Genetic characterization of preschool wheeze phenotypes.

Rationale: Preschool wheeze is a heterogenous and poorly understood clinical syndrome. As a result, current treatments are insufficient, and prevention is not possible.

Objectives: To increase understanding of the genetic susceptibility and underlying disease mechanisms of wheeze phenotypes in early childhood through large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses.

Trajectories of airflow limitation from childhood to early adulthood: an analysis of six population-based birth cohorts.

Background: Lung function during childhood is an important predictor of subsequent health and disease. Understanding patterns of lung function and development of airflow limitation through childhood is necessary to inform lung function trajectories in relation to health and chronic airway disease. We aimed to derive trajectories of airflow limitation from childhood (age 5-8 years) into early adulthood (age 20-26 years) using repeated spirometry data from birth cohorts.

Childhood lung function is associated with adolescent-onset and persistent asthma.

Background: Asthma is associated with impaired lung function; however, it is uncertain if a lower childhood lung function is associated with asthma onset and persistence during adolescence. The aims of the present study were to investigate the association between childhood lung function and onset and persistence of asthma during adolescence.

Methods: In the population-based BAMSE (Sweden), PIAMA (Netherlands) and MAAS (UK) birth cohorts, we analysed the association of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV/FVC and forced expiratory volume at 75% of FVC at age 8 years with asthma onset and persistence in adolescence (age 12-16 years) using cohort-specific logistic regression analysis followed by meta-analysis.

Association of urinary eosinophilic protein X at age 3 years and subsequent persistence of wheezing and asthma diagnosis in adolescence.

Background: Wheezing is common in early life, but most children stop wheezing by school age. However, the prediction of course of wheezing through childhood is difficult.

Objective: To investigate whether urinary EPX (a marker of eosinophil activation) in children at age 3 years may be useful for the prediction of wheeze persistence and future asthma diagnosis.

Time trends in the epidemiology of food allergy in England: an observational analysis of Clinical Practice Research Datalink data.

Background: Estimates for the prevalence of food allergy vary widely, with a paucity of data for adults. The aim of this analysis was to report trends in the incidence and prevalence of food allergy in England, using a national primary care dataset.

Methods: We analysed data from Clinical Practice Research Datalink between 1998 and 2018, with linked data to relevant hospital encounters in England.

Lung function trajectories from school age to adulthood and their relationship with markers of cardiovascular disease risk.

Rationale: Lung function in early adulthood is associated with subsequent adverse health outcomes.

Objectives: To ascertain whether stable and reproducible lung function trajectories can be derived in different populations and investigate their association with objective measures of cardiovascular structure and function.

Methods: Using latent profile modelling, we studied three population-based birth cohorts with repeat spirometry data from childhood into early adulthood to identify trajectories of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV)/forced vital capacity (FVC).

Clinical features, socioeconomic status, management, short and long-term outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction: Phase I results of PEACE MENA registry.

Background: The Program for the Evaluation and Management of Cardiac Events in the Middle East and North Africa (PEACE MENA) is a prospective registry program in Arabian countries that involves in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or acute heart failure (AHF).

Methods: This prospective, multi-center, multi-country study is the first report of the baseline characteristics and outcomes of inpatients with AMI who were enrolled during the first 14-month recruitment phase. We report the clinical characteristics, socioeconomic, educational levels, and management, in-hospital, one month and one-year outcomes.

Obstructive and restrictive spirometry from school age to adulthood: three birth cohort studies.

Background: Spirometric obstruction and restriction are two patterns of impaired lung function which are predictive of poor health. We investigated the development of these phenotypes and their transitions through childhood to early adulthood.

Methods: In this study, we analysed pooled data from three UK population-based birth cohorts established between 1989 and 1995.

Clinical Features, Socioeconomic Status, Management, and Outcomes of Acute Heart Failure: PEACE MENA Registry Phase I Results.

Introduction: PEACE MENA (Program for the Evaluation and Management of Cardiac Events in the Middle East and North Africa) is a prospective registry in Arab countries for in-patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or acute heart failure (AHF). Here, we report the baseline characteristics and outcomes of in-patients with AHF who were enrolled during the first 14 months of the recruitment phase.

Methods: A prospective, multi-centre, multi-country study including patients hospitalized with AHF was conducted.

A strategy to improve adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and the role of the multidisciplinary team in a heart-failure programme.

Background: Heart failure (HF) patients place a heavy burden on the healthcare system because of their frequent need for in-patient treatment, emergency room visits and subsequent hospital stays. To provide proper care and effective therapy, practitioners have streamlined delivery techniques such as clinical pathways, checklists and pocket manuals. However, a description of the establishment of a disease-management programme, including a multidisciplinary team of physicians, clinical pharmacists and nurse specialists is required.

Evolution of Eczema, Wheeze, and Rhinitis from Infancy to Early Adulthood: Four Birth Cohort Studies.

The relationship between eczema, wheeze or asthma, and rhinitis is complex, and epidemiology and mechanisms of their comorbidities is unclear. To investigate within-individual patterns of morbidity of eczema, wheeze, and rhinitis from birth to adolescence/early adulthood. We investigated onset, progression, and resolution of eczema, wheeze, and rhinitis using descriptive statistics, sequence mining, and latent Markov modeling in four population-based birth cohorts.

Ischemic cardiomyopathy versus non-ischemic cardiomyopathy in diabetic patients: clinical characteristics, management, and long-term outcomes.

Background: Diabetes mellitus causes ischemic heart disease (IHD) through macrovascular or microvascular involvement. Diabetes-associated hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity further increase coronary artery disease risk and can cause left ventricular hypertrophy leading to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction independent of IHD. This study was undertaken to evaluate the differences in demographics, clinical characteristics, Echocardiographic parameters, management, and outcomes between non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) and ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) patients in cohort of diabetes patients.

Integrated Genomic Analysis Identifies ANKRD36 Gene as a Novel and Common Biomarker of Disease Progression in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is initiated in bone marrow due to chromosomal translocation t(9;22) leading to fusion oncogene BCR-ABL. Targeting BCR-ABL by tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has changed fatal CML into an almost curable disease. Despite that, TKIs lose their effectiveness due to disease progression.

Effects of compressive lesions on intraoperative human spinal cord elasticity.

Objective: Although evaluating tissue elasticity has various clinical applications, spinal cord elasticity (SCE) in humans has never been well documented. In this study, the authors aimed to evaluate the impact of compression on human SCE in vivo.

Methods: The authors prospectively assessed SCE using intraoperative shear wave elastography (SWE).

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of virulence factors of extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from patients of Peshawar, Pakistan.

Extra-Intestinal Escherichia coli (ExPEC) are important cause of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and systemic infections. The purpose of this study was to investigate numerous ExPEC bacterial isolates for phenotypic virulence characteristics including hemolytic activity and resistance pattern and to observe their association with genetic traits via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A total of 367 ExPEC isolates were collected from patients admitted in Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) Peshawar, Pakistan.

Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP) gene variant rs1837253 is significantly associated with Asthma prevalence in Pakistani Pashtun women.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and remodeling. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a member of the interleukin-2 family of cytokines, is produced by activated lung and intestinal epithelial cells, mast, and other immune cells. Population-based studies identified associations between SNPs in the TSLP promoter region and asthma pathogenesis.

Correction: Acute Myocardial Infarction and Acute Heart Failure in the Middle East and North Africa: Study Design and Pilot Phase Study Results from the PEACE MENA Registry.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Whole exome sequencing identifies a novel FANCD2 gene splice site mutation associated with disease progression in chronic myeloid leukemia: Implication in targeted therapy of advanced phase CML.

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) have significantly improved the clinical outcome of BCR-ABL+ Chronic Phase-Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CP-CML). Nonetheless, approximately one-third of the CP-CML patient's progress to advanced phases of CML (accelerated and blast phase). Impaired DNA repair including mutations in Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway genes are responsible for progression of many cancers.

The Prognostic Impact of Pulse Pressure in Acute Heart Failure: Insights from the HEARTS Registry.

Background: Low pulse pressure predicts long-term mortality in chronic heart failure, but its prognostic value in acute heart failure is less understood. The present study was designed to examine the prognostic value of pulse pressure in acute heart failure.

Methods: Pulse pressure was tested for its impact on short- and long-term mortality in all patients admitted with acute heart failure from October 2009 to December 2010 in eighteen tertiary centers in Saudi Arabia (n = 2609).

Association between craniovertebral junction abnormalities and syringomyelia in patients with chiari malformation type-1.

Objective: To assess the correlation between craniovertebral junction (CVJ) abnormalities and syringomyelia in patients with Chiari malformation type-1 (CM1).

Methods: This was a retrospective study including patients with CM1. Identification of cases was done by searching a radiology database at a university hospital from 2012 to 2017.

Long term outcome of chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with imatinib: Report from a developing country.

The outcome of chronic myeloid leukemia has been greatly improved by the use of Imatinib (IM), a selective BCR/ABL kinase inhibitor. The aim of present study was to report long term follow-up & outcome of IM-treated CML patients along with their clinicopathological features, risk group stratification, adverse events and to compare it with CML patients reported from western countries. The mean follow-up of 123 CML patients was 5.

Food and Migration: Dietary Acculturation among Migrants to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross sectional study design was used based on 2 questionnaires; Rosenmoller et al's and the WHO STEPS surveillance tool for chronic disease surveillance. Data on length of residency, dietary patterns, anthropometric and biochemical measurements were collected by trained interviewers. Descriptive statistics were reported as a percentage or mean, as appropriate.

Acute myocardial infarction and acute heart failure in the Middle East and North Africa: Study design and pilot phase study results from the PEACE MENA registry.

Background: This pilot study describes the overall design and results of the Program for the Evaluation and Management of the Cardiac Events registry for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region.

Methods: This prospective, multi-center, multi-country study included patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and/or acute heart failure (AHF). We evaluated the clinical characteristics, socioeconomic and educational levels, management, in-hospital outcomes, and 30-day mortality rate of patients that were admitted to one tertiary-care center in each of 14 Arab countries in the MENA region.