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In this study, Yttrium Iron Garnet (Y3Fe5O12) (YIG) powders were synthesized via co-precipitation method, followed by calcining the precipitates at 1100˚C. The garnets produced were obtained from aqueous iron and yttrium chloride mixtures using different molarities of NaOH (M=2, 3, 4 and 5) at pH=12. The phase formation and crystallography were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), the morphology was investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the dielectric properties were measured using an impedance analyzer in the frequency range 0.5 - 5MHz, in a temperature range 22 - 350˚C. X-ray diffraction peaks showed the formation of cubic YIG with lattice parameter varying between 12.334 and 12.339 Å. The grain size, measured from TEM images, decreased with the increase of the molarity of NaOH. Plots of the real part of the dielectric constant ε′, the imaginary part of the dielectric constant ε'', loss tangent tan δ and ac conductivity σac as functions of frequency and temperature, respectively, were obtained. It was observed that the highest values of the dielectric constant were obtained in the 2M sample. Keywords: Dielectric properties, Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG), Co-precipitation method, NaOH molarity.

Bradyarrhhtmias can cause low cardiac output (CO) state despite normal left ventricular ejection fraction and normal stroke volume. CO defined as product of the heart rate (HR) and SV. Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) type I can be a consequences of Low CO state secondary to slow HR

The main ultrasound criterion for diagnosing pulmonary infarction is the presence of triangular/wedge-shaped or rounded, hypoechogenic, homogeneous, pleura-based lesions. When used in point-of-care, ultrasonography of several organs can facilitate the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in a patient presenting with chest pain. We describe a case of chest pain which we thought was due to angina, but point-of-care ultrasonography directed us to a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.Point-of-care ultrasonography can help the clinician make a rapid diagnosis in patients with acute respiratory failure.The main ultrasound criterion for diagnosing pulmonary infarction is the presence of triangular/wedge-shaped or rounded, hypoechogenic, pleura-based lesions.

Summary Use of antipsychotic drugs has been associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism in several observational studies with unclear mechanism. We present a case of a patient who experienced a significant event of venous thromboembolism after a few months exposure to atypical antipsychotic drug for his bipolar mood disorders.

Summary Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an alternative treatment for selected patients with severe aortic valve stenosis who are at high risk for conventional surgery. Critical stenosis of left main coronary artery as a late complication after TAVR is quite rare.

Introduction. One of the ultrasonic features of COVID-19 pneumonia is the presence of subpleural consolidation (SPC), and the number of SPCs varies among patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Aim. To examine the relationship between disease severity and the number of SPCs on admission. Methodology. This observational, prospective, single‐center study included patients with suspected COVID-19 infection who had been transferred to the ICU. A specialized intensivist in critical care ultrasound performed lung ultrasound (LUS) and echocardiography within 12 hours of a patient’s admission to the ICU. The aeration score was calculated, and the total number of SPCs was quantified in 12 zones of the LUS. Results. Of 109 patients with suspected COVID-19 pneumonia, 77 (71%) were confirmed. The median patient age was 53 (82–36) years, and 81 of the patients (73.7%) were men. The aeration score and the counts of subpleural consolidation in each zone were significantly higher in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia ( P = 0.018 and P < 0.0001 , respectively). There was an inverse relationship between PO2/FiO2, the aeration score, and the number of subpleural consolidations. The higher the number of SPCs, the worse the PO2/FiO2 will be. Conclusions. Sonographic SPC counts correlate well with the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia and PO2/FiO2. The number of SPCs should be considered when using LUS to assess disease severity.

INTRODUCTION. Models of gram negative bacteria induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have been well established in rats. The therapeutic role of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) looks promising in such a model (1). Contrarily, no information is available on the role of MSCs in the treatment of pulmonary ARDS induced by gram positive bacteria. Staphylococcus Aureus is a clinically relevant gram positive bacteria, which is associated with >40% health care pneumonia cases and with mortality rates of >50% (2). OBJECTIVES. Objectives of our investigation were: 1. to establish a model of gram positive bacterial pneumonia using a clinically relevant strain of S. Aureus from a human isolate (Newman) (3); 2. To evaluate the potential therapeutic role of naïve and preactivated umbilical cord (UC) MSCs freshly harvested from culture in the treatment of acute lung injury in a new model of Rodent S. Aureus–induced ARDS. METHODS. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats underwent intratracheal instillation of S. Aureus Newman to induce pulmonary ARDS. Animals were randomized, within 2 hours post infection, to intravenous administration of: (1) vehicle (phosphate buffered saline (PBS)); (2) 1x10^7/kg fresh UC-MSCs; and (3) 1x10^7/kg fresh UCMSCs preactivated for 24 hours with cytomix (TNF-α; IL-1β; and IFN- γ [50 ng/mL each]). Comparisons among the groups were tested for differences in bacterial load and white blood cell count in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and arterial oxygenation after 48 hours. RESULTS. Endotracheal instillation of S. Aureus Newman induced a model of moderate ARDS in rats. Fresh naïve UC-MSCs did not treat the lung injury at 48 hour post infection. In contrast, the preactivation of fresh UC-MSCs with cytomix for 24 hours allowed to significantly increase the pulmonary bacterial clearance – as shown by the lower bacterial load in the BAL (Figure 1A), to reduce the lung cell infiltrates – as shown by the lower white blood cell count in the BAL (Figure 1B), and to improve oxygenation with an average PaO2/FiO2 ratio above 300 at an FiO2 of 1.0 (data not shown). Data are expressed as mean (SEM). n=6-8 per group. p-UC-MSCs=preactivated UC-MSCs. CONCLUSION. Fresh preactivated UC-MSCs therapy decreased the severity of S. Aureus induced ARDS by the reduction of bacterial load and white blood cell infiltrates into the lungs, and by the increase of arterial oxygenation. The use of preactivated UC-MSCs could represent a potential clinically relevant treatment of acute lung injury in patients with gram positive induced ARDS.

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is attributed as a cause of circulating mixed cryoglobulinemia and immune mediated extrahepatic complications. Massive pulmonary haemorrhages with chronic hepatitis C has been scarcely reported; and has been associated with renal failure and cryoglobulinemia. The most commonly used treatment modalities include the use of cyclophosphamide, prednisolone, and plasmapheresis, with conflicting views regarding alternative treatments in resistant cases. Rituximab is an option in resistant cases due to its potent immunosuppressive effects on B cells. We describe a case of hepatitis C– associated mixed cryoglobulinemia and pulmonary hemorrhage resistant to standard treatment. Rituximab led to hepatitis C virus reactivation and fulminant hepatitis.

Summary Background Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) has been described as a common diagnosis and has been reported in 50% of patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of MVP – as diagnosed by 2D-echocardiography criteria – in spontaneous pneumothorax. Method A case-control study of 24 patients with PSP, and 40 age-matched controls. All cases underwent 2D-echocardiography by a certified cardiologist. Echocardiography and demographic features of both groups were compared and analyzed using Fisher's exact test. Classic MVP was defined as superior displacement of the mitral leaflets of more than 2 mm during systole and as a maximal leaflet thickness of at least 5 mm during diastasis, and non-classic prolapse was defined as displacement of more than 2 mm with a maximal thickness of less than 5 mm. Results MVP was found in 9 of the 24 patients (37.5%) who suffered PSP, compared to 3 out of the 40 (7.5%) age-matched controls (P = 0.008). The body mass index (BMI) (weight/height2) was lower in the group with pneumothorax (P = 0.001). Conclusion In this study, applying an updated definition of MVP, the prevalence of MVP in PSP was lower than previously reported, but was still significantly higher than in the control group.

A hypocalcaemia case is presented with convulsions, electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and laboratory findings suggestive of osteomalacia. This case constitutes a rare presentation of osteomalacia-induced hypocalcaemia.

No data are available on primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) in Arabs. Hence we sought to determine its characteristics in Arabs of the Al-Ahmadi Governorate in Kuwait. All patients over 10 years of age with pneumothorax who were admitted to the only free general hospital serving Ahmadi area from 1985 to 1996 were reviewed retrospectively. The study included all patients' medical records, investigations, treatment, morbidity, and mortality. Any patient with secondary pneumothorax was excluded. Primary spontaneous pneumothorax was rare in female Arabs, as they are almost never smokers. There were only two females out of total 58 patients with an incidence of 0.3 per 100,000 per year. Its incidence in male Arabs was 8.8 per 100,000 per year, similar to that in other studies. The distribution had a monophasic pattern, the average age being 23 (+/- 7.3 SD) years at the first episode. Smoking, a tall, asthenic (slim, relatively weak in appearance, ectomorphic) body build, and a positive family history are the most important risk factors and are not different from most studies conducted in other parts of the world.

Objective: To establish the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) among acute medical admissions to the Adan Hospital, Kuwait, and to evaluate the clinical features of the patients. Subjects and Methods: Of 2,833 acute medical admissions to the Adan Hospital from January 1 to May 31, 2003, 120 patients with AF were included in the study. The patients were divided into paroxysmal or persistent (PPAF), and chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF). The prevalence of stroke and clinical features of the CAF patients with and without strokes were studied. All the patients with AF underwent echocardiography to evaluate left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left atrial dimension (LAD). Results: The prevalence of AF in the study period was 4.24%, of which 68.3% had CAF and 31.7% had PPAF. The prevalence of heart failure, ischemic heart disease, systemic hypertension, and diabetes mellitus was 27.5, 55.8, 65.8, and 53.3%, respectively. Patients with CAF were older and had a higher prevalence of heart failure compared to PPAF patients. Of the patients with CAF, 26.8% had at least one episode of stroke. The CAF patients had lower LVEF and larger LAD than PPAF patients. Stroke patients with CAF had lower LVEF and larger LAD as compared to those without stroke. Conclusion: Atrial fibrillation is a common admission diagnosis in our hospital. Patients with AF commonly suffer from heart failure, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease. There was a high prevalence of stroke among CAF patients.

A lung ultrasound (US) can be routinely performed at the bedside by a trained intensive care unit physician and may provide accurate information about a lung's status that has diagnostic and therapeutic relevance. Oesophageal perforations are rare, and due to the rarity of this type of perforation and its non-specific presentation, the diagnosis and treatment are delayed, leading to a high mortality rate. We present a 70-year-old woman with a postoesophagoscopy perforated oesophagus. Lung US detected pneumothorax and mild pleural effusion that were not present on the postoperative chest X-ray. The early detection of the perforation led to a good outcome.