Cardiac allograft vasculopathy mediates the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular mortality following heart transplantation.

Background: Patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) often have vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). Both VDD and CAV are associated with activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Although VDD is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in multiple cohorts, the impact of VDD in OHT patients remains unknown.

Hot-melt extruded-FDM 3D-printed polyethylene oxide tablets: Dissolution imaging analysis of swelling and drug release.

Recent developments in pharmacogenetics have emphasised the importance of customised medication, driving interest in technologies like FDM 3D-printing for tailored drug delivery. FDM 3D-printing is a promising technique for the on-demand manufacturing of customised oral dosage forms, providing flexibility in terms of shape and size, dose and drug release profiles. This study investigates the fabrication and characterisation of 3D-printed oral dosage forms using PEO as the primary polymer and PEG 6 K as a plasticiser.

Proteomics-Based Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor Levels Are Associated With Incident Heart Failure Risk.

Background: Higher soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels are associated with adverse outcomes in chronic heart failure (HF).

Objectives: The authors assessed the association between proteomics-based suPAR levels and incident HF risk in the general population.

Methods: In 40,418 UK Biobank participants without HF or coronary artery disease at enrollment, the association between Olink-based suPAR levels measured as relative protein expression levels and incident all-cause, ischemic, and nonischemic HF was analyzed by competing-risk regression, while accounting for all-cause death as a competing risk.

Association of Psychosocial Risk Factors With Quality of Life and Readmissions 1 Year After LVAD Implantation.

Background: Among patients with advanced heart failure (HF), treatment with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) improves health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We investigated the association between psychosocial risk factors, HRQOL and outcomes after LVAD implantation.

Methods: A retrospective cohort (n = 9832) of adults aged ≥ 19 years who received durable LVADs between 2008 and 2017 was identified by using the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS).

Poor Medication Access as a Driver of Excess Heart-Failure Readmissions Among Patients Living in Economically Deprived Neighborhoods.

Background: Patients residing in socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods experience higher hospital readmission rates after hospitalization for heart failure (HF). The role of medication access in the excessive readmissions in this group is poorly understood. This study explored patients' perspectives on medication access by individuals living in socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods who had experienced HF readmission.

Gender and Race Differences in HeartMate3 Left Ventricular Assist Device as a Bridge to Transplantation.

Background: Gender and racial disparities exist after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Compared with older devices, the HeartMate 3 (HM3) (Abbott Cardiovascular) has demonstrated improved survival. Whether HM3 differentially improves outcomes by gender or race and ethnic groups is unknown.

High sensitivity troponin I as a biomarker for cardiac allograft vasculopathy: Evaluation of diagnostic potential and clinical utility.

Introduction: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) limits long-term survival in heart transplant (HTx) recipients. The use of biomarkers in CAV surveillance has been studied, but none are used in clinical practice. The predictive value of high-sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI) has not been extensively investigated in HTx recipients.

An inguinal hernia 'hard to stomach'.

Inguinal hernias containing the stomach are extremely rare, and have never been described in females. We are reporting the case of a 79 year old female who presented in septic shock with a left inguinal hernia containing the stomach, resulting in gastric perforation and loss of abdominal domain. She underwent emergency exploratory laparotomy with manual reduction of the hernia, wedge resection of the perforated gastric segment, abdominal washout, and closure of the abdominal fascia using biological mesh.

Racial differences in low natriuretic peptide levels: Implications for heart failure clinical trials.

Background: Some patients with heart failure (HF) have low natriuretic peptide (NP) levels. It is unclear whether specific populations are disproportionately excluded from participation in randomized clinical trials (RCT) with inclusion requirements for elevated NPs. We investigated factors associated with unexpectedly low NP levels in a cohort of patients hospitalized with HF, and the implications on racial diversity in a prototype HF RCT.

Understanding the sexual and reproductive health needs of immigrant adolescents in Canada: A qualitative study.

Background: Literature suggests that immigrant adolescents receive limited sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education and rarely utilize SRH services in Canada. This study sought to explore the SRH information needs of immigrant adolescents in the province of Alberta.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive methodology was undertaken to conduct 21 individual interviews with immigrant adolescents in Alberta.

Association Between High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels and Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in High-risk Populations.

Importance: Previous studies have shown lower cardiovascular risk with higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. However, recent data in the general population have shown increased risk of adverse outcomes at very high HDL-C concentrations.

Objective: To study the association between very high HDL-C levels (>80 mg/dL) and mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and to investigate the association of known HDL-C genotypes with high HDL-C level outcomes.

Public Perceptions of Current COVID-19 Vaccinations. Results of a Pilot Survey.

Introduction: We conducted a cross-sectional survey as a part of an educational program in collaboration with the Global Thrombosis Forum (GTF), an affiliate of North American Thrombosis Forum (NATF), and Loyola University about public perceptions of COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccinations in the US. In this study, we are reporting the results of this survey.

Materials And Methods: The survey, in the form of a questionnaire, has been developed by GTF and faculty members.

Association of hospital factors and socioeconomic status with the utilization of minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer over a decade.

Background: Surgical resection is a mainstay of treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC). Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has been shown to have improved outcomes compared to open procedures for colorectal malignancy. While use of MIS has been increasing, there remains large variability in its implementation at the hospital and patient level.

The Relationship Between Social Determinants of Health and Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Mortality.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified existing health disparities for marginalized populations in the United States (U.S.), particularly among Black Americans.

Current Trends and Predictors of Case Outcomes for Malpractice in Colonoscopy in the United States.

Background: Over 14 million colonoscopies are performed annually, and this procedure remains the largest contributor to malpractice claims against gastroenterologists. The aim of this study was to evaluate reasons for litigation and predictors of case outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Cases related to colonoscopy were reviewed within the Westlaw legal database.

Invasive Hemodynamic Characteristics in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve-In-Valve Implantation for Treatment of Tricuspid Stenosis.

Background: We sought to describe invasive hemodynamic measurements in patients with tricuspid stenosis (TS) undergoing transcatheter tricuspid valve-in-valve (TVIV) implantation immediately pre- and postimplantation. Development of TS in patients who have undergone surgical tricuspid valve replacement with a bioprosthetic valve is a serious complication that leads to elevated right atrial (RA) pressures and decreased cardiac output. Transcatheter TVIV implantation is a viable alternative to surgical tricuspid valve replacement, but data on the hemodynamic consequences of TVIV for the treatment of severe TS are currently limited to echocardiographic assessment of Doppler-derived gradients.

Laparoscopy improves failure to rescue compared to open surgery for emergent colectomy.

Emergent colectomy is performed in thousands of Americans each year and carries significant morbidity and mortality. Although laparoscopy has gained favor in the elective setting, its impact on failure to rescue has not been studied on a population level for emergent colectomy. The purpose of this study was to compare failure to rescue following laparoscopic versus open colectomy in the emergency setting.

Insurance status and level of education predict disparities in receipt of treatment and survival for anal squamous cell carcinoma.

Introduction: Anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is relatively rare, but its incidence and mortality have been steadily climbing in marginalized populations. We explored the impact of insurance status, education, and income on survival and receipt of chemoradiation therapy.

Methods: We included patients with ASCC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database from 2004 to 2016.

Nivolumab-Induced Concomitant Severe Upper and Lower Gastrointestinal Immune-Related Adverse Effects.

Immunotherapy agents such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 and programed cell death protein-1 inhibitors show efficacy in cancer therapy but are associated with immune-related adverse events. It commonly presents as diarrhea but can cause colitis, mimicking inflammatory bowel disease. Our patient is a 78-year-old man on nivolumab therapy for metastatic lung cancer who developed new onset nausea and diarrhea.

Major venous injury and large volume crystalloid resuscitation: A limb threatening combination.

Introduction: Major venous injury (MVI) affecting the lower extremity can result in subsequent amputation. The contribution of intraoperative resuscitation efforts on the need for amputation is not well defined. We hypothesized that intraoperative large volume crystalloid resuscitation (LVCR) increases the risk of amputation after MVI, while massive transfusion (MT) does not.