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Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is an underlying cardiac condition contributing to increased COVID-19 mortality and morbidity which can be assessed by several diagnosis methods including coronary artery calcification (CAC). The goal of this study was to find out if there were potential links between CAC, clinical findings, severity of COVID-19, and in-hospital outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 551 suspected patients admitted to teaching hospitals of the Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran, from March to October 2021. Data included previous diseases, comorbidities, clinical examinations, routine laboratory tests, demographic characteristics, duration of hospitalization, and number of days under ventilation were recorded in a checklist. Results: Findings of current study provide evidence of a significant relationship between coronary artery calcification (CAC) and in-hospital mortality. Additionally, we observed significant correlations between CAC and several clinical parameters including age, duration of hospitalization, pulse rate, maximum blood pressure, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), neutrophil count, white blood cell (WBC) count, and oxygen saturation. However, we did not observe a significant association between CAC and the severity index of COVID-19. In addition, logistic regression tests did not find a significant value of CAC to predict in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: Our findings showed a significant relationship between CAC and inhospital mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three components 1,1′-bi(2-naphthol)/reduced graphene oxide@MnO2 (BN-rGO@MnO2) nanocomposite for battery-type supercapacitor applications was successfully synthesized. This nanocomposite was synthesized through one-pot reduction of a permanganate anion (MnO4−) and non-covalently 1,1′-bi(2-naphthol)-functionalized graphene oxide (BN.GO) using pomegranate fruit extract as a green reducing agent source. The formation of nanocomposite was confirmed by UV–Vis spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The synthesized BN.rGO@MnO2 nanocomposite was characterized by FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The capability of the BN.rGO@MnO2 nanocomposite for use as an energy storage electrode material in a supercapacitor was examined by investigating its electrochemical behavior by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and galvanostatic charge-discharge tests. Specific capacitance of 487 F g−1 was achieved at 2 A g−1. This nanocomposite showed 81% retention of charge storage capacity after 2000 CV cycles. The application of these battery types has been implemented in various fields including medical purposes, portable electronic devices and hybrid electrical vehicles, of which their medical utilization specifically in cardiac pacemakers has attracted considerable attention. This study holds significance in the field of materials science and nanotechnology, as it proposes a potentially eco-friendly and economical method for synthesizing materials with applications in energy storage technology. The use of herbal reductions may indicate a move towards sustainable and environmentally friendly synthesis techniques. Moreover, the successful synthesis of MnO2 nanoparticles and rGO could contribute to advancements in the development of more efficient and affordable supercapacitors, which are crucial for various energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Hyperparathyroidism is a common endocrine disorder, which must be suspected in patients presenting with fatigue, history of pathologic fracture and the diagnosis can be confirmed by elevated calcium and PTH levels, and the preferred treatment option. Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), a common endocrine condition, with elevated parathormone production causes increased blood calcium levels. Parathyroid adenomas cause the majority of PHPT cases. Significant hypercalcemia can result from giant parathyroid adenomas. A calcium crisis may not always arise in these individuals, despite enormous parathyroid adenomas and high parathyroid hormone levels, and the masses may first be mistaken for a thyroid mass. In this article, we discuss the case of a 57‐year‐old Iranian man who suffered from PHPT due to a massive parathyroid adenoma and had a history of extreme fatigue and several traumatic fractures. As specialists, we should have a strong clinical suspicion of giant parathyroid adenoma as reason of hyperparathyroidism. In patients with multiple bone problems such as pain and multiple pathological fractures and elevated levels of calcium and PTH, the diagnosis of GPA must be considered and their preferred treatment is surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) can compress the trachea and esophagus when located in the cervical spine. In this report, we investigated whether it is preferable to perform the early surgical intervention in symptomatic patients or to wait and administer supportive care and perform late surgical intervention regardless of whether symptoms progress or not. Case Presentation: We present the case of a 70-year-old patient with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) causing significant dysphagia and unilateral vocal cord paresis, resulting in dyspnea and stridor. Imaging diagnostics revealed large osteophytes anterior to the cervical spine from C3 to C6 compressing the cervical spine. Significant clinical improvement was observed following the anterior resection of the patient's osteophytes. Conclusion: In order to achieve higher success and less recurrence, it is preferable to perform surgical intervention earlier in the disease's progression. However, more studies are necessary to confirm this because most of the present results are from case report articles and have less evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bundle branch blocks (BBB) in the V4-V6 precordial leads and hemi blocks are typically found in athletes. However, the prevalence of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), a recognized etiology of SCD, increases with a persistent right BBB (RBBB) in the ECG. RBBB can also reveal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the primary cause of SCD. RBBB and left posterior hemi block (LPH) are two abnormal ECG changes known to increase the risk of SCD in the athletic population. Furthermore, some studies have suggested a relationship between ventricular hypertrophy and SCD, possibly through RBBB. Some studies indicate that SCD can be predicted through LVH patterns in ECG. The current situation regarding ECG results in athletes of Iranian ethnic background is uncertain. So the objective of this research was to investigate the prevalence of BBB and right or left ventricular hypertrophy in ECG of Iranian professional athletes competing at the 17th Incheon Asian Games. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 Iranian professional athletes competing in the 17th Asian Games, Incheon, by the Sports Medicine department of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. The participant's medical records were accessed through the Sports Medicine Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2018. Age, gender, sports branch, heart rate, and the existence of BBB or ventricular hypertrophies were documented in a checklist. The mean age of the participants was 20.35 ± 1.76. Thirty participants were female (30%), and 70 (70%) were male. RBBB was observed in 42 (42%) participants and LPH in 2 (2%) participants. The existence of BBB (both RBBB and LPH) was not significantly related to rate, age, or gender (P > 0.05). However, RBBB was significantly prevalent in Judo and Fencing (P = 0.031). 89% of the participants had no ventricular hypertrophy, 10% had LVH, and 1% had RVH. The existence of ventricular hypertrophy did not have a significant relationship with age, gender, rate, or sports branches (P > 0.05). These frequencies could be expected in this population; however, great attention is needed to rule out life-threatening conditions in these patients when an abnormal ECG is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is one of the leading causes of heel discomfort worldwide. There is no definitive treatment available for PF; however, two primary therapies are under investigation: Local injection of either corticosteroids or platelet-rich plasma (PRP). There are disagreements regarding the precise and effective dosage of these therapeutic approaches and their superiority over each other. Objectives: This study was conducted to compare the effects of corticosteroids and PRP in the treatment of PF. Methods: In this single-center clinical trial, 30 patients were divided into two groups (PRP vs. corticosteroids), with 15 patients in each group. In addition to receiving medication treatment, participants were given daily exercise regimens. The PRP group had a mean age of 44.07 ± 8.21 years, while the corticosteroid group had a mean age of 44 ± 9.85 years. The efficacy of these interventions was assessed primarily using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), the Roles and Maudsley score (RM), and the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI). Results: Over a 3-month period, the NPRS decreased in the corticosteroid group from 7.07 ± 0.95 to 3.69 ± 1.43, and in the PRP group from 7.76 ± 0.92 to 3 ± 1.68 (P < 0.001). The FADI improved in the corticosteroid group from 54.84 ± 8.33 to 75.76 ± 11.96, and in the PRP group from 49.3 ± 10.11 to 78.15 ± 16.76 (P < 0.001). Plantar fascia thickness decreased in the corticosteroid group from 5.03 ± 0.62 to 4.51 ± 0.59, and in the PRP group from 5.43 ± 0.91 to 4.38 ± 1.04 (P < 0.001). The results indicated that both groups demonstrated significant improvement in the first three months. Although the PRP group showed greater improvement than the corticosteroid group after three months, the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Our results showed that the effects of corticosteroid injections subside after one month, whereas PRP has more stable effects over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a common, life-threatening pediatric emergency and was shown to be associated with high risk of morbidity and mortality. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of chest computed tomography (CT) scan for identification of FBA in children., Methods: From inception to May 2024, a systematic search was carried out across multiple databases including Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science, considering published papers in English language. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using seven domains of Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2)., Results: The systematic literature search yielded 7203 articles. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of chest CT scan for identification of FBA were 0.99 (95% CI: 0.98-0.99) and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.96-0.98), respectively. The pooled positive likelihood ratio was 10.12 (95% CI: 4.59-22.20), and pooled negative likelihood ratio was 0.05 (95% CI: 0.02-0.1). Furthermore, the area under the summarized receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was 0.98., Conclusion: Our meta-analysis revealed that despite high heterogeneity, in the diagnostic characteristics of chest CT scan among studies, it has high diagnostic value in identifying FBA in suspected pediatric cases., Competing Interests: None.

Aims: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are prone to alterations in cardiac haemodynamics specifically on the left ventricle (LV) and left atrial (LA) functions usually due to factors like uraemia, fluid overload, and inflammation. While studies on LV function in ESRD exist, research on LA function is limited. Successful kidney transplant (KTx) is believed to reverse pathological cardiac remodelling, and monitoring changes in cardiac strain before and after transplantation may guide pre- and post-transplant care. This study has two main objectives: to investigate alterations in LA and LV strain and other echocardiographic parameters after KTx and to identify independent factors predicting impaired strain parameters post-KTx., Methods and Results: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 49 ESRD patients who underwent KTx. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and at 3 months after KTx. LV end-diastolic volume, LV end-systolic volume, LV end-diastolic diameter, LV ejection fraction (LVEF), E/e', maximum LA volume index (LAVi), LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), and all LA strain values, including booster (LASb), conduit (LAScd), and reservoir (LASr), improved significantly after KTx ( P < 0.05). Regarding independent predictors of impaired LA and LV strains, pre-KTx values of LVEF, LAVi, and NT-proBNP were associated with LVGLS impairment after KTx; pre-KTx values of LAVi and LVEF were associated with LASr impairment after KTx., Conclusion: The present study provided valuable evidence on the effects of KTx on uraemic cardiomyopathy demonstrated by LA strain and LV strain improvements and indicated pre-KTx LVEF and LAVi as significant independent predictors of LVGLS and LASr impairment after KTx., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Introduction: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is known as a common cause of acute abdominal complaints in the emergency department (ED). The modality of choice for the diagnosis of SBO has not yet been established. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the accuracy of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of SBO., Methods: Systematic search was performed on five electronic databases including Medline, Scopus, Web of Sciences, Embase, and Cochrane Library, and the retrieval period was from the inception of each database to November 2023. The quality of the included studies were investigated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2). The pooled values of diagnostic characteristics for ultrasonography were estimated using meta-Disc and Stata statistical software., Results: Twenty-one studies with a total of 1977 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled estimate for sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the summary ROC curve of ultrasonography for diagnosing SBO were 0.93 (95% CI: 0.91-0.95), 0.8 (95% CI: 0.77-0.83), 5.69 (95% CI: 3.64-8.89), 0.1 (95% CI: 0.07-0.16), 83.51 (95% CI: 18.12-182.91) and 0.96, respectively., Conclusion: The findings of this meta-analysis showed that the utilization of ultrasonography holds promise as a diagnostic imaging for SBO with high accuracy. However, additional worldwide studies are essential to get more evidence on the value of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of SBO., Competing Interests: None.