Explore the vast range of titles available.

Lower body positive pressure (LBPP) treadmill activity might benefit patients with heart failure (HF). To determine the short-term effects of LBPP on left ventricular (LV) function in HF patients, LV ejection duration (ED), a measure of systolic function was prospectively assessed in 30 men with stable HF with LV ejection fraction ≤ 40% and 50 healthy men (N). Baseline measurements (100% body weight), including blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and LVED, obtained via radial artery applanation tonometry, were recorded after 2 minutes of standing on weight support treadmill and after LBPP achieving reductions of 25%, 50%, and 75% of body weight in random sequence. Baseline, HR, and LVED (251 ± 5 vs 264 ± 4 ms; P = .035) were lower in the HF group. The LBPP lowered HR more (14% vs 6%, P = .009) and increased LVED more (15% ± 7% vs 10% ± 6%; P = .004) in N versus HF. Neither group had changes (Δ) in BP. On generalized linear regression, the 2 groups showed different responses (P < .001). Multivariate analysis showed %ΔHR (P < .001) and HF (P = .026) were predictive of ΔED (r 2 = 0.44; P < .001). In conclusion, progressive LBPP increases LVED in a step-wise manner in N and HF patients independent of HR lowering. The ΔLVED is less marked in patients with HF.

The current study investigates the impact of employing one of the natural fibres (Sisal Fibre (SF)) on pure gypsum characteristics (specifically compressive strength and density). The research plan consists of using six mixes of pure gypsum; these mixes are divided into two groups according to the (water/pure gypsum) ratios (0.55 & 0.65). Each group was divided into three subgroups according to volume fraction (Vf) of chopped sisal fibre (CSF) 0.0%, 0.2% and 0.4%. Three cubic (50 x 50 x 50) mm samples were performed for each mix. It was found that, the addition of chopped sisal fibre to the pure gypsum mixes increases the compressive strength for both (W/PG) ratios, and the percentage of this increase is enlarged with increasing (W/PG) ratio. Additionally¸ the compressive strength decreases for all (Vf) of CSF whenˑthe (W/PG) ratio is increased¸ and this percentage of deterioration decreases as increases volume fraction (Vf) of chopped sisal fibre (CSF). However¸ it was also shown that adding CSF to pure gypsum mixtures results in a modest loss in density for both (W/PG) ratios¸ with the proportion of this drop decreasing as the (W/PG) ratio decreases. Additionally¸ the density deteriorates for all (Vf) of CSF when the (W / PG) ratio is increased¸ and this percentage of deterioration is marginally increased as increases volume fraction (Vf) of chopped sisal fibre (CSF).

Children entering first grade at United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools across the five fields of its operations (West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria) complete a comprehensive medical examination at UNRWA health centres as a requirement for their acceptance. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence of anaemia and undernutrition indicators in these children. We conducted a cross-sectional study at 59 UNRWA health centres, targeting all children entering grade one at UNRWA schools in Gaza, West Bank, Syria, and Lebanon in 2017. The children included boys and girls living inside and outside Palestine refugee camps. Using Epi-Info V2000, a weighted sample of 2399 was calculated (Gaza, 961; West Bank, 982; Syria, 334; Lebanon, 622) based on the prevalence of anaemia in a previous study (2005) and the total number of first grade students at UNRWA schools during the school year 2016–2017, with a confidence level of 95% and precision of 3%. Descriptive statistics were obtained and chi squared tests were carried out using SPSS v22. Child growth z-scores were calculated using WHO Anthroplus software. Informed verbal consent was obtained from parents. 2419 students (1278 females and 1141 males) aged 6·1 (SD 0·4) years were examined. The prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin level of <11·5 mg/dL) was 25·0% (Gaza, 29·3%; West Bank, 22·0%; Syria, 30·0%; and Lebanon, 18·3%) with no significant differences between males and females (p=0·383). The mean haemoglobin level was 12·0 [SD 0·9] mg/dL. Stunting, underweight, and thinness were assessed according to WHO growth indicators. The overall prevalence of stunting, underweight, and thinness were 3·2%, 3·5%, and 5·6%, respectively, with the highest levels found in Syria (4·3%, 6·3%, and 10·1%, respectively). The overall prevalence of anaemia in surveyed children (25·0%) was higher than in the 2005 study (19·5%). However, the prevalence in children in Gaza (29·3%) was lower than in 2005 (36·4%). Haemoglobin testing should be included as part of the medical examination for new school children. In addition, malnutrition among these children should be investigated further. Health Programme at UNRWA Headquarters, Amman, Jordan.

Oxidative and glycolytic muscle fibers differ in their ultrastructure, metabolism, and responses to physiological stimuli and pathological insults. We examined whether these fibers respond differentially to exogenous anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) by comparing morphological and histological changes between the oxidative anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) and glycolytic pectoralis major (PM) fibers in adult avian muscles. Adult female White Leghorn chickens ( Gallus gallus ) were randomly divided into five groups: a vehicle control and four mesterolone treatment groups (4, 8, 12, and 16 mg/kg). Mesterolone was administered orally every three days for four weeks. Immunocytochemical techniques and morphometric analyses were employed to measure the changes in muscle weight, fiber size, satellite cell (SC) composition, and number of myonuclei. Mesterolone increased both body and muscle weights and induced hypertrophy in glycolytic PM fibers but not in oxidative ALD fibers. Mesterolone induced SC proliferation in both muscles; however, the myonuclear accretion was noticeable only in the PM muscle. In both muscles, the collective changes maintained a constant myonuclear domain size and the changes were dose independent. In conclusion, mesterolone induced distinct dose-independent effects in avian oxidative and glycolytic skeletal muscle fibers; these findings might be clinically valuable in the treatment of age-related sarcopenia.

Background Noninvasive respiratory support is frequently needed for patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Helmet noninvasive ventilation has multiple advantages over other oxygen support modalities but data about effectiveness are limited. Methods In this multicenter randomized trial of helmet noninvasive ventilation for COVID-19 patients, 320 adult ICU patients (aged ≥14 years or as per local standards) with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fraction of inspired oxygen < 200 despite supplemental oxygen with a partial/non-rebreathing mask at a flow rate of 10 L/min or higher) will be randomized to helmet noninvasive ventilation with usual care or usual care alone, which may include mask noninvasive ventilation, high-flow nasal oxygen, or standard oxygen therapy. The primary outcome is death from any cause within 28 days after randomization. The trial has 80% power to detect a 15% absolute risk reduction in 28-day mortality from 40 to 25%. The primary outcome will be compared between the helmet and usual care group in the intention-to-treat using the chi-square test. Results will be reported as relative risk  and 95% confidence interval. The first patient was enrolled on February 8, 2021. As of August 1, 2021, 252 patients have been enrolled from 7 centers in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Discussion We developed a detailed statistical analysis plan to guide the analysis of the Helmet-COVID trial, which is expected to conclude enrollment in November 2021. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04477668 . Registered on July 20, 2020

The Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery (WCPCCS) will be held in Washington DC, USA, from Saturday, 26 August, 2023 to Friday, 1 September, 2023, inclusive. The Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery will be the largest and most comprehensive scientific meeting dedicated to paediatric and congenital cardiac care ever held. At the time of the writing of this manuscript, The Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery has 5,037 registered attendees (and rising) from 117 countries, a truly diverse and international faculty of over 925 individuals from 89 countries, over 2,000 individual abstracts and poster presenters from 101 countries, and a Best Abstract Competition featuring 153 oral abstracts from 34 countries. For information about the Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, please visit the following website: [www.WCPCCS2023.org]. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the activities related to global health and advocacy that will occur at the Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. Acknowledging the need for urgent change, we wanted to take the opportunity to bring a common voice to the global community and issue the Washington DC WCPCCS Call to Action on Addressing the Global Burden of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Diseases. A copy of this Washington DC WCPCCS Call to Action is provided in the Appendix of this manuscript. This Washington DC WCPCCS Call to Action is an initiative aimed at increasing awareness of the global burden, promoting the development of sustainable care systems, and improving access to high quality and equitable healthcare for children with heart disease as well as adults with congenital heart disease worldwide.

PurposeTo evaluate whether helmet noninvasive ventilation compared to usual respiratory support reduces 180-day mortality and improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia.MethodsThis is a pre-planned follow-up study of the Helmet-COVID trial. In this multicenter, randomized clinical trial, adults with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (n = 320) due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were randomized to receive helmet noninvasive ventilation or usual respiratory support. The modified intention-to-treat population consisted of all enrolled patients except three who were lost at follow-up. The study outcomes were 180-day mortality, EuroQoL (EQ)-5D-5L index values, and EQ-visual analog scale (EQ-VAS). In the modified intention-to-treat analysis, non-survivors were assigned a value of 0 for EQ-5D-5L and EQ-VAS.ResultsWithin 180 days, 63/159 patients (39.6%) died in the helmet noninvasive ventilation group compared to 65/158 patients (41.1%) in the usual respiratory support group (risk difference − 1.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] − 12.3, 9.3, p = 0.78). In the modified intention-to-treat analysis, patients in the helmet noninvasive ventilation and the usual respiratory support groups did not differ in EQ-5D-5L index values (median 0.68 [IQR 0.00, 1.00], compared to 0.67 [IQR 0.00, 1.00], median difference 0.00 [95% CI − 0.32, 0.32; p = 0.91]) or EQ-VAS scores (median 70 [IQR 0, 93], compared to 70 [IQR 0, 90], median difference 0.00 (95% CI − 31.92, 31.92; p = 0.55).ConclusionsHelmet noninvasive ventilation did not reduce 180-day mortality or improve HRQoL compared to usual respiratory support among patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background Depression and anxiety are prevalent psychiatric comorbidities that are known to have a negative impact on a patient’s general prognosis. But screening for these potential comorbidities in a hospital’s accident and emergency department has seldom been undertaken, particularly in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) has been extensively used to evaluate these psychiatric comorbidities in various clinical settings at all levels of health care services except for the accident and emergency department. This study therefore aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the HADS for anxiety and depression among patients at a hospital accident and emergency department in Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional observational study was conducted from January to December 2012. The participants were 257 adult patients (aged 16 years and above) who presented at the accident and emergency department of King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, who met our inclusion criteria. We used an Arabic translation of the HADS. We employed factor analysis to determine the underlying factor structure of that instrument in assessing reliability and validity. Results We found the Arabic version of the HADS to be acceptable for 95 % of the subjects. We used Cronbach’s alpha coefficient to evaluate reliability, and it indicated a significant correlation with both the anxiety (0.73) and depression (0.77) subscales of the HADS, thereby supporting the validity of the instrument. By means of factor analysis, we obtained a two-factor solution according to the two HADS subscales (anxiety and depression), and we observed a statistically significant correlation ( r  = 0.57; p  < 0.0001) between the two subscales. Conclusion The HADS can be used effectively in an accident and emergency department as an initial screening instrument for anxiety and depression. It thus has great potential as part of integrated multidisciplinary care.

The original article [1] contains an incorrect affiliation.