Delirium after Cardiac Surgery-A Narrative Review.

Postoperative delirium (POD) after cardiac surgery is a well-known phenomenon which carries a higher risk of morbidity and mortality. Multiple patient-specific risk factors and pathophysiologic mechanisms have been identified and therapies have been proposed to mitigate risk of delirium development postoperatively. Notably, cardiac surgery frequently involves the use of an intraoperative cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), which may contribute to the mechanisms responsible for POD.

A Comparison of Transesophageal to Transthoracic Echocardiographic Measures of Right Ventricular Function.

Objectives: To assess the concordance between transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) and transthoracic echocardiograpic (TTE) measures of right ventricular (RV) function using standard 2-dimensional and Doppler methods. The authors hypothesized that there would be significant disagreement in tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), fractional area change, right-sided index of myocardial performance, and tricuspid annular systolic velocity (S').

Design: Prospective observational.

Activity-dependent genes in mouse olfactory sensory neurons.

Activity-dependent survival of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) may allow animals to tune their olfactory systems to match their odor environment. Activity-dependent genes should play important roles in this process, motivating experiments to identify them. Both unilateral naris occlusion of mice for 6 days and genetic silencing of OSNs decreased S100A5, Lrrc3b, Kirrel2, Slc17a6, Rasgrp4, Pcp4l1, Plcxd3, and Kcnn2 while increasing Kirrel3.