PIEZO1 and PECAM1 interact at cell-cell junctions and partner in endothelial force sensing.

Two prominent concepts for the sensing of shear stress by endothelium are the PIEZO1 channel as a mediator of mechanically activated calcium ion entry and the PECAM1 cell adhesion molecule as the apex of a triad with CDH5 and VGFR2. Here, we investigated if there is a relationship. By inserting a non-disruptive tag in native PIEZO1 of mice, we reveal in situ overlap of PIEZO1 with PECAM1.

Association between operator volume and mortality in primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: There is a paucity of real-world data assessing the association of operator volumes and mortality specific to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Methods: Demographic, clinical and outcome data for all patients undergoing PPCI in Leeds General Infirmary, UK, between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2011, and 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2013, were obtained prospectively. Operator volumes were analysed according to annual operator PPCI volume (low volume: 1-54 PPCI per year; intermediate volume: 55-109 PPCI per year; high volume: ≥110 PPCI per year).

The Effect of Endogenous Cushing Syndrome on All-cause and Cause-specific Mortality.

Objective: We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of all-cause and cause-specific mortality of patients with benign endogenous Cushing syndrome (CS).

Methods: The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017067530). PubMed, EMBASE, CINHAL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central searches were undertaken from inception to January 2021.

Latent class regression improves the predictive acuity and clinical utility of survival prognostication amongst chronic heart failure patients.

The present study aimed to compare the predictive acuity of latent class regression (LCR) modelling with: standard generalised linear modelling (GLM); and GLMs that include the membership of subgroups/classes (identified through prior latent class analysis; LCA) as alternative or additional candidate predictors. Using real world demographic and clinical data from 1,802 heart failure patients enrolled in the UK-HEART2 cohort, the study found that univariable GLMs using LCA-generated subgroup/class membership as the sole candidate predictor of survival were inferior to standard multivariable GLMs using the same four covariates as those used in the LCA. The inclusion of the LCA subgroup/class membership together with these four covariates as candidate predictors in a multivariable GLM showed no improvement in predictive acuity.

Face and content validity analysis of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale for Parents (SSQ-P) when used in a clinical service without interviews or week-long observation periods.

Objectives: To assess the face and content validity of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale for Parents (SSQ-P) when used in a clinical setting without the recommended interviews and observation periods.

Methods: SSQ-P responses completed by 145 parents of children with bilateral cochlear implants (aged between 5 and 16 years old) were analysed. To assess face validity, the proportion of missing/ambiguous and alternative responses was recorded for each of the 23 items.

Dose Dependency of Iatrogenic Glucocorticoid Excess and Adrenal Insufficiency and Mortality: A Cohort Study in England.

Context: Adrenal insufficiency and Cushing syndrome are known adverse events of glucocorticoids. However, no population estimates of dose-related risks are available.

Objective: To investigate dose-related risks of adrenal dysfunction and death in adults with six chronic inflammatory diseases treated with oral glucocorticoids.

TRPC5 ion channel permeation promotes weight gain in hypercholesterolaemic mice.

Transient Receptor Potential Canonical 5 (TRPC5) is a subunit of a Ca-permeable non-selective cationic channel which negatively regulates adiponectin but not leptin in mice fed chow diet. Adiponectin is a major anti-inflammatory mediator and so we hypothesized an effect of TRPC5 on the inflammatory condition of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis was studied in aorta of ApoE mice fed western-style diet.

The Association Between Childhood Leukemia and Population Mixing: An Artifact of Focusing on Clusters?

Background: Studies investigating the population-mixing hypothesis in childhood leukemia principally use two analytical approaches: (1) nonrandom selection of areas according to specific characteristics, followed by comparisons of their incidence of childhood leukemia with that expected based on the national average; and (2) regression analyses of region-wide data to identify characteristics associated with the incidence of childhood leukemia. These approaches have generated contradictory results. We compare these approaches using observed and simulated data.

Clinical outcomes following primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction according to sex and race.

Background: Female sex and South Asian race have been associated with poor clinical outcomes following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) but remain understudied in large real-world series. We therefore investigated the association of sex and race with clinical outcomes following PPCI.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of all patients undergoing PPCI for STEMI between January 2009 and December 2011 at a large UK cardiac centre.

Adaptation of Chain Event Graphs for use with Case-Control Studies in Epidemiology.

Case-control studies are used in epidemiology to try to uncover the causes of diseases, but are a retrospective study design known to suffer from non-participation and recall bias, which may explain their decreased popularity in recent years. Traditional analyses report usually only the odds ratio for given exposures and the binary disease status. Chain event graphs are a graphical representation of a statistical model derived from event trees which have been developed in artificial intelligence and statistics, and only recently introduced to the epidemiology literature.

Piezo1 channels sense whole body physical activity to reset cardiovascular homeostasis and enhance performance.

Mammalian biology adapts to physical activity but the molecular mechanisms sensing the activity remain enigmatic. Recent studies have revealed how Piezo1 protein senses mechanical force to enable vascular development. Here, we address Piezo1 in adult endothelium, the major control site in physical activity.

Relative survival and excess mortality following primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background:: High survival rates are commonly reported following primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction, with most contemporary studies reporting overall survival.

Aims:: The aim of this study was to describe survival following primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction corrected for non-cardiovascular deaths by reporting relative survival and investigate clinically significant factors associated with poor long-term outcomes.

Methods And Results:: Using the prospective UK Percutaneous Coronary Intervention registry, primary percutaneous coronary intervention cases ( n=88,188; 2005-2013) were matched to mortality data for the UK populace.

Learning Through Chain Event Graphs: The Role of Maternal Factors in Childhood Type 1 Diabetes.

Chain event graphs (CEGs) are a graphical representation of a statistical model derived from event trees. They have previously been applied to cohort studies but not to case-control studies. In this paper, we apply the CEG framework to a Yorkshire, United Kingdom, case-control study of childhood type 1 diabetes (1993-1994) in order to examine 4 exposure variables associated with the mother, 3 of which are fully observed (her school-leaving-age, amniocenteses during pregnancy, and delivery type) and 1 with missing values (her rhesus factor), while incorporating previous type 1 diabetes knowledge.

Assessing the reporting of categorised quantitative variables in observational epidemiological studies.

Background: One aspect to consider when reporting results of observational studies in epidemiology is how quantitative risk factors are analysed. The STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines recommend that researchers describe how they handle quantitative variables when analysing data. For categorised quantitative variables, the authors are required to provide reasons and justifications informing their practice.

BβArg448Lys polymorphism is associated with altered fibrin clot structure and fibrinolysis in type 2 diabetes.

Both type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and Bβ448Lys variant of fibrinogen are associated with dense fibrin clots, impaired fibrinolysis and increased cardiovascular risk. It was our objective to investigate whether BβArg448Lys adds to vascular risk by modulating fibrin network structure and/or fibrinolysis in diabetes. The primary aim was to study effects of BβArg448Lys on fibrin network characteristics in T2DM.

Factors that affect simulated driving in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.

http://ow.ly/TWPgm.

Methods for the analysis of ordinal response data in medical image quality assessment.

The assessment of image quality in medical imaging often requires observers to rate images for some metric or detectability task. These subjective results are used in optimization, radiation dose reduction or system comparison studies and may be compared to objective measures from a computer vision algorithm performing the same task. One popular scoring approach is to use a Likert scale, then assign consecutive numbers to the categories.

Patient Acceptability of the Yorkshire Dialysis Decision Aid (YoDDA) Booklet: A Prospective Non-Randomized Comparison Study Across 6 Predialysis Services.

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Background: Patients are satisfied with their kidney care but want more support in making dialysis choices. Predialysis leaflets vary across services, with few being sufficient to enable patients' informed decision making. We describe the acceptability of a patient decision aid and feasibility of evaluating its effectiveness within usual predialysis practice.

Comparative survival after transapical, direct aortic, and subclavian transcatheter aortic valve implantation (data from the UK TAVI registry).

Many patients have iliofemoral vessel anatomy unsuitable for conventional transfemoral (TF) transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Safe and practical alternatives to the TF approach are, therefore, needed. This study compared outcomes of alternative nonfemoral routes, transapical (TA), direct aortic (DA), and subclavian (SC), with standard femoral access.

Impact of left ventricular function and transaortic gradient on outcomes from transcatheter aortic valve implantation: data from the UK TAVI Registry.

Aims: Aortic valve surgery in the presence of reduced ejection fraction (EF) or low transaortic gradient is associated with adverse outcome. Low gradient (LG) may be associated with reduced EF, known as low EF-low gradient (LEF-LG), or "paradoxically" low with normal EF (P-LG). Our aim was to investigate the impact of EF and transaortic gradient on outcome following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

The INCENTIVE protocol: an evaluation of the organisation and delivery of NHS dental healthcare to patients-innovation in the commissioning of primary dental care service delivery and organisation in the UK.

Introduction: In England, in 2006, new dental contracts devolved commissioning of dental services locally to Primary Care Trusts to meet the needs of their local population. The new national General Dental Services contracts (nGDS) were based on payment for Units of Dental Activity (UDAs) awarded in three treatment bands based on complexity of care. Recently, contract currency in UK dentistry is evolving from UDAs based on volume and case complexity towards 'blended contracts' that include incentives linked with key performance indicators such as quality and improved health outcome.

Comparative outcomes after unprotected left main stem percutaneous coronary intervention: a national linked cohort study of 5,065 acute and elective cases from the BCIS Registry (British Cardiovascular Intervention Society).

Objectives: The goal of this study was to report outcomes from percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to an unprotected left main stem (UPLMS) stenosis according to presenting syndrome, including ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS), and chronic stable angina (CSA).

Background: There are no published whole-country data concerning patient outcomes following PCI to UPLMS.

Methods: This study is a prospective national cohort study using data from the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS) registry from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2010.

Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity is negatively correlated with aortic diameter.

Cardiovascular events pose significant morbidity and mortality burden to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients. Arterial stiffness as measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. We investigated the relationship between aortic diameter and PWV.