Association between perioperative prealbumin level and outcomes in coronary bypass surgery patients.

Background: Albumin and BMI have been used as nutritional markers of morbidity and mortality. Recently, prealbumin has grown in interest in other surgical disciplines, but less so in cardiac surgery. Thus, this study examined the association between prealbumin and bleeding, mortality, and readmission in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients.

Grain boundary tuning determines iodide and lithium-ion migration in a solid adiponitrile-LiI molecular crystal electrolyte.

This work presents the synthesis of a molecular crystal of adiponitrile (Adpn) and LiI a simple melting method. The molecular crystal has both Li and I channels and can be either a Li or an I conductor. In the stoichiometric crystal (Adpn)LiI, the Li ions interact only with four CN groups of Adpn, while the I ions are uncoordinated.

Assessment of regulated and unregulated disinfection byproduct formation using chlorine dioxide pre-oxidation in pilot studies and data-driven modeling.

Chlorine dioxide (ClO) has been emerging as an alternative to chlorine for disinfection due to the lower formation of regulated organic disinfection byproducts (DBPs). This pilot-scale study investigated the impacts of ClO pre-oxidation and delayed chlorination on regulated and unregulated DBPs. These included trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), halonitromethanes (HNMs), chloral hydrate, chlorite, and chlorate.

Incidence of long COVID among U.S. children and adults during the omicron era - Tracking Post-COVID Conditions (Track-PCC) network, 2022-2023.

Background: Long COVID, or Post-COVID Conditions (PCC), refers to new and persisting sequelae occurring in the months following an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although previous studies have reported estimates of PCC incidence, few have examined trends during the Omicron variant period or have included geographically distinct regions for the same time periods.

Methods: Track PCC is a surveillance network, leveraging electronic health records and public health data to monitor incidence over time across five diverse geographic sites in the U.

Proximal Onyx embolization of the middle meningeal artery (POEM) technique for non-acute subdural hematomas: a single-center study of 123 patients using the Scepter dual-lumen balloon microcatheter.

Objective: Non-acute subdural hematomas (NASDHs) often recur or persist, particularly among older patients with comorbidities. Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAe) has emerged as a promising primary treatment alternative. Dual-lumen balloon microcatheters significantly reduce the risk of reflux, which is a limitation of single-lumen microcatheters.

Synaptic imbalance and increased inhibition impair motor function in SMA.

Movement is executed through balanced excitation-inhibition in spinal motor circuits. Short-term perturbations in one type of neurotransmission are homeostatically counteracted by the opposing type, but prolonged excitation-inhibition imbalance causes dysfunction at both single neuron and circuit levels. However, whether dysfunction in one or both types of neurotransmission leads to pathogenicity in neurodegenerative diseases characterized by select synaptic deficits is not known.

Divergence in Estimated Risks and Actual Rates of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Events and their Management in a Longitudinal Cohort of Patients with Dermatomyositis with Skin Involvement.

Patients with dermatomyositis (DM), an autoimmune disorder affecting the skin, muscle, and lung, have been reported to be at a heightened risk of clinical events, chiefly heart attacks and strokes, from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. In this study, we examined current cardiovascular management in a single-center study of all 388 patients who have DM with skin involvement, either with symptomatic muscle disease ("classic DM") or with clinically amyopathic DM. By the new guidelines, the most recent low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were above goal for 290 of 388 (74.

Navigating the Muddled Middle: A Case-Based Exploration of Oral β-Lactams for Systemic Gram-Negative Infections.

Oral β-lactams are frequently referred to as low bioavailability agents that are inferior in the treatment of systemic gram-negative infections. This notion limits their utility beyond their use. The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profiles of oral β-lactams differ among agents, and each agent must be considered individually in the context of the patient.

Supine hypertension and cardiovascular disease: controversies and advances.

Elevated blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite blood pressure being historically measured in the supine position prior to the 20th century, current clinical guidelines are primarily based on seated measurements. Emerging evidence suggests that hypertension in the supine position may be equally or more strongly associated with cardiovascular risk and mortality than seated hypertension.

Characterization of Sinonasal Lesions on CT, MRI, and PET/CT.

The differential diagnosis of sinonasal lesions includes benign and malignant disease. Current radiologic diagnosis depends on the complementary roles of CT and MRI. PET/CT has been widely utilized for diagnosis and staging of various types of tumors as well as assessing treatment response.

A Pluripotent Progression of the Gate Control System Theory of Pain - Modeling Ascending & Descending Pain Pathways as a Lotka-Volterra Coupled Control & Feedback Loop.

Introduction: Pain is a subjective experience, the perception of stimulus input transmitted by neurons that respond to real or perceived tissue injury and propagate the information to the brain. Under normal conditions, the perception is a reliable indicator of the magnitude and duration of the sensory input (viz. threat), so that appropriate action can be taken (eg, fight-or-flight).

A Leg Up: Evaluating Ultramassive Transfusion after Extremity Vascular Injury.

Introduction: Extremity vascular injuries (EVI) are rare, life-threatening injuries that may require ultra-massive transfusion (UMT), defined as transfusion of ≥20 units of red cell products in 24 hours. This study aimed to evaluate outcomes of patients with EVI who required UMT and to determine which variables are associated with survival.

Methods: A retrospective, multicenter analysis from eleven high-volume trauma centers was conducted of trauma patients who received UMT from 2016-2024.

[Expert consensus on local anesthesia application in pediatric dental therapies].

Dental treatments for children and adolescents have unique clinical characteristics that differ from dental care for adults in terms of children's physiology, psychology, and behavior. These differences impose specific requirements on the application of local anesthesia in pediatric dental procedures. This article presents expert consensus on the principles of local anesthesia techniques in pediatric dental therapies, including the use of common anesthetic drugs and dosage control, safety and efficacy evaluation, and prevention and management of complications.

The development and validation of postpartum hemorrhage prediction models for pregnancies with placenta previa totalis based on coagulation function indexes: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The objective of this study is to establish and validate models that can accurately predict postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in women with placenta previa totalis prior to undertaking cesarean delivery.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 306 pregnancies with placenta previa totalis delivered between January 2011 and June 2022. The pregnancies were classified into two groups, PPH group and non-PPH group, based on bleeding volume and red blood cell transfusion.

Prioritizing FDA approved therapeutics for treating sepsis phenotypes: A network modeling approach based on neutrophil proteomics.

Introduction: Sepsis is characterized by life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host response to infection. A key contributor is the disruption of neutrophil-endothelial interactions. Despite extensive research, there are no FDA-approved therapies that directly target altered neutrophil function in sepsis.

Sex-Specific Disparities in the Female Vs Male Patient Population in Left Ventricular Assist Device Use.

Women remain severely underrepresented in clinical trials, leading to a significant disparity in clinical care and outcome among male vs female patients with advanced heart failure (HF). Sex-specific disparities regarding the etiology of HF, time to diagnosis, severity of disease at time of index hospitalization, response to treatment, and treatment options, including use of temporary or durable mechanical circulatory support devices, may affect women unfavourably. Lack of knowledge regarding sex-specific complications has had an impact on the overall higher mortality level in women vs men.

Older Adults Show Altered Network Connectivity during Fairness Decisions with Similar and Dissimilar Partners.

Objectives: The ability to navigate diverse social contexts, such as interacting with different individuals, is crucial across the lifespan and has implications for fraud susceptibility. However, the neural mechanisms supporting social decisions in older adults within varied social contexts remain largely unknown. This study investigated how age and partner similarity modulate neural activation and network connectivity during fairness-related decision making and whether individual differences in behavioral sensitivity to fairness norm violations correlate with neural activities.

Real-world prescribing in accordance to ACC/AHA guidelines for lipid-lowering therapy in high-risk primary and secondary prevention of ASCVD: Real-World Prescribing for Lipid-Lowering Therapy.

Objective: The value of lipid lowering therapy (LLT) for prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is well understood. American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines recommend statin therapy for secondary and high-risk primary ASCVD prevention. Prior studies have identified incomplete uptake of these guidelines in specific practice settings or patient populations.

Using stochastic cellular automata to model and define sufficient conditions for the survival of Enterococcus faecalis biofilms with the pCF10 plasmid under erythromycin treatment.

A biofilm is a community of microorganisms adhered to a surface, bound together by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). They are ubiquitous in nature and develop on a range of surfaces including living tissue. Biofilms themselves typically do not negatively affect their host, but under certain conditions they can retain pathogenic features and cause a wide range of illnesses including persistent or chronic infections.

Indiana Adults Who Participated In Treatment Court Programs Had Better Health Outcomes Than Those Who Did Not.

More people are arrested in the US for substance-related crimes than for any other offense. Treatment courts are a judicial intervention offering a holistic, public health approach to substance use, and they provide an alternative to incarceration. There is, however, great variability with respect to court practices and interventions across the US.

"I think they are infected because of their ignorance and lack of responsibility": A mixed-methods study on HIV-related stigma in the healthcare system in Kazakhstan.

Background: HIV-related stigma among healthcare providers remains a significant barrier to effective HIV care and treatment. This study aimed to assess HIV-related stigma and associated factors among healthcare providers in primary healthcare clinics (PHCs) in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed, involving quantitative surveys and qualitative in-depth interviews.