The Role of Natriuretic Peptides in Pericardial Fluid in Predicting Cardiovascular Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Atrial and ventricular natriuretic peptides play an important role in the neurohormonal regulation of cardiac function. Plasma levels of these peptides may aid in the diagnosis and prognosis of different cardiac disorders, such as congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and atrial fibrillation. However, the association between elevated pericardial fluid levels of natriuretic peptides and these clinical conditions has not been proven.

Central role of Galectin-3 at the cross-roads of cardiac inflammation and fibrosis: Implications for heart failure and transplantation.

Cardiac inflammation and fibrosis are central pathogenic mechanisms leading to heart failure. Transplantation is still the treatment of choice for many patients undergoing end-stage heart failure who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy. In spite of considerable progress, the molecular mechanisms linking inflammation, fibrosis and heart failure remain poorly understood.

Neuroinflammatory Pathways Associated with Chronic Post-Thoracotomy Pain: A Review of Current Literature.

Chronic post-thoracotomy pain (CPTP) is a major clinical problem that affects up to 35-55% of patients undergoing thoracic incisions. Evidence suggests that multiple cellular signaling pathways and neuro-inflammatory mediators may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of CPTP. In this comprehensive review, we present the current evidence on the cellular signaling pathways and inflammatory changes associated with the initiation and maintenance of CPTP, focusing on the potential application of these findings in the clinical setting.

Characterizing coagulation responses in humans and nonhuman primates following kidney xenotransplantation-A narrative review.

The recent report of the first pig kidney transplant in a living human brings hope to thousands of people with end-stage kidney failure. The scientific community views this early success with caution as kidney xenotransplantation exhibits many challenges and barriers. One of these is coagulation dysregulation.

Pericardial fluid troponin in cardiac surgery.

Background And Objective: Pericardial Fluid (PF) is a rich reservoir of biologically active factors. Due to its proximity to the heart, the biochemical structure of PF may reflect the pathological changes in the cardiac interstitial environment. This manuscript aimed to determine whether the PF level of cardiac troponins changes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Machine Learning as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Tool for Predicting Thrombosis in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review.

Khorana score (KS) is an established risk assessment model for predicting cancer-associated thrombosis. However, it ignores several risk factors and has poor predictability in some cancer types. Machine learning (ML) is a novel technique used for the diagnosis and prognosis of several diseases, including cancer-associated thrombosis, when trained on specific diagnostic modalities.

Incidence of left ventricular thrombus following STEMI in the modern era via multimodality imaging: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is a significant complication in STEMI. Previous studies were conducted prior to modern timely percutaneous reperfusion networks. Current expert opinion suggests incidence in the current era has decreased.

Sex differences in the outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement with newer generation devices: A meta-analysis.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a reasonable therapeutic approach among patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis irrespective of surgical risk. Data regarding sex-specific differences in the outcomes with newer generation valves are limited.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched for studies assessing sex differences in the outcomes of patients undergoing TAVR with newer generation valves (SAPIEN 3 or Evolut).

Artificial intelligence in preventive cardiology.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a field of study that strives to replicate aspects of human intelligence into machines. Preventive cardiology, a subspeciality of cardiovascular (CV) medicine, aims to target and mitigate known risk factors for CV disease (CVD). AI's integration into preventive cardiology may introduce novel treatment interventions and AI-centered clinician assistive tools to reduce the risk of CVD.

Epigenetic MicroRNAs as Prognostic Markers of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review.

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery, increasing the risk for adverse outcomes such as perioperative and long-term mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, and other thromboembolic events. Epigenetic biomarkers show promise as prognostic tools for POAF. Epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNAs (miRNA), can result in altered gene expression and the development of various pathological conditions.

Lipoprotein(a) in clinical practice: A guide for the clinician.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Serum lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) has been shown to be an independent and causative risk factor for atherosclerotic CVD and calcific aortic valvular disease. Lp(a) continues to be studied, with emerging insights into the epidemiology of CVD with respect to Lp(a), pathogenic mechanisms of Lp(a) and strategies to mitigate disease.

Artificial Intelligence in Neurosurgery: A State-of-the-Art Review from Past to Future.

In recent years, there has been a significant surge in discussions surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), along with a corresponding increase in its practical applications in various facets of everyday life, including the medical industry. Notably, even in the highly specialized realm of neurosurgery, AI has been utilized for differential diagnosis, pre-operative evaluation, and improving surgical precision. Many of these applications have begun to mitigate risks of intraoperative and postoperative complications and post-operative care.

Opioids-induced inhibition of HERG ion channels and sudden cardiac death, a systematic review of current literature.

Background: It is estimated that over 60 million individuals regularly use opioids globally, with opioid use disorder increasing substantially in the past decade. Several reports have linked sudden cardiac death, QTc prolongation, and other adverse cardiovascular outcomes with opioid use through their inhibitory effect on the human ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG) ion channel. Therefore, understanding this underlying mechanism may be critical for risk prevention and management in prescribing opioids and treating patients with opioid dependency.

Restoring Epigenetic Reprogramming with Diet and Exercise to Improve Health-Related Metabolic Diseases.

Epigenetic reprogramming predicts the long-term functional health effects of health-related metabolic disease. This epigenetic reprogramming is activated by exogenous or endogenous insults, leading to altered healthy and different disease states. The epigenetic and environmental changes involve a roadmap of epigenetic networking, such as dietary components and exercise on epigenetic imprinting and restoring epigenome patterns laid down during embryonic development, which are paramount to establishing youthful cell type and health.

Rates and predictors of methotrexate-related adverse events in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: results from a nationwide UK study.

Objectives: To estimate prevalence rates and identify baseline predictors of adverse events (AEs) over the first year of treatment in patients with RA starting MTX.

Methods: Data came from the UK Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication Study (RAMS), a prospective cohort of patients with RA starting MTX. This analysis included patients aged ≥18 years with physician diagnosed RA and symptom duration ≤2 years, who were commencing MTX for the first time.

Prevalence and predictors of adverse events with methotrexate mono- and combination-therapy for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review.

Objectives: This systematic review aims to summarize rates of adverse events (AEs) in patients with RA or inflammatory arthritis starting MTX as monotherapy or in combination with other csDMARDs, and to identify reported predictors of AEs.

Methods: Three databases were searched for studies reporting AEs in MTX-naïve patients with RA. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational cohort studies were included.

Feasibility of Using Boltzmann Plots to Evaluate the Stark Broadening Parameters of Cu(I) Lines.

A linear Boltzmann plot was constructed using Cu(I) lines of well-known atomic parameters. Aligning other spectral lines to the plot was adopted as a viable way to estimate the most probable values of Stark broadening parameters of Cu(I) lines at 330.79, 359.

Influences of Dual-Task Training on Walking and Cognitive Performance of People With Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: We sought to investigate whether there is any additional effect of coupled cognitive and physical rehabilitation compared to exercise training alone on walking and cognitive performance in individuals with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted from March to November 2015 with 30 individuals with RRMS (aged 20 to 50 years; 21 women, 9 men), who underwent detailed medical and neurologic examination. They were randomly allocated using sealed envelopes to either the study group, who received physical and cognitive rehabilitation (dual-task training), or the control group, who received physical rehabilitation alone.

Utilization of chitosan/Ag bionanocomposites as eco-friendly photocatalytic reactor for Bactericidal effect and heavy metals removal.

Chitosan is a nontoxic, eco-friendly, and biocompatible natural polymer which could be used in an extensive range of applications for example in the areas of membranes, biomedicine, hydrogels, wastewater treatment, food packaging. Moreover, chitosan based nanomaterials had high sorption capacities, chelating activities, stability, and versatility, that would be potentially applied as green reactants in various scientific and engineering applications. The current study involved the preparation of silver nanoparticles incorporated into chitosan thin films and used for various purposes including photo-oxidation of organic pollutants, heavy metal removal (Cd, Pb, Cr, and Fe) and antibacterial activity.

Resveratrol glucuronidation in vitro: potential implications of inhibition by probenecid.

Objectives: Resveratrol is a naturally occurring antioxidant with therapeutic potential in prevention and treatment of neoplastic disease and other human disorders. However, net clearance of resveratrol in humans is very high, mainly due to glucuronide conjugation. This leads to extensive presystemic extraction and low plasma concentrations after oral dosage.

Metabolic screening and its impact in children with nonsyndromic intellectual disability.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the value of routine metabolic screening tests in children with an intellectual disability (ID) and its impact on improving their outcome and quality of life through appropriate intervention and treatment.

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Pediatric Neurology Clinic, Al Khafji Joint Operations Hospital, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A total of 150 children with nonsyndromic ID (66% males) in the age range of 5-17 years were compared with 50 apparently healthy age- and sex-matched controls.

Exfoliation of graphene sheets via high energy wet milling of graphite in 2-ethylhexanol and kerosene.

Graphene sheets have been exfoliated from bulk graphite using high energy wet milling in two different solvents that were 2-ethylhexanol and kerosene. The milling process was performed for 60 h using a planetary ball mill. Morphological characteristics were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM).

Inhibition of 2-methoxyestradiol glucuronidation by probenecid.

Objectives: 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME2), a metabolite of estradiol, has antitumour activity in vitro. However, potential clinical applicability has been limited by low oral bioavailability. Probenecid was evaluated in vitro as an inhibitor of 2ME2 glucuronidation for purposes of enhancing 2ME2 oral bioavailability.