Atrial Fibrillation in Middle Eastern Arabs and South Asians: Summary of Published Articles in the Arabian Gulf.

Seven studies are summarized herein focusing on different aspects of Atrial fibrillation (AF) in two unique ethnicities for which there is very limited literature published before; Middle Eastern Arabs and South Asians, using data from a national registry of cardiovascular diseases in Qatar over a 20-years period (1991-2010). These studies shed light upon important aspects of AF presentations and outcomes in these two ethnicities, thereby enriching the world literature on AF. In the process, several novel observations were reported and new questions were raised that warrant further investigations.

Changes in trends and outcomes of eclampsia: a success story from Qatar.

Preeclampsia and eclampsia are two hypertensive disorders of pregnancy that significantly contribute to higher morbidity and mortality rates. Eclampsia is the occurrence of seizures in patients with preeclampsia without any previous history of seizure disorders. The incidence and prevalence of eclampsia varies, and there is scarce literature about the prevalence and trends of eclampsia in the Arabian Gulf countries.

IJV collapsibility index vs IVC collapsibility index by point of care ultrasound for estimation of CVP: a comparative study with direct estimation of CVP.

Purpose: To compare the bedside ultrasound estimation of internal jugular vein (IJV)-collapsibility index with inferior vena cava (IVC)-collapsibility index and invasively monitored central venous pressure (CVP) in ICU patients.

Design: prospective observational study.

Setting: The study was carried out in the ICU of Al Wakra and Al Khor hospitals of the Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar.

Clinical and Pharmacokinetic Outcomes of Peak-Trough-Based Versus Trough-Based Vancomycin Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Approaches: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is based on achieving 24-h area under the concentration-time curve to minimum inhibitory concentration cure breakpoints (AUC/MIC). Approaches to vancomycin TDM vary, with no head-to-head randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparisons to date.

Objectives: We aimed to compare clinical and pharmacokinetic outcomes between peak-trough-based and trough-only-based vancomycin TDM approaches and to determine the relationship between vancomycin AUC/MIC and cure rates.

Primary localised amyloidosis of the urinary bladder: A recurrent and progressive disease.

Primary amyloidosis results from the deposition of amyloid protein fibrils in the extracellular space and rarely involves the urinary bladder. We present a 41-year-old man who was diagnosed with primary amyloidosis of the urinary bladder and underwent two sessions of transurethral resection of the bladder mass 4 years prior. Recently, the patient was admitted through the emergency with painless frank haematuria.

Pelvic fracture instability-associated L5 transverse process fracture, fact or myth? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Stable or unstable pelvic ring fractures are sometimes associated with L5 transverse process (TP) fractures. This review aimed to determine the effect of L5 TP fractures on pelvic ring fracture stability.

Methods: We searched electronic databases (including MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and SCOPUS) and performed hand searching of English orthopedics journals and conference abstracts until May 2017.

Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on the Presentation and Outcome of Patients Hospitalized With Atrial Fibrillation: Insights From Qatar.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) with coexistent chronic kidney disease (CKD) is poorly described in the literature. We compared the presenting symptoms, clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of patients hospitalized with AF with and without CKD in a large clinical registry. Data of patients hospitalized with AF between 1991 and 2012 in Qatar were analyzed.

Gender Variations in In-Hospital Mortality in Patients Hospitalized With Dizziness: A Retrospective Study.

Women with cardiac diseases generally have a higher mortality than men. Suggested reasons include delay in reporting to hospital, less aggressive management, and higher cardiovascular risk profiles in women. We assessed gender differences in patients hospitalized with dizziness.

Coronary artery disease prevalence and outcome in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure: an observational report from seven Middle Eastern countries.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report prevalence, clinical characteristics, precipitating factors, management and outcome of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) among patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF) in seven Middle Eastern countries and compare them to non-CAD patients.

Methods: Data were derived from Gulf CARE (Gulf aCute heArt failuRe rEgistry), a prospective multicenter study of 5005 consecutive patients hospitalized with acute HF during February-November 2012 in 7 Middle Eastern countries.

Results: The prevalence of CAD among Acute Heart Failure (AHF) patients was 60.

Acinetobacter Infections among Adult Patients in Qatar: A 2-Year Hospital-Based Study.

This retrospective study was conducted at Hamad General Hospital, Qatar, to describe the demographic data, clinical features underlying diseases, antimicrobial susceptibility, and outcome of A. baumannii infection. It involved all adult patients 15 years of age or older who were managed at Hamad General Hospital for A.

Rare case of multiple aggressive vertebral hemangiomas.

A case of a 42-year-old man with back pain associated with left radiculopathy and infiltrative mass involving the T12 and L5 vertebrae is described. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography indicated aggressive hemangiomas involving the T12 and L5 vertebrae. Three-year follow-up by imaging indicated minimally increased aggressiveness of the L5 lesion without any significant change in appearance of the T12 lesion thus, confirming the initial diagnosis of multiple aggressive vertebral hemangiomas.

In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing of human Brucella melitensis isolates from Qatar between 2014 - 2015.

Background: Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic disease affecting humans and animals and is endemic in many parts of the world including the Gulf Cooperation Council region (GCC). The aim of this study was to identify the species and determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Brucella strains isolated from clinical specimens, from Qatar.

Results: We evaluated 231 Brucella isolates.

Transperineal sonographic anal sphincter complex evaluation in chronic anal fissures.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the role of transperineal sonography in assessment of pathologic changes to the anal sphincter complex in patients with chronic anal fissures.

Methods: We conducted a prospective case-control study of 100 consecutive patients of any age and both sexes with chronic anal fissures who presented to a colorectal clinic between January 2012 and August 2013 (group A) and 50 healthy volunteers (group B).

Results: The most common patterns of radiologic changes to anal sphincters associated with chronic anal fissures were circumferential thickening of the anal sphincter complex in 5 patients (5%), circumferential thickening of the internal anal sphincter in 3 patients (3%), preferential thickening of the internal anal sphincter at the 6-o'clock position in 80 patients (80%) and the 12-o'clock position in 7 patients (7%), preferential thickening of the internal and external anal sphincters in 3 patients (3%), and thinning of the internal anal sphincter in 2 patients (2%).

Rare case of reversible acute symmetrical lesions of the bilateral Basal Ganglia associated with diabetic nephropathy and chronic renal failure.

Reversible acute symmetrical basal ganglial lesion on magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography in cases of diabetic nephropathy and chronic renal failure exhibiting acute onset of movement abnormalities like chorea is a very rare entity. It has characteristic clinical and imaging features. Only 29 cases are described in the literature, including the current one.

First Report of Preoperative Imaging Diagnosis of a Surgically Confirmed Case of Valentino's Syndrome.

Perforation of a duodenal ulcer (DU) into the retroperitoneal space presenting with clinical features of acute appendicitis is known as Valentino's syndrome. Post duodenal perforation, the gastric and duodenal fluids tend to settle in the right paracolic gutter causing peritonitis and clinically mimicking acute appendicitis. Only three cases of Valentino's syndrome have been reported till date in the published literature and there is only one previous report of its preoperative imaging diagnosis.

The influence of female gender on cardiac arrest outcomes: a systematic review of the literature.

Background: Sudden cardiac arrest is an important cause of cardiovascular mortality. The impact of gender on the outcome of cardiac arrest is not clear and data about that is limited.

Objective: Understanding the influence of gender on cardiac arrest through a systematic review of the published literature.

Magnetic resonance imaging features of brain and spinal cord injury in a fatal case of isopropanol intoxication.

A 60-year-old man presented with headache, dizziness, and disorientation one day after consumption of isopropanol along with ethanol. Computed tomography (CT) of the brain performed immediately was unremarkable. The patient collapsed within the hospital 30 minutes after the CT scan was done, and remained comatose until death, showing no improvement with symptomatic treatment.

First report of MRI findings in a case of an autoamputated wandering calcified ovary.

An autoamputated wandering calcified ovary (AWCO) is an extremely rare cause of abdominal calcification in the pediatric population. We present the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of AWCO in a child. To our knowledge, the MRI features of AWCO have not been previously described in the published literature.

Clinical experience with insulin detemir, biphasic insulin aspart and insulin aspart in people with type 2 diabetes: Results from the Qatar cohort of the A1chieve study.

Background: The A1chieve, a multicentric (28 countries), 24-week, non-interventional study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of insulin detemir, biphasic insulin aspart and insulin aspart in people with T2DM (n = 66,726) in routine clinical care across four continents.

Materials And Methods: Data was collected at baseline, at 12 weeks and at 24 weeks. This short communication presents the results for patients enrolled from Qatar.

Life threatening angioedema in a patient on ACE inhibitor (ACEI) confined to the upper airway.

Introduction: ACE inhibitors accounts for 8% of all cases of angioneurotic edema and the overall incidence is 0.1 to 0.7% of patients on ACE inhibitors.

Reduction in Door-to-Needle Time after Transfer of Thrombolysis Site from CCU to Emergency Department.

Objective. Early restoration of coronary perfusion by thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary intervention is the main modality of treatment to salvage the ischemic myocardium. The earlier the procedure is completed, the greater the benefit is in saving myocardium and restoring its functions.

Scleromyxedema: a case report and review of the literature.

Scleromyxedema (SM) is a sclerotic variant of lichen or papular mucinosis in which lichenoid papules and scleroderma-like features are both present. It is a rare deposition disorder characterized by generalized papular and sclerodermoid eruptions, mucin deposition, increased fibroblast proliferation, fibrosis, and monoclonal gammopathy (also known as paraproteinemia) mainly of the immunoglobulin G-lambda type in the absence of thyroid disease. It usually affects middle-aged adults and shows no gender or racial predilection.