Optimizing Post-Acute Coronary Syndrome Dyslipidemia Management: Insights from the North American Acute Coronary Syndrome Reflective III.

Introduction: Despite contemporary practice guidelines, a substantial number of post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients fail to achieve guideline-recommended LDL-C thresholds. Our study aimed to investigate this guideline recommendations-to-practice care gap. Specifically, we aimed to identify opportunities where additional lipid-lowering therapies are indicated and explore reasons for the non-prescription of guideline-recommended therapies.

Antithrombotic therapies in Canadian atrial fibrillation patients with concomitant coronary artery disease: Insights from the CONNECT AF + PCI-II program.

Background: Selecting the appropriate antithrombotic regimen for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or have had medically managed acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains complex. This multi-centre observational study evaluated patterns of antithrombotic therapies utilized among Canadian patients with AF post-PCI or ACS.

Methods And Results: By retrospective chart audit, 611 non-valvular AF patients [median (interquartile range) age 76 (69-83) years, CHADS score 2 (1-3)] who underwent PCI or had medically managed ACS between August 2018 and December 2020 were identified by 68 cardiologists across eight provinces in Canada.

Lipoprotein Proteomics and Aortic Valve Transcriptomics Identify Biological Pathways Linking Lipoprotein(a) Levels to Aortic Stenosis.

Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is one of the most important risk factors for the development of calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS). However, the mechanisms through which Lp(a) causes CAVS are currently unknown. Our objectives were to characterize the Lp(a) proteome and to identify proteins that may be differentially associated with Lp(a) in patients with versus without CAVS.

Sex-Specific Associations of Genetically Predicted Circulating Lp(a) (Lipoprotein(a)) and Hepatic Gene Expression Levels With Cardiovascular Outcomes: Mendelian Randomization and Observational Analyses.

Background: Elevated Lp(a) (Lipoprotein(a)) levels are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), ischemic stroke (IS), and calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS). Studies investigating the association between Lp(a) levels and these diseases in women have yielded inconsistent results.

Methods: To investigate the association of Lp(a) with sex-specific cardiovascular outcomes, we determined the association between genetically predicted Lp(a) levels (using 27 single nucleotide polymorphisms at the locus) and hepatic expression (using 80 single nucleotide polymorphisms at the locus associated with mRNA expression in liver samples from the Genotype-Tissue Expression dataset) on CAD, IS, and CAVS using individual participant data from the UK Biobank: 408 403 participants of European ancestry (37 102, 4283, and 2574 with prevalent CAD, IS, and CAVS, respectively).

A Comparative Analysis of the Lipoprotein(a) and Low-Density Lipoprotein Proteomic Profiles Combining Mass Spectrometry and Mendelian Randomization.

Background: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]), which consists of a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) bound to apolipoprotein(a), is one of the strongest genetic risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Few studies have performed hypothesis-free direct comparisons of the Lp(a) and the LDL proteomes. Our objectives were to compare the Lp(a) and the LDL proteomic profiles and to evaluate the effect of lifelong exposure to elevated Lp(a) or LDL cholesterol levels on the plasma proteomic profile.

Land-use Decisions in Complex Commons: Engaging Multiple Stakeholders through Foresight and Scenario Building in Indonesia.

In the midst of global change uncertainties, Indonesian spatial planning authorities are developing 20-year strategies. However, the lack of collaborative engagement of stakeholders and unclear methodology around using futures studies in addressing land management undermine such plans and affect environmental governance. A crucial question is how to link a future-oriented process with governance transformation processes, particularly related to land-use planning and management.

Anatomical and histological analyses reveal that tail repair is coupled with regrowth in wild-caught, juvenile American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis).

Reptiles are the only amniotes that maintain the capacity to regenerate appendages. This study presents the first anatomical and histological evidence of tail repair with regrowth in an archosaur, the American alligator. The regrown alligator tails constituted approximately 6-18% of the total body length and were morphologically distinct from original tail segments.

Interaction of Autotaxin With Lipoprotein(a) in Patients With Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis.

Our objectives were to determine whether autotaxin (ATX) is transported by lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] in human plasma and if could be used as a biomarker of calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS). We first found that ATX activity was higher in Lp(a) compared to low-density lipoprotein fractions in isolated fractions of 10 healthy participants. We developed a specific assay to measure ATX-Lp(a) in 88 patients with CAVS and 144 controls without CAVS.

Lipoprotein(a), Oxidized Phospholipids, and Aortic Valve Microcalcification Assessed by 18F-Sodium Fluoride Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography.

Background: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) is the preferential lipoprotein carrier of oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs) and a well-established genetic risk factor for calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS). Whether Lp(a) predicts aortic valve microcalcification in individuals without CAVS is unknown. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of elevated Lp(a) and OxPL levels in patients with CAVS and to determine if individuals with elevated Lp(a) but without CAVS have higher aortic valve microcalcification.

Acute and chronic effect of bariatric surgery on circulating autotaxin levels.

Autotaxin (ATX), an adipose tissue-derived lysophospholipase, has been involved in the pathophysiology of cardiometabolic diseases. The impact of bariatric surgery on circulating ATX levels is unknown. We examined the short- (24 h, 5 days) and longer-term (6 and 12 months) impact of bariatric surgery; as well as the short-term effect of caloric restriction (CR) on plasma ATX levels in patients with severe obesity.

Evaluation of the Interaction of Amino Acid Infusion on Lu-Dotatate Pharmacokinetics in Patients with Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Background And Objective: Lu-Dotatate is a radio-labeled analog of somatostatin used in the treatment of somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. In order to prevent nephrotoxic effects of Lu-Dotatate a co-infusion of amino acids (AA) is administered, resulting in a decrease in tubular renal reabsorption of Lu-Dotatate. This study aimed to quantify the impact of AA co-infusion on the pharmacokinetics of Lu-Dotatate in cancer patients and to evaluate its relationship with toxicity during the first treatment cycle (C1).

Comparison of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry analysis for in vivo estimates of metabolic fluxes.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was compared with gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS) for measurements of cholesterol (13)C enrichment after infusion of labeled precursor ([(13)C1,2]acetate). Paired results were significantly correlated, although GC-MS was less accurate than GC-C-IRMS for higher enrichments. Nevertheless, only GC-MS was able to provide information on isotopologue distribution, bringing new insights to lipid metabolism.

Recruitment experience for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial: Using EMR initiatives and minimizing research infrastructure.

Context: Modernized approaches to multisite randomized controlled trials (RCT) include the use of electronic medical records (EMR) for recruitment, remote data capture (RDC) for multisite data collection, and strategies to reduce the need for research infrastructure. These features facilitate the conduct of pragmatic trials, or trials conducted in "real life" settings.

Objective: We describe the recruitment experience of an RCT to evaluate a clinic-based intervention targeting urban youth with asthma.

Medical evacuations from oil rigs off the Gulf Coast of the United States from 2008 to 2012: reasons and cost implications.

Objective: To identify reasons for air medical evacuations from oil rigs/platforms.

Methods: Retrospective review of data of medical calls from 102 rigs/platforms in the US Gulf Coast from 2008 through 2012 with specific analysis of medevacs.

Results: On average, 1609 total calls per year relating to illness or injury on the 102 oil rigs/platforms with 4% to 7% requiring medical air evacuation.

Prospective randomized phase 2 trial of intensity modulated radiation therapy with or without oncolytic adenovirus-mediated cytotoxic gene therapy in intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of combining oncolytic adenovirus-mediated cytotoxic gene therapy (OAMCGT) with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Methods And Materials: Forty-four men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer were randomly assigned to receive either OAMCGT plus IMRT (arm 1; n=21) or IMRT only (arm 2; n=23). The primary phase 2 endpoint was acute (≤90 days) toxicity.

Heart valve allograft decontamination with antibiotics: impact of the temperature of incubation on efficacy.

Heart valve allografts are typically processed at 4°C in North America, including the step of antibiotic decontamination. In our own experience with heart valve banking, we often observe persistent positive cultures following decontamination at wet ice temperature. We hypothesized that warmer temperatures of incubation might increase the efficacy of the decontamination procedure.

Impact of genome reduction on bacterial metabolism and its regulation.

To understand basic principles of bacterial metabolism organization and regulation, but also the impact of genome size, we systematically studied one of the smallest bacteria, Mycoplasma pneumoniae. A manually curated metabolic network of 189 reactions catalyzed by 129 enzymes allowed the design of a defined, minimal medium with 19 essential nutrients. More than 1300 growth curves were recorded in the presence of various nutrient concentrations.

Association between disruption of CD4 receptor dimerization and increased human immunodeficiency virus type 1 entry.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) enters target cells by a membrane fusion process that involves a series of sequential interactions between its envelope glycoproteins, the CD4 receptor and CXCR4/CCR5 coreceptors. CD4 molecules are expressed at the cell surface of lymphocytes and monocytes mainly as monomers, but basal levels of CD4 dimers are also present at the cell surface of these cells. Previous evidence indicates that the membrane distal and proximal extracellular domains of CD4, respectively D1 and D4, are involved in receptor dimerization.

Composition and cost of drugs stored at home by elderly patients.

Background: Elderly people often have multiple chronic diseases, are frequently treated by several physicians, and also use over-the-counter medications. Excessive prescribing, imperfect therapeutic adherence, treatment modifications after hospitalization, and oversized drug packages result in home storage of leftover drugs, resulting in a waste of healthcare resources.

Patients And Methods: All patients aged >/=75 years hospitalized for >24 hours during a 6-month period in an urban teaching hospital in Switzerland were eligible for inclusion in a study collecting sociodemographics, medical, functional, and psychosocial characteristics.

[Contraindications of multifocal lenses and progressive lenses].

Reasons of contra-indications, absolute or relative, of multifocals an progressive glasses may be objective and/or subjective. This work considers some principal of them. Their knowledge and the comprehension of their mechanisms must help the ophthalmologist to understand the reasons of some defeats and to avoid some others.

[Undesirable optical effects of the lenses of eyeglasses].

This work reviews the main undesirable optical effects encountered in case of correction of ametropies by spectacles. It reminds some mechanisms and envisages means we dispose to limit their disaggreable consequences.