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Key Clinical Message: Healthcare workers are prone to very high level of physical as well as emotional stress that lead to devastating health-related consequences which include but not limited to cardiovascular events that may lead to death. Recognizing the risk of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy among healthcare worker is the main aim of this report. Abstract: Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TC) is a reversible left ventricular wall motion abnormality that could not be explained by coronary artery disease and is typically precipitated by either emotional or physical stress. There is no sufficient data regarding the incidence of TC among healthcare workers and people with myocardial bridging. Here we are describing a case of an ophthalmologist with myocardial bridging who developed TC while in the operation theater.
ABSTRACT
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in developing green and renewable alternate energy sources as a solution to the energy and environmental problems produced by conventional fossil fuel use. As a very effective energy transporter, hydrogen (H2) is a possible candidate for the future energy supply. Hydrogen production by water splitting is a promising new energy option. Strong, efficient, and abundant catalysts are required for increasing the efficiency of the water splitting process. Cu-based materials as an electrocatalyst have shown promising results for application in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) and Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) in water splitting. In this review, our aim is to cover the latest developments in the synthesis, characterisation, and electrochemical behaviour of Cu-based materials as a HER, and OER electrocatalyst, highlighting the impact that these advances have had on the field. It is intended that this review article will serve as a roadmap for developing novel, cost-effective electrocatalysts for electrochemical water splitting based on nanostructured materials with particular emphasis on Cu-based materials for electrocatalytic water splitting.
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Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are at a higher risk of morbidity and mortality. This study describes the risks and outcome in COVID-19 patients with CVD attending Primary Health Care Corporationsettings in Qatar. Objective: To report whether CVD increases the risk for hospitalization and further complications in COVID-19 patients. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Results: A total of 10,178 CVD patients' data who tested positive for COVID-19 were extracted from electronic medical records on the basis of inclusion criteria and analyzed during the period of February 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 (11 months). Among the patients included in the study, 64% (n=6527) were men and 36% (n=3651) were women; 23% (n=2299) were Qataris and 77% (n=7879) were non-Qataris. Among the selected age group of greater than 25 to less than 75 years, the median age was 50.83 years. More than half of the patients had diabetes (69.6%; n=7086) followed by hypertension (68.4%; n=6965) and dyslipidemia (45.1%; n=4590). Other comorbidities were obesity (18.3%; n=1862), kidney disease (6.5%; n=659), hematologic problems (4.2%; n=425), liver disorders (1.4%; n=142), rheumatic heart disease (1.3%; n=131) and neurologic symptoms (1.3%; n=128). Multivariate analysis for factors associated with inpatient admissions in last 28 days for patients with CVD reported that patients with age greater than 70 years are 2.8 (1.86-4.18) times higher risk of hospital admission as compared with the patients 25-30 years of age. Conclusion: The pre-existing CVD with age and other comorbidities predict the risk for hospitalization and further complications in patients with COVID-19. Further studies are needed to investigate the data from primary and secondary care about the long-term cardiovascular outcomes of patients who have survived COVID-19.
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In patients with uveal melanoma, cardiac metastases can present without any symptoms. It is becoming more common than previously thought and highlights the importance of routine surveillance after definitive treatment.
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Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common cardiac valve lesion in the adult population, with an incidence increasing as the population ages. Accurate assessment of AS severity is necessary for clinical decision-making. Echocardiography is currently the diagnostic method of choice for assessing and managing AS. Transthoracic echocardiography is usually sufficient in most situations. Transesophageal echocardiography and stress echocardiography may also be utilized when there is inadequate image quality and/or discordance in the results and the clinical presentation. There is a role for other imaging modalities such as cardiac computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and catheterization in selected cases. The following describes in some detail the role of these modalities in the diagnosis and assessment of AS.
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BACKGROUND: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing in worldwide despite the development of new treatment methods. Aim of the study was to evaluate a weight loss method on body composition, glycemic, lipid and hormone profiles, blood pressure and reactive oxygen species in people with treated type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A 24-week open, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial including 272 adult patients with treated type 2 diabetes was performed. The patients were divided in two groups: Main group consisted of 208 patients who followed a method including a calorie restriction diet and optimal physical activity; Control included 64 patients who received conventional drug treatment with weight loss. Main Outcome Measures were weight loss, fasting glucose and 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), HbA1c. Secondary endpoints were blood pressure, lipid and insulin blood levels. RESULTS: At 24 weeks, patients in Main weight lost between 8-18 kg (10-21%); their body mass index significantly decreased (-4.2 kg/m2) as well as their waist circumference (-13 cm) compared to Control. In Main weight loss was achieved fatty mass reduction. In Main fasting glucose and OGTT, HbA1c, blood pressure, reactive oxygen species decreased significantly, whereas hemoglobin levels and heel bone mineral density increased. In Main blood insulin levels decreased by 72.0%, cortisol levels decreased by 40.7%, while testosterone levels in men increased by 2.4 times from baseline. The application of the weight loss method led to a decrease in drug doses leading to their complete withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show the beneficial role of a weight loss method in improving glycemic, lipid and hormone profiles, electrolyte and biochemical indices, blood pressure, reactive oxygen species and bone mineral density in patients with treated type 2 diabetes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02503865. Retrospectively registered November 2015.
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The planned annual Hajj to the holy shrines in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, is recognized as one of the largest recurring religious mass gatherings globally, and the outbreak of infectious diseases is of major concern. We aim to study the incidence, etiology, risk factors, length of hospital stay, and mortality rate of pneumonia amongst pilgrims admitted to Al-Ansar general hospital, Madinah, Saudi Arabia during the Hajj period of December 2004-November 2013. A retrospective analysis of all patients diagnosed and admitted as pneumonia was done. Patients were assessed according to the CURB-65 scoring system and admitted to the ward or intensive care unit accordingly. Throat and nasopharyngeal swabs, sputum, and blood culture were collected prior to antibiotic treatment. 1059 patients were included in the study (23% of total hospital admissions and 20% of ICU admissions). The mean age of participants was 56.8 years, the Male:Female ratio was 3:1, and the lengths of stay in the ward and intensive care units were 5 and 14.5 days, respectively. The main organisms cultured from sputum were Klebsiella Pneumoniae, Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Haemophilus Influenzae, Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and community-acquired MRSA. The mortality rate in the ward was 2.4%, while the rate in the ICU was 21.45%. The organisms which caused pneumonia were found to be different during Hajj. The usual standard guideline for the treatment of pneumonia was ineffective for the causative organisms. Therefore, specific adjustments in the guidelines are needed. All efforts should be made to determine the infectious agent. Healthcare workers and pilgrims should adhere to preventive measures.
