Vitronectin regulates lung tissue remodeling and emphysema in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Vitronectin (VTN) is an important extracellular matrix protein in tissue remodeling, but its role in COPD is unknown. We show that VTN regulates tissue remodeling through urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) signaling pathway in COPD. In human COPD airways and bronchoepithelial cells and the airways of mice with cigarette smoke (CS)-induced experimental COPD, VTN protein was not changed, but downstream uPA signaling was altered (increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, uPAR) that induced collagen and airway remodeling.

Transfer from long-term care to acute care and risk of new permanent cognitive or physical disability among long-term care residents in Canada: protocol for a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Long-term care (LTC) residents are frequently transferred to acute care hospitals. Transfer decisions should align with residents' wishes and goals. Decision to transfer to hospital, when not aligned with the resident's wishes, can result in transfers that are harmful to residents, leaving residents in a state of disability that could be considered worse than death.

Incidence and Outcomes of Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) often require prosthetic valve implantation, increasing their lifetime risk of developing prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of PVE in adults with CHD.

Method: Retrospective cohort study of adults with CHD and prior prosthetic valve implantation (2003-2023).

Use of a Nutritional Risk Assessment Tool to Guide Early Enteral Nutrition among Mechanically Ventilated Trauma Patients.

Background: The Modified Nutritional Risk in Critically Ill (mNUTRIC) score has been proposed as a tool to identify hospitalized patients at risk for malnutrition who may benefit from early enteral nutrition (EN) therapy.

Objective: Our goal was to determine if mNUTRIC scores could predict, at time of intensive care unit admission, which mechanically ventilated trauma patients were at risk for malnutrition and might benefit from early EN, as indicated by reduced mortality.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all adult trauma patients requiring mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours between 01/21/2012 and 12/31/2016, reviewing inpatient medical records, demographic data, disease markers, injury severity, and comorbidities.