Artificial intelligence: transforming cardiovascular healthcare in Africa.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), a significant global health concern, are responsible for 13% of all deaths particularly in Africa, where they contribute substantially to the global disease burden, taking several millions of lives globally and annually. Despite advancements in healthcare, the burden of CVDs continues to rise steadily. This comprehensive review critically examines the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) management in Africa.

Serum leptin levels and relationship with maternal weight gain at term among obese and non-obese pregnant women in Enugu, Nigeria: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Objective: To determine and compare the mean maternal serum leptin levels, the prevalence of high serum leptin levels and mean gestational weight gain at term among obese and non-obese pregnant women in Enugu, Nigeria.

Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study enrolled obese and non-obese pregnant women. The serum leptin levels of the women were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

Survey of the Relationship Between Online Committee of Friends Meetings, Burials, and Coping With Bereavement Among Nigerians in Ebonyi State.

Online committee of friends meeting is a new trend in Nigeria. There is a continuous online interaction that goes on among the group members. The qualitative research design was used to carry out the study.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest without return of spontaneous circulation in the field: Who are the survivors?

Background: Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in the field is a vital determinant contributing to survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, nearly one third of survivors at the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) site did not obtain ROSC in the field.

Methods: A retrospective, observational analysis was performed on all adult patients with non-traumatic OHCA treated on scene and transported to hospital, who did not gain ROSC in the field at DFW ROC site between 2006 through 2011.

The risk of endoscopic mucosal resection in the setting of clopidogrel use.

Objective. Guidelines on antiplatelet medication use during endoscopy are based on limited evidence. We investigate the risk of bleeding and ischemic events in patients undergoing endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of esophageal lesions in the setting of scheduled cessation and prompt resumption of clopidogrel.

The intersection of intimate partner violence and HIV in U.S. women: a review.

The purposes of this study were to (a) review original research in the United States on the intersection of HIV risk and intimate partner violence (IPV) in women, and (b) identify trends that promote nursing and public health prevention and intervention strategies. Twenty-three original, peer-reviewed articles in the medical literature from 2008 to April 2012 were reviewed. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they addressed both HIV and IPV in women.

Meniscal and chondral injuries associated with pediatric anterior cruciate ligament tears: relationship of treatment time and patient-specific factors.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are commonly associated with meniscal and chondral injuries. Although lateral meniscal tears are commonly associated with acute ACL injuries, the chronically ACL-deficient knee is associated with an increased rate of medial meniscal injury. These associations have been described in the adult knee literature.

Safety of prior endoscopic mucosal resection in patients receiving radiofrequency ablation of Barrett's esophagus.

Background & Aims: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is safe and effective treatment for flat dysplasia associated with Barrett's esophagus (BE). However, there are limited data on the safety of RFA in patients who had prior endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), which might increase the risk of complications. We compared complications and histologic outcomes between patients who had EMR before RFA and those who received only RFA.

Endoscopic evaluation and advanced imaging of Barrett's esophagus.

Enhanced visualization techniques are available for Barrett's esophagus and have promise in the detection of dysplasia and cancer. Several of these techniques, such as narrow band imaging and chromoendoscopy, are being applied clinically. These techniques will allow the endoscopist to screen the surface of the Barrett's esophagus to detect areas of neoplasia.

Does alcohol involvement increase the severity of intimate partner violence?

Background: Most studies that have examined alcohol use immediately prior to intimate partner violence (IPV) have been limited to male-to-female partner violence (MFPV) and are subject to a number of methodological limitations. We add new information concerning the relationship between alcohol involvement and severity of IPV, MFPV, and female-to-male partner violence (FMPV).

Methods: We analyzed data from a 1995 U.

Prohibitin inhibits tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced nuclear factor-kappa B nuclear translocation via the novel mechanism of decreasing importin alpha3 expression.

Expression of prohibitin 1 (PHB), a multifunctional protein in the cell, is decreased during inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Little is known regarding the regulation and role of PHB during intestinal inflammation. We examined the effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a cytokine that plays a central role in the pathogenesis of IBD, on PHB expression and the effect of sustained PHB expression on TNF-alpha activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) and epithelial barrier dysfunction, two hallmarks of intestinal inflammation.

Gender-related issues in the female inflammatory bowel disease patient.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) commonly affect women in their childbearing years. Women identify unique psychologic issues compared with men related to body image and their ability to bear children. The menstrual cycle can be disrupted because of disease activity, medications and/or malnutrition.

Ursodeoxycholic acid treatment for patients with postcholecystectomy pain and bile microlithiasis.

Background: Microlithiasis has been identified as a cause of idiopathic acute pancreatitis in patients with an intact gallbladder. Microlithiasis has also been identified in the bile of some patients who have undergone cholecystectomy. However, it is unknown whether bile microlithiasis causes postcholecystectomy pain.

Complex molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus isolates from children with cystic fibrosis in the era of epidemic community-associated methicillin-resistant S aureus.

Background: Limited data exist about the molecular types of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains found in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). We sought to characterize MRSA strains from these patients and compare them with MRSA strains from non-CF pediatric patients.

Methods: All MRSA isolates were collected prospectively at Children's Medical Center in Dallas, TX, and the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital in 2004 to 2005.