Articles

Yemen with its diverse climatic regions represents a rich resource for bioactive compounds obtained from microorganisms. This study was designed to screen fungal isolates obtained from the Microbiology branch, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Science, Sana’a University for their ability to produce L-asparaginase enzyme. In preliminary screening for L-asparaginase, among 77 fungal isolates about 29 fungal isolates representing 37.66% were high producers of L-asparaginase. These fungal isolates belonged to the genera Aspergillus, Eupenicillium, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Stachyobotrys. These 29 fungal isolates were screened for their ability to produce L-asparaginase using the agar well diffusion method. 12 fungal isolates out of 29 showed the ability to produce extracellular L-asparaginase. These isolates belonged to 8 species which were: A. sulphurs, A. ustus, F. sacchari, P. chrysogenum, P. citrinum, P. corylophilum, P. melinii, and P. subturcoseum. Only 5 isolates were obtained for the determination of enzymatic activity, among them P. chrysogenum showed the highest activity (279.8696U ml-1) followed by A. ustus (170.9435U ml-1). This finding is the first report on the L-asparaginase production from filamentous fungi in Yemen.

Background: Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention are at risk of different complications such as periprocedural bleeding and acute hemoglobin reduction that can lead to myocardial injury. Blood loss through the catheter during the procedure and through puncture site haematoma causes periprocedural acute haemoglobin drop.Objectives: To find out the association between acute haemoglobin reduction and myocardial injury after PCI in patients with unstable angina. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) for one year of time. A total of 130 patients were enrolled based on inclusion and exclusion criteria during the study period. Haemoglobin and troponin-I were measured before and after PCI within 24 to 48 hours of the procedure. On the basis of post-procedural acute haemoglobin level, the study population was categorized into two groups: Group I patients with normal haemoglobin levels and Group II patients with significant acute haemoglobin reduction (≥ 1 gm/dl). Results: A total of 24 patients developed a periprocedural myocardial injury, among them 17 (70.8%) were in the reduced haemoglobin group and 7 (29.2%) in the normal haemoglobin group. Elevation of troponin I after PCI was higher in group II than in group I patients with a statistically significant difference. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that haemoglobin reduction was an independent predictor of PMI (OR 1.94; 95% CI, 1.241-8.684; p = 0.01). Conclusion: Periprocedural haemoglobin reduction in patients with unstable angina was associated with myocardial injury after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

The article gives a general classification of non-invariant points in phase equilibrium diagrams of all possible types. The complete topological isomorphism of the diagrams of fusibility, solubility, and liquid-vapor equilibria in various sets of variables is demonstrated. The stability of mono-variant equilibria near the non-variant points is investigated. Recurrent formulas for calculating the number of topological elements of phase diagrams are given. A previously undescribed type of non-invariant points and phase processes in the solubility diagrams is described and characterized. The last ones have no topological analogs in other types of diagrams. Thus, we have carried out, as far as is available to the authors, a complete classification of invariant points and invariant processes in phase equilibrium diagrams of an arbitrary type and with an arbitrary number of components.

Background and aim: Congestive heart failure is a prevalent and serious condition that poses significant challenges in the emergency department setting. Prompt and accurate management of congestive heart failure patients is crucial for improving outcomes and optimizing resource utilization. This study aims to address these challenges by developing a machine learning algorithm and comparing it to a traditional logistic regression model that can assist in the triage, resource allocation, and long-term prognostication of congestive heart failure patients.Methods: In this investigation, we used the MIMIC-III database, a publicly accessible resource containing patient data from ICU settings. Traditional logistic regression, along with the robust XGBoost and random forest algorithms, was harnessed to construct predictive models. These models were built using a range of pretreatment clinical variables. To pinpoint the most pertinent features, we carried out a univariate analysis. Ensuring robust performance and broad applicability, we adopted a nested cross-validation approach. This method enhances the precision and validation of our models by implementing multiple cross-validation iterations.Results: The performance of machine learning algorithms was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Notably, the random forest algorithm, despite having lower performance among the machine learning models still demonstrated significantly higher AUC than traditional logistic regression. The AUC for the XGBoost was 0.99, random forest 0.98, while traditional logistic regression was 0.57. The most important pretreatment variables associated with congestive heart failure include total bilirubin, creatine kinase, international normalized ratio (INR), sodium, age, creatinine, potassium, gender, alkaline phosphatase, and platelets.Conclusion: Machine learning techniques utilizing multiple pretreatment clinical variables outperform traditional logistic regression in aiding the triage, resource allocation, and long-term prognostication of congestive heart failure patients in the intensive care unit setting using MIMIC III data.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Zn supplementation on oxidative stress by evaluating changes in serum Copper (Cu) to Zinc (Zn) ratio, homocysteine (hCys), Glutathione (GSH), Total Bilirubin (TB) and Catalase (CAT) activity in hemodialysis patients.Methods: Seventy-seven HD patients were enrolled in a multicenter simple-blind randomized clinical trial. Only 37 HD patients completed the study. They were randomly divided into two groups and supplemented with zinc sulfate (n = 17) or placebo (n = 20) for two months. Serum Zn and Cu were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum hCys was measured by immunology method, serum GSH and CAT activity were assessed by spectrophotometry method and TB was measured by colorimetric method. Determinations were performed before and after supplementation.Findings: After zinc supplementation, serum Zn, serum GSH, and Serum Total Bilirubin (STB) significantly increased. Serum Cu to Zn ratio, serum hCys, and CAT activity significantly decreased in the Zn Zn-supplemented group.Conclusion: Zinc supplementation increased serum antioxidant factors such as Zn, GSH, and bilirubin and decreased serum oxidative factors such as copper to zinc ratio, hCys, and decreased CAT activity. The study results suggest that zinc supplementation may be a useful tool for the improvement of oxidative stress in HD patients.

Background: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is an established treatment for severe, symptomatic Aortic Stenosis (AS). However, the presence of low coronary heights confers a high risk for coronary obstruction during or after TAVR. Case: In this case report, we present our experience with transfemoral-TAVR in an elderly, high-risk (STS score – 12.08%) female severe AS patient with low coronary heights (right: 7.4 mm, left: 8.7 mm). She had lower annulus area (287 mm2) and moderately low valve area (0.7 cm2) as well. Her mean and peak pressure gradients (PGs) were 38 mmHg and 61 mmHg, respectively. Upon the Heart Team’s evaluation, TAVR was recommended and a 20 mm Balloon Expandable (BE) Myval Transcatheter Heart Valve (THV) was selected. No peri-procedural or post-procedural complications were reported and the post-procedural hemodynamics, namely the mean and peak PGs improved to 16 mmHg and 30 mmHg after TAVR, respectively. The patient was discharged in a stable condition after four days of hospital stay.Conclusion: We report the successful implantation of a small-sized BE Myval THV (20 mm) in a patient with low coronary heights. Life-threatening complications including paravalvular leak, coronary obstruction, or annular rupture were well averted; hence, we ascertain that the Myval THV is a suitable device for treating severe AS in difficult anatomies. However, the viability of the novel valve needs to be reaffirmed in larger studies.. 

Background: Congenital teratomas are relatively rare neoplasms, which occurs in about 1:20,000 to 1:80,000 births, and only 1.5% to 5% of which are neoplasm of the cervical. They can be diagnosed through ultrasound during pregnancy and, if not properly handled, have a high mortality rate. Airway compression is a secondary complication following mortality. Case report: A solid-cystic mass was identified in the anterior cervical region of a 30-week-old fetus during an ultrasound scan. EXIT (Ex-Utero Intrapartum Treatment)-to-airway procedure was performed by a multidisciplinary team composed of obstetricians, anesthesiologists, neonatologists and pediatric surgeons to remove the neoplasm. The procedure occurred upon delivery of the fetus, resulting in a positive outcome with neonatal survival. In this case, the fetus was in breech position, and, differently from the usual EXIT protocol, it had to be completely extracted before guaranteeing airway flow. Conclusion: Although congenital teratomas are a rare condition with complex treatment, it is possible to achieve a satisfactory outcome when adequate planning and protocol are established.

Kalanchoe pinnata, also known as air leaf or life leaf, is a plant used in traditional medicine in different world regions. In Mexico, it is included in the Atlas de la Medicina Tradicional Mexicana with a wide variety of applications, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antihistamine, among others. However, neither a secondary metabolite profile of the flower has been reported nor information on its possible toxicity. The latter is the purpose of this work. A phytochemical profile of extracts with solvents of different polarity (aqueous, methanol, ethanol, and ether) was carried out. In this profile, the structural compounds could be qualitatively determined by chemical reactions, and some changes in coloring or precipitation were observed. The acute toxicity test of the extracts was performed with an aquatic organism, Artemia sp, and a terrestrial organism Eisenia foetida, as well as the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of the extracts in the organism of Eisenia foetida. The ABTS radical method and TROLOX were applied as synthetic antioxidants for the evaluation of the inhibition percentage. Most important secondary metabolites were qualitatively identified in the extracts of K. pinnata flowers. Mainly in the alcoholic extracts (methanol and ethanol) tannins, alkaloids, and flavonols were found. As mentioned above, they are reported to have toxicological effects. The toxicity and antioxidant activity tests confirm the preliminary results obtained in the identification of secondary metabolites. It is therefore concluded that the flower of Kalanchoe pinnata contains secondary metabolites that may be of great therapeutic interest.

Background and aim: Cirrhosis leads to sarcopenia and to life-threatening complications in decompensated stages. The objective of this study is to show the impact of the loss of muscle mass and function on hepatic decompensations. Methods: Our study compares a group of cirrhotic patients with controls matched with the same sex and age. A questionnaire was created to collect demographic, anthropometric, and cirrhosis characteristics. Several CT scan sections were analyzed and the average measurements have been grouped into tertiles to estimate the impact on cirrhotic complications.Results: Our study included 33 controls and 33 cirrhotic patients of which 59.4% had NASH. Anthropometric characteristics were similar in cirrhotics men and women. Grip strength was significantly lower in cirrhotic men. Using the skeletal muscle index we found 39.39% of cirrhotic patients were sarcopenic mostly men 84.61%. In Cirrhotic men, the density of the psoas and paravertebral muscles was lower than in controls. In women psoas and paravertebral muscle areas were comparable and the total muscle surface in cirrhotic patients was higher. There was a negative correlation between this surface and the density of the psoas (r = -0.293 p = 0.017) indicating the presence of myosteatosis in women. Analysing tertile groups showed a significantly higher incidence of complications related to liver disease and liver failure in patients with the psoas and paravertebral muscle density in the lowest tertile and in the frail population according to the frailty index.Conclusion: Cirrhotic patients have myosteatosis and sarcopenia associated with a higher incidence of complications related to hepatic failure.

Introduction: Treatment failure and claims against physicians may have many negative consequences. Orthopedic surgeons have always been among the most used specialists. Therefore, the investigation of causes and the process of these claims can help reduce the negative effects of medical malpractice on physicians and society.Materials and methods: This retrospective study investigated all medical orthopedic negligence cases in Sari, Iran, from March 2015 to March 2020. Data were collected using a researcher-made checklist and analyzed in SPSS software (V-21).Results: Out of 57 finalized cases investigated in this study, surgeons were found liable in 23 (40%) cases. The mean ± SD age of patients was 41 ± 19.3. Moreover, the level of education had a positive correlation with the surgeon’s liability. The most common cause of complaint was reduced Range of motion (ROM) and the most common type of complained surgery was “open reduction & internal fixation” (ORIF). None of the surgeons were found liable due to surgical site infection or device failure. The mean ± SD time for the file processing was 11.1 ± 10.1 months. The mean indemnity payment was 320 million Iranian Rials (9.7% of indemnity for death in Iran).Conclusion: The most effective way to reduce medical complaint cases is to increase the knowledge and skill levels of physicians. The lack of a blinded arbitration system in both organizations could lead to bias in the case assessment process. Moreover, considering the long processing time of the claims, it is recommended that new technologies should be used to reduce the time and increase the accuracy of the final verdict. The absence of a ‘no-fault’ compensation program is a significant flaw in Iran violating patients’ rights. Also, more studies are needed to evaluate justice and equality in Iranian medical commissions.