Valvular Heart Disease Care in Pakistan: Impact of the Multidisciplinary Valve Heart Team.

Background: Patients with complex valvular heart disease (VHD) should be evaluated by a multidisciplinary heart team (HT). In low- and middle-income countries, referral practices are more variable, permitting any physician to refer patients directly to a cardiac surgeon without prior formal evaluation by a cardiologist with expertise in VHD.

Objectives: The goal of the study was to examine the demographics of VHD patients seen in a large heart valve center in a low- and middle-income country and to assess the impact of the multidisciplinary HT in patients referred for valve surgery.

Targeting Astrogliosis in the Retrotrapezoid Nucleus: A Novel Approach to Ameliorate Respiratory Dysfunction and Alzheimer's Pathology in Mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a leading cause of dementia, is associated with significant respiratory dysfunctions. Our study explores the role of astrogliosis in the brainstem retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN), a key breathing regulatory center, and its impact on breathing control and AD pathology in mice. Using Tg-2576 AD and wild-type mice, we investigated the effect of silencing the transforming growth factor-beta receptor II (TGFβR II) in the RTN.

Tracking clonal and plasmid transmission in colistin- and carbapenem-resistant .

The surveillance of mobile genetic elements facilitating the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes has been challenging. Here, we tracked both clonal and plasmid transmission in colistin- and carbapenem-resistant using short- and long-read sequencing technologies. We observed three clonal transmissions, all containing Incompatibility group (Inc) L plasmids and New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase , although not co-located on the same plasmid.

Assessment of Coronary Collaterals Among Patients With ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and its Impact on In-hospital and 30-day Mortality: A Prospective Observational Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the distribution of coronary collaterals (CC) as per the Rentrop Collateral Score (RCS) among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and its impact on in-hospital and 30-day mortality after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: In this study, a selected sample of consecutive STEMI patients was assessed for the development of CC as per the RCS classification. An RCS grade of 2 or 3 was taken as the presence of CC with either partial or complete filling of the infarct-related artery (IRA).

A Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Opioid Dispensing Competencies in Final-Year Pharm-D Students: A Multicenter Study from Punjab, Pakistan.

Background: The opioid crisis continues to be a public health concern worldwide due to the high rates of misuse and associated mortality. Opioid dispensing competencies are critical for pharmacy graduates to promote the rational use of opioids.

Purpose: To evaluate the opioids dispensing competencies among the final year Pharm-D students in Punjab, Pakistan.