BACKGROUND It is well established that a large number of hospitalized patients present various degrees of heart and kidney dysfunction; primary disease of the heart or kidney often involves dysfunction or injury to the other. SUMMARY Based on above-cited organ cross-talk, the term cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) was proposed. Although CRS was usually referred to as abruption of kidney function fol...

BACKGROUND IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the commonest primary glomerulonephritis worldwide and a significant cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. It is widely accepted that genetic factors play a role in the pathogenesis of IgAN. However, the identity of these genetic factors remains uncertain. SUMMARY Critical to all genetic studies is a precise phenotypic definition of ...

Rapid population growth is a threat to wellbeing in the poorest countries, whereas very low fertility increasingly threatens the future welfare of many developed countries. The mapping of global trends in population growth from 2005-10 shows four distinct patterns. Most of the poorest countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, are characterised by rapid growth of more than 2% per year. Modera...

BACKGROUND Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a largely curable disease and its mortality had steadily declined in western Europe since the late 1960s. Only modest declines were, however, observed in central/eastern Europe. MATERIALS AND METHODS We updated trends in mortality from HL in various European areas up to 2004 and analyzed patterns in incidence for selected European countries providing nation...

OBJECTIVES To test the hypothesis that the USA healthcare system was superior to the NHS and 17 other Western countries in reducing feasible mortality rates over the period 1979-2005. DESIGN Economic inputs into healthcare, GDP health expenditure (GDPHE) were compared with clinical outputs, i.e. total 'adult' (15-74 years) and 'older' (55-74 years) mortality rates based upon three-year averag...

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the world, accounting for 30% of deaths globally. The major cardiovascular diseases include coronary or ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease or stroke, hypertension, heart failure, and rheumatic heart disease. Although the CVD mortality rate has declined in the US and the rest of the developed world, the rate has increased...

This paper discusses issues regarding the influence of culture on Arabic Websites. Arabic Websites from three countries serve as an initial sample for this study. Do the Websites of Arabic countries reflect their culture? How specifically? Do they share attitudes about design? Can an Arabic designer achieve what users in other cultures need and want? What are differences reflected in the differ...