Baseline characteristics and outcomes of rheumatic mitral valve disease: the EURObservational Research Programme Valvular Heart Disease II Survey.

Background And Aims: Rheumatic heart disease is the commonest acquired cardiovascular disease worldwide. About 20 years have elapsed since the original Euro Heart Survey on valvular heart disease (VHD) was conducted with multiple changes in practice due to advances in treatment techniques. In this study, we aimed to analyse the management of patients with severe native valve disease or those with previous valvular intervention in comparison with existing European Society of Cardiology guidelines.

Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy: usage patterns and response to treatment in Qatar over ten years.

Background: IVIg is a blood-derived antibody product initially designed as a replacement therapy in inborn errors of immunity (IEIs). However, over the last 50 years, IVIg has been used to treat a growing range of autoimmune, autoinflammatory, and secondary immunodeficiency disorders. The US FDA has licensed IVIg for use in the treatment of nine clinical indications; although, IVIg global usage extends to off-label indications with variable treatment responses.

Early and Long-Term Outcomes of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention to the Left Main Coronary Artery.

Patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to the left main (LM) coronary artery in the setting of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were not adequately studied in the era of modern PCI. We investigated early and long-term outcomes of these patients, especially those with a true LM bifurcation stenosis. The Left Main Intervention in Acute Coronary Syndrome (LIMACS) is a multicenter registry that enrolled patients who underwent PCI to unprotected LM disease in the setting of ACS using a drug-eluting stent.

Red cell distribution width is an inflammatory predictor marker of contrast induced nephropathy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is an inflammatory biomarker reported in complete blood cell (CBC) counts. High RDW defines a proinflammatory state. Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is an important and common complication in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treated patients.

Aspirin challenge and desensitization in patients with suspected AERD in Qatar.

Background: Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is a chronic disease characterized by chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyposis, asthma, and intolerance to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Aspirin challenge is considered the gold standard for diagnosing AERD. Many patients with AERD have reported clinical benefits when desensitized to aspirin and maintained on daily aspirin therapy.

Correlation between skin test results and historical manifestations in patients with suspected lidocaine hypersensitivity.

Background: Adverse reactions to local anesthetics (LA) are relatively common; however, true IgE-mediated allergy is extremely rare, estimated to occur in less than 1%. Investigating patients with suspected allergy to LA should begin with a detailed history to exclude other more common operation theater related culprit medications, followed by skin testing. The subcutaneous challenge is considered the gold standard for confirming true IgE-mediated allergy to LA.

Severity and outcome of COVID-19 disease in patients with allergic rhinitis during the pandemic in Qatar - A preliminary report.

Background: Allergic rhinitis and asthma exacerbation are strongly linked to respiratory viral and bacterial infections. COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about the risk of infection and the severity of COVID-19 infection in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis. However, increasing evidence suggests that atopic disease protects against severe COVID-19 illness owing to the underlying type 2 inflammatory process.

Results of penicillin skin testing in patients with suspected penicillin allergy - the Qatar experience.

Background: Unverified penicillin allergy has been linked to adverse patient events and increased healthcare expenditure owing to the usage of broad-spectrum, expensive antibiotics. Penicillin allergy test is the gold standard to diagnose penicillin allergy; and in this study, we present data from Qatar which have not been published before.

Methods: Patients with a history of penicillin allergy who underwent penicillin allergy testing between January 2015 and December 2020 at the Allergy Division of the Hamad General Hospital were retrospectively reviewed from the division registry.

Electrocardiographic Changes and Serum Troponin Levels in Patients with Acute Stroke: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Electrocardiographic changes and elevated serum troponin are frequent findings in acute stroke. They may reflect what is known as the neurogenic myocardial injury. The aim of this study is to determine the electrocardiographic changes and serum troponin level in acute stroke patients and to correlate these changes to the anatomical location and pathological type of the stroke.

In vitro Interleukin-7 treatment partially rescues MAIT cell dysfunction caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection.

MAIT cells have been shown to be activated upon several viral infections in a TCR-independent manner by responding to inflammatory cytokines secreted by antigen-presenting cells. Recently, a few studies have shown a similar activation of MAIT cells in response to severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In this study, we investigate the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the frequency and phenotype of MAIT cells by flow cytometry, and we test in vitro stimulation conditions on the capacity to enhance or rescue the antiviral function of MAIT cells from patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Ticagrelor versus prasugrel in acute coronary syndrome: sex-specific analysis from the RENAMI Registry.

Background: The use of potent P2Y12 inhibitors (ticagrelor & prasugrel) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) is a class I recommendation. We performed a sex-specific analysis comparing the difference in efficacy and safety outcomes between ticagrelor and prasugrel in a real-world ACS population.

Methods: Data from the multicenter REgistry of New Antiplatelets in patients with Myocardial Infarction (RENAMI) for 4424 ACS patients who underwent PCI and were treated with ticagrelor or prasugrel between 2012 to 2016 were analyzed.

The association between airborne pollen monitoring and sensitization in the hot desert climate.

Background: Pollen is a major cause of allergic respiratory diseases. In Qatar, data on the presence and prevalence of allergenic airborne types of pollen is quite limited.

Methods: The study aimed to determine and correlate the most frequently implicated airborne pollen detected by aerobiological monitoring samplers in respiratory allergy symptoms.

Inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress ameliorates cardiovascular injury in a rat model of metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic (Met) syndrome is characterized by hypertension, insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia with high risk of cardiovascular disease. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a key contributor in the pathogenesis of Met syndrome. The current study investigates the effect of Tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDCA), an ER stress inhibitor, on Met syndrome-induced cardiovascular complications and the possible underlying signalling mechanisms.

In vivo measurement of stent length by using intravascular ultrasound.

Background: What happens to stent length when deployed in a coronary artery? It is the aim of this study.

Results: Consecutive 95 balloon-expandable stents (BES) were studied by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging. The stent length was measured from the longitudinal view in two ways: (1) edge-to-edge length (E-E) measured between distal and proximal stent frames located at one IVUS quadrant and (2) area-to-area length (A-A) measured between distal and proximal stent frames located at two or more IVUS quadrants.

Real-World Data of Prasugrel vs. Ticagrelor in Acute Myocardial Infarction: Results from the RENAMI Registry.

Background: Limited data are available concerning differences in clinical outcomes for real-life patients treated with ticagrelor versus prasugrel after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Objective: Our objective was to determine and compare the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor and prasugrel in a real-world population.

Methods: RENAMI was a retrospective, observational registry including the data and outcomes of consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent primary PCI and were discharged with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) between January 2012 and January 2016.

Prasugrel or ticagrelor in patients with acute coronary syndrome and diabetes: a propensity matched substudy of RENAMI.

Introduction: The safety and efficacy of prasugrel and ticagrelor in patients with diabetes mellitus presenting with acute coronary syndrome and treated with percutaneous coronary intervention remain to be assessed.

Methods: All diabetes patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome and enrolled in the REgistry of New Antiplatelets in patients with Myocardial Infarction (RENAMI) were compared before and after propensity score matching. Net adverse cardiovascular events (composite of death, stroke, myocardial infarction and BARC 3-5 bleedings) and major adverse cardiovascular events (composite of death, stroke and myocardial infarction) were the co-primary endpoints.