Investigating the link between coronary artery calcification and atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Both coronary artery calcification (CAC) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are associated with common risk factors, such as age, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Investigating their association may provide insights into shared pathophysiological mechanisms and overlapping risk profiles.

Methods: A systematically search was performed covering various data bases including PubMed, Scopus, ISI, and Google Scholar from January 2000 until December 2023 for English-published articles.

CardSegNet: An adaptive hybrid CNN-vision transformer model for heart region segmentation in cardiac MRI.

Cardiovascular MRI (CMRI) is a non-invasive imaging technique adopted for assessing the blood circulatory system's structure and function. Precise image segmentation is required to measure cardiac parameters and diagnose abnormalities through CMRI data. Because of anatomical heterogeneity and image variations, cardiac image segmentation is a challenging task.

Association between Brachial Flow-Mediated Dilation and Calcium Score in Patients with Symptomatic CAD.

Background: Endothelial function plays an important role in the protection of vessels from atherosclerosis. Detection of endothelial dysfunction by non-invasive methods (flow-mediated dilation) and its association with other imaging modalities (calcium score in coronary computed tomography [CT] angiography) is still controversial. In this study, we aim to investigate the association between endothelial function evaluated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and calcium score evaluated by coronary CT.

Pulmonary artery obstruction index, pulmonary artery diameter and right ventricle strain as prognostic CT findings in patient with acute pulmonary embolism.

Objective: This study was designed to determine predictors of pulmonary hypertension and signs of right heart dysfunction caused by pulmonary embolism (PE) that may lead to early detection of high-risk patients. So the predictive value of pulmonary artery obstruction index (PAOI), measured by pulmonary CT angiography (PCTA) in the acute setting, in predicting the patients susceptible to PE cardiac complications was evaluated. Also two other PCTA indices, pulmonary artery diameter (PAD), and right ventricle (RV) strain, in these patients were investigated and their predictive value for cardiac complications on follow up echocardiography were demonstrated.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Clinically Translatable Targeted Microbubbles Using a Microfluidic Device for In Vivo Ultrasound Molecular Imaging.

The main aim of this study is to synthesize contrast microbubbles (MB) functionalized with engineered protein ligands using a microfluidic device to target breast cancer specific vascular B7-H3 receptor in vivo for diagnostic ultrasound imaging. We used a high-affinity affibody (ABY) selected against human/mouse B7-H3 receptor for engineering targeted MBs (TMBs). We introduced a C-terminal cysteine residue to this ABY ligand for facilitating site-specific conjugation to DSPE-PEG-2K-maleimide (M.

Blood group types and clinical, procedural, and adverse outcomes in ST-elevated myocardial infarction patients: A 3-year cohort in Iran.

Background: The objectives of this study were to assess the relation of blood groups and the rate of successful angioplasty in patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) and also to investigate long-term adverse outcomes follow-up.

Materials And Methods: In this study, 500 eligible patients with definitive diagnosis of STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were followed up for 3 years. The patient's angiography images were examined and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow rate and coronary artery patency rate were evaluated in different ABO blood groups.

Assessment of Endothelial Function in Iranian Healthy Obese Patients after Bariatric Surgery.

Background: Endothelial function plays a critical role in cardiovascular homeostasis. Morbid obesity is associated with an enhanced risk of atherosclerosis and chronic inflammation. Bariatric surgery (BS) is a promising method used recently for weight loss; however, the number of studies that have examined the effect of BS on endothelial function is limited.

Gastrointestinal manifestations in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19): Impact on clinical outcomes.

Background: In this study, we summarized the data on gastrointestinal (GI) involvement and the potential association with clinical outcomes among the patients admitted to Khorshid Hospital.

Materials And Methods: We investigated 1113 inpatients (≥18 years old) diagnosed with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) from March to June 2020 in Khorshid Hospital. We collected demographic details, clinical information, vital signs, laboratory data, treatment type, and clinical outcomes from patients' medical records.

A new trend of using poly(vinyl alcohol) in 3D and 4D printing technologies: Process and applications.

Recently, 3D/4D printing technologies have been the researchers' interest, and they are getting improved more important. They are applicable in various fields like medical fields, pharmaceutics, construction, tissue engineering, dentistry, water treatment, etc. These technologies overcame the difficulty of the conventional methods in producing complicated structures.

Bounds on charging power of open quantum batteries.

In general, quantum systems most likely undergo open-system dynamics due to their smallness and sensitivity. Energy storage devices, so-called quantum batteries, are not excluded from this phenomenon. Here, we study fundamental bounds on the power of open quantum batteries from the geometric point of view.

The Auxiliary Role of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Feature-Tracking Parameters in the Differentiation between Cardiac Amyloidosis and Constrictive Pericarditis.

Objectives: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and constrictive pericarditis (CP) are described as the differential diagnoses of restrictive hemodynamic alterations of the heart. We aimed to explain cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging findings (especially feature tracking (FT)) of CA and CP cases and compare them with healthy controls. Moreover, we evaluated the role of biventricular FT parameters in differentiating CA from CP.

Effective adsorption of methylene blue dye from water solution using renewable natural hydrogel bionanocomposite based on tragacanth gum: Linear-nonlinear calculations.

Today, hydrogels opened new windows to the high-tech due to their amazing features. Thus, we applied hydrogel nanocomposite (HNC) made of tragacanth gum (a kind of polysaccharide) and CaCO nanoparticles to remove methylene blue dye (MBD) from the water solution. We used nonlinear and linear isotherms and kinetics as well as thermodynamics to uncover the adsorption mechanism.

3D and 4D printing: From innovation to evolution.

The world and science are moving forward nonstop. Every day, we see novel technologies that are coming to improve life quality. One of them is 3D printing or additive manufacturing.

Pulmonary artery obstruction index, pulmonary artery diameter and right ventricle strain as prognostic CT findings in patient with acute pulmonary embolism.

Objective: This study was designed to determine predictors of pulmonary hypertension and signs of right heart dysfunction caused by pulmonary embolism (PE) that may lead to early detection of high-risk patients. So the predictive value of pulmonary artery obstruction index (PAOI), measured by pulmonary CT angiography (PCTA) in the acute setting, in predicting the patients susceptible to PE cardiac complications was evaluated. Also two other PCTA indices, pulmonary artery diameter (PAD), and right ventricle (RV) strain, in these patients were investigated and their predictive value for cardiac complications on follow up echocardiography were demonstrated.

Pivotal role of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in a new case of Takayasu arteritis.

Takayasu arteritis (TA), also known as the pulseless disease, is a form of vasculitis of unknown cause that chiefly affects the aorta and its major branches, most frequently in young women. The earliest detectable abnormality in TA is a thickening of the vessel wall, but diffuse aortic wall calcification is very rare and is a late manifestation. Besides, the involvement of the coronary arteries is not a common finding in TA and frequently involves the right coronary artery (RCA).

Entanglement, coherence, and charging process of quantum batteries.

Quantum devices are systems that can explore quantum phenomena, such as entanglement or coherence, for example, to provide some enhancement performance concerning their classical counterparts. In particular, quantum batteries are devices that use entanglement as the main element in their high performance in powerful charging. In this paper, we explore quantum battery performance and its relationship with the amount of entanglement that arises during the charging process.

Green and plant-based adsorbent from tragacanth gum and carboxyl-functionalized carbon nanotube hydrogel bionanocomposite for the super removal of methylene blue dye.

This study aims to prepare a hydrogel bionanocomposite (HBNC) as an efficient adsorbent and introduce it as a suitable replacement for petroleum-based adsorbents. Thus, tragacanth gum (TG), and carboxyl-functionalized carbon nanotube (CFCNT) were used as raw materials. HBNCs were prepared with the aid of ultrasonication, and different methods were employed to characterize them.

Tragacanth gum based hydrogel nanocomposites for the adsorption of methylene blue: Comparison of linear and non-linear forms of different adsorption isotherm and kinetics models.

In the current work, novel eco-friendly hydrogel nanocomposite biosorbents (ef-HNCs) made up from tragacanth gum and modified CaCO nanoparticles (CC NPs) were applied for the adsorption of methylene blue dye (MBD). A simple, fast, and safe method regarding green chemistry was used to prepare the ef-HNC, with the aid of ultrasound waves. The ef-HNCs were successfully characterized using several spectroscopic, microscopic, and analytical methods.

Ultrasonic-assisted manufacturing of new hydrogel nanocomposite biosorbent containing calcium carbonate nanoparticles and tragacanth gum for removal of heavy metal.

This article reports the first incorporation of calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CC NPs) into tragacanth gum (TG) to prepare a new hydrogel nanocomposite (HNC) system using a green, safe, and eco-friendly method, ultrasound irradiation as an efficient biosorbent of heavy metal ions from wastewater. Morphological studies revealed that the surface of obtained HNCs is rough, homogeneous, and porous-like due to the embedding of CC NPs as well as sonication in comparison to the neat TG which has a smooth surface. The particle size reduction was observed for CC NPs in the matrix (from 57 to 10 nm), which is owing to the extraordinary effect of sonication on this process.

Mutation analysis of the NKX2.5 gene in Iranian pediatric patients with congenital hypothyroidism.

Background: The embryonic development of the thyroid gland is regulated by the expression of several candidate genes which are related to congenital hypothyroidism. These genes include the numerous critical thyroid transcription factors such as NKX2.1, NKX2.

Effects of oat and wheat bread consumption on lipid profile, blood sugar, and endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic patients: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Increased lipid profile after each meal can disturb the endothelial function. The present study assessed the effects of bread supplemented with oat bran on serum lipids and endothelial dysfunction in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 60 isolated hypercholesterolemic patients.

The effects of beta-glucan rich oat bread on serum nitric oxide and vascular endothelial function in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Introduction: Oats are high in soluble fibers and effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We assessed the effects of beta-glucan from oat bran on serum nitric oxide (NO) endothelial function in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Method: Sixty hypercholesterolemic patients were randomly divided to receive an experimental bread rich in beta-glucan from oat bran (intervention) or bread rich in wheat fiber (control) for four weeks.

P wave duration and dispersion in Holter electrocardiography of patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: The underlying mechanisms of the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and atrial fibrillation (AF) remained unclear. We investigated P wave parameters as indicators of atrial conduction status among OSA patients.

Methods: We studied 42 untreated OSA patients, categorized into mild (6), moderate (18), and severe (18) OSA based on the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) and 18 healthy controls.