Myocardial Blood Flow Quantification in Patients with an Implanted Cardiodefibrillator during Stress and at Rest using a Wideband Perfusion Pulse Sequence: An Initial Feasibility Study.

Background: Although a recently developed wideband perfusion sequence has shown diagnostically acceptable image quality and accurate myocardial blood flow (MBF) quantification at rest in patients with cardiac implanted electronic devices (CIEDs), its performance during vasodilator stress remains unproven. This study aims to determine whether the sequence produces diagnostically acceptable image quality during stress and is capable of quantitatively detecting abnormal stress MBF and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) in patients with implanted cardiodefibrillators (ICDs).

Methods: We enrolled 29 patients with an ICD (mean age = 63 ± 15 years, 17 males, 12 females) and 11 control patients (mean age = 50 ± 17 years, 6 males, 5 females; negative coronary artery disease; negative stress perfusion CMR; and no cardiac event one year post CMR) with an ICD taped below the left clavicle to mimic image artifacts.

Overcoming target interference in bridging anti-drug antibody (ADA) assay by optimizing sample treatment.

Background: Drug bridging immunoassays are widely employed as the standard approach for detecting anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) in the development of new biological entities. A major challenge in these assays is mitigating target interference, particularly when the soluble target exists in dimeric forms, which can result in false positive signals and compromise assay specificity.

Research Design And Methods: We developed sensitive and robust ADA assays capable of overcoming target interference to detect antibodies against BI X in both cynomolgus monkey (cyno) plasma and human serum matrices.

ScarNet: A Novel Foundation Model for Automated Myocardial Scar Quantification from Late Gadolinium-Enhancement Images.

Background: Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE) imaging remains the gold standard for assessing myocardial fibrosis and scarring, with left ventricular (LV) LGE presence and extent serving as a predictor of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Despite its clinical significance, LGE-based LV scar quantification is not used routinely due to the labor-intensive manual segmentation and substantial inter-observer variability.

Methods: We developed ScarNet that synergistically combines a transformer-based encoder in Medical Segment Anything Model (MedSAM), which we fine-tuned with our dataset, and a convolution-based decoder in U-Net with tailored attention blocks to automatically segment myocardial scar boundaries while maintaining anatomical context.

Nonequivalence of Zfp423 premature termination codons in mice.

Genetic variants that introduce a premature termination codon (PTC) are often assumed equivalent and functionally null. Exceptions depend on the specific architectures of the affected mRNA and protein. Here we address phenotypic differences among early truncating variants of mouse Zfp423, whose phenotypes resemble Joubert Syndrome and Related Disorders (JSRD).

Comprehensive state smoke-free policies as a predictor of cognitive impairment among older Americans: the Health and Retirement Study.

Introduction: Exposure to secondhand smoke is an important risk factor for cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate the associations between statewide comprehensive smoke-free policies and cognitive impairment among older Americans.

Methods: Using a difference-in-differences approach, we analysed data in a US nationally representative sample of adults aged 51 and older collected between 1998 and 2020 from the Health and Retirement Study.

Ultrasound guidance compared to anatomic landmark approach for thoracentesis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Although thoracentesis has traditionally been performed with anatomic landmarking, ultrasound guidance is increasingly used. The primary objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the difference in success rates between ultrasound guidance versus anatomic landmark technique. Secondary outcomes include assessing the effects of ultrasound guidance on complication rates.

A Roadmap to Promotion: Planning Your Route to Success.

The academic promotion path can feel long and tortuous along the way to a distant location. In this article, we outline approaches generalists should consider taking en route towards the destination of successful promotion. Driving tips for safe navigation while tracking your progress include preparing your curriculum vitae for promotion review, actively developing an academic portfolio, and capitalizing on opportunities for scholarly work.

Sex and Age but Not Body Mass Index (BMI) Predict Serum Retinol Binding Protein 4 (RBP4) and Transthyretin (TTR) Concentrations.

Increased serum concentrations of retinol (vitamin A) and its binding protein retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) have been linked to progressive obesity, type 2 diabetes, and reduced liver or kidney function. It has been suggested that body mass index (BMI) and serum RBP4 concentrations correlate. Whether this correlation is due to obesity or associated disorders such as insulin resistance or steatotic liver disease is not known.

Impact of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors on Thyroid Function in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: A Systematic Review.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have significantly improved outcomes in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), shifting it from a fatal to a manageable chronic condition. Despite their clinical benefits, TKIs have been increasingly associated with endocrine-related adverse effects, most notably thyroid dysfunction. This systematic review explores the prevalence, clinical features, underlying mechanisms, and prognostic implications of TKI-induced thyroid abnormalities in CML patients.

Gastroesophageal disease risk and inhalational exposure a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Environmental exposure-associated diseases, particularly in the context of rising air pollution and inhalant use, are an active area of research. Our group is dedicated to the study of exposure-related inflammation and its downstream adverse health effects. While many studies have focused on the impact of environmental exposures on respiratory sequelae, there is growing evidence of the involvement of other systems including gastrointestinal.

Speaking the Language of Inclusion: Examining English Languages Requirements in Cardiovascular Digital Health Trials.

Background: Cardiovascular medicine is rapidly evolving, as it integrates digital technologies intended to decentralize care from the clinic and/or hospital setting into patient's homes and communities. However, clinical trials of digital technologies are frequently written and communicated solely in English, potentially exacerbating existing racial and ethnic differences in cardiovascular-related health outcomes. In this work, we evaluated the language-related inclusion and exclusion criteria of digital health trials related to cardiovascular medicine registered on ClinicalTrials.

The differential immunological impact of photon vs proton radiation therapy in high-grade lymphopenia in patients with gastrointestinal tumors.

Background: Radiation therapy has long been a cornerstone of cancer treatment. More recently, immune checkpoint blockade has also been applied across a variety of cancers, often leading to remarkable response rates. However, photon-based radiotherapy-which accounts for the vast majority-is also known to frequently induce profound lymphopenia, which might limit the efficacy of immune system-based combinations.

Robotic optical coherence tomography with expanded three-dimensional field-of-view using point-cloud-based volumetric montaging.

Imaging complex, non-planar anatomies with optical coherence tomography (OCT) is limited by the optical field of view (FOV) in a single volumetric acquisition. Combining linear mechanical translation with OCT extends the FOV but suffers from inflexibility in imaging non-planar anatomies. We report the robotic OCT to fill this gap.

Exploring the Association Between Varicocele and Testosterone Deficiency in Men Over 50 Years of Age.

Objective: To define the impact of varicoceles (VX) on total testosterone (TT) levels in an aging male population.

Methods: This retrospective analysis of a departmental database assessed patients ≥50 years of age, who had 2 testes, and recorded early morning TT levels. Patient demographics, comorbidity profiles, VX laterality, and VX grade were also analyzed.

Nonequivalence of premature termination codons in mice.

Genetic variants that introduce a premature termination codon (PTC) are often assumed equivalent and functionally null. Exceptions depend on the specific architectures of the affected mRNA and protein. Here we address phenotypic differences among early truncating variants of mouse , whose phenotypes resemble Joubert Syndrome and Related Disorders (JSRD).

Role of bariatric surgery in patients with advanced heart failure.

Background: Although bariatric surgery (BaS) is an important treatment option to treat obesity in general, the safety and efficacy of BaS in patients with advanced heart failure (HF) are not well known.

Objectives: To describe the trajectory of patients with advanced HF who underwent BaS and cardiac replacement therapy.

Setting: Single-tertiary academic hospital.

Novel mixed cancer-cell models designed to capture inter-patient tumor heterogeneity for accurate evaluation of drug combinations.

Background: Disease heterogeneity across a diverse patient cohort poses challenges to cancer drug development due to inter-patient variability in treatment responses. However, current preclinical models fail to depict inter-patient tumor heterogeneity, leading to a high failure rate when translating preclinical leads into clinical successes.

Methods: We integrated the expression profiles of prostate cancer (PC) lines and castration-resistant PC (CRPC) patient tumors to identify cell-lines that transcriptomically match distinct tumor subtypes in a clinical cohort.

RABEP1 amplifies front signaling in neutrophil migration.

Neutrophils are the first responders of our innate immune system, crucial for defense against various infections. The intricate regulation of neutrophil migration is essential for neutrophil function. However, a complete mechanistic understanding is missing.

4D Flow MRI derived aortic pulse wave velocity and wall shear stress in Covid-19.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the changes in aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and wall shear stress (WSS) in COVID-19 using 4D Flow MRI.

Methods: Thirty-seven COVID-19 patients and 37 healthy controls underwent thoracic cardiovascular MRI. The PWV and WSS comparisons were performed using independent t-test.

Impact of obesity on long term post heart transplantation outcomes.

Background: Obesity is an ongoing pandemic, and the rising trend of body mass index (BMI) in heart transplant (HTx) recipients is well known. However, the long term post-HTx outcomes of obese patients are not clearly documented.

Aims: We aimed to investigate long term post-transplant outcomes in obese patients.

Intramolecular PCET of α-Keto Acids: Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl Ketones via Ketyl Radicals.

Due to favourable pharmacological properties, the introduction of the fluorine atom into small molecules has become increasingly more common over the past few decades. In particular, the trifluoromethyl ketone group is of great interest due to its role as a carboxylic acid bioisostere. Recently, these fragments have been accessed via acyl radical equivalents.

Antiplatelet and Anticoagulation Therapy for Peripheral Arterial Disease: Risks Versus Benefits.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects millions of people worldwide. It is a progressive atherosclerotic condition that ranges from asymptomatic disease to severe manifestations such as chronic limb-threatening ischemia and acute limb ischemia. Major risk factors-diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia-contribute to its pathogenesis by promoting oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and platelet activation.