Fascioliasis, a zoonotic trematode caused by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica (liver fluke),
is primarily a disease of herbivorous animals as sheep and cattle. Humans become accidental infected
by ingesting uncooked contaminated aquatic plants such as watercress or water.
The study enrolled 135 proven fascioliasis patients diagnosed clinically, laboratory, and serologically,
from MOH Fever Hospital and Assiut University Hospitals (Internal Medicine, Children
and Al Rajhy) in period from October 2018 to September 2019.
The results showed that patients were from Manfalut City suburbs, urban areas (88.9%) with
ages ranged between 13 & 69 (45.98±22.14) years and (57.8%) were females. The high infection
rate in adults (63%) aged 25-64years with significant relations between eosinophilia and
Fasciola antibody titer, as well as HFL and Fasciola extraction with ERCP

Details about the epidemiological patterns and real contributions of different reservoir animals in maintaining the transmission cycle of Cryptosporidium spp. in Upper Egypt remain lacking. This study was designed to investigate the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in cattle and buffalo (n = 608) from Upper Egypt. The parasite for the resulting positive samples by fecal examination was molecularly identified using nested PCR targeting the small subunit rRNA. Moreover, several explanatory variables,including animals' age, sex, condition, seasonal variations, were examined to describe the epidemiological pattern of the disease. Interestingly, the fecal examination revealed that 33.55% (204/608) of the animals under study were infected with Cryptosporidium, including 38.27% among cattle and 28.16% among buffalo. The parasite was molecularly identified using nested PCR, and their amplicons were identified in almost all fecal samples using microscopy (202/204). According to age as an individual variable factor, the infection rates of Cryptosporidium spp. in cattle calves with ages of <1, 1–3, and >3 months were 39.13, 34.04, and 54.54%, respectively. Meanwhile, in buffalo calves, the occurrence rates were 28.57, 27.27, and 29.41%, respectively. Regarding sex, female cattle calves were more susceptible to Cryptosporidium infection (51.28%) than males (26.19%) (p < 0.05), whereas male buffalo calves had a higher infection rate (32.25%) than females (25%). According to seasonal variations, the infection rates of Cryptosporidium spp. in cattle calves during spring, summer, autumn, and winter were 42.11, 30.43, 30, and 52.63%, respectively. In contrast, lower infection rates of 30, 21.42, 23.52, and 35% were reported in buffalo calves during spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. The rate of infection was 45.16% in diarrheic cattle calves and 15.78% in non-diarrheic ones (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the infection rate was 33.96% in diarrheic buffalo calves and 11.11% in non-diarrheic ones (p < 0.05). This study reported a higher occurrence of Cryptosporidium infection among the animals under study and revealed that buffalos and cattle can contribute to maintaining the transmission cycle of this zoonotic parasite in Upper Egypt.

Oral mexiletine provides an adjunctive treatment to manage VTAs and reduces appropriate therapies in ICD patients with moderate efficacy and acceptable safety profiles. These observations await confirmation through randomised clinical trials.

The article presents a case study of a 33-year-old female with recurrent episodes of wide‐QRS tachycardia. Topics include responsive to intravenous adenosine referred to the arrhythmia center for undergoing an electrophysiological study (EPS); and constant P‐QRS intervals during WQR not supporting the hypothesis of isorhythmic competition with an accelerated idioventricular rhythm (AIVR).

Despite numerous ECG algorithms being developed to localize the site of manifest accessory pathways (AP), they often require stepwise multiple‐lead analysis with variable accuracy, limitations, and reproducibility. The study aimed to develop a single‐lead ECG algorithm incorporating the P‐Delta interval (PDI) as an adjunct criterion to discriminate between right and left manifest AP.

Methods

Consecutive WPW patients undergoing electrophysiological study (EPS) were retrospectively recruited and split into a derivation and validation group (1:1 ratio). Sinus rhythm ECG analysis in lead V1 was performed by three independent investigators blinded to the EPS results. Conventional ECG parameters and PDI were assessed through the global cohort.

Results

A total of 140 WPW patients were included (70 for each group). A score‐based, single‐lead ECG algorithm was developed through derivation …

This study aimed to collect and analyze the literature data regarding Chiari network (CN) and other right atrium (RA) remnants comprising the Eustachian and Thebesian valves (EV, ThV) as a potential entrapment site during different percutaneous cardiac procedures (PCP).

Methods and results

A systematic search was conducted using Pubmed and Embase databases following the PRISMA guidelines to obtain available data concerning PCP associated with entrapment of inserted materials within CN-EV-ThV. The final analysis included 41 patients who underwent PCP with reported material entrapment within these RA remnants. The PCP was atrial septal defect (ASD)/patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure, catheter ablation, and pacemaker/defibrillator implantation in 44%, 22%, and 17% of patients, respectively. The entrapped materials were ASD/PFO devices, multipolar electrophysiology catheters …

The right bundle branch (RBB), due to its endocardial course, is susceptible to traumatic block caused by “bumping” during right‐heart catheterization. In the era of cardiac electrophysiology, catheter‐induced RBB block (CI‐RBBB) has become a common phenomenon observed during electrophysiological studies and catheter ablation procedures. While typically transient, it may persist for the entire procedure time. Compared to pre‐existing RBBB, the transient nature of CI‐RBBB allows for comparative analysis relative to the baseline rhythm. Furthermore, unlike functional RBBB, it occurs at similar heart rates, making the comparison of conduction intervals more reliable. While CI‐RBBB can provide valuable diagnostic information in various conditions, it is often overlooked by cardiac electrophysiologists. Though it is usually a benign and self‐limiting conduction defect, it may occasionally lead to diagnostic …

Despite the progressive course of atrial fibrillation (AF), the optimal timing of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) during disease course is still unknown. We aimed to investigate the impact of early RFCA within a year after AF diagnosis on procedural outcomes.

Methods

A single-center retrospective study was conducted on symptomatic AF patients (n = 130) referred for RFCA with a 16-month median follow-up. Patients were stratified based on the diagnosis-to-ablation time (DAT) into early (≤1 year) and late (>1 year) RFCA groups. Atrial arrhythmia recurrence after single RFCA was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included cardiovascular hospitalizations, AF progression, and antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) use.

Results

Within a year of AF diagnosis, 33 patients (25.4%) underwent RFCA. In the early-RFCA group, 84.4% of patients did not have recurrent atrial arrhythmia, in contrast to 60.8% in the late-RFCA group (p = 0.039). Late RFCA (HR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.062–7.052, p = 0.037) and AF recurrence during the blanking period (HR = 4.57, 95% CI = 2.38–8.57, p < 0.0001) were independent predictors of atrial arrhythmia recurrence on multivariate analysis. Compared to the late-RFCA group, the early-RFCA group had significantly lower rates of cardiovascular hospitalizations (18% vs. 42%, p = 0.023), AF progression (0.0% vs. 11.3%, p = 0.044), and AAD use (45.4% vs. 81.4%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Early RFCA within a year of AF diagnosis is associated with less atrial arrhythmia recurrence, fewer cardiovascular hospitalizations, less AF progression, and less AAD use. DAT of more than one year and AF recurrence …