Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in adults, and new methods of predicting disease and risk-stratifying patients will help guide intervention in order to reduce this burden. Current CAD detection involves multiple modalities, but the consideration of other biomarkers will help improve reliability. The aim of this narrative review is to help researchers and clinicians appreciate the growing relevance of miRNA in CAD and its potential as a biomarker, and also to suggest useful miRNA that may be targets for future study. We sourced information from several databases, namely PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, when collating evidentiary information. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are short, noncoding RNAs that are relevant in cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology, playing roles in cardiac hypertrophy, maintenance of vascular tone, and responses to vascular injury. CAD is associated with changes in miRNA expression profiles, and so are its risk factors, such as abnormal lipid metabolism and inflammation. Thus, they may potentially be biomarkers of CAD. Nevertheless, there are limitations in using miRNA. These include cost and the presence of several confounding factors that may affect miRNA profiles. Furthermore, there is difficulty in the normalisation of miRNA values between published studies, due to pre-analytical variations in samples.
Background: Stroke survivors experience long-term physical, psychosocial and cognitive impairment that are formidable challenges to caregivers because caring for stroke survivors needs explicit knowledge and caregivers have to endure the stressfulness as a result of caring. In addition, little is known about perceived benefits of the stroke care giving experience.Objectives: This study was aimed to determine the caregivers’ burden and challenges as reported by caregivers of stroke survivors.Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 18 stroke caregivers. The data were collected from November 2015 to June 2016 at a conveniently selected community rehabilitation centre in Kuching, Sarawak.Results: The qualitative data analysis revealed that the burden was aggravated by financial problems, multiple responsibilities hold by the caregivers, behavioural changes of the stroke survivors and lack of social support during care giving.Conclusion: This study highlighted the experiences by the caregivers in caring for the stroke survivors that focused on the different needs of the caregivers. Understanding these experiences may help the service providers to provide better support and resources for caregivers in caring for stroke survivors.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.17(4) 2018 p.593-599
BACKGROUND: Reports on healthcare worker antibody response to COVID-19 infection are scarce. We aim to determine the COVID-19 antibody prevalence among healthcare workers in a cardiology centre and the relationship between case definition criteria with the COVID-19 antibody result. METHODS: Convenience sampling was applied. Healthcare workers in Sarawak Heart Centre (SHC) cardiology, radiology, and emergency unit were recruited. A survey form on clinical symptoms and close contact history was distributed. HEALGEN COVID-19 IgG/IgM rapid test was performed using serum/ whole blood specimen. Staff with positive COVID-19 antibody results were referred to the infectious disease specialist for assessment. RESULTS: A total of 310 staff were screened. 220(71%) were female, and the mean age was 36±7.7 years old. 46(14.8%) staff reported having clinical symptoms at some stage from the end of January 2020 to the time of this surveillance. Number of staff who had a history of overseas travel, close contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients, or had visited places with identified COVID-19 clusters were 4(1.3%), 24(7.7%) and 24(7.7%) respectively. There were 14 staff (4.5%) with positive tests positive, 2 for IgM, and 12 for IgG. All those with positive antibody were subsequently tested negative with RT-PCR test. The history of having clinical symptoms and exposure to COVID-19 cluster area were independently associated with a positive IgG result. CONCLUSION: The application of COVID-19 antibody serology rapid tests could determine true exposure of staff to the infection and allow us to reassess existing measures of infection control within the hospital.
SummaryST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in situs inversus dextrocardia is a rare combination and poses many challenges in terms of diagnosis and management. These include the early detection of dextrocardia as well as the interpretation of the ECG. In addition, percutaneous coronary intervention could be challenging in the setting of dextrocardia because of diffi culty in cannulating the coronary arteries, selection of catheters, catheter manipulation, image acquisition and interpretation.
Background:The use of warfarin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) can be challenging. In this study, we evaluate the time in therapeutic range (TTR), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and treatment satisfaction of patients on long-term warfarin for NVAF. The HRQoL and treatment satisfaction were compared based on the TTR.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients on warfarin for NVAF who attended the anticoagulant clinic of a tertiary cardiology referral center in Sarawak from 1st June 2018 to 31st May 2019. Patients’ TTR was calculated by using Rosendaal technique, while their HRQoL and treatment satisfaction were assessed by using Short Form 12 Health Survey version 2 (SF12v2) and Duke Anticoagulant Satisfaction Scale (DASS), respectively. Results: A total of 300 patients were included, with mean TTR score of 47.0 ± 17.3%. The physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) score of SF-12v2 were 47.0 ± 9.0 and 53.5 ± 9.6, respectively. The total score for DASS was 55.2 ± 21.3, while the score for limitations (L), hassles and burdens (H&B) and positive psychological impacts (PPI) were 18.0 ± 10.0, 15.6 ± 9.1 and 21.6 ± 5.9, respectively. Seventy-three (24.3%) patients had good TTR (≥ 60%), with mean of 70.2 ± 8.7%; while 227 (75.5%) patients with poor TTR had significantly lower mean of 39.5 ± 11.9% (p = 0.006). There was no significant difference in the score of PCS (p = 0.150), MCS (p = 0.919) and each domain of SF-12v2 (p = 0.184 – 0.684) between good and poor TTR, except for social functioning (p = 0.019). The total DASS score was also not significantly different between group (p = 0.779). Similar non-significant difference was also reported in all the DASS sub dimensions (p = 0.502 – 0.699).Conclusions:Majority of the patients on long-term warfarin for NVAF in the current study have poor TTR. Their HRQoL and treatment satisfaction are independent of their TTR. Achieving a good TTR do not compromise the HRQoL and treatment satisfaction. Therefore, appropriate measures should be taken to optimise INR control, failing which direct oral anticoagulant therapy should be considered.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.