The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701).

Low cord blood 25 (OH) D levels are associated with increased risk of ALRI in the first 2 years of life.

The emergence of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in Saudi Arabia has intensified focus on Acute Respiratory Infections [ARIs]. This study sought to identify respiratory viruses (RVs) associated with ARIs in children presenting at a tertiary hospital. Children (aged ≤13) presenting with ARI between January 2012 and December 2013 tested for 15 RVs using the Seeplex RV15 kit were retrospectively included. Epidemiological data was retrieved from patient records. Of the 2235 children tested, 61.5% were ≤1 year with a male: female ratio of 3:2. Viruses were detected in 1364 (61.02%) children, 233 (10.4%) having dual infections: these viruses include respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (24%), human rhinovirus (hRV) (19.7%), adenovirus (5.7%), influenza virus (5.3%), and parainfluenzavirus-3 (4.6%). Children, aged 9-11 months, were most infected (60.9%). Lower respiratory tract infections (55.4%) were significantly more than upper respiratory tract infection (45.3%) (P < 0.001). Seasonal variation of RV was directly and inversely proportional to relative humidity and temperature, respectively, for non MERS coronaviruses (NL63, 229E, and OC43). The study confirms community-acquired RV associated with ARI in children and suggests modulating roles for abiotic factors in RV epidemiology. However, community-based studies are needed to elucidate how these factors locally influence RV epidemiology. J. Med. Virol. 89:195-201, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Epidemiologic evidence suggests a link between psychosocial risk factors such as marital status and coronary artery disease (CAD). Polygamy (multiple concurrent wives) is a distinct marital status practiced in many countries in Asia and the Middle East, but its association with CAD is not well defined. We conducted a multicenter, observational study of consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography during the period from April 1, 2013, to March 30, 2014. Of 1,068 enrolled patients, 687 were married men. Polygamy was reported in 32% of married men (1 wife: 68%, 2 wives: 19%, 3 wives: 10%, and 4 wives: 3%). When stratified by number of wives, significant baseline differences were observed in age, type of community (rural versus urban), prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and household income. After adjusting for baseline differences, there was a significant association between polygamy and CAD (adjusted OR 4.6 [95% CI 2.5, 8.3]), multivessel disease (MVD) (adjusted OR 2.6 [95% CI 1.8, 3.7]), and left main disease (LMD) (adjusted OR 3.5 [95% CI 2.1, 5.9]). Findings were consistent when the number of wives was analyzed as a continuous variable. In conclusion, among married men undergoing coronary angiography for clinical indications, polygamy is associated with the presence of significant CAD, MVD, and LMD.

This study investigated the effect of ellagic acid (EA) on SKOV‐3 cell growth and invasiveness and tested if the underlying mechanism involves modulating autophagy. Cells were treated with EA in the presence or absence of chloroquine (CQ), an autophagy inhibitor, compound C (CC), an AMPK inhibitor, or an insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1), a PI3K/Akt activator. EA, at an IC50 of 36.6 µmol/L, inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and induced cell apoptosis in SKOV‐3 cells. These events were prevented by CQ. Also, EA increased levels of Beclin‐1, ATG‐5, LC3I/II, Bax, cleaved caspase‐3/8 and reduced those of p62 and Bcl‐2 in these cancer cells. Mechanistically, EA decreased levels of p‐S6K1 (Thr389) and 4EBP‐1 (Thr37/46), two downstream targets of mTORC1, and p‐Akt (Thr308) but increased levels of AMPK (Thr172) and p‐raptor (Ser792), a natural inhibitor of mTORC1. CC or IGF‐1 alone partially prevented the effect of EA on cell survival, cell invasions, and levels of LDH, Beclin‐1, and cleaved caspase‐3. In conclusion, EA can inhibit SKOV‐3 growth, migration, and invasion by activating cytotoxic autophagy mediated by inhibition of mTORC1 and Akt and activation of AMPK.