Biomolecular condensates with liquid properties formed during viral infections.

During a viral infection, several membraneless compartments with liquid properties are formed. They can be of viral origin concentrating viral proteins and nucleic acids, and harboring essential stages of the viral cycle, or of cellular origin containing components involved in innate immunity. This is a paradigm shift in our understanding of viral replication and the interaction between viruses and innate cellular immunity.

Interprofessional approach to fall prevention in hospital care.

Objective: To understand the perception and experience of health professionals regarding fall prevention practices in hospital inpatient units.

Method: This is a qualitative exploratory and descriptive case study based on the Canadian framework of interprofessional competences. Data was collected from two focus groups, with different health professionals in each group, and thematic content analysis was used.

Aortic Root Surgery in Adults: An Unsolved Problem.

Nowadays, despite the rapid advancements in interventional cardiology, open surgery still deals with aortic root diseases, to assure the best "ad hoc" treatment. In case of middle-aged adult patients, the optimal operation still represents a matter of debate. A review of the last 10-year literature was conducted, focusing on patients below 65 to 70 years of age.

Intrathymic AAV delivery results in therapeutic site-specific integration at TCR loci in mice.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have been successfully exploited in gene therapy applications for the treatment of several genetic disorders. AAV is considered an episomal vector, but it has been shown to integrate within the host cell genome after the generation of double-strand DNA breaks or nicks. Although AAV integration raises some safety concerns, it can also provide therapeutic benefit; the direct intrathymic injection of an AAV harboring a therapeutic transgene results in integration in T-cell progenitors and long-term T-cell immunity.

Properties of rabies virus phosphoprotein and nucleoprotein biocondensates formed in vitro and in cellulo.

Rabies virus (RABV) transcription and replication take place within viral factories having liquid properties, called Negri bodies (NBs), that are formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). The co-expression of RABV nucleoprotein (N) and phosphoprotein (P) in mammalian cells is sufficient to induce the formation of cytoplasmic biocondensates having properties that are like those of NBs. This cellular minimal system was previously used to identify P domains that are essential for biocondensates formation.

Transcriptomic profiling of calcified aortic valves in clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential carriers.

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is characterized by the presence of clones of mutated blood cells without overt blood diseases. In the last few years, it has emerged that CHIP is associated with atherosclerosis and coronary calcification and that it is an independent determinant of cardiovascular mortality. Recently, CHIP has been found to occur frequently in patients with calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) and it is associated with a poor prognosis after valve replacement.

The influence of metabolic syndrome in heart valve intervention. A multi-centric study.

Background: The effect of metabolic syndrome (MetS), defined as insulin resistance along with two or more of: obesity, atherogenic dyslipidaemia and elevated blood pressure, on postoperative complications after isolated heart valve intervention remains controversial. We hypothesized that MetS may negatively influence the postoperative course in these patients.

Methods: Patients from 10 cardiac units who underwent isolated valve intervention (mitral  tricuspid repair/replacement (mitral valve surgery [MVS]) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) were included.

Person-centered care approach to prevention and management of falls among adults and aged in a Brazilian hospital: a best practice implementation project.

Objectives: The objective is to assess compliance with evidence-based criteria regarding a person-centered care approach to the prevention and management of falls among adults and the elderly in a Brazilian private hospital.

Methods: This project used the JBI audit and feedback method to implement evidence into practice. The JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System and Getting Research into Practice audit tools have been used to promote changes in oncology and medical-surgical wards.

Pacemaker after Sutureless and Rapid-Deployment Prostheses: A Progress Report from the SURD-IR.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the need for postoperative permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) following sutureless and rapid-deployment aortic valve replacement (SuRD-AVR) in the context of a progress report from a large multicenter international registry (SURD-IR).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 4,166 patients who underwent SuRD-AVR between 2008 and 2019. The primary outcome was the need for PPI before discharge.

Right ventricle remodeling after transcatheter tricuspid leaflet repair in patients with functional tricuspid regurgitation: Lessons from the surgical experience.

Clinically significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is common and associated with excess mortality. At the same time right ventricular (RV) failure is a complex clinical syndrome that results from many causes, but is often associated with long-term prognosis. Whilst results of isolated tricuspid valve (TV) surgery are often unsatisfactory and limited by the prohibitive risk of most patients, the recent development of percutaneous recovery techniques has opened new scenarios.

Effectiveness of Intrarectal Povidone-iodine Cleansing Plus Formalin Disinfection of the Needle Tip in Decreasing Infectious Complications After Transrectal Prostate Biopsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Prostate biopsy is mostly performed through the transrectal route worldwide and infectious complications may occur in up to 7% of cases. Therefore, alternative strategies to decrease infectious complications are needed. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of intrarectal povidone-iodine cleansing plus formalin disinfection of the needle tip in decreasing infectious complications after transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy.

Investigating resistance in clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates with genomic and phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing: a multicentre observational study.

Background: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex has become an important tool in diagnosis and management of drug-resistant tuberculosis. However, data correlating resistance genotype with quantitative phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) are scarce.

Methods: In a prospective multicentre observational study, 900 clinical M tuberculosis complex isolates were collected from adults with drug-resistant tuberculosis in five high-endemic tuberculosis settings around the world (Georgia, Moldova, Peru, South Africa, and Viet Nam) between Dec 5, 2014, and Dec 12, 2017.

A retrospective multicentre study on dalbavancin effectiveness and cost-evaluation in sternotomic wound infection treatment: DALBA SWIT Study.

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of dalbavancin compared with standard of care (SoC) treatment as daptomycin or teicoplanin in patients with sternal wound infections (SWI).

Methods: Multicentre retrospective study of patients diagnosed with SWI from January 2016 to December 2019 at two cardiac surgery facilities treated with dalbavancin, teicoplanin or daptomycin. Patients with SWI treated with dalbavancin were compared with SoC to evaluate resolution of infection at 90 and 180 days from infection diagnosis, length of stay (LoS) and management costs.

Sutureless and rapid deployment versus sutured aortic valve replacement: a propensity-matched comparison from the Sutureless and Rapid Deployment International Registry.

Objectives: To compare procedural and in-hospital outcomes of patients undergoing sutureless (Perceval, Livanova PLC, London, UK) and rapid deployment (Intuity Elite, Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) aortic valve replacement (group 1) versus sutured aortic valve replacement (group 2).

Methods: Patients receiving isolated aortic valve replacement between 2014 and 2020 were analysed using data from the Sutureless and Rapid Deployment International Registry. Patients in group 1 and group 2 were propensity-score matched in a 1:1 ratio.

Periareolar approach in female patients undergoing mitral and tricuspid valve surgery: An almost invisible surgical access.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Periareolar minithoracotomy represents an interesting option in minimally invasive cardiac surgery and it is our preferred approach for women. Our aim is to assess the results in female patients, in terms of nipple postoperative pain, local sensitivity, and eventual alterations in mammography after surgery.

Methods: Fifty-seven female patients underwent periareolar incision, as minithoracotomy approach, from December 2018 to December 2021.

Surgical aortic valve replacement for low-gradient aortic stenosis.

Aims: Low-gradient aortic stenosis is a challenging entity that needs accurate preoperative evaluation. For this high-risk patient population, ad hoc predictive scores are not available and profile risk is currently revealed by the EuroSCOREs. Aims of this study are to verify the suitability of the ES II as predictor of mortality in low-gradient aortic stenosis and to analyse the role of surgery as a treatment.

Standardized Aortic Valve Neocuspidization for Treatment of Aortic Valve Diseases.

Background: Aortic valve replacement is the traditional surgical treatment for aortic valve diseases, yet standardized aortic valve neocuspidization (AVNeo) is a promising alternative that is gaining popularity. The purpose of this article is to review the available published literature of AVNeo using glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium, also known as the Ozaki procedure, including indications, outcomes, potential benefits, and modes of failure for the reconstructed valve.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using keywords related to aortic valve repair, AVNeo, or Ozaki procedure.

Comparison of a full sternotomy with a minimally invasive approach for concomitant mitral and tricuspid valve surgery.

Objectives: The need for concomitant tricuspid surgery in patients who need mitral valve surgery casts doubt on its feasibility via a minimally invasive approach. Our goal was to evaluate the short-term outcomes of patients undergoing concomitant mitral and tricuspid valve surgery either with a standard full sternotomy (full-MTS) or a minimally invasive approach (mini-MTS).

Methods: The outcomes of patients who had combined mitral and tricuspid valve surgery in 11 centres were retrospectively evaluated.

Impact of comorbidities on older patients undergoing open heart surgery.

Background: The number of elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery is increasing. Age greater than 80 years has been identified as a strong independent risk factor for shortand long-term survival. The current study is aimed to identify the impact of preoperative comorbidities on early and late outcomes in older patients undergoing cardiac surgery.