Epstein-Barr virus-associated acute pancreatitis.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is mostly subclinical and resolves spontaneously without complications. Gastroenterology involvement usually manifests as asymptomatic liver enzymes elevation. We report a new case of acute pancreatitis complicating EBV infection and review the literature.

Lay People's Ethical Attitudes To Placebo Treatment: A Q-Methodology Study.

Background: Placebo-treatment acceptability is debated among ethicists, mostly due to conflict between respect-to-autonomy and beneficence principles. It is not clear how lay people balance these and other ethical principles.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-seven respondents rank-ordered 42 opinion statements covering various ethical aspects of placebo-treatment, according to a 9-category symmetrical distribution.

Vitamin-D2 treatment-associated decrease in 25(OH)D3 level is a reciprocal phenomenon: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Vitamin-D2 (D2) treatment has been associated with a decrease in 25-hydroxy (25(OH)) vitamin-D3 (D3) level, suggesting that D3 treatment would be preferred to raise total 25(OH) vitamin-D (D) level. We postulated that D2 treatment-associated decrease in 25(OH)D3 level is related to the increase in 25(OH)D level rather than being D2-specific, and thus there would be a similar D3 treatment-associated decrease in 25(OH)D2 level.

Methods: Fifty volunteers were block-randomized to 50,000 IU D2 or placebo orally once (study-1) and fifty volunteers received 50,000 IU D2 orally once and 4 days later block-randomized to 50,000 IU D3 or placebo orally once (study-2).

Drug*placebo interaction effect may bias clinical trials interpretation: hybrid balanced placebo and randomized placebo-controlled design.

Background: Conventional randomized placebo-controlled study design assumes the absence of drug*placebo interaction. We hypothesized the presence of such an interaction and that conventionally estimated drug effect might be biased. The objectives of the study were to determine the drug*placebo interaction effect (main) and compare conventionally estimated and interaction model-estimated drug effects (secondary).

Typology of end-of-life priorities in Saudi females: averaging analysis and Q-methodology.

Background: Understanding culture-and sex-related end-of-life preferences is essential to provide quality end-of-life care. We have previously explored end-of-life choices in Saudi males and found important culture-related differences and that Q-methodology is useful in identifying intraculture, opinion-based groups. Here, we explore Saudi females' end-of-life choices.

Exploring end of life priorities in Saudi males: usefulness of Q-methodology.

Background: Quality end-of-life care depends on understanding patients' end-of-life choices. Individuals and cultures may hold end-of-life priorities at different hierarchy. Forced ranking rather than independent rating, and by-person factor analysis rather than averaging may reveal otherwise masked typologies.

Vitamin D deficiency plays an important role in cardiac disease and affects patient outcome: Still a myth or a fact that needs exploration?

There is increasing evidence that a low vitamin D status may be an important and hitherto neglected factor of cardiovascular disease. This review is an overview of the current body of literature, and presents evidence of the mechanisms through which vitamin D deficiency affects the cardiovascular system in general and the heart in particular. Available data indicate that the majority of congestive heart failure patients have 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency.

The Effects of Right Ventricular Apical Pacing Frequency on Left Ventricle Function and Pulmonary Artery Pressure.

Objective: We studied the effect of the frequency of right ventricular (HV) pacing on left ventricle (LV) function pulmonary hypertension.

Background: The incidence of new or worsening pulmonary hypertension after permanent pacemaker (PPM) or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (lCD) lead placement has not been well investigated.

Methods: We reviewed the charts of all patients undergoing PPM or ICD lead placement in our electrophysiology laboratory from December 2007 to December 2012.

The effects of right ventricular apical pacing with transvenous pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator on mitral and tricuspid regurgitation.

Background: The incidence of new or worsening tricuspid regurgitation (TR) or mitral regurgitation (MR) after permanent pacemaker (PPM) or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) lead placement has not been well investigated. We studied the effect of transvenous leads implantation and right ventricular (RV) pacing on tricuspid and mitral valve regurgitations.

Methods: We reviewed the charts of all patients undergoing PPM or ICD lead placement in our electrophysiology laboratory from December 2001 to December 2006.

Using The Descending Aortic Wall Thickness Measured In Transesophageal Echocardiography As A Risk Marker For Aortic Dissection.

Objective: The aim of this study is to estimate whether aortic wall thickness is increased in patients with Aortic dissection (AD) compared to low risk control group and can be used in addition to aortic diameter as a risk marker of AD.

Background: AD occurs due to pathologies that may increase thickness of the aortic wall. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has the ability to visualize both the thoracic aortic wall and lumen.