Association of Race and Ethnicity With Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Appropriate selection of patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) for coronary angiography is dependent on the pretest probability of obstructive CAD; however, little is known about the potential differences in CAD by race and ethnic groups.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of race and ethnicity with coronary obstruction in stable CAD.

Methods: We evaluated first coronary angiography for CAD evaluation between 2012 and 2019 in Ontario, Canada.

Sex-based differences in referral of heart failure patients to outpatient clinics: a scoping review.

Background: Guidelines recommend that hospitalized patients newly diagnosed with HF be referred to an outpatient HF clinic (HFC) within 2 weeks of discharge. Our study aims were (i) to assess the current literary landscape on the impact of patient sex on HFC referral and outcomes and (ii) to provide a qualitative overview of possible considerations for the impact of sex on referral patterns and HF characteristics including aetiology, symptom severity, investigations undertaken and pharmacologic therapy.

Methods And Results: We conducted a scoping review using the Arksey and O'Malley framework and searched Medline, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Cochrane Library, Ageline databases and grey literature.

Central Hypertension in Patients With Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: Prevalence and Association With Aneurysm Size and Growth.

Background: Hypertension (HTN) has the greatest population-attributable risk for aortic dissection and is highly prevalent among patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs). Although HTN is diagnosed based on brachial blood pressure (bBP), central HTN (central systolic blood pressure [cSBP] ≥130 mm Hg) is of interest as it better reflects blood pressure (BP) in the aorta. We aimed to (i) evaluate the prevalence of central HTN among TAA patients without a diagnosis of HTN, and (ii) assess associations of bBP vs.

Systematic review and meta-analysis on trimodal therapy versus radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Does the current quality of evidence justify definitive conclusions?

Objectives: To systematically review and meta-analyze the current literature in a methodologically rigorous and transparent manner for quantitative evidence on survival outcomes among patients diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer that were treated by either trimodal therapy or radical cystectomy.

Materials And Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL were systematically searched for comparative observational studies reporting disease-specific survival and/or overall survival on adult patients diagnosed with localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer that were exposed to either trimodal therapy or radical cystectomy. Studies qualified for meta-analysis (random effects model) if they were not at critical risk of bias (RoB).

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Growth in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Patients: Role of Aortic Stiffness and Pulsatile Hemodynamics.

Background Bicuspid aortic valve ( BAV ) is the most common congenital cardiac abnormality. A thoracic aortic aneurysm ( TAA ) is present in ≈50% of BAV patients, who also have an 8-fold higher risk of aortic dissection than the general population. Because the health of the aorta is directly reflected in its stiffness and pulsatile hemodynamics, we hypothesized that measures of aortic stiffness and arterial load would be associated with TAA growth in BAV .

Is There a Role for Biweekly Romiplostim in the Management of Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)? A Report of Three Cases.

Romiplostim is a peptibody, which stimulates platelet production by a mechanism similar to that of endogenous thrombopoietin. It has an established indication as second-line therapy in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The agent is typically administered weekly; however, there are instances where a biweekly (i.