New Emirates Medical Journal - Volume 5, Issue 1, 2024

Diagnosis and management of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in special populations, including pregnant women, patients requiring intensive care unit admission, and patients who develop complications such as ascites, pericardial effusion or develop COVID-19 infection, are very challenging. PH is associated with poor outcomes in pregnant women as the haemodynamic changes during pregnancy greatly increase maternal m Read More

Group 5 pulmonary hypertension (PH) encompasses PH associated with chronic haemolytic diseases, which is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients. The prevalence of PH is notably high in sickle cell disease (SCD), thalassemia, hereditary spherocytosis, and paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Pulmonary symptoms are common with haematological diseases; therefore, systematic evaluation of patien Read More

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a distinct and treatable form of pulmonary hypertension (PH). It occurs due to persistent thromboembolic obstruction of pulmonary arteries, leading to an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and right ventricular failure. The prognosis of CTEPH patients is poor if left untreated. The diagnosis of CTEPH is challenging and usually delayed due to non-s Read More

Chronic Lung Diseases (CLDs) constitute one of the most frequent causes of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and rank second after PH due to left heart disease. In PH-CLD, destruction of lung parenchyma is associated with decreased functional capacity, diminished quality of life, increased oxygen requirements, and a heightened risk of death. As both pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and PH due to lung disease are cat Read More

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to left heart disease (PH-LHD) is the most common type of PH and is observed in patients with underlying left heart disease conditions, including valvular heart disease, heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), cardiomyopathies, and arrhythmic diseases. Group 2 PH is postcapillary PH categorised into 2 components as isolated p Read More

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a frequent complication of connective tissue diseases (CTDs), such as systemic sclerosis (SSc), mixed connective tissue disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and, to a lesser extent, dermatomyositis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren syndrome. Connective tissue disease-associated PAH (CTD-PAH) is the second most common cause of PAH, following the idiopathic form Read More

Group 1 pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a debilitating disease characterized by progressively increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) due to obstructions in the pulmonary vasculature. Group 1 PAH is further subdivided into idiopathic PAH, PAH associated with congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD), PAH associated with connective tissue disease (CTD-PAH), port Read More

Risk stratification in pulmonary arterial hypertension is critical in determining therapeutic strategies for patients. Patients are stratified into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups based on determinants of prognosis like clinical assessment, exercise tests, biochemical markers, echocardiography, and haemodynamic tests. The primary objective of treatment is to shift each of the component tests into a low-risk z Read More

Diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is generally challenging due to nonspecific symptom presentation and several potential contributing conditions. Timely diagnosis of PAH is very important as the disease is progressive in nature and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the implementation of appropriate strategies that can reduce the delay in diagnosis of PAH, increase awarene Read More

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease characterized by elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure over 25mmHg. PH has become a global issue associated with substantial morbidity and mortality despite the emergence of several treatment options in the last two decades. The Emirates Thoracic Society, Emirates Rheumatology Society, and Emirates Cardiac Society took up the task of coming up with regional pr Read More

It has been estimated that by 2030, the number of patients with diabetes is expected to rise to 552 million. Moreover, an estimated 20 million new cancer cases were reported in 2022, and 64 million people worldwide are currently suffering from heart failure. Recently, there has been an increasing interest regarding the prescription of a drug that was approved for use in May, 2014, which is called empagliflozin. Up to now Read More

Background Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive treatment modality that is gaining prominence due to the limitations of existing pharmacotherapy approaches. To date, there is a paucity of research examining the awareness of rTMS among psychiatrists in the Arabian Gulf region. In this region, treatment resistance is prevalent due to the cultural attribution of psychological distress to so Read More

Background Bronchial asthma, a chronic inflammatory condition, poses significant health challenges for children. Proper management of childhood asthma requires the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the caregivers. This study assesses the KAP of caregivers in the management of asthmatic and non-asthmatic children in the UAE. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ras Al Khaimah over four months, i Read More

Introduction and Objective: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is an excessive and irrational fear of social situations, leading to an avoidance of those situations. Individuals with SAD may fear acting in a certain way or exhibiting anxiety symptoms in front of others, which can significantly impact their daily functioning and quality of life. Among medical students, SAD can negatively influence academic performance, particularly in e Read More

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the cause of the COVID-19 illness, which has been discovered to have a number of side effects. The purpose of this study is to present the most recent scientific data about oral symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 and the difficulties the dental system faced throughout the pandemic. When COVID-19 is suspected or confirmed, it is advised that patients undergo a routine intraoral examination because oral s Read More

Peptic ulcers have a significant impact on global mortality and morbidity rates. The primary causative factors explored in this review include H. pylori infection, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Addressing this pressing health issue requires raising awareness and developing novel medications and therapies, which necessitates further research. This article encompas Read More

Introduction Integration of research into medical education is crucial for cultivating physician-scientists capable of advancing medical breakthroughs. It is imperative to take these measures for early medical students to establish a strong research foundation for future healthcare professionals. Methods This study investigated the impact of early research exposure on pre-clinical medical students at Gulf Medical Un Read More

Background Crush syndrome is the second most common cause of death in earthquakes, following direct trauma. Crush syndrome develops when toxic substances released after tissue injury or crushing reach the bloodstream. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with morbidity and mortality in patients rescued from the rubble after the February 6 earthquake and admitted to our hospital who had crush Read More

Introduction Despite significant advancements in COVID-19 treatment and prevention, immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with hematological malignancies, remain at high risk for severe infection and suboptimal vaccine response. Pre-exposure prophylaxis strategies for these vulnerable populations have been limited. Monoclonal antibodies, proteins designed to target specific antigens, offer a promising p Read More

Montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, is frequently used to treat asthma and allergic rhinitis. Despite its effectiveness, there are rising concerns about potential neuropsychiatric side effects, such as agitation, anxiety, depression, hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and suicidal ideation. It is crucial to examine clinical evidence to better understand these adverse reactions and ensure patient safety. This review ai Read More