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Background Recent evidence shows an association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and a severe inflammatory syndrome in children. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) data about myocardial injury in children are limited to small cohorts. The aim of this multicenter, international registry is to describe clinical and cardiac characteristics of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 using CMR so as to better understand the real extent of myocardial damage in this vulnerable cohort. Methods and results Hundred-eleven patients meeting the World Health Organization criteria for MIS-C associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), having clinical cardiac involvement and having received CMR imaging scan were included from 17 centers. Median age at disease onset was 10.0 years (IQR 7.0–13.8). The majority of children had COVID-19 serology positive (98%) with 27% of children still having both, positive serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). CMR was performed at a median of 28 days (19–47) after onset of symptoms. Twenty out of 111 (18%) patients had CMR criteria for acute myocarditis (as defined by the Lake Louise Criteria) with 18/20 showing subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). CMR myocarditis was significantly associated with New York Heart Association class IV (p = 0.005, OR 6.56 (95%-CI 1.87–23.00)) and the need for mechanical support (p = 0.039, OR 4.98 (95%-CI 1.18–21.02)). At discharge, 11/111 (10%) patients still had left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Conclusion No CMR evidence of myocardial damage was found in most of our MIS-C cohort. Nevertheless, acute myocarditis is a possible manifestation of MIS-C associated with SARS-CoV-2 with CMR evidence of myocardial necrosis in 18% of our cohort. CMR may be an important diagnostic tool to identify a subset of patients at risk for cardiac sequelae and more prone to myocardial damage. Clinical trial registration: The study has been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier NCT04455347, registered on 01/07/2020, retrospectively registered.

Background Moving from sitting to standing is a common activity of daily living. The five-repetition sit-to-stand test (5STS) is a test of lower limb function that measures the fastest time taken to stand five times from a chair with arms folded. The 5STS has been validated in healthy community-dwelling adults, but data in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) populations are lacking. Aims To determine the reliability, validity and responsiveness of the 5STS in patients with COPD. Methods Test-retest and interobserver reliability of the 5STS was measured in 50 patients with COPD. To address construct validity we collected data on the 5STS, exercise capacity (incremental shuttle walk (ISW)), lower limb strength (quadriceps maximum voluntary contraction (QMVC)), health status (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)) and composite mortality indices (Age Dyspnoea Obstruction index (ADO), BODE index (iBODE)). Responsiveness was determined by measuring 5STS before and after outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in 239 patients. Minimum clinically important difference (MCID) was estimated using anchor-based methods. Results Test-retest and interobserver intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.97 and 0.99, respectively. 5STS time correlated significantly with ISW, QMVC, SGRQ, ADO and iBODE (r=−0.59, −0.38, 0.35, 0.42 and 0.46, respectively; all p<0.001). Median (25th, 75th centiles) 5STS time decreased with PR (Pre: 14.1 (11.5, 21.3) vs Post: 12.4 (10.2, 16.3) s; p<0.001). Using different anchors, a conservative estimate for the MCID was 1.7 s. Conclusions The 5STS is reliable, valid and responsive in patients with COPD with an estimated MCID of 1.7 s. It is a practical functional outcome measure suitable for use in most healthcare settings.

[...]these studies relied primarily on data from select health systems or medical groups and few reported on the impact of the pandemic past May 2020. Based on a statewide surveillance system that captures all civilian, acute care hospital-affiliated ED visits, we observed that overall ED volume and visits for acute cardiovascular outcomes declined sharply after the establishment of a stay-at-home order in NC. Given that cardiovascular deaths have also increased in the wake of the pandemic [5], our observed reductions in ED visits for acute cardiovascular outcomes likely reflect a widespread avoidance of critical emergency medical care rather than a decrease in occurrence of cardiovascular emergencies.

Background Mitochondrial damage and dysfunction have been reported in airway and quadriceps muscle cells of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We determined the concomitance of mitochondrial dysfunction in these cells in COPD. Methods Bronchial biopsies were obtained from never- and ex-smoker volunteers and COPD patients (GOLD Grade 2) and quadriceps muscle biopsies from the same volunteers in addition to COPD patients at GOLD Grade 3/4 for measurement of mitochondrial function. Results Decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) and decreased superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) levels were observed in mitochondria isolated from bronchial biopsies from Grade 2 patients compared to healthy never- and ex-smokers. There was a significant correlation between ΔΨm and FEV 1 (% predicted), transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide (TLCO C % predicted), 6-min walk test and maximum oxygen consumption. In addition, ΔΨm was also associated with decreased expression levels of electron transport chain (ETC) complex proteins I and II. In quadriceps muscle of Grade 2 COPD patients, a significant increase in total ROS and mtROS was observed without changes in ΔΨm, SOD2 or ETC complex protein expression. However, quadriceps muscle of GOLD Grade 3/4 COPD patients showed an increased mtROS and decreased SOD2 and ETC complex proteins I, II, III and V expression. Conclusions Mitochondrial dysfunction in the airways, but not in quadriceps muscle, is associated with airflow obstruction and exercise capacity in Grade 2 COPD. Oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in the quadriceps may result from similar disease processes occurring in the lungs.

Quinolines are a prominent heterocyclic motif and crucial building blocks in creating physiologically active compounds. Due to the fast development of novel medicines with a quinoline nucleus, numerous research papers have been published in a short amount of time. Therefore, to comprehend the present state of the quinoline nucleus in medicinal chemistry science, it is necessary to combine new information with older data. So far, several traditional synthesis techniques have been reported in the literature to synthesize this scaffold. Pfitzinger, Gould-Jacob, Friedlander, Skraup, Doebner-von Miller, and Conrad-Limpach are examples of old synthetic methods. However, they need expensive and demanding conditions, such as high temperature, the use of non-biodegradable chemical compounds degrade the ecosystem, create irritation or harm as pollutants, and represent a threat to the environment. However, traditional synthesis processes need a difficult and time-consuming apparatus set-up, resulting in high costs and pollutants. As a result, scientists are presently developing new and innovative techniques to decrease the use of chemicals, solvents, and catalysts, which are detrimental to both humans and the environment. Therefore, we have attempted to shed light in this current review on various reactions to produce quinolines and their derivatives using various green synthetic methods.

The evaluation of the next-generation XGPON network involves assessing parameters like bandwidth utilization, packet loss, and queuing delays, all of which impact on efficient upstream bandwidth allocation. In a condition of heavy traffic load, one ONU trying to monopolizing bandwidth utilization for itself, and lead to disadvantaging others. This issue is exacerbated by long distances in extended-reach XGPON networks, causing redundant bandwidth requests, lead to higher queuing delays at others ONUs. To address this, a proposed game-theoretic model is introduce, to ensure fair bandwidth distribution while maintaining Quality of Service parameters, load fairness, delay fairness. The performance of the proposed DBA, tested alongside the XGIANT DBA using the NS3 simulator, and demonstrates improved fairness that validates the proposed DBA’s effectiveness.

Background: Mental health is one of the critical health requirements that society needs to address in the present century. Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) can play an important role in identifying mental health problems at the earliest and help in improving community health status. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a mental health education program on knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of ASHAs. Materials and Methods: An intervention study was conducted to empower ASHAs for providing mental health services at a district located in Western India during 2016 and 2017. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to assess KAP regarding mental health in intervention and control groups before and post intervention. An educational program was imparted in two batches. Hybrid methods for imparting teaching/training were utilized. \"Paired t-test\" was applied to compare pre- and post-results in intervention group and \"unpaired t-test\" for baseline comparison. Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in KAP of ASHAs after intervention. Majority of ASHAs referred cases of mental health problems to government tertiary care hospitals. Conclusions: The study indicates that it is possible to empower ASHAs with a short course related to mental health to achieve effective outcomes in terms of improved knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Precipitation expectation is a pivotal subject for the administration of water assets and counteraction of hydrological calamities. To make a precipitation forecast and find the essential elements influencing precipitation, this study presents a logical profound learning approach in two sections. The initial segment with a consideration system which could foresee precipitation, while second part the clarification figures attribution values for the information weather conditions elements to evaluate their significance. A contextual investigation is led on hourly precipitation information for India’s population wise top eight urban cities. The outcomes predominantly demonstrate that the main elements for precipitation whose component esteem is adversely/decidedly corresponded with its attribution esteem. The review’s importance lies in upgrading the giving interpretability through recognizable proof of persuasive variables, which works with long haul arranging of water assets and more profound comprehension of mind-boggling climate frameworks.

PurposeCardiac Magnetic resonance (CMR) derived left ventricular longitudinal and circumferential strain is known to be abnormal in myocarditis. CMR strain is a useful additional tool that can identify subclinical myocardial involvement and may help with longitudinal follow-up. Right ventricular strain derived by CMR in children has not been studied. We sought to evaluate CMR derived biventricular strain in children with acute myocarditis.MethodsChildren with acute myocarditis who underwent CMR between 2016–2022 at our center were reviewed, this group included subjects with COVID-19 myocarditis. Children with no evidence of myocarditis served as controls Those with congenital heart disease and technically limited images for CMR strain analysis were excluded from final analysis. Biventricular longitudinal, circumferential, and radial peak systolic strains were derived using circle cvi42®. Data between cases and controls were compared using an independent sample t-test. One-way ANOVA with post hoc analysis was used to compare COVID-19, non-COVID myocarditis and controls.Results38 myocarditis and 14 controls met inclusion criteria (mean age 14.4 ± 3 years). All CMR derived peak strain values except for RV longitudinal strain were abnormal in myocarditis group. One-way ANOVA revealed that there was a statistically significant difference with abnormal RV and LV strain in COVID-19 myocarditis when compared to non-COVID-19 myocarditis and controls.ConclusionCMR derived right and left ventricular peak systolic strain using traditionally acquired cine images were abnormal in children with acute myocarditis. All strain measurements were significantly abnormal in children with COVID-19 even when compared to non-COVID myocarditis.

In a wide array of kidney diseases, type 1 angiotensin (AT1) receptors are present on the immune cells that infiltrate the renal interstitium. Here, we examined the actions of AT1 receptors on macrophages in progressive renal fibrosis and found that macrophage-specific AT1 receptor deficiency exacerbates kidney fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Macrophages isolated from obstructed kidneys of mice lacking AT1 receptors solely on macrophages had heightened expression of proinflammatory M1 cytokines, including IL-1. Evaluation of isolated AT1 receptor-deficient macrophages confirmed the propensity of these cells to produce exaggerated levels of M1 cytokines, which led to more severe renal epithelial cell damage via IL-1 receptor activation in coculture compared with WT macrophages. A murine kidney crosstransplantation concomitant with UUO model revealed that augmentation of renal fibrosis instigated by AT1 receptor-deficient macrophages is mediated by IL-1 receptor stimulation in the kidney. This study indicates that a key role of AT1 receptors on macrophages is to protect the kidney from fibrosis by limiting activation of IL-1 receptors in the kidney.