Pretransplant cardiac stress testing and transplant wait time in kidney transplantation candidates.

Objective: Routine screening for cardiovascular disease before kidney transplantation remains controversial. This study aims to compare cardiac testing rates in patients with end-stage renal disease, referred and not referred for transplantation, and assess the impact of testing on transplant wait times.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 22 687 end-stage renal disease patients from 2011 to 2022, within an integrated health system.

Home based cardiac rehabilitation: A retrospective cohort analysis on all-cause mortality and hospital readmission rates across sexes and races.

Objective: Studies have shown that both home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) and center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) exhibit comparable efficacy in reducing mortality during short-term follow-up periods of up to 12 months. However, research on sex- and race-specific outcomes associated with HBCR is limited. This study examines all-cause mortality and hospital readmission among patients referred to HBCR, with stratification by sex and race.

Technology enabled home-based cardiac rehabilitation among women with cardiovascular disease: A longitudinal cohort study.

Technology-enabled home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) is an emerging alternative to traditional center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR), but little is known about outcomes in women. We analyzed 753 diverse and medically complex women who participated in HBCR and CBCR within an integrated health system and found both groups had similar clinical outcomes. Results suggest HBCR is a viable alternative to CBCR among women, including women with multiple comorbidities.

Comparison of Home-Based vs Center-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation in Hospitalization, Medication Adherence, and Risk Factor Control Among Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.

Importance: Prior studies have suggested that participation in home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) vs center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) results in similar clinical outcomes in patients with low to moderate risk; however, outcome data from demographically diverse populations and patients who are medically complex are lacking.

Objective: To compare hospitalizations, medication adherence, and cardiovascular risk factor control between participants in HBCR vs CBCR.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study was conducted among patients in Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC), an integrated health care system serving approximately 4.

Controversial Dietary Patterns: A High Yield Primer for Clinicians.

In cardiology clinic visits, the discussion of optimal dietary patterns for prevention and management of cardiovascular disease is usually very limited. Herein, we explore the benefits and risks of various dietary patterns, including intermittent fasting, low carbohydrate, Paleolithic, whole food plant-based diet, and Mediterranean dietary patterns within the context of cardiovascular disease to empower clinicians with the evidence and information they need to maximally benefit their patients.

Trending Nutrition Controversies #3: Top Controversies in 2021.

Each year, patients are bombarded with diverging and even contradictory reports concerning the impact of certain additives, foods, and nutrients on cardiovascular health and its risk factors. Accordingly, this third review of nutrition controversies examines the impact of artificial sweeteners, cacao, soy, plant-based meats, nitrates, and meats from grass compared to grain-fed animals on cardiovascular and other health outcomes with the goal of optimizing clinician-led diet counseling.

Vasculogenic Erectile Dysfunction: The Impact of Diet and Lifestyle.

Vasculogenic erectile dysfunction has been aptly called the "canary in the coal mine" for cardiovascular disease because it almost always precedes other manifestations of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction and stroke. It is common, associated with the presence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, and impacted by diet and lifestyle choices. This concise review provides an update on the use of dietary and other lifestyle interventions to improve vasculogenic erectile dysfunction and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Lifestyle Interventions and Carotid Plaque Burden: A Comparative Analysis of Two Lifestyle Intervention Programs in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: The cardioprotective effects of intensive lifestyle regimens in primary prevention have been elucidated; however, there is a paucity of data comparing the effects of different lifestyle regimens in patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) or CAD equivalent, specifically vis-à-vis carotid plaque regression.

Methods: We performed a randomized, single-center, single-blind study in 120 patients with established CAD. Patients were randomly assigned to either 9 months of the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP), an outpatient lifestyle enrichment program that focuses on improving dietary choices, enhancing daily exercise, increasing support systems, and decreasing stress; or to 9 months of an ad hoc, nonsequential combination of various healthy living classes offered separately through a health maintenance organization and referred to as the Healthy Heart program.

Successful Implementation of Healthful Nutrition Initiatives into Hospitals.

Poor dietary quality is a leading contributor to mortality in the United States, and to most cardiovascular risk factors. By providing education on lifestyle changes and, specifically, dietary changes, hospitals have the opportunity to use the patient experience as a "teachable moment." The food options provided to inpatients and outpatients can be a paradigm for patients to follow upon discharge from the hospital.

Efficacy, safety, and current applications of brimonidine.

Background: The use of brimonidine to lower intraocular pressure has been the subject of considerable investigation. Variations of the initially approved drug including agents of a lower concentration (Alphagan P 0.15 and 0.

Post-peripheral iridotomy inflammation in patients with dark pigmentation.

A retrospective chart review of four patients who had Nd:YAG peripheral iridotomy performed for narrow anterior chamber angle and subsequently developed marked inflammation after tapering anti-inflammatory steroids. These cases were possibly predisposed to this reaction by the heavy pigmentation of their irides based on race, their use of latanoprost, or the conjunction of these factors.

Echocardiographic features of an unruptured mycotic aneurysm of the right aortic sinus of Valsalva.

This report describes a 25-year-old man with a pierced tongue in whom Streptococcus constellatus endocarditis of the aortic valve developed. Bacterial endocarditis in this patient was complicated by the development of a mycotic aneurysm of the right aortic sinus of Valsalva. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic studies were useful for the diagnosis of this rare lesion.

Metal contamination of sediments and soils of Bayou Saint John: a potential health impact to local fishermen?

This research examines the pattern of sediment contamination of an urban bayou of New Orleans (formerly a natural waterway) and the potential for human exposure from consumption of fish caught in the bayou. Sediments and soils of Bayou Saint John were evaluated for lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd). Sediment cores were collected at bridges (n = 130) and sites between the bridges (n = 303) of the bayou.

[Use of a hand-held computer to optimize red blood cells transfusion prescription].

Referring to blood transfusion ANAES guidelines, the authors designed an application running on palm-held computer (Psion 5mx) devoted to optimise bedside transfusion prescription, which can offer both integration of usual calculations concerning red blood cells needs, O2 arterial delivery (40 Ko) and guidelines full text in a compact data base format (190 Ko). Interest of this concept intended to improve patient care management is discussed.