Long-term outcomes of common carotid artery cannulation for elective aortic surgery-a follow-up study.

Background: The selection of the cannulation site for elective aortic surgery is mostly an individual choice based on the surgeon's experience and the surgical strategy. We evaluated the long-term outcomes of right common carotid artery (CCA) cannulation using a side graft to establish unilateral selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (uSACP).

Methods: We reviewed the records of 343 patients who underwent elective ascending aortic or aortic arch surgery between 2013 and 2020.

Look before you leap: Are increased recycling efforts accelerating microplastic pollution?

To fight plastic pollution and reach net-zero ambitions, policy and industry set goals to increase the recycling of plastics and the recycled content in products. While this ideally reduces demand for virgin material, it also increases pressure on recyclers to find suitable endmarkets for the recyclate. This may lead to two effects: a multiplication of recycled content in applications already made of plastic and a substitution of non-plastic materials with cheap, low-quality recyclate.

Impaired Intracellular Calcium Buffering Contributes to the Arrhythmogenic Substrate in Atrial Myocytes From Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Alterations in the buffering of intracellular Ca, for which myofilament proteins play a key role, have been shown to promote cardiac arrhythmia. It is interesting that although studies report atrial myofibrillar degradation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (persAF), the intracellular Ca buffering profile in persAF remains obscure. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the intracellular buffering of Ca and its potential arrhythmogenic role in persAF.

Impact of estradiol, testosterone and their ratio on left and right auricular myofilament function in male and female patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: The impact of sex hormones on right and left auricular contractile apparatus function is largely unknown. We evaluated the impact of sex hormones on left and right heart contractility at the level of myocardial filaments harvested from left and right auricles during elective coronary artery bypass surgery.

Methods: 150 patients (132 male; 18 female) were enrolled.

Interorganizational Sensemaking of the Transition Toward a Circular Value Chain.

The transition toward the circular economy requires stakeholders to collaborate along value chains. Yet, such collaborations are considerably challenging. Given the paradigmatic change, stakeholders face high levels of uncertainty and also need to align on a common way forward.