A protein-miRNA biomic analysis approach to explore neuroprotective potential of nobiletin in human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs).

Chemical-induced neurotoxicity is increasingly recognized to accelerate the development of neurodegenerative disorders (NDs), which pose an increasing health burden to society. Attempts are being made to develop drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier and have minimal or no side effects. Nobiletin (NOB), a polymethoxylated flavonoid with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, has been demonstrated to be a promising compound to treat a variety of NDs.

Determinants of immunization in polio super high-risk union councils of Pakistan.

Background: The current polio epidemiology in Pakistan poses a unique challenge for global eradication as the country is affected by ongoing endemic poliovirus transmission. Across the country, 40 union councils (UCs) which serve as core reservoirs for poliovirus with continuous incidences of polio cases are categorized as super-high-risk union councils (SHRUCs).

Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 39 SHRUCs using a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique.

Exploring the long-term seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in infants born to women with clinical or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.

Introduction: Infants are at a higher risk of severe illness with COVID-19 infection compared to older children. While COVID-19 vaccination is not recommended for young infants, they can acquire maternally-derived anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies passively through the placenta and breastmilk. We described the persistence of infection-induced maternal antibodies in infant circulation at 9-12 months of age.

TORC1 mediated regulation of mitochondrial integrity and calcium ion homeostasis by Wat1/mLst8 in S. pombe.

The mTOR complexes play a fundamental role in mitochondrial biogenesis and cellular homeostasis. Wat1, an ortholog of mammalian Lst8 is an important component of TOR complex and is essential for the regulation of downstream signaling. Earlier we reported the role of Wat1 in oxidative stress response.

Description of a new clinical syndrome: thoracic constriction without evidence of the typical funnel-shaped depression-the "invisible" pectus excavatum.

Pectus excavatum (PE) is a congenital malformation with a funnel-shaped depression of the sternum that can lead to cardiac symptoms. However, there are patients with thoracic constriction (defined as elevated Haller-Index > 3.25 determined by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR)) without visible evidence of PE, leading to similar complaints.

Routine Immunization Coverage and Immunization Card Retention in Pakistan: Results From a Cross-sectional National Survey.

Background: Immunization is one of the most successful public health interventions available, saving millions of lives from death and disability each year. Therefore, improving immunization coverage is a high priority for the Government of Pakistan and essential to progress toward universal health coverage. This survey reports the national and provincial/regional coverage and determinants of fully, partially, and not-vaccinated children 12-23 months of age, antigen-wise coverage, percentage of home-based vaccination records (HBR) retention, and reasons for nonretention; dropout, timeliness, and prevalence of missed opportunities for simultaneous vaccination (MOSV).

Impact of age on the prognosis of patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias and aborted cardiac arrest.

Background: This study evaluated the prognostic impact of age on patients presenting with ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTA) and aborted cardiac arrest.

Material And Methods: The present registry-based, monocentric cohort study included all consecutive patients presenting at the University Medical Center Mannheim (UMM) between 2002 and 2016 with ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF) and aborted cardiac arrest. Middle-aged (40-60 years old) were compared to older patients (> 60 years old).

Septal myocardial scar burden predicts the response to cardiac contractility modulation in patients with heart failure.

We hypothesized that myocardial septal scarring, assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), at the site of cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) lead placement may predict treatment response. Eligible heart failure (HF) patients underwent LGE CMR imaging before CCM device implantation. The response to CCM therapy at follow-up was determined by a change in NYHA class and echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) assessment.

Distance-quality trade-off and choice of family planning provider in urban Pakistan.

Background: There is limited evidence between contraceptive use, availability of commodities and distance to the facility in developing countries. Distance to the facility is an essential determinant of contraceptive use. Still, women may not seek family planning services from the nearest facility and may be prepared to travel the farthest distance to receive quality family planning services.

Spectrum of germline pathogenic variants using a targeted next generation sequencing panel and genotype-phenotype correlations in patients with suspected hereditary breast cancer at an academic medical centre in Pakistan.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women, affecting over 1.5 million women every year, which accounts for the highest number of cancer-related deaths in women globally. Hereditary breast cancer (HBC), an important subset of breast cancer, accounts for 5-10% of total cases.

Nobiletin Ameliorates Cellular Damage and Stress Response and Restores Neuronal Identity Altered by Sodium Arsenate Exposure in Human iPSCs-Derived hNPCs.

Environmental exposure to arsenic has been profoundly associated with chronic systemic disorders, such as neurodegeneration, in both experimental models and clinical studies. The neuronal cells of the brain and the nervous system have a limited regeneration capacity, thus making them more vulnerable to exposure to xenobiotics, leading to long-lasting disabilities. The functional and anatomical complexity of these cells hinders the complete understanding of the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and neuroprotection.

Case Report: Transient Increase of CMR T1 Mapping Indices in a Patient With COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Induced Acute Myocarditis.

Background: Acute myocarditis is commonly associated with viral infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Myocarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination has also been reported, however this is rare and usually resolves within days or weeks. We present a case of acute myocarditis reported after vaccination with mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna) diagnosed using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

Diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound compared to standard-of-care methods for endotracheal tube placement in neonates.

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a valuable tool to determine endotracheal tube (ETT) placement; however, few studies have compared it with standard confirmation methods. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of POCUS and time-to-interpretation for correct identification of tracheal versus esophageal intubations compared to a composite of standard-of-care methods in neonates.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan.

Cardiac disease and prognosis associated with ventricular tachyarrhythmias in young adults and adults.

Background: This study evaluates cardiac diseases and prognosis in young adults and adults presenting with ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTA).

Methods: The present longitudinal, observational, registry-based, monocentric cohort study includes all consecutive patients 45 years old or younger presenting with VTA at admission from 2002 to 2016. Rates of coronary angiography, coronary artery disease (CAD) and need for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), cardiac diseases associated with VTA, and differences in long-term prognostic endpoints for young adults (20-34 years old) were analyzed and compared to those of adults (35-45 years old), for whom multivariable risk prediction models were developed.

A Case Series of Concomitant Cardiac Electrical Disease among Takotsubo Syndrome Patients and Literature Review.

The pathophysiology of Takotsubo Syndrome (TTS) is not completely understood and the trigger of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in TTS is not clear either. We therefore sought to find an association between TTS and primary electrical diseases. A total of 148 TTS patients were analyzed between 2003 and 2017 in a bi-centric manner.

Distribution and prognostic impact of coronary artery disease and nonischemic cardiomyopathies in patients with electrical storm.

Background: he distribution and prognostic impact of coronary artery disease (CAD) in ES are still under debate.

Methods: Consecutive ES patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) were included retrospectively from 2002 to 2016. Three analyses were applied to characterize ES patients: (a) ES patients without CAD (non-CAD), (b) ES patients with CAD (CAD), and (c) diagnostic findings assessed by coronary angiography (CA) at the time of ES (immediate CA).

Sparse 3D contrast-enhanced whole-heart imaging for coronary artery evaluation.

Background: We investigated the feasibility of evaluating coronary arteries with a contrast-enhanced (CE) self-navigated sparse isotropic 3D whole heart T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study sequence.

Methods: A total of 22 consecutive patients underwent coronary angiography and/or cardiac computed tomography (CT) including cardiac MRI. The image quality was evaluated on a 3-point Likert scale.

Prediction of cardiac events with non-contrast magnetic resonance feature tracking in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of feature tracking (FT) derived cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) strain parameters of the left ventricle (LV)/right ventricle (RV) in ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) patients treated with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Current guidelines suggest a LV-ejection fraction ≤35% as major criterion for ICD implantation in ICM, but this is a poor predictor for arrhythmic events. Supplementary parameters are missing.

Clinical outcome of out-of-hospital vs. in-hospital cardiac arrest survivors presenting with ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Limited data regarding the prognostic impact of ventricular tachyarrhythmias related to out-of-hospital (OHCA) compared to in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is available. A large retrospective single-center observational registry with all patients admitted due to ventricular tachyarrhythmias was used including all consecutive patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) and fibrillation (VF) on admission from 2002 to 2016. Survivors discharged after OHCA were compared to those after IHCA using multivariable Cox regression models and propensity-score matching for evaluation of the primary endpoint of long-term all-cause mortality at 2.

Impact of Chronobiological Variation in Takotsubo Syndrome: Prognosis and Outcome.

A considerable amount of evidence has shown that acute cardiovascular diseases exhibit specific temporal patterns in their onset. This study was performed to determine if takotsubo syndrome (TTS) shows chronobiological variations with short and long-term impacts on adverse events. Our institutional database constituted a collective of 114 consecutive TTS patients between 2003 and 2015.

Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of recurrent ventricular tachyarrhythmias in implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients.

Background: Data regarding recurrences of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) recipients according to atrial fibrillation is limited.

Objective: To assess the prognostic impact of atrial fibrillation on recurrences of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients.

Methods: A large retrospective registry was used, including all ICD recipients with episodes of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation from 2002 to 2016.