Significance of high sensitivity C-reactive protein and D-dimer in evaluating intracardiac thrombus and spontaneous echo contrast in patients referred for transesophageal echocardiography: A prospective study

Background: Intra-cardiac thrombus (ICT) and spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) are considered hypercoagulable and inflammatory conditions. We aimed to determine if high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimer (DD), in combination with variables of lower thrombotic risk (normal ejection fraction [NEF], sinus rhythm [NSR]), may predict the absence of ICT/SEC. Methods and Results: Consecutive patients referred for transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) for evaluation of cardioembolic source were prospectively enrolled. CRP and DD levels were determined at the time of TEE. 124 patients were enrolled, of whom 21 had ICT/SEC. The combination of NSR/NEF had a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98.6% for absence of ICT/SEC. The NPVs of CRP and DD were 93.6% and 85%, respectively. Adding either CRP or DD to NSR/NEF combination increased the NPV to 100%. Log CRP was significantly associated with ICT/SEC. Conclusions: The presence of NSR and NEF may defer the need for TEE for ICT/SEC evaluation. CRP association with ICT/SEC suggests that inflammation plays a role in ICT/SEC formation. Whether CRP and DD should become routine in the triage process of TEE for ICT/SEC evaluation requires further large scale prospective studies

Association Between Myocardial Ischemia, Microvascular Function and Patient-Reported Angina

Title from PDF of title page viewed May 16, 2019Thesis advisor: Julie BanderasVitaIncludes bibliographical references (pages 27-30)Thesis (M.S.)--School of Medicine. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2019Prior studies have not found an association between myocardial ischemia and measures of health status. Whether positron emission tomography (PET)-derived coronary flow reserve (CFR) would be better correlated with burden of angina is currently unknown. Understanding the relationship between myocardial ischemia, flow reserve and health status may illuminate how these variables can be used to inform post-test decisions. Patients with known CAD referred for a clinically-indicated vasodilator PET myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) between June 2009 and August 2013 who completed the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) at the time of MPI and had available CFR data were identified. Angina frequency was determined using SAQ Angina Frequency scores according to previously published thresholds (none, monthly or weekly/daily; SAQ scores of 100, 61 99 and ≤ 60, respectively). The association between CFR and angina frequency was determined after adjusting for age, gender, and the presence of ischemia using ordinal logistic regression. A total of 171 patients met inclusion criteria (mean age 66.3 ± 10.2 years; 61% men). Angina occurred on daily to weekly basis in 44 (25.7%) patients and monthly in 77 (45%) patients. Unadjusted mean CFR did not vary significantly across the spectrum of anginal burden (P=0.28). In the adjusted model, there was a significant interaction between ischemia and CFR (P value = 0.015), such that higher CFR was associated with lower angina frequency only in patients with ischemia (OR per 1-unit increase in CFR 0.45 (95% CI [0.26 0.83], p=0.007), but not in those without ischemia (OR 1.10 (95% CI [0.63-2.00], p=0.85). PET-derived CFR modulates the association between the presence of ischemia and the frequency of patient-reported angina, and complements ischemia in identifying patients with greater frequency of angina.Introduction -- Methods -- Results -- Discussion -- Conclusion -- Appendi

Judgment on Celebrating the Prophet’s Birthday - A Comparative Jurisprudential Study

Celebration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad , Peace be Upon Him, is one of the innovative and suspicious controversial issues that are frequently asked about each year with the approaching date of the birth of the Prophet, Peace be Upon Him. Therefore, scholars of Islamic Fiqh have differed among themselves as for the legitimacy of celebrating this occasion. Some of them said that it is legitimate, others said it is recommended, while others claimed that it is prohibited. The researcher investigated this issue clarifying what is really meant by celebrating the birth of the Prophet, Peace be Upon Him, when did it start, and how did people traditionally celebrate this occasion. Moreover, the researcher investigated the different viewpoints of scholars of Fiqh, the reasons behind such disagreement, and the type of evidence provided by each team to back up its own viewpoint. As a result, the researcher found that it is most likely that celebrating the birth of the Prophet, Peace be Upon Him, is legitimate and recommended by the Islamic law and anyone who celebrate this holy occasion will be rewarded in the hereafter

Authenticity of the Jurisprudential Rule: A comparative study

This research is about the accompany of intention principles in Islamic Sharia according to jurisprudence and basis. This will be through the source of prophetic rule that actions are ruled by what we meant to accomplish through them. Therefore, I have explained the meaning of the principle, its evidences, its importance. Its parts or sections, and the estimated act in the saying ~ actions depend on intentions ~. Also, why intention is importantly considered, its location, and ruling on pronunciation principle. I have discussed the intention as a basis and as a condition, its time. The condition of the principle is explained through the condition of intention, the person who intends, the action itself, which action needs intention. At last, I have ended this research by explaining the distinguished results and the recommendations. Key words: Jurisprudence, The jurisprudential rule, intention, Evidenc

Economic subsidies from an Islamic perspective - With reference to the case of Jordan الإعانات الاقتصادية من منظور إسلامي - مع الإشارة إلى حالة الأردن

ملخص يهدف هذا البحث إلى توضيح موقف الاقتصاد الإسلامي من فقرة من فقرات النفقات التحويلية التي تراجع الاهتمام بها في ظل العولمة الرأسمالية، واضمحلال دور الدولة في الوقت الحاضر، وهي الإعانات الاقتصادية، من خلال تأصيلها شرعيا، وبيان أهم آثارها الاقتصادية، وحجمها في الأردن. وخلصت الدراسة إلى مشروعية الإعانات الاقتصادية الموجهة لكل من المستهلكين والمنتجين، وتوصي حكومات البلدان الإسلامية باستمرار تقديمها للسلع الضرورية، وللصناعات الناشئة؛ بهدف تحسين مستوى المعيشة للفئات الفقيرة، وللنهوض بالصناعات المحلية الناشئة، وزيادة نموها، وقدرتها على المنافسة. الكلمات الدالة: الإعانات الاقتصادية, المالية العامة في الإسلام, اقتصاد إسلامي. Economic subsidies from an Islamic perspective - With reference to the case of Jordan Abstract This research aims to clarify the position of Item of the transfer expenditures in the Islamic economic which the attention to her is decreased Under the capitalistic globalization, and the diminishing role of the state, it\u27s the economic subsidies, through legitimizing them, and showing the most important economic effects of them, and their quantities in Jordan. The research concluded the legitimacy of economic subsidies from Islamic perspective, to both consumers and producers and recommends that governments of Muslim countries continue to Support both essential goods and emerging industries to improve the living standard of the poor, promote local industries and increase their growth and competitiveness. Keywords: Economic Subsidies, Public Finance in Islam, Islamic Economy

Does product market competition affect corporate waste management? International evidence

We investigate the impact of product market competition (PMC) on corporate waste generation and Recycling. Analysing a global sample of 42 countries from 2002-2020, we find a positive (negative) association between the PMC and corporate waste generation (Recycling). Our channel analysis reveals that PMC diminishes both a company's profitability and cash flow, leading to lower waste management (Recycling). In further analysis, we demonstrate that the positive effect of PMC on waste generation is more prominent in financially constrained firms. Our study provides novel evidence of the consequential impact of competition on sustainability initiatives and presents important policy implications for regulators