Phytochemistry and nutraceutical potential of Ceylon Cinnamomum species native to Sri Lanka.

Cinnamon is a spice that is renowned for its several medicinal and cosmetic benefits. The research study examined the essential oil content, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of seven species native to Sri Lanka. Cinnamon bark and leaf samples were used to extract essential oils, methanol, and hexane.

Procedural factors influencing successful coronary sinus reducer implantation for refractory angina: A single-centre experience.

Background: Coronary sinus reducer (CSR) implantation is emerging as a novel effective percutaneous therapy for patients with refractory angina. Limited data exists examining the factors influencing successful CSR implantation. As CSR implantation becomes more widely adopted, a greater understanding of the procedural challenges which operators encounter is required.

Coronary Sinus Narrowing for Treating Refractory Angina: REDUCER-I Multicenter "Real-World" Observational Study Primary Endpoint Analysis.

Background: Patients with refractory angina are often ineligible for revascularization and have poor quality of life despite optimal medical therapy. The coronary sinus (CS) Reducer (Shockwave Medical Inc) was safe and effective in the treatment of refractory angina in the COSIRA (Coronary Sinus Reducer for Treatment of Refractory Angina) randomized sham-controlled trial.

Objectives: This study sought to perform the primary endpoint analysis of the complete REDUCER-I (An Observational Study of the Neovasc Reducer System) study cohort.

Characterization of dynamic changes in cardiac microstructure after reperfused ST-elevation myocardial infarction by biphasic diffusion tensor cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Background And Aims: Microstructural disturbances underlie dysfunctional contraction and adverse left ventricular (LV) remodelling after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Biphasic diffusion tensor cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DT-CMR) quantifies dynamic reorientation of sheetlets (E2A) from diastole to systole during myocardial thickening, and markers of tissue integrity [mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA)]. This study investigated whether microstructural alterations identified by biphasic DT-CMR: (i) enable contrast-free detection of acute myocardial infarction (MI); (ii) associate with severity of myocardial injury and contractile dysfunction; and (iii) predict adverse LV remodelling.

Relative Residence Time Can Account for Half of the Anatomical Variation in Fatty Streak Prevalence Within the Right Coronary Artery.

Purpose: The patchy anatomical distribution of atherosclerosis has been attributed to variation in haemodynamic wall shear stress (WSS). The consensus is that low WSS and a high Oscillatory Shear Index (OSI) trigger the disease. We found that atherosclerosis at aortic branch sites correlates threefold better with transverse WSS (transWSS), a metric which quantifies multidirectional near-wall flow.

γCyclodextrin-assisted Aqueous Extract of Cinnamon for Cancer and Stress Management.

Aim: Our goal was to investigate the use of Cyclodextrin in creating an aqueous extract of Cinnamon with a high content of its bioactive ingredients, validated by cell-based assays.

Background: Due to their safety and cost-effectiveness, natural compounds have garnered attention for cancer therapy, which often faces challenges related to drug toxicity and resistance. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum; also known as Ceylon Cinnamon) is a commonly used spice with a history in folk medicine for treating various ailments.

Coronary Sinus Reducer Therapy for Refractory Angina and its Role in Modern Interventional Practice: A Contemporary Review.

Coronary sinus reducer (CSR) implantation is an emerging treatment option for patients with refractory angina. This condition represents a major global cardiovascular healthcare challenge, with patients experiencing chronic anginal symptoms that significantly impair their quality of life and for whom few effective treatments exist. The clinical burden of refractory angina is only set to grow because of improved survival from coronary artery disease, increased life expectancy and the presence of residual angina after percutaneous or surgical coronary revascularisation.

Reduced response to regadenoson with increased weight: An artificial intelligence-based quantitative myocardial perfusion study.

Background: There is conflicting evidence regarding the response to a fixed dose of regadenoson in patients with high body weight. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of regadenoson in patients with varying body weights using novel quantitative cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) perfusion parameters in addition to standard clinical markers.

Methods: Consecutive patients with typical angina and/or risk factors for coronary artery disease (N = 217) underwent regadenoson stress CMR perfusion imaging using a dual-sequence quantitative protocol with perfusion parameters generated from an artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithm.

A 44-year-old man with recurrent ST-segment elevation: a case report of two presentations of Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis.

Background: Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare multi-system autoimmune disorder that may present with cardiac manifestations that are often under-recognized. In this report, we discuss a usual case of a patient who presented as a cardiac emergency with recurrent ST elevation and discuss the approach and management.

Case Summary: A 44-year-old man presented with two episodes of chest pain associated with ST-segment elevation on 12-lead ECG.

The 2022 symposium on dementia and brain aging in low- and middle-income countries: Highlights on research, diagnosis, care, and impact.

Two of every three persons living with dementia reside in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The projected increase in global dementia rates is expected to affect LMICs disproportionately. However, the majority of global dementia care costs occur in high-income countries (HICs), with dementia research predominantly focusing on HICs.

Coronary sinus reducer for the treatment of refractory angina (ORBITA-COSMIC): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: The coronary sinus reducer (CSR) is proposed to reduce angina in patients with stable coronary artery disease by improving myocardial perfusion. We aimed to measure its efficacy, compared with placebo, on myocardial ischaemia reduction and symptom improvement.

Methods: ORBITA-COSMIC was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial conducted at six UK hospitals.

Assessment of the nano-mechanical properties of healthy and atherosclerotic coronary arteries by atomic force microscopy.

Nano-indentation techniques might be better equipped to assess the heterogeneous material properties of plaques than macroscopic methods but there are no bespoke protocols for this kind of material testing for coronary arteries. Therefore, we developed a measurement protocol to extract mechanical properties from healthy and atherosclerotic coronary artery tissue sections. Young's modulus was derived from force-indentation data.

Diagnostic outcome of pro bono neurogenetic diagnostic service in Sri Lanka: A wealth creation.

The inherited disease community in Sri Lanka has been widely neglected. This article aimed to present accumulated knowledge in establishing a pro bono cost-effective national, island-wide, free-of-charge molecular diagnostic service, suggesting a model for other developing countries. The project provided 637 molecular diagnostic tests and reports free of charge to a nation with limited resources.

Title-molecular diagnostics of dystrophinopathies in Sri Lanka towards phenotype predictions: an insight from a South Asian resource limited setting.

Background: The phenotype of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) patients is determined by the type of DMD gene variation, its location, effect on reading frame, and its size. The primary objective of this investigation was to determine the frequency and distribution of DMD gene variants (deletions/duplications) in Sri Lanka through the utilization of a combined approach involving multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) followed by Multiplex Ligation Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) and compare to the international literature. The current consensus is that MLPA is a labor efficient yet expensive technique for identifying deletions and duplications in the DMD gene.

Gene therapy-based strategies for spinal muscular atrophy-an Asia-Pacific perspective.

Onasemnogene abeparvovec has been life-changing for children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), signifying the potential and progress occurring in gene- and cell-based therapies for rare genetic diseases. Hence, it is important that clinicians gain knowledge and understanding in gene therapy-based treatment strategies for SMA. In this review, we describe the development and translation of onasemnogene abeparvovec from clinical trials to healthcare practice and share knowledge on the facilitators and barriers to implementation.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy from Brain to Muscle: The Role of Brain Dystrophin Isoforms in Motor Functions.

Brain function and its effect on motor performance in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an emerging concept. The present study explored how cumulative dystrophin isoform loss, age, and a corticosteroid treatment affect DMD motor outcomes. A total of 133 genetically confirmed DMD patients from Sri Lanka were divided into two groups based on whether their shorter dystrophin isoforms (Dp140, Dp116, and Dp71) were affected: Group 1, containing patients with Dp140, Dp116, and Dp71 affected (n = 98), and Group 2, containing unaffected patients (n = 35).

Integrated genomic, proteomic and cognitive assessment in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy suggest astrocyte centric pathology.

Introduction: Documented Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) biomarkers are confined to Caucasians and are poor indicators of cognitive difficulties and neuropsychological alterations.

Materials And Methods: This study correlates serum protein signatures with cognitive performance in DMD patients of South Asian origin. Study included 25 DMD patients aged 6-16 years.

Therapeutic Implications of Some Natural Products for Neuroimmune Diseases: A Narrative of Clinical Studies Review.

Neuroimmune diseases are a group of disorders that occur due to the dysregulation of both the nervous and immune systems, and these illnesses impact tens of millions of people worldwide. However, patients who suffer from these debilitating conditions have very few FDA-approved treatment options. Neuroimmune crosstalk is important for controlling the immune system both centrally and peripherally to maintain tissue homeostasis.

Hypertriglyceridemia as a Cause of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Circuit Clotting: A Case Series.

Introduction: Hypertriglyceridemia is a rarely reported cause of early continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) circuit clotting.

Methods: We have identified and will present 11 published cases in the literature where hypertriglyceridemia has led to CRRT circuit clotting or dysfunction.

Results: The majority of cases (8/11) are related to propofol use leading to hypertriglyceridemia.

Implantation of the coronary sinus reducer for refractory angina due to coronary microvascular dysfunction in the context of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-a case report.

Background: Refractory angina leads to a poor quality of life and increased healthcare resource utilization. In this growing population of patients, multiple mechanism(s) of ischaemia may co-exist, including functional disorders of the coronary microcirculation. There are few evidence-based effective therapies resulting in a large unmet clinical need.