiopathic ERM who underwent either primary 20-gauge vitrectomy (n=95) or 25-G TSV (n=105) with 6 months follow up. The following parameters were collected and compared: age, gender, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), postoperative anterior chamber inflammation, intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring.

This article forms part of our 'Tests and results' series for 2011 which aims to provide information about common tests that general practitioners order regularly. It considers areas such as indications, what to tell the patient, what the test can and cannot tell you, and interpretation of results.

Histopathological and biochemical effects of green tea and/or licorice aqueous extracts on thyroid functions in male albino rats intoxicated with dimethylnitrosamine.

Objective: To investigate histopathological and biochemical effects of green tea and/or licorice aqueous extracts in thyroid functions in male albino rats intoxicated with Dimethylnitrosamine.

Methods: 40 Male albino rats were divided into two main groups, 20 normal rats and 20 DMN intoxicated rats. Normal rats were subgrouped into 4 equal groups, group A without treatment (controls), group B treated with green tea, group C treated with licorice, group D treated with green tea and licorice.

Utility of isoproterenol in unmasking latent escape rhythm in pacemaker dependent patients undergoing pacemaker replacement.

Pacemaker generator replacement in dependent patients may be managed with a bridging temporary pacing lead or by replacing the generator very expediently. The 2 options involve a small risk, and temporary pacing introduces additional cost. This study was conducted to explore the utility of a graduated rate-decrease protocol with isoproterenol support in unmasking an intrinsic rhythm that would obviate the 2 strategies.

Molecular and electrophysiological bases of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an inherited arrhythmogenic disorder characterized by adrenergically mediated polymorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Genetic investigations have identified two variants of the disease: an autosomal dominant form associated with mutations in the gene encoding the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) and a recessive form associated with homozygous mutations in the gene encoding the cardiac isoform of calsequestrin (CASQ2). Functional characterization of mutations identified in the RyR2 and CASQ2 genes has demonstrated that CPVT are caused by derangements of the control of intracellular calcium.

A novel pacing maneuver to localize focal atrial tachycardia.

Background: Although focal atrial tachycardias cannot be entrained, we hypothesized that atrial overdrive pacing (AOP) can be an effective adjunct to localize the focus of these tachycardias at the site where the post-pacing interval (PPI) is closest to the tachycardia cycle length (TCL).

Methods: Overdrive pacing was performed in nine patients during atrial tachycardia, and in a comparison group of 15 patients during sinus rhythm. Pacing at a rate slightly faster than atrial tachycardia in group 1 and sinus rhythm in group 2 was performed from five standardized sites in the right atrium and coronary sinus.

Characteristics of slow pathway conduction after successful AVNRT ablation.

Background: AV node slow pathway conduction can persist following successful ablation for AV node reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). We hypothesized that careful examination of AV nodal conduction curves before and after effective AVNRT ablation in patients with persistent slow pathway conduction could shed light on this apparent paradox.

Methods And Results: Thirty patients (age 40.