This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare the one-year outcomes of anterior–posterior (AP) and anterior— lateral (AL) methods of cardioversion for atrial fibrillation (AF). A total of 2168 patients were included, with 1125 patients in the AP cardioversion group (Group 1) and 1043 patients in the AL cardioversion group (Group 2). Baseline characteristics, primary and secondary outcomes, safety outcomes, and logistic regression predictors of sinus rhythm were analyzed. The results showed comparable rates of maintaining sinus rhythm at the one-year follow-up between the two groups (65.8% in Group 1 vs. 65.7% in Group 2, p = 0.042). There were no significant differences in the incidence of AF recurrence or safety outcomes between the groups. Logistic regression analysis identified the duration of AF and the presence of coronary artery disease as significant predictors of sinus rhythm maintenance. Additionally, the use of the AL method was associated with a higher likelihood of AF recurrence compared to the AP method (p = 0.043). These findings suggest that both the AP and AL methods of cardioversion are effective in achieving and maintaining sinus rhythm in AF patients. The duration of AF and the presence of coronary artery disease should be considered when selecting the cardioversion approach. These results contribute to the understanding of optimal treatment strategies for AF and support personalized management decisions based on individual patient characteristics.

Purpose: Infantile colic diagnostic criteria were established by Rome IV. A universally accepted management remains to be established. We aimed to evaluate diagnostic criteria, management strategies, and perceived regional prevalence of infantile colic in Pakistan, as well as its effect on physicians and parents. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed amongst 1,256 physicians. Results: We received 800 replies. Wessel and Rome IV criteria were used by most physicians for diagnosis; however, the response “any infant who cries a lot” was selected by older physicians (48% of those over 60 years), physicians in rural areas (32%), physicians practicing in private clinics (27%), and general physicians (30%). Estimated prevalence of infantile colic ranges from 21–40%. Reassurance was the most widely recommended management strategy followed by herbal teas (51%), switching to a different formula (49%), probiotics (28%) and antibiotics (26%), discontinuation of breastfeeding (14%), elimination of dairy products from the breastfeeding mothers’ diet (6%), and the administration of colic drops (1%). Most physicians considered the negative impact of colic on their personal lives and the parents as mild-to-moderate. Notably, 38% of percent of physicians routinely screened for maternal depression, and 45% of physicians were aware of the association between infantile colic and shaken baby syndrome. Conclusion Most physicians in Pakistan diagnose and manage infantile colic according to the established guidelines. However, the guidelines pertaining to treatment planning are not followed. Educational efforts directed toward general physicians and doctors practicing in rural areas and clinics must be implemented to avoid unnecessary testing and treatment burden.

OBJECTIVE: Scandix pecten-veneris L. is a less studied wild edible herb and is considered an extinct plant species in many parts of the world. This study was designed to evaluate its phytochemical composition and biological potential of S. pecten-veneris L. METHODS: Phytochemicals including alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins were determined in extracts of S. pecten-veneris. Antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), while reducing power was tested by ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Antimicrobial activity against seven bacterial and four fungal strains was evaluated using agar well diffusion assay. Enzymes inhibition study was performed for urease, phosphodiesterase-I, and catalase-II. RESULTS: S. pecten-veneris showed moderate antiradical activity and reducing potential of hydroxyl radicals to about 20% of the initial value. The antioxidant activity of various extracts of S. pecten-veneris showed a linear correlation with total phenolic contents in the order of water>n-butanol>chloroform>ethyl acetate>methanol extracts. S. pecten-veneris leaves showed the highest inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus while the highest antifungal activity was observed against Candida albicans. The plant extract was most potent against urease enzymes but showed moderate activity against phosphodiestrase-I and carbonic anhydrase-II. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that in addition to its culinary uses, S. pecten-veneris has good medicinal potential and hence could be used for treating some specific health ailments.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology* ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Apiaceae/chemistry* ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology* ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors/pharmacology* ; Phytochemicals/analysis* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Plants, Edible/chemistry* ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects* ; Urease/antagonists & inhibitors*

Objective: To study the chemical profile, antimicrobial properties, and synergistic effect with known antibiotics of essential oil extracted from the marine red macroalgae Centroceras clavulatum (C. Agardh) Montagne, collected in Morocco. Methods: The chemical composition of the oil was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The oil was evaluated for antibacterial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae), and antifungal activity (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, and Candida parapsilosis), by the disc diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory and minimum microbicidal concentrations of the oil were determined, as well as the synergistic effects of its application combined with the antibiotics ciprofloxacin and fluconazole, by the checkerboard method. Results: Thirty molecules were identified in the essential oil, comprising 96.27% of the total oil composition. Monoterpenes such as carvacrol (36.06%) were the most abundant compounds, followed by caryophyllene (14.67%), endo-borneol (9.04%), pyroterebic acid (3.23%) and caryophyllene oxide (3.13%). The oil exhibited a moderate antimicrobial activity with inhibition zone diameters ranging from 9.0 to 15.0 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration values varied between 0.9 and 14.7 mg/mL, and Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli were the more sensitive bacteria with 0.9 and 1.9 mg/mL, respectively. The minimum microbicidal concentration values ranged from 0.4 to 14.7 mg/mL. A significant synergic action was observed when the oil was applied in combination with ciprofloxacin and fluconazole, with fractional inhibitory concentration index values ranging from 0.31 to 0.50. Synergy was found in 80% of the combinations and a 2 to 16-fold reduction of antibiotics MIC was observed. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the essential oil of Centroceras clavulatum should be further appraised for its potential use in the management of multi-drug resistant microorganisms, with the purpose to restore the activity of standard antimicrobial drugs.