基于太赫兹时域光谱技术的名贵动物药材龟甲的真伪品鉴别

目的： 建立一种利用太赫兹时域光谱和多种化学计量学方法鉴别龟甲真伪的新方法。方法： 选用正品乌龟和伪品红耳彩龟的腹甲进行实验,先用经典的性状鉴别、显微鉴别方法比较两种样品的典型性状特征,后利用太赫兹时域光谱仪测得样品的光谱信息,对样品谱图进行平滑处理和基线校准,并运用化学计量方法进行数据分析以区分正品和伪品龟甲。结果： 性状鉴别结果显示完整正、伪品龟甲样品仅有细微差异,且其碎片或粉末基本无差异;显微鉴别未在两种样品中发现明显的特征差异性结构;两种样品的太赫兹时域光谱曲线图经快速傅里叶变换滤波器平滑滤波处理、正交偏最小二乘法判别分析处理后呈现显著差异。结论： 利用太赫兹时域光谱技术结合正交偏最小二乘法判别分析可以实现龟甲真伪品的精准鉴别。     

Quality of life among epileptic patients in Qassim Region,KSA

Objectives:To explore the influence of epilepsy on quality of life (QoL) among people with epilepsy in Saudi Arabia, and its association with sociodemographic and clinical characteristic aspects in the Qassim region.Methods:A cross-sectional multi-centered study done in the Qassim region from June 2018 to May 2019. A self-administered questionnaire was provided to 216 participants who attended the neurology clinic. We used a validated Arabic version of the QoL in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31) to measure the QoL.Results:The mean of the overall QOLIE-31 score was 64.23 ± 17.8. we found that employment status had a significant influence on the overall score (p<0.001) and all other QOL domains (rho ranged from -.136 for energy fatigue to -.193 for social function) Patients with focal seizures were significantly higher in emotional wellbeing (rho=-.159), seizure worry (rho=-.226), cognitive function (rho=-.166) and overall score (p=0.010) than patients with the generalized type. Monotherapy patients have higher scores in total (p<0.001) and all subscales except seizure worry and emotional wellbeing than those on polytherapy.Conclusion:Employment status, type of seizure, and AED number are the most important factors affecting Saudi patient’s QoL.

Many studies in multiple countries have tested quality of life (QoL) in epilepsy, and have highlighted areas of common concern. It has been shown that among Arabian people, epileptic patients are generally more susceptible to having higher levels of anxiety and depression.1 In Kenya, researchers have compared QoL between persons with epilepsy (PWE) and healthy people who have the same environment, social relationship, and living circumstances. These authors found that low education level, unemployment rate, unskilled employment, and low income were higher in PWE compared to their non-epileptic accompanying people.2 Despite the high prevalence rate in Saudi Arabia (6.54 per 1000),3 there has been limited research about the impact of QoL in epileptic patients. To better identify the factors that influence Saudi epilepsy patients, here we explore the influence of epilepsy on QoL among Saudi epileptic patients.     

Current Use of Fractional Flow Reserve: A Nationwide Survey

Major medical society guidelines recommend the measurement of fractional flow reserve (FFR) as an aid in choosing percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stable coronary artery disease. We investigated the measurement of FFR among interventionalists, analyzing operators'' attributes and decision-making processes to reveal differences in their applications of FFR and the reasons for those differences. An electronic survey study of 1,089 interventionalists was performed from 2 February through 6 March 2012, yielding 255 responses. Most respondents were >45 years old (58%), worked primarily in a community hospital (59%), and performed 10 to 30 cases per month (52%). More than half (145/253, 57%) used FFR measurement in less than one third of cases, and 39 of 253 (15%) never used it. There were no differences in use of FFR by age, practice location, or angiogram volume (P >0.05 for all). Respondents used FFR measurement more frequently than intravascular ultrasonography (73% vs 60%) to help guide the decision to stent (P <0.01). Operators reported that their primary reasons for not using FFR were lack of availability (47%) and problems with reimbursement (39%). There was no difference in FFR use by operator age, practice setting, or case volume.     

Complications in paediatric liver transplant from Kuwait when transplanted abroad

Background and study aimsSince the introduction of liver transplantation (LTx) in children suffering from liver failure in 1963, many centres around the world have offered this service to children that have no other alternative. The aim of this retrospective study is to analyse the results of paediatric liver transplant in Kuwait over the last decade.Patients and methodsA retrospective chart review was done involving paediatric patients during the time period of 1995–2004. The information collected included patient demographics, indications for liver transplantation, survival of both patient and allograft, and complications.ResultsA total of 16 cases were found and analysed. The mean age was 3.6 years (ranged 5 months–17 years). There were nine boys and seven girls. The most common indications for LTx were biliary atresia and metabolic liver disease. All the liver transplants were done abroad. There were totally nine deceased donor and seven living related cases. The complications were acute cellular rejection in five, hypertension in two, biliary complications in four, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in three and post lymphoproliferative disease in two cases. All but one patient are presently alive.ConclusionThe above information demonstrates that LTx in Kuwati children is safe and improves the quality of life for those that would otherwise have no other alternative.     

Association of IL-8 gene polymorphisms with non small cell lung cancer in Tunisia: A case control study

Interleukin 8 (IL-8), is a proinflammatory chemokine, has been reported to have angiogenic activity and to be responsible for tumor-associated angiogenesis in several cancers. In this study, we aimed to study the (IL-8) gene polymorphism in relation with risk development of non small cell lung cancer in Tunisian patient. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (−251T/A [rs4073], +781C/T [rs2227306]) of the IL-8 gene were screened in 170 patients with NSCLC and 225 healthy controls by PCR–RFLP.     

Acute cardiac injury is associated with adverse outcomes,including mortality in COVID-19 patients: A single-center experience

Objectives:To evaluate acute cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients and its association with adverse outcomes including mortality in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population.Methods:A retrospective study conducted between February and June 2020 in Dubai, UAE, for all laboratory-confirmed Coronavirus disease-19 patients. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, and clinical outcomes were compared between patients with and without acute cardiac injury.Results:During the study period, 203 patients were included, of which, 44 (21.7%) had evidence of acute cardiac injury. Compared with patients without acute cardiac injury, patients with acute cardiac injury were: older, had more shortness of breath, diabetes, hypertension, and more bilateral airspace shadowing on admission chest radiography. These patients also had a higher neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, ferritin, D-dimers and lactate dehydrogenase but lower lymphocyte count. Regarding outcomes, these patients had higher intensive care admissions; a higher rate of complications including acute kidney and liver injury, acidosis, septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, needed more mechanical ventilation, and had a significantly higher risk of death.Conclusion:Acute cardiac injury is common among Coronavirus disease-19 patients. These patients present with higher comorbidities, have high inflammatory markers and have greater risk for in-hospital multi-organ damage, need for mechanical ventilation, and death. Prompt full assessment and intervention are recommended.