Trends in mechanical circulatory support utilization, left ventricular assist device implantation and transplant during cardiogenic shock hospitalizations, after the new heart allocation policy.

Background: In October 2018, a new heart allocation policy was implemented to risk stratify patients listed for transplant, prioritizing patients supported with temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS). The policy changes may have had an impact on the management of cardiogenic shock (CS). We sought to determine the changes in use of temporary MCS, durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and transplant in patients hospitalized before and after the new policy.

Impact of Climate Change on Cardiovascular Health.

Purpose Of Review: Climate change is profoundly impacting cardiovascular disease through rising temperatures, more extreme weather events, and worsening air pollution. This review analyzes how these factors affect cardiovascular health.

Recent Findings: Extreme heat and cold cause physiological changes, including increasing the risk of blood clots, faster heart rates, and inflammation.

Myocardial Characteristics, Cardiac Structure, and Cardiac Function in Systemic Light-Chain Amyloidosis.

Background: In systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, cardiac involvement portends poor outcomes.

Objectives: The authors' objectives were to detect early myocardial alterations, to analyze longitudinal changes with therapy, and to predict major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in participants with AL amyloidosis using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Recently diagnosed participants were prospectively enrolled.

Mechanisms of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in light chain amyloidosis: a multiparametric cardiac MRI study.

Background: Cardiac systolic dysfunction is a poor prognostic marker in light-chain (AL) cardiomyopathy, a primary interstitial disorder; however, its pathogenesis is poorly understood.

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the effects of extracellular volume (ECV) expansion, a surrogate marker of amyloid burden on myocardial blood flow (MBF), myocardial work efficiency (MWE), and left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in AL amyloidosis.

Methods: Subjects with biopsy-proven AL amyloidosis were prospectively enrolled (April 2016-June 2021; Clinicaltrials.

Climate Change and Cardiovascular Health: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Climate change may increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes by causing direct physiologic changes, psychological distress, and disruption of health-related infrastructure. Yet, the association between numerous climate change-related environmental stressors and the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events has not been systematically reviewed.

Objective: To review the current evidence on the association between climate change-related environmental stressors and adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Myocardial Characterization for Early Diagnosis, Treatment Response Monitoring, and Risk Assessment in Systemic Light-Chain Amyloidosis.

Aims: In systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, cardiac involvement portends poor prognosis. Using myocardial characteristics on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), this study aimed to detect early myocardial alterations, to analyze temporal changes with plasma cell therapy, and to predict risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in AL amyloidosis.

Methods And Results: Participants with recently diagnosed AL amyloidosis were prospectively enrolled.

Cervical cancer treatment in Rwanda: Resource-driven adaptations, quality indicators, and patient outcomes.

Objective: Most cervical cancer cases and deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, yet clinical research from these contexts is significantly underrepresented. We aimed to describe the treatment quality, resource-driven adaptations, and outcomes of cervical cancer patients in Rwanda.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all patients with newly diagnosed cervical cancer enrolled between April 2016 and June 2018.

Laboratory-Generated Urine Toxicology Interpretations: A Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Clinicians frequently order urine drug testing (UDT) for patients on chronic opioid therapy (COT), yet often have difficulty interpreting test results accurately.

Objectives: To evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of a laboratory-generated urine toxicology interpretation service for clinicians prescribing COT.

Study Design: Type II hybrid-convergent mixed methods design (implementation) and pre-post prospective cohort study with matched controls (effectiveness).

Bacteriophage trigger antiviral immunity and prevent clearance of bacterial infection.

Bacteriophage are abundant at sites of bacterial infection, but their effects on mammalian hosts are unclear. We have identified pathogenic roles for filamentous Pf bacteriophage produced by () in suppression of immunity against bacterial infection. Pf promote wound infection in mice and are associated with chronic human wound infections.

Demonstration of Infectious Transgression Through the Skull Base Occurring 9 Years After Pituitary Adenoma Resection.

Background: Sellar infections represent less than 1% of all sellar lesions and can be life-threatening. These infections occur de novo in up to 70% of patients or can less commonly develop after surgical treatment of another primary lesion, such as a pituitary adenoma.

Case Description: We report a unique case of a 27-year-old woman with a recurrent pituitary adenoma treated with 2 previous transsphenoidal resections.

Filamentous Bacteriophage Promote Biofilm Assembly and Function.

Biofilms-communities of bacteria encased in a polymer-rich matrix-confer bacteria with the ability to persist in pathologic host contexts, such as the cystic fibrosis (CF) airways. How bacteria assemble polymers into biofilms is largely unknown. We find that the extracellular matrix produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa self-assembles into a liquid crystal through entropic interactions between polymers and filamentous Pf bacteriophages, which are long, negatively charged filaments.

Physiologic and molecular characterization of a murine model of right ventricular volume overload.

Pulmonary insufficiency (PI) is a common long-term sequel after repair of tetralogy of Fallot, causing progressive right ventricular (RV) dilation and failure. We describe the physiologic and molecular characteristics of the first murine model of RV volume overload. PI was created by entrapping the pulmonary valve leaflets with sutures.