ABSTRACT
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare heart condition affecting women during pregnancy or up to five months postpartum whose incidence has been rising in recent years. It is characterized by a weakened left ventricle, which impairs the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. Although the cause remains unknown, PPCM is a crucial consideration when evaluating heart failure in women of childbearing age. In this report, we present the case of a young and healthy woman who, despite lacking any identifiable risk factors, developed symptoms of systolic heart failure while undergoing an abortion during her second pregnancy, which occurred within five months of delivering her first child. After thorough investigations, a diagnosis of PPCM was established. Her treatment took place at a tertiary hospital, with regular follow-up appointments scheduled. Unfortunately, due to non-compliance with her prescribed medications, she subsequently developed a pulmonary embolism, adding another layer of complexity to her situation. This report showcases the critical role of early recognition and swift intervention in the patient's return to stability.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common medical problem that remains a great cause of morbidity and mortality. Based on clinical manifestation, CAD span from chronic stable angina to acute coronary syndrome (ACS), which encompasses (1) unstable angina (UA), (2) non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and (3) ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to describe the risk stratification and prognosis of CAD in Yemeni patients undergoing an exercise stress test. METHOD: A retrospective descriptive study involved the records of 302 patients who undergoing exercise stress testing by the Bruce protocol of Treadmill (TMT). RESULTS: Out of 302 patients, the mean age was 43.29 years, (range, 22-70 years), and 79.80% were males. The majority of patients (86.75%) were normal. Most of the affected patients (82.50%) were males. All of the affected peoples were more than 30 years old with predominance in more than 50 years old. Results showed that 45% of the positive (+ve) patients were in high-risk group, and 55% were in intermediate and low-risk groups. CONCLUSIONS: CAD affects males more than females. It affects patients older than 30 years and predominates in elderly patients. Most of the affected patients were in the high, intermediate, and low-risk groups and rarely were in the very high-risk group.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: It is well-known that all living cells emit ultra-weak photon emission (UPE), which is due to byproducts of chemical reactions in cell metabolisms. It has been shown that Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in the cells enhances the UPE intensity. The magnitude of such UPE is extremely weak (i.e. a few to 103 photons/ (sec.cm22)), and the detection of such ultra-weak signals is hardly possible via sensitive instruments like photomultiplier tube (PMT) that can detect single photons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: H2O2 factor with various concentrations was applied on the HT-29 cells to generate ROS. H2O2 concentrations were so low to be nondestructive to the cells. Then, the effect of ROS generation on UPE intensity was investigated. PMT was used to detect UPE from HT-29 cells. RESULTS: The topical application of H2O2 was significantly different (P < 0.05) in comparison with HT-29 cells without H2O2 at a concentration of 1mM in 5 min detection time. The integrated UPE in the presence of H2O2 at concentration of 3mM was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the integrated UPE in other groups at the same detection time. The difference between the concentrations of 3mM and 4mM was not significant (P > 0.01) for integrated UPE in the cell groups in the presence of H2O2. CONCLUSION: The results show that the recorded UPE from HT-29 cells increased with the topical application of exogenous ROS inducer. As a result, UPE can be used as a non-invasive technique for monitoring ROS in cells.
