Pak J Med Sci
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There are conflicting data on the effects of fasting in Ramadan in Muslim countries on Lipid profile. We aimed to evaluate the effect of fasting on lipid profiles and some ratios which are strong for predicting cardiovascular disease. ⋯ Fasting in Ramadan is effective to ameliorate High density lipoprotein, and LDL/HDL and TG/HDL ratios. Omitting one meal may be considered to control High density lipoprotein level.
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To determine knowledge and attitude of Saudi mothers towards their preschool children's oral health. ⋯ The mothers need to be educated in several important areas related to feeding, diet and first dental check-up visit of their children.
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Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) tends to be resistant to multiple antibiotics. Methicillin resistance is conferred by the acquisition of the mecA gene, which is carried by a mobile genetic element called the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). There are five major types of SCCmec elements (I-V). The majority of hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) strains carry SCCmec types I, II, or III, whereas community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) strains carry SCCmec types IV or V. In addition, Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL) is a gene encoding a powerful cytotoxin that is strongly associated with CA-MRSA strains. The present study was aimed to identify the types of SCCmec and PVL genes among clinical MRSA isolates. ⋯ The virulence of MRSA strains is increasing in both hospital and community settings in Makkah, highlighting the importance of their rapid identification in order to appropriately control infection.
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Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Stem cell transplantation has become a new treatment option for cardiovascular disease because the stem cells are able to migrate to damaged cardiac tissue, repair the myocardial infarction area and ultimately reduce the role of the infarct-related mortality. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a new robust non-invasive imaging technique that can detect anatomical information and myocardial dysfunction, study the mechanism of stem cells therapy with superb spatial/temporal resolution, relatively safe contrast material and lack of radiation. This review describes the advantages and disadvantages of cardiac MRI applied in stem cells transplantation and discusses how to translate this technique into clinical therapy. Sources of Data/Study Selection: Data from cross-sectional and prospective studies published between the years 2001-2013 on the topic were included. Data searches included both human and animal studies. ⋯ MRI is an appealing technique for cell trafficking depicting engraftment, differentiation and survival.
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Breakpoint cluster region-Abelson (BCR-ABL) rearrangement or Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is derived from a reciprocal chromosomal translocation between ABL gene on chromosome 9 and BCR gene on chromosome 22. This chimeric protein has various sizes and therefore different clinical behaviour. The purpose of this study was to determine the heterogeneity of BCR-ABL rearrangement in patients with Ph(+)CML in Pakistan. ⋯ It is apparent that majority of the patients had p210 BCR-ABL rearrangements. Frequency of co-expression and rare fusion transcripts was very low.