Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Bernard Khoo, Tricia Tan, Sophie A. Clarke, Edouard G. Mills, Bijal Patel, Manish Modi, Maria Phylactou, Pei Chia Eng, Layla Thurston, Emma C. Alexander, Karim Meeran, Alexander N. Comninos, Ali Abbara, Waljit S. Dhillo
Summary: Most patients with COVID-19 present with euthyroidism. Mild reductions in TSH and FT4 were observed in COVID-19 patients, consistent with a nonthyroidal illness syndrome. In survivors of COVID-19, thyroid function tests at follow-up returned to baseline.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Dan H. Barouch
Summary: This article reviews the protective effects of vaccination and prior infection on severe Covid-19, and proposes future research directions.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qin Liu, Qi Su, Fen Zhang, Hein M. Tun, Joyce Wing Yan Mak, Grace Chung-Yan Lui, Susanna So Shan Ng, Jessica Y. L. Ching, Amy Li, Wenqi Lu, Chenyu Liu, Chun Pan Cheung, David S. C. Hui, Paul K. S. Chan, Francis Ka Leung Chan, Siew C. Ng
Summary: By integrating clinical features and multi-omics data, the authors identified specific gut microbiome patterns associated with disease severity and development of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. These findings highlight the potential utility of host phenotype and multi-kingdom microbiota profiling as a prognostic tool for patients with COVID-19.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Rustom Antia, M. Elizabeth Halloran
Summary: The article discusses the basic concepts underlying the transition from an epidemic to an endemic state, as well as the implications of this transition for COVID-19.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marcia C. Castro, Sun Kim, Lorena Barberia, Ana Freitas Ribeiro, Susie Gurzenda, Karina Braga Ribeiro, Erin Abbott, Jeffrey Blossom, Beatriz Rache, Burton H. Singer
Summary: The study found that COVID-19 in Brazil is spreading rapidly across municipalities with distinct spatial and temporal patterns of clustering, trajectories, and speed. Analysis shows that inadequate policy measures have led to high transmission and mortality burdens. The current surge in cases and deaths, along with the circulation of concerning variants, highlights the need for government to strengthen prevention and control measures.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Peter Chen, Ajay Nirula, Barry Heller, Robert L. Gottlieb, Joseph Boscia, Jason Morris, Gregory Huhn, Jose Cardona, Bharat Mocherla, Valentina Stosor, Imad Shawa, Andrew C. Adams, Jacob Van Naarden, Kenneth L. Custer, Lei Shen, Michael Durante, Gerard Oakley, Andrew E. Schade, Janelle Sabo, Dipak R. Patel, Paul Klekotka, Daniel M. Skovronsky
Summary: LY-CoV555, a neutralizing antibody, showed promising results in reducing viral load, improving symptoms, and lowering the risk of hospitalization among patients with mild or moderate Covid-19. While one of the doses appeared to accelerate the decline in viral load, others did not show significant effects by day 11.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Constantinos Kurt Wibmer, Frances Ayres, Tandile Hermanus, Mashudu Madzivhandila, Prudence Kgagudi, Brent Oosthuysen, Bronwen E. Lambson, Tulio de Oliveira, Marion Vermeulen, Karin van der Berg, Theresa Rossouw, Michael Boswell, Veronica Ueckermann, Susan Meiring, Anne von Gottberg, Cheryl Cohen, Lynn Morris, Jinal N. Bhiman, Penny L. Moore
Summary: The SARS-CoV-2 virus in the B.1.351 variant discovered in South Africa can evade neutralization by most antibodies when expressed, but does not affect binding by convalescent plasma. This suggests the potential for reinfection with antigenically distinct variants and predicts reduced efficacy of spike-based vaccines.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emanuele Andreano, Ida Paciello, Silvia Marchese, Lorena Donnici, Giulio Pierleoni, Giulia Piccini, Noemi Manganaro, Elisa Pantano, Valentina Abbiento, Piero Pileri, Linda Benincasa, Ginevra Giglioli, Margherita Leonardi, Piet Maes, Concetta De Santi, Claudia Sala, Emanuele Montomoli, Raffaele De Francesco, Rino Rappuoli
Summary: In this study, Andreano and Paciello et al. provide insights into the functional and genetic characteristics of the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 cross-protective antibody response. Their findings reveal that SARS-CoV-2 vaccines can induce neutralizing antibodies that cross-neutralize the Omicron variants and SARS-CoV-1 virus.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sazada Siddiqui, Heba Waheeb Saeed Alhamdi, Huda Ahmed Alghamdi
Summary: COVID-19 is highly contagious and has caused major disruptions around the world. Prevention is crucial through measures such as self-isolation and vaccination.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
William R. Morgenlander, Stephanie N. Henson, Daniel R. Monaco, Athena Chen, Kirsten Littlefield, Evan M. Bloch, Eric Fujimura, Ingo Ruczinski, Andrew R. Crowley, Harini Natarajan, Savannah E. Butler, Joshua A. Weiner, Mamie Z. Li, Tania S. Bonny, Sarah E. Benner, Ashwin Balagopal, David Sullivan, Shmuel Shoham, Thomas C. Quinn, Susan H. Eshleman, Arturo Casadevall, Andrew D. Redd, Oliver Laeyendecker, Margaret E. Ackerman, Andrew Pekosz, Stephen J. Elledge, Matthew Robinson, Aaron A. R. Tobian, H. Benjamin Larman
Summary: This study found strong correlation between the functionality of COVID-19 convalescent plasma and polyclonal antibody targeting of specific peptides in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Antibody responses to specific coronaviruses correlated with the development of highly neutralizing antibodies against CoV-2. Plasma donations reactive to the CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain had higher neutralizing titers.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Mohammad Rafi Khezri, Reza Varzandeh, Morteza Ghasemnejad-Berenji
Summary: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global challenge. Recent studies have found a significant association between gut microbiota and SARS-CoV-2 infection, but the exact mechanism is unknown. This paper aims to introduce a possible molecular mechanism based on the association between circadian rhythm and gut flora in COVID-19 patients, providing new insights into the potential mechanism of melatonin in protecting against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Chang-Sheng Xia, Minghua Zhan, Yudong Liu, Zhi-Hong Yue, Ying Song, Feifei Zhang, Hui Wang
Summary: This study assessed the levels of protective antibodies in SARS survivors with and without the COVID-19 vaccine, and found that SARS survivors have protective antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 even without vaccination, and generate a stronger antibody response after vaccination compared to controls.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Dasha Majra, Jayme Benson, Jennifer Pitts, Justin Stebbing
Summary: Super spreader events (SSEs) can be categorized into 'societal' and 'isolated' events, with the former posing a greater threat and the latter being more easily quarantined.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zeli Zhang, Jose Mateus, Camila H. Coelho, Jennifer M. Dan, Carolyn Rydyznski Moderbacher, Rosa Isela Galvez, Fernanda H. Cortes, Alba Grifoni, Alison Tarke, James Chang, E. Alexandar Escarrega, Christina Kim, Benjamin Goodwin, Nathaniel Bloom, April Frazier, Daniela Weiskopf, Alessandro Sette, Shane Crotty
Summary: Multiple COVID-19 vaccines have successfully protected against symptomatic cases and deaths. Comparisons of T cell, B cell, and antibody responses to different vaccines can provide insights into protective immunity against COVID-19, particularly immune memory. mRNA vaccines and Ad26.COV2.S induced strong T cell responses, while mRNA vaccines showed substantial declines in antibodies.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel M. Altmann, Rosemary J. Boyton
Summary: A diverse range of first-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been successful in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, although inequitable distribution remains an issue. Future challenges include optimizing immunological boosting strategies and building an immune repertoire that can protect against upcoming viral variants.
Article
Rheumatology
Muhammad Umar Farooq, Hasan Sohail, Muhammad Mohsin, Raafe Iqbal, Jahanzeb Malik, Uzma Ishaq
Summary: This study investigated the proportion of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) among systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in a South-Asian population cohort and found a significantly higher proportion of FMF in SLE patients. SLE was more prevalent in the Pashtun population in the middle socioeconomic group, while FMF was dominant in the Punjabi and Sindhi populations in the low socioeconomic class.
REUMATOLOGIA CLINICA
(2023)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Shoaib Subhan, Abdul Sami, Waheed Akhtar, Muneeb Ullah Jan, Asif Ullah, Jahanzeb Malik
Summary: Epicardial fat volume (EFV) is associated with coronary artery ectasia (CAE) and coronary artery disease (CAD). The study found that patients with CAD had significantly higher EFV compared to patients with CAE, while patients with normal coronaries had the lowest EFV. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male gender, diabetes, and smoking were significantly associated with CAE. EFV had stronger diagnostic value for detecting CAD than CAE. However, the sensitivity and specificity for detecting CAE were low compared to CAD.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Abdul Sami, Bilal Mustafa, Hamza Ahmed Butt, Zainab Ashraf, Asif Ullah, Farheen Babar, Muhammad Asad, Muhammad Awais, Syed Muhammad Jawad Zaidi, Tehniat Fakhar, Amin Mehmoodi, Nawal Adnan, Jahanzeb Malik
Summary: This systematic review aimed to compare echocardiography-based programming and intracardiac electrocardiogram (IEGM)-based method for optimizing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). A total of 11 studies with 919 patients were included for analysis. The results showed that both methods led to equal improvement in New York Heart Classification (NYHA) class, but IEGM demonstrated greater improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). IEGM also showed better outcomes in terms of 6-minute walk test and left ventricular outflow tract velocity time interval (LVOT VTI) compared to echocardiography. The mean optimization time was shorter for IEGM-based method (6.65 min) compared to echocardiography-based method (60.15 min). Rating: 8/10.
ANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Shahzaib Maqbool, Saba Shafiq, Sarmad Ali, Mohammad Ebad Ur Rehman, Jahanzeb Malik, Ka Yiu Lee
Summary: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common structural abnormality in CKD patients, with ESRD patients accounting for the majority. This study analyzed the association between CKD and different geometric patterns of LVH and found that higher CKD stages were more likely to have eccentric LVH. The study included 7 studies with 2121 patients, and the mean age of the patients was 61.5 +/- 12.4 years. The incidence of LVH was 47.05%, and all included studies showed preserved ejection fraction (EF). ESRD was more associated with eccentric LVH compared to other stages of CKD.
CURRENT PROBLEMS IN CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Talal Almas, Reema Alsufyani, Riaz Jiffry, Abdulla K. Al Subai, Abdulla Almesri, Syed Altamash Ali, Omar Baqal, Jahanzeb Malik, Taha Ahmed, Mariam Nadeem Rana
CURRENT PROBLEMS IN CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Hina Arsh, Ritesh Pahwani, Waqar Arif Rasool Chaudhry, Rabaiqa Khan, Raja Ram Khenhrani, Sapna Devi, Jahanzeb Malik
Summary: Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a rare but serious complication after myocardial infarction (MI) with significant morbidity and mortality. The optimal management approach for VSR remains debatable, considering factors such as timing of surgery, risk stratification, pharmacological interventions, minimally invasive techniques, and tissue engineering. VSR pathophysiology involves myocardial necrosis, inflammatory response, and enzymatic degradation of the extracellular matrix, resulting in structural weakening and subsequent ventricular septal rupture.
CURRENT PROBLEMS IN CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Tayyiba Ahmed Noor, Muhammad Omer Rehman Rana, Sapna Kumari, Bakht Umer, Jahanzeb Malik, Amna Ashraf, Maria Faraz, Tabligh Hussain, Muhammad Awais, Amin Mehmoodi, Azmat Hayat
Summary: Background: Leadless pacemakers (LPMs) have become a popular alternative to traditional transvenous pacemakers. However, there is limited data on LPM implantation in emergencies. Methods: This review included four studies with a total of 1276 patients. Primary outcomes were procedure duration, fluoroscopic time, major complications, and mortality, while secondary outcomes were pacing threshold, impedance, sensing of LPM, and hospital stay. Conclusion: The review suggests that LPMs may be a better option than temporary pacemakers for underlying arrhythmias, even in urgent situations.
ANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Amer Rauf, Asif Ullah, Usha Rathi, Zainab Ashfaq, Hidayat Ullah, Amna Ashraf, Jateesh Kumar, Maria Faraz, Waheed Akhtar, Amin Mehmoodi, Jahanzeb Malik
Summary: Our study demonstrated the ability of an intelligent gradient boosting machine model to predict cerebrovascular events and all-cause mortality in patients with mitral stenosis and atrial flutter. The model identified key risk factors such as mitral valve area, pulmonary artery pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction, and New York Heart Association class. It assimilated clinical data from various diagnostic modalities and improved risk prediction performance.
ANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Sidra Sohail, Ather Naeem, Humzala Ali Basham, Amna Ashraf, Raveena Bai Bansari, Ali Karim, Maria Faraz, Jahanzeb Malik, Azmat Hayat
Summary: Commotio cordis, a life-threatening condition caused by blunt chest impact, can occur in non-sport-related activities and demonstrates a higher mortality rate compared to sport-related cases. The lack of access to CPR and AEDs, as well as delayed initiation of resuscitative efforts, contribute to this increased risk in non-sport-related scenarios.
CURRENT PROBLEMS IN CARDIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Aatika Habib, Waleed Abbasi, Abair ul Haq, Sadaf Shabbir Kiani, Parversh Kumar Rathi, Sidra Sheikh, Usha Rathi, Amin Mehmoodi, Jahanzeb Malik
Summary: This prospective observational study provides evidence that flushing the radial sheath after coronary intervention via the radial artery can effectively reduce the risk of radial artery occlusion.
JOURNAL OF VASCULAR ACCESS
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Muhammad Hassan Raza, Muhammad Usama Maqbool, Sunil Kumar, Jahanzeb Malik, Sameer Ali, Zahoor Aslam Khan
Summary: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) is a promising technique in cardiac resynchronization therapy, but careful attention and management are required due to the potential risk of coronary artery complications. This literature review explores the mechanisms, acute coronary events, and clinical implications associated with these complications. Specific care strategies, including thorough evaluation, expert technique, and close monitoring, are recommended to avoid complications and optimize patient outcomes. Future directions include advancements in techniques, innovations, risk stratification, imaging modalities, and collaboration among stakeholders.
PACE-PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Syeda S. Sultana, Sibtain Nisar, F. N. U. Manoj Kumar, Haysum Khan, Hamayle Saeed, Gulfam Ahmed, Jahanzeb Malik
Summary: "Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy" or broken heart syndrome is a cardiac condition triggered by emotional stress, and while most research has focused on negative emotions, there is growing interest in understanding the role of positive emotions. This review highlights studies that suggest positive emotions like joy and gratitude may lead to improved emotional well-being and potentially reduce the risk of developing Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, but more research is needed due to limitations in sample sizes and quantifying positive emotions.
CURRENT PROBLEMS IN CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Rabbia Khurshid, Muhammad Awais, Jahanzeb Malik
Summary: Concurrent with the epidemiological transition to cardiovascular diseases in LMICs, the burden of arrhythmias is increasing. However, registries of electrophysiological disorders and their management in LMICs are limited. Telemedicine technology can provide accurate diagnoses in resource-limited settings.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Syed Javaid Iqbal, Muhammad Umer Riaz Gondal, Shahid Mukarram, F. N. U. Sapna, Deepak Kumar, Jahanzeb Malik, Maria Malik, Muhammad Awais
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between sexual harassment and burnout among cardiology trainees, highlighting the prevalence and impact of these experiences in medical practice. The results show a high prevalence of sexual harassment among female physicians, particularly during training. Moderate to large correlations were found between harassment experiences with colleagues, patients, and their families. While sexual harassment was not significantly related to burnout, interventions are suggested to create a safer medical workplace.
CURRENT PROBLEMS IN CARDIOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Waqar Arif Rasool Chaudhry, Binish Ayub Ahmad, Muhammad Saad Waqas, Junaid Raza Khan, Malik Hasnat ul Hassan Khan, Umer Khiyam, Jahanzeb Malik
Summary: This review explores the epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical presentations, and management of altitude-related venous thrombosis (ARVT). ARVT is caused by the interplay of hypobaric hypoxia and endothelial dysfunction, leading to an increased risk of thrombosis. Common symptoms include pain, swelling, and redness in the extremities, requiring accurate and timely diagnosis, thromboprophylaxis, and anticoagulation treatment.
CURRENT PROBLEMS IN CARDIOLOGY
(2024)
