Risk Factors for Hospital Readmission Following Noncardiac Surgery: International Cohort Study.

Objective: To determine timing and risk factors associated with readmission within 30 days of discharge following noncardiac surgery.

Background: Hospital readmission after noncardiac surgery is costly. Data on the drivers of readmission have largely been derived from single-center studies focused on a single surgical procedure with uncertainty regarding generalizability.

Evaluation of Two-Assay Serological Testing Strategies for Anti-HCV Screening in Italian Populations: A Dual Screening Approach.

(1) Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening mostly uses a one-assay anti-HCV testing approach, which has a higher probability of false-positive results in populations with low HCV prevalence. (2) Methods: In this investigation, 17,926 participants were screened for HCV, and the reactives were tested using a two-assay anti-HCV approach: Elecsys ElectroChemiLuminescence (ECL) and a ChemiLuminescence ImmunoAssay (CLIA), respectively. A recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) was performed to confirm anti-HCV positivity.

Standardized direct oral anticoagulants prescription for treatment of acute venous thromboembolism in the emergency department: A quality improvement initiative.

Introduction: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are commonly used for the treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, prescription errors with DOACs can lead to patient dissatisfaction and harm. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a standardized prescription for DOACs for VTE on prescription appropriateness.

Landiolol for the prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication following cardiac surgery. Although the evidence suggests that beta blockers prevent POAF, they often cause hypotension. Landiolol, an ultra-short-acting β blocker, may prevent POAF, without adverse hemodynamic consequences.

Healthcare Costs and Healthcare Utilization Outcomes of Vitamin D3 Supplementation at 5000 IU Daily during a 10.9 Month Observation Period within a Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial.

Vitamin D insufficiency has been linked to multiple conditions including bone disease, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Observational studies indicate lower healthcare costs and healthcare utilization with sufficient vitamin D levels. The secondary aims of our previously published pragmatic clinical trial of vitamin D3 supplementation were comparisons of healthcare costs and healthcare utilization.

Remote and semi-automated methods to conduct a decentralized randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Designing and conducting clinical trials is challenging for some institutions and researchers due to associated time and personnel requirements. We conducted recruitment, screening, informed consent, study product distribution, and data collection remotely. Our objective is to describe how to conduct a randomized clinical trial using remote and automated methods.

Noninferiority margins exceed superiority effect estimates for mortality in cardiovascular trials in high-impact journals.

Objectives: To determine, in a sample of noninferiority trials, the noninferiority margins (NIMs) and their relation to effect estimates in superiority trials, the rationale being that in general NIMs should be no larger than effects declared important in superiority trials.

Study Design And Setting: To identify cardiovascular trials published in high-impact journals with a statistically significant primary outcome involving mortality, we systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE databases (January 2015-July 2020). We documented the NIMs and determined the proportion of trials with NIMs larger than the median effect estimates across superiority trials.

A Simple Admission Order-set Improves Adherence to Canadian Guidelines for Hospitalized Patients With Severe Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Individuals hospitalized with severe ulcerative colitis represent a complex group of patients. Variation exists in the quality of care of admitted patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We hypothesized that implementation of a standardized admission order set could result in improved adherence to current best practice guidelines (Toronto Consensus Statements) for the management of this patient population.

Vitamin D3 Supplementation at 5000 IU Daily for the Prevention of Influenza-like Illness in Healthcare Workers: A Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial.

Vitamin D supplementation has been shown to reduce the incidence of acute respiratory infections in populations at risk. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of preventing viral infections in healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to assess the hypothesis that vitamin D3 supplementation at 5000 IU daily reduces influenza-like illness (ILI), including COVID-19, in healthcare workers.

Bleeding in women with venous thromboembolism during pregnancy: A systematic review of the literature.

Objectives: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Estimates of bleeding associated with therapeutic-dose anticoagulation are variable. We describe the frequency of bleeding in pregnant women receiving therapeutic anticoagulation for VTE by means of a systematic review of the literature.

Tranexamic Acid in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery.

Background: Perioperative bleeding is common in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic drug that may safely decrease such bleeding.

Methods: We conducted a trial involving patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Delayed time to emergency hip surgery in patients taking oral anticoagulants.

Introduction: Surgical intervention within 48 h of admission in patients with acute hip fractures has been associated to lower morbidity and mortality. Patients anticoagulated with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) have longer time to corrective surgery than those not anticoagulated. Sparse data exists on time to surgery (TTS) in patients taking direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).

On the Cornea of Healthy Merino Sheep: A Detailed Ex Vivo Confocal, Histological and Ultrastructural Study.

Our study performed qualitative and quantitative studies on the corneal ultrastructure of healthy female Merino sheep of ages 4 months and 6 years old from the Argentinean Pampa. The corneas were evaluated using ex vivo laser-scanning confocal microscopy, light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Those studies allowed us to obtain detailed images of the corneal layers as well as quantitative data of the cellular and sub-basal nerve densities in the cornea from sheep of different ages.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines and gelatinases in climatic droplet keratopathy.

Purpose: Climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK) is a degenerative disease of the cornea with possible involvement from matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Therefore, the authors investigated histologic distribution, levels, and molecular forms of MMP-2 and MMP-9, as well as tear fluid levels of MMPs and cytokines in CDK patients. They additionally examined UV-B-irradiation effect on production of gelatinases and cytokines by human corneal epithelial (HCE) cell culture model.

The effect of vitamin C deficiency and chronic ultraviolet-B exposure on corneal ultrastructure: a preliminary investigation.

Purpose: In the visually debilitating condition of climatic droplet keratopathy, corneal transparency is progressively lost. Although the precise cause of the disease and the mechanism by which it progresses are not known, a lifetime exposure to high solar radiation and a vitamin C-deficient diet may be involved in its development. This study examines the effect of dietary ascorbate levels and ultraviolet (UV)-B exposure on corneal stromal structure.

Peptidylarginine deiminase type 2 is over expressed in the glaucomatous optic nerve.

Purpose: To determine levels of Peptidyl arginine deiminase 2 (PAD2) and its product protein-bound citrulline in cadaver eyes that suffered from normal tension glaucoma (NTG) compared to primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), and controls.

Methods: Western analysis, ELISA, and immunohistochemical analysis were performed with human tissues.

Results: We report over expression of PAD2 and higher levels of its product protein-bound citrulline in the optic nerve of normal tension glaucoma patients (NTG).

Creation and validation of the PERFECT: a critical incident tool for evaluating change in the practices of health professionals.

Rationale: The critical incident technique provides a means to better understand the reasons behind clinicians' practices and changes in practice. No standardized tool exists to elicit information using this technique.

Objectives: To create and validate a standardized tool that explores change and reasons for change in professional practice.

Altered expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors as possible contributors to corneal droplet formation in climatic droplet keratopathy.

Purpose: Climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK) is an acquired corneal disease characterized by progressive scarring of the cornea. In several corneal diseases, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are upregulated during the degradation of epithelial and stromal tissues. We investigated the levels, degree of activation and molecular forms of MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-8 and MMP-13 and their tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in tear fluid of patients with CDK.

Quantitative analysis of N-linked glycoproteins in tear fluid of climatic droplet keratopathy by glycopeptide capture and iTRAQ.

Glycoproteins are potentially important biomarkers of disease and therapeutic targets. In particular, the N-linked glycoproteins are a focus of interest as they can be found in the extracellular environment and body fluids. In this study, we have sampled the tears, the extracellular fluid of the epithelial cells covering the surface of the eye, of patients with climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK) using tears of unaffected normal patients for comparison.

The cornea of Guinea pig: structural and functional studies.

Objective: To describe the functional and structural characteristics of the cornea in healthy Guinea pigs.

Animals Studied: Healthy male and female pigmented and albino Guinea pigs (Caviaporcellus) aged 3-5 months old were used.

Procedures: The animals' corneas underwent different in vivo studies including: slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fluorescein staining (FS), break-up time test (BUT), confocal microscopy and pachymetry.

MDCT evaluation of the cardiac venous system.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of electrocardiographically (ECG)-gated multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) for the assessment of the coronary venous system and detection of its anatomical variants, in order to identify those suitable for lead placement in cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively examined the coronary MDCT studies of 89 patients (73 males, 16 females, average age 62.5 years, range 31-79) referred for suspected coronary artery disease.

Intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of bile ducts radiologic and pathologic features: a case report.

We report a case of a 67-year-old Caucasian man with right upper quadrant abdominal pain. He underwent radiologic investigations that revealed a solid, focal mass, at the V hepatic segment. Because a definitive diagnosis, based on imaging appearance of the lesion, was impossible in our case, we performed a hystopathological investigation but the biopsies were inconclusive.