It led researchers to the second phase of the study: they employed mouse models of acute kidney injury to investigate whether high suPAR is actually a contributing cause of the complication. The mice with higher levels of suPAR also had dramatic worsening of kidneys compared to mice with normal levels of suPAR when exposed to the same contrast used in patients undergoing coronary angiography, Hayek says. But when we pre-treated the mice to block suPAR using a monoclonal antibody, we managed to mitigate the development of kidney injury. Continue reading →

My irritability was severe in manifestations Many times I felt like jumping out of my skin The profuse sweating and heart palpitations Added to the weight loss that made me so thin All this time I battled depression The loneliness, sadness, low self-esteem, and anxiety were staggering My brain eventually exploded from all the tension But the support from my family and counsellors was unwavering Linda Oforka's poem Irritability, taken from the British Thyroid Foundations webpage We were queuing to get our weight checked. A young woman who was standing right in front of me, I will just call her Alda, whispered, I hate weight checks, dont you? Having being bullied about my weight for more than 10 years, I couldnt agree more, so I smiled and nodded. Continue reading →

An aging population coupled with poor lifestyle choices continue to be a leading cause of cardio vascular diseases (CVDs) in the Middle East. As a result, patients continue to look for alternative and minimally invasive surgical heart procedures that will ultimately save their lives. During Arab Health 2020 and for the first time in the region, Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Specialist Care (RB&HH) will present two leading advancements during live surgical demonstrations that provide hope to patients who are specifically suffering with aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation. Continue reading →