Demographic characteristics and population projection of Phytonemus pallidus fragariae reared on different strawberry cultivars.

The strawberry mite, Phytonemus pallidus fragariae (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae), is one of the most important pests of greenhouse grown strawberry plants. Field grown strawberries may also be infested by the pest in high humid conditions. Life tables give the most comprehensive description of the development, survival, stage differentiation, reproduction and consequently population growth of a population, and thus it is an important base of population ecology and pest management. In this study, to provide a comprehensive evaluation of an ecology-based and cost-effective control program, life history and demographic parameters of the strawberry mite were studied. The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions providing 20 ± 1 °C, 80 ± 10% RH and L16:D8 photoperiod. The data were analyzed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. The population parameters net reproduction rate (R0 = 6.14 offspring), intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.1317 day-1), and finite rate of increase (λ = 1.1407 day-1) on cv. Aromas were lower than those on the other cultivars tested. Based on the population characteristics, Aromas is a less favorable cultivar for the population growth of strawberry mite.

Predictors for prolonged qt intervals in acute antipsychotic poisoned patients.

Background: Acute antipsychotic poisoning is correlated to a high prevalence of qt interval prolongation. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate early qt interval prolongation predictors in acute antipsychotic-poisoned patients. Methodology: This prospective cohort study enrolled 70 symptomatic patients with acute antipsychotic poisoning. Sociodemographic data, toxicological, clinical, investigation, and outcomes were collected and analyzed. The estimation of the corrected qt interval (QTc) was performed using Bazett's method. Primary outcome was normal or abnormal length of QTc interval. Secondary outcomes included duration of hospital stay, complete recovery and mortality. The corrected qt interval was analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Patients were divided into groups A (normal QTc interval up to 440 msec; 58.6% of cases) and B (prolonged QTc interval ≥ 440 msec; 41.4% of cases). Patients in group B had significantly high incidences of quetiapine intake, bradycardia, hypotension, hypokalemia, and long duration of hospital stay. By multivariate analysis, quetiapine [Odd's ratio (OR): 39.674; Confidence Interval (C.I:3.426-459.476)], bradycardia [OR: 22.664; C.I (2.534-202.690)], and hypotension [OR: 16.263; (C.I: 2.168-122.009)] were significantly correlated with prolonged QTc interval. Conclusion: In acute antipsychotic poisoning, quetiapine, bradycardia, and hypotension are early clinical predictors for prolonged QTc interval.

Prediction of side branch occlusion in bifurcational lesions during percutaneous coronary interventions by preprocedural coronary computed tomography using the CT bifurcation score.

Introduction: Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) is a highly diagnostically accurate non-invasive imaging method for a thorough evaluation of atherosclerotic plaques. Many CCTA-based imaging investigations concentrate on bifurcation lesions. Aim: To determine whether intraprocedural side branch (SB) obstruction during the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of lesions involving bifurcations might be predicted by preprocedural CCTA. Material and methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted on 200 stentable bifurcation lesions of 200 coronary artery disease patients with the SB ≥ 2 mm in diameter. All patients were planned for elective bifurcation PCI after undergoing CCTA for quantitative plaque characterization of both the main vessel and SB to obtain the CT bifurcation score. Then, angiography-based bifurcations were classified using both the Medina classification and the RESOLVE score before PCI of the bifurcation lesions. Most of the cases were managed by the provisional technique. Results: The CT bifurcation score was substantially higher in patients with SB occlusion (p < 0.001) with 80% sensitivity and 60% specificity at a cut-off point of 3. There was a borderline significant relation between the Medina score and SB occlusion in the studied cases (p = 0.05) with 60% sensitivity and 40% specificity. The RESOLVE score was unexpectedly an insignificant predictor of SB occlusion (p = 0.25) in our study, with 40% sensitivity and 50% specificity. Conclusions: Intraprocedural SB occlusion can be predicted by a comprehensive CCTA evaluation. The CT bifurcation score, a novel and simple points scoring system based on six CCTA parameters, outperformed current angiographic classification or scoring systems for predicting SB occlusion.

Predictors of Conduction Disturbances Requiring New Permanent Pacemaker Implantation following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Using the Evolut Series.

(1) Background: Conduction disturbance requiring a new permanent pacemaker (PPM) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has traditionally been a common complication. New implantation techniques with self-expanding platforms have reportedly reduced the incidence of PPM. We sought to investigate the predictors of PPM at 30 days after TAVI using Evolut R/PRO/PRO+; (2) Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent TAVI with the Evolut platform between October 2019 and August 2022 at University Hospital Galway, Ireland, were included. Patients who had a prior PPM (n = 10), valve-in-valve procedures (n = 8) or received >1 valve during the index procedure (n = 3) were excluded. Baseline clinical, electrocardiographic (ECG), echocardiographic and multislice computed tomography (MSCT) parameters were analyzed. Pre-TAVI MSCT analysis included membranous septum (MS) length, a semi-quantitative calcification analysis of the aortic valve leaflets, left ventricular outflow tract, and mitral annulus. Furthermore, the implantation depth (ID) was measured from the final aortography. Multivariate binary logistic analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to identify independent predictors and the optimal MS and ID cutoff values to predict new PPM requirements, respectively; (3) Results: A total of 129 TAVI patients were included (age = 81.3 ± 5.3 years; 36% female; median EuroSCORE II 3.2 [2.0, 5.4]). Fifteen patients (11.6%) required PPM after 30 days. The patients requiring new PPM at 30 days were more likely to have a lower European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II, increased prevalence of right bundle branch block (RBBB) at baseline ECG, have a higher mitral annular calcification severity and have a shorter MS on preprocedural MSCT analysis, and have a ID, as shown on the final aortogram. From the multivariate analysis, pre-TAVI RBBB, MS length, and ID were shown to be predictors of new PPM. An MS length of <2.85 mm (AUC = 0.85, 95%CI: (0.77, 0.93)) and ID of >3.99 mm (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.79, (95% confidence interval (CI): (0.68, 0.90)) were found to be the optimal cut-offs for predicting new PPM requirements; (4) Conclusions: Membranous septum length and implantation depth were found to be independent predictors of new PPM post-TAVI with the Evolut platform. Patient-specific implantation depth could be used to mitigate the requirement for new PPM.

Effect of oral ibuprofen on patent ductus arteriosus in premature newborns.

BACKGROUND AIM OF THE STUDY: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a common finding among premature infants, is conventionally treated by intravenous indomethacin. Intravenous ibuprofen was recently shown to be as effective and to have fewer adverse reactions in preterm infants. If equally effective, then oral ibuprofen for PDA closure would have several important advantages over the intravenous route. This study was designed to determine whether oral ibuprofen treatment is efficacious and safe in closure of a PDA in premature infants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-three premature group I (study group) were treated with ibuprofen 10 mg/kg administered through a feeding tube. Thirty-three premature group II (control group) receive placebo the two imaging procedures were again performed 24 h after each ibuprofen dose. When the PDA was still hemodynamically significant, as demonstrated by echocardiography, and there was no evidence of deterioration in brain ultrasonography, a second dose of ibuprofen 5 mg/kg (placebo for control) was administered. A third equivalent dose was given after another 24 h if necessary. Cranial ultrasound was repeated 1 week after the last ibuprofen dose and again before discharge from the ward. Hematochemical analysis was preformed daily in the unit during the first days of life. RESULTS: In the study group the rate of PDA closure was 93.9% (31 of 33 cases) while in the control group the rate of PDA closure was 30.3% (10 of 33 cases) with significant difference in between. There was no reopening of the ductus after closure had been achieved. No infant required surgical ligation of the ductus in study group while in the control group 24.2% (8 of 33 cases) were required surgical ligation (Table 2). Twenty-one newborns were treated with 1 dose of ibuprofen, 9 were treated with 2 doses, and the remaining 3 were treated with 3 doses. CONCLUSION: Oral ibuprofen is an effective and safe alternative to intravenous ibuprofen for PDA closure in premature infants.

Early echocardiography abnormalities in obese children and adolescent and reversibility of these abnormalities after significant weight reduction.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is becoming an epidemic threat for the individual and society. The increasing prevalence of overweight children and adolescents is likely to have a great impact on the future cardiovascular health of these subjects. Obesity is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Cardiac abnormalities of obese children and adolescents include the echocardiographically revealed early and preclinical LV or septal hypertrophy, and left or right ventricular dysfunction. Most of these abnormalities, which are usually more pronounced in patients with morbid obesity, can be partially reversed after weight reduction. AIM OF THE STUDY: Evaluate early echocardiography changes in obese children and whether these cardiac abnormalities reverse with significant weight reduction in children and adolescents or not. METHODS: We started this study by 50 obese children and adolescents and 30 non obese controls matched for age and sex. BMI was calculated. Complete echocardiographic study was performed on each patient and control subject. Hematological and biochemical variables were determined in the obese subjects from fasting blood samples and included glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. All our patients' strict dietetic regime with exercises for 6 months. After 6 months full examination, including all measurements and echocardiography and laboratory investigations were done again. RESULTS: Obese children has abnormalities of left ventricle structure and function (consisting of increased left ventricular wall dimensions and mass and alteration of diastolic function) that can be detected by echocardiography. Furthermore, (parameters of lipid metabolism) were found to be independent predictors of adverse LV remodeling and of diastolic dysfunction. As well as this study provides evidence that abnormalities of left ventricular wall dimension and mass in obese children and adolescents can improve with significant weight reduction. CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated that young, obese children and adolescents have early significant changes in left ventricular wall dimensions and early diastolic filling compared with non obese and this changes are reversible with weight reduction.

Hyperuricemia and its association with carotid intima-media thickness in hypertensive and non hypertensive patients.

Carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) measured noninvasively by ultrasonography is widely used as a marker for increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Also hyperuricemia (HU) is a well recognized risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The study was designed to assess the relation between hyperuricemia and carotid intima-media thickness C-IMT in patients with and without hypertension (HTN). This study included 126 patients divided into four groups: (1) Group A, included 59 hypertensive patients with hyperuricemia. (2) Group B, included 29 hypertensive patients without hyperuricemia. (3) Group C, included 17 patients with hyperuricemia and normal blood pressure without history of hypertension. (4) Group D, included 21 control subjects. We measured carotid intima-media thickness by B-mode ultrasound in the common carotid and internal carotid artery. Routine echocardiography and uric acid level was assessed for all patients. We found that C-IMT was significantly higher in group A, B and C than group D; and it was significantly higher in group A than B. This means that C-IMT is significantly higher in all hypertensive groups than control group but it was significantly higher in hypertensive hyperuricemia (group A) than those hypertensives without hyperuricemia. We also observed a higher C-IMT in hyperuricemic non hypertensive patients than control group this means that hyperuricemia per se could be a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Uric acid levels among the whole number of patients included in the study and among the groups with hyperuricemia (group A and C) were positively correlated with the intimal-media thickness (IMT) while there were no correlations in the other two groups without hyperuricemia. We found that left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was significantly higher in hypertensive patients (group A&B) than normotensives (group C&D) either with or without hyperuricemia and this was evident in the hypertensive hyperuricemic patients (group A); but unexpectedly we observed the presence of LVH in the hyperuricemic non hypertensive patients (group C) which was significantly higher than the control group (group D). This means that hyperuricemia is a risk factor for development of LVH hypertrophy independently of hypertension. Therefore, higher serum uric acid levels are associated with increased C-IMT and left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive and even non hypertensive patients. So, early screening for hyperuricemia and lowering serum uric acid levels might be beneficial in slowing progression of atherogenesis.