Synergistic neuroprotection by phytocompounds of Bacopa monnieri in scopolamine-induced Alzheimer's disease mice model.

Background: Millions of people around the globe are affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD). This crippling condition has no treatment despite intensive studies. Some phytocompounds have been shown to protect against Alzheimer's in recent studies.

Optimizing E Orbital Occupancy of Transition Metal Sulfides by Building Internal Electric Fields to Adjust the Adsorption of Oxygenated Intermediates for Li-O Batteries.

Li-O batteries are acknowledged as one of the most promising energy systems due to their high energy density approaching that of gasoline, but the poor battery efficiency and unstable cycling performance still hinder their practical application. In this work, hierarchical NiS -MoS heterostructured nanorods are designed and successfully synthesized, and it is found that heterostructure interfaces with internal electric fields between NiS and MoS optimized e orbital occupancy, effectively adjusting the adsorption of oxygenated intermediates to accelerate reaction kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction and oxygen reduction reaction. Structure characterizations coupled with density functional theory calculations reveal that highly electronegative Mo atoms on NiS -MoS catalyst can capture more e electrons from Ni atoms, and induce lower e occupancy enabling moderate adsorption strength toward oxygenated intermediates.

Use of Transthoracic Echocardiogram to Detect Left Ventricular Thrombi.

Background: The presence of a left ventricular thrombus (LVT) poses a risk of thromboembolic complications and excludes patients from undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation without the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography are used to detect LVT in patients with heart disease; however, the detection validity of these imaging studies has not been definitively elucidated.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with end-stage heart failure who underwent LVAD implantation from May 2012 to August 2018 in a single center was completed.

Cardiotoxicity Related to Radiation Therapy.

With increasing survival from cancer, the incidence of cardiovascular diseases is increasing as a chronic side effect of radiation therapy. Prevention, early recognition, and prompt intervention should be the major focus in the care of these patients.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Related to Cervical Cancer Among Adult Women in Azad Kashmir: A Hospital-based Cross-sectional Study.

Objective To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) related to cervical cancer among the adult women of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Methods A cross-sectional study, involving 594 patients visiting the Gynecology and Obstetrics outpatient departments of Khalifa bin Zayed Hospital, Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, was done. The study questionnaire (interviewer-administered) included 26 items to measure the knowledge, attitude, and practices related to cervical cancer and was formulated and validated with the help of gynecologists and epidemiologists.

Screening of Bifidobacterium strains with assignment of functional groups to bind with benzo[a]pyrene under food stress factors.

The purpose of this study was to find the component of the Bifidobacterium cell wall more particularly the functional groups from peptidoglycan involved in the mechanism of binding with Benzo[a]pyrene. Additionally, the effect of different stress factors (acid, heat, alkaline, oxidative, osmotic, enzymatic, and detergent factors) on the functional group and the overall binding mechanism of Bifidobacterium with B[a]p were also evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to explain the binding mechanism of Bifidobacterium with B[a]p along with HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography).

Screening lactic acid bacteria strains with ability to bind di-n-butyl phthalate via Turbiscan technique.

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant that poses a risk to humans. Previous work indicates that the ability of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to bind phthalic acid esters is strain-specific. As cell suspensions of LAB strains in aqueous solution are likely to be colloidal dispersions, this study provided a technique to efficiently screen LAB strains that bind DBP via Turbiscan, which has been widely used to measure the stability of emulsions or colloidal dispersions.

Ipilimumab and Stereotactic Radiosurgery Versus Stereotactic Radiosurgery Alone for Newly Diagnosed Melanoma Brain Metastases.

Background: We compared the safety and efficacy of ipilimumab and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to SRS alone for newly diagnosed melanoma brain metastases (MBM).

Materials And Methods: We reviewed records of newly diagnosed MBM patients treated with SRS from 2009 to 2013. The primary endpoint of overall survival (OS), and secondary endpoints of local control, distant intracranial failure, and radiation necrosis were compared using Kaplan-Meier method.

Plasma exchange for severe hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis in an orthotopic heart transplant recipient.

We here report a 33-year old male with diabetes, hypertension and history of orthotopic heart transplantation treated by plasma exchange for severe HTG (hypertriglyceridemia) induced pancreatitis. At the time of presentation, his serum TG (triglyceride) level was 10,278 mg/dL. He underwent one of the three planned sessions of plasma exchange, resulting in a decrease in TG level from 4728 mg/dL to 1708 mg/dL.

Cardiomyopathy with inverted tako-tsubo pattern in the setting of subarachnoid hemorrhage: a series of four cases.

Background: Severe subarachnoid hemorrhage may be associated with regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) in the absence of epicardial coronary occlusion. The RWMA extends beyond the distribution of a single coronary artery and may present in a typical tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy pattern. Other variants have also been recognized, including an inverted tako-tsubo pattern of severe basal hypokinesis that spares the apex.

Effect of percutaneous mitral vavuloplasty on pregnant mother and foetus--a tertiary care hospital experience from a developing country.

Unlabelled: This study evaluated the short and long-term consequences of Percutaneous Mitral Valvuloplasty (PMV) in pregnant patients and their offspring, in a tertiary care setting, Karachi, Pakistan. The hospital database was used to retrieve all patients who underwent PMV during pregnancy in the period 1998-2007. The follow up data of the patients and the born children were obtained from the hospital records and also by contacting the patients via phone.

Adherence to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for chronic heart failure--a national survey of the cardiologists in Pakistan.

Background: The aims of this study were to evaluate the awareness of and attitudes towards the 2005 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for Heart Failure (HF) of the cardiologists in Pakistan and assess barriers to adherence to guidelines.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in person from March to July 2009 to all cardiologists practicing in 4 major cities in Pakistan (Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar). A validated, semi-structured questionnaire assessing ESC 2005 Guidelines for HF was used to obtain information from cardiologists.

Prevalence of mistreatment or belittlement among medical students--a cross sectional survey at a private medical school in Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Mistreatment or belittlement of medical students either by faculty or fellow students has often been reported. Perception of mistreatment has also been associated with increased degree of psychological morbidity. There is a lack of such studies being conducted amongst the medical students of Pakistan.

Contrast-induced nephropathy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Contrast Induced Nephropathy (CIN) is a feared complication of numerous radiological procedures that expose patients to contrast media. The most notorious of these procedures is percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Not only is this a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, but it also adds to increased costs in high risk patients undergoing PCI.

The burden of stroke and transient ischemic attack in Pakistan: a community-based prevalence study.

Background: The burden of cerebrovascular disease in developing countries is rising sharply. The prevalence of established risk factors of stroke is exceptionally high in Pakistan. However, there is limited data on the burden of stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in South Asia.

Massive fluid requirements and an unusual BUN/creatinine ratio for pre-renal failure in patients with cholera.

Background: Cholera is an important infectious cause of secretory diarrhea. The primary symptom of infection is the sudden onset of watery diarrhea with subsequent volume depletion causing renal insufficiency. The objective of this research is to study the level of dehydration at presentation and subsequent fluid management in patients with cholera.

Knowledge and practice of healthy lifestyle and dietary habits in medical and non-medical students of Karachi, Pakistan.

Objective: To objectively compare the differences in knowledge and practices regarding healthy lifestyle among medical and non-medical students of Karachi along with assessment of any perceived barriers.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 350 students between ages 17-24 years from 6 private universities of Karachi--three medical and three non-medical Institutions. A self-reported questionnaire was employed to assess attitude and barriers to healthy practices among the simple random selection of students.

Results of a cross-sectional survey about lipid-management practices among cardiologists in Pakistan: assessment of adherence to published treatment guidelines.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess how closely cardiologists in Pakistan followed published recommendations for lipid management and to identify the factors associated with such behavior.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was delivered in person between September and December 2007 to all cardiologists practicing in 4 major cities in Pakistan (Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, and Peshawar). A standard questionnaire was used to obtain information from cardiologists.

Moyamoya disease: a clinical spectrum, literature review and case series from a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

Background: Moyamoya is a rare cerebrovascular disease of unknown etiology. The data on moyamoya disease from Pakistan is sparse. We report a case series of 13 patients who presented with moyamoya disease to a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan with a national referral base.

Assessment of asthma control using the asthma control test at a tertiary care centre in Karachi, Pakistan.

The aim of our study was to assess asthma control among asthmatics at a tertiary care setting in Karachi using ACT questionnaire. The ACT questionnaire was filled by known asthmatics in January 2007. A total of 150 questionnaires were filled of which, 61 (40%) were males and 89 (60%) females.

Frequency of endometriosis among infertile women and association of clinical signs and symptoms with the laparoscopic staging of endometriosis.

Objective: The study aimed to determine the frequency of endometriosis in women who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy for evaluation of infertility and the association of clinical, ultrasonographic and laparoscopic findings of endometriosis with the laparoscopic stages of the disease.

Method: It was a retrospective study of women presenting to gynaecologic clinics of the Aga Khan University Hospital from January 1999 to December 2005 with primary complaint of primary or secondary infertility and were diagnosed with endometriosis through laparoscopy. Relevant demographic and clinical information was entered and analyzed in SPSS version 14.

Secondary prevention of heart disease--knowledge among cardiologists and omega-3 (omega-3) fatty acid prescribing behaviors in Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: The use of omega-3 fatty acids is a currently proven strategy for secondary prevention of heart disease. The prescription practices for this important nutraceutical is not currently known. It is imperative to assess the knowledge of cardiologists regarding the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and to determine the frequency of its prescription.

Predictive model of blood transfusion during CABG surgery in Pakistan.

Objective: To determine predictors of need for transfusion of blood and blood products and create a clinical predictive model to reduce indiscriminate use of blood products during surgery.

Method: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 485 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery from January 2004 to December 2004 at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Independent predictors associated with transfusion were identified and a clinical prediction model developed.

Isolated deep venous thrombosis--case series, literature review and long term follow up.

Cerebral Venous Sinus thrombosis may rarely be isolated to a cortical vein or to the deep venous system. When the deep venous system is involved, prognosis is generally poor. In addition, long term follow up is not reported.

Pathophysiology of cerebral venous thrombosis--an overview.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a disorder with a unique pathophysiology which needs to be described. A Medline search of all articles detailing pathophysiology of CVST was done, using keywords: cerebral venous thrombosis and pathophysiology. In addition, major texts were reviewed for additional references.