Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
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Multicenter Study
Precipitating Factors for Hospitalization with Heart Failure: Prevalence and Clinical Impact Observations from the Gulf CARE (Gulf aCute heArt failuRe rEgistry).
Despite the expanding burden of heart failure (HF) worldwide, data on HF precipitating factors (PFs) in developing countries, particularly the Middle East, are very limited. We examined PFs in patients hospitalized with acute HF in a prospective multicenter HF registry from 7 countries in the Middle East. ⋯ Preventive and therapeutic interventions specifically directed at noncompliance with medications and ACS are warranted in our region.
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Several cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are used to distinguish between acute bacterial meningitis (BM) and viral meningitis (VM). We compared the ability of lactate and glucose (GL) in CSF and the CSF/blood GL ratio to distinguish between acute BM and VM with typical and atypical CSF characteristics. ⋯ The CSF lactate assay can be routinely used in laboratories as a rapid, automated, and easy method that is independent of lactate blood levels.
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Comparative Study
Admission Body Temperature in Critically Ill Patients as an Independent Risk Predictor for Overall Outcome.
Body temperature (BT) abnormalities are frequently observed in critically ill patients. We aimed to assess admission BT in a heterogeneous critically ill patient population admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) as a prognostic parameter for intra-ICU and long-term mortality. ⋯ Admission BT is an independent risk predictor for both overall intra-ICU and long-term mortality in critically ill patients admitted to an ICU. Therefore, BT at admission might not only serve as a parameter for individual risk stratification but can also influence individual therapeutic decision-making.
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Iron deficiency (ID) and ID anemia (IDA) are common in the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The unique genetic and lifestyle factors of the patient population in the region have necessitated the development of recommendations to help educate health-care professionals on appropriate diagnosis and management of ID/IDA. ⋯ This consensus statement proposes recommendations for screening, diagnosis, and treatment of IDA in the GCC region.
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The element iodine is an essential nutrient utilized by the thyroid glands, and deficiency of this element has been linked to reproductive failures. Iodide transporters are also present in reproductive tissues and cells of embryonic origin such as the endometrium and trophoblasts, respectively. The aim of this study is to understand if levels of iodide transporters are linked to pregnancy outcomes. ⋯ These findings suggest possible abnormal iodine metabolism and a deficiency of iodine in endometrial tissues from some of the women with reproductive failures. We hypothesize from these findings that inorganic iodide and/or iodine is required for optimal cellular function in reproductive tissues, and that iodide transporters may potentially be used as a marker for infertility or for probing potential localized iodine deficiency that may not present in a typical thyroid panel analysis.