Reduced antioxidant high-density lipoprotein function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome affecting a growing global population. Due to the high incidence of cardiovascular risk factors, a large proportion of the Western population is at risk for heart failure. Oxidative stress and inflammation play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

An Atypical Presentation of Acute Cholecystitis with Left Sided Chest Pain and ST Elevation - A Case Report.

Background: ST elevation combined with typical chest pain is an indication for acute coronary vascularization and is usually associated with acute myocardial infarction. Herein, we present an unusual case of ST elevation.

Case Presentation: A 57-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with chest pain radiating to both arms and the back.

Micro-integrated crossed-beam optical dipole trap system with long-term alignment stability for mobile atomic quantum technologies.

Quantum technologies extensively use laser light for state preparation, manipulation, and readout. For field applications, these systems must be robust and compact, driving the need for miniaturized and highly stable optical setups and system integration. In this work, we present a micro-integrated crossed-beam optical dipole trap setup, the µXODT, designed for trapping and cooling Rb.

Dengue Fever—Diagnosis, Risk Stratification, and Treatment.

Background: Dengue fever is a common infectious disease in the tropical and subtropical zones, with more than 100 million symptomatic cases per year. Mosquitoes of the genus Aedes (Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopticus) are vectors of the disease, and their spread has led to rising case numbers around the world. Physicians in Europe, too, are increasingly being confronted by this challenge.

Clinical and Analytical Performance of a Novel Point-of-Care High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I Assay.

Background: Point-of-care (POC) high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays may further accelerate the diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI).

Objectives: This study sought to assess the clinical and analytical performance of the novel high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI)-SPINCHIP POC test.

Methods: Adult patients presenting with acute chest discomfort to the emergency department were enrolled in an international, diagnostic, multicenter study.

External validation of the myocardial-ischaemic-injury-index machine learning algorithm for the early diagnosis of myocardial infarction: a multicentre cohort study.

Background: The myocardial-ischaemic-injury-index (MI) is a novel machine learning algorithm for the early diagnosis of type 1 non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). The performance of MI, both when using early serial blood draws (eg, at 1 h or 2 h) and in direct comparison with guideline-recommended algorithms, remains unknown. Our aim was to externally validate MI and compare its performance with that of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 0/1h-algorithm.

Pulmonary Embolism in Pregnancy: A Review for Clinical Practitioners.

Diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making in pregnancy with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) is challenging. European and other international professional societies have proposed various recommendations that are ambiguous, probably due to the unavailability of randomized controlled trials. In the following sections, we discuss the supporting diagnostic steps and treatments.

[A rare cause of acute abdomen in a young immunocompetent woman].

Streptococcus pyogenes is a human pathogenic, gram positive bacterium that primarily leads to pharyngitis or soft tissue infections. Primary peritonitis caused by S. pyogenes infection is rare and there are only a few published cases worldwide.

Perceived Hospital Preparedness Is Negatively Associated With Pandemic-Induced Psychological Vulnerability in Primary Care Employees: A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound negative impact on the psychological wellbeing of healthcare providers (HPs), but little is known about the factors that positively predict mental health of primary care staff during these dire situations.

Methods: We conducted an online questionnaire survey among 702 emergency department workers across 10 hospitals in Switzerland and Belgium following the first COVID-19 wave in 2020, to explore their psychological vulnerability, perceived concerns, self-reported impact and level of pandemic workplace preparedness. Participants included physicians, nurses, psychologists and nondirect care employees (administrative staff).

Deep Learning-Based Automated Detection of Retinal Breaks and Detachments on Fundus Photography.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a deep learning algorithm, to detect retinal breaks and retinal detachments on ultra-widefield fundus (UWF) optos images using artificial intelligence (AI).

Methods: Optomap UWF images of the database were annotated to four groups by two retina specialists: (1) retinal breaks without detachment, (2) retinal breaks with retinal detachment, (3) retinal detachment without visible retinal breaks, and (4) a combination of groups 1 to 3. The fundus image data set was split into a training set and an independent test set following an 80% to 20% ratio.

Approaching Thrombospondin-1 as a Potential Target for Mesenchymal Stromal Cells to Support Liver Regeneration after Partial Hepatectomy in Mouse and Humans.

Extended liver resection carries the risk of post-surgery liver failure involving thrombospondin-1-mediated aggravation of hepatic epithelial plasticity and function. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), by interfering with thrombospondin-1 (THBS1), counteract hepatic dysfunction, though the mechanisms involved remain unknown. Herein, two-thirds partial hepatectomy in mice increased hepatic THBS1, downstream transforming growth factor-β3, and perturbation of liver tissue homeostasis.

External Validation of the SMART Medical Clearance Form for Emergency Patients With Psychiatric Manifestations.

Background: The SMART Medical Clearance Form, developed in the USA, is used to standardize the medical evaluation of emergency patients with primarily psychiatric manifestations. The goal of this study was external validation of the use of this form.

Methods: Data were collected retrospectively on emergency patients with psychiatric manifestations.

External validation of the 0/1h-algorithm and derivation of a 0/2h-algorithm using a new point-of-care Hs-cTnI assay.

Background: The high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) I point-of-care (POC) hs-cTnI-PATHFAST assay has recently become clinically available.

Methods: We aimed to externally validate the hs-cTnI-PATHFAST 0/1h-algorithm recently developed for the early diagnosis of non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and derive and validate a 0/2-algorithm in patients presenting to the emergency department with acute chest discomfort included in a multicenter diagnostic study. Two independent cardiologists centrally adjudicated the final diagnoses using all the clinical and study-specific information available including serial measurements of hs-cTnI-Architect.

Oxidized high-density lipoprotein associates with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart arrhythmia and considered to be a progressive chronic disease associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Recent data suggest a link between inflammation, oxidative stress, and AF, although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Because oxidized lipoproteins cause structural damage and electrophysiologic changes in cardiomyocytes, it is feasible that the transformation of atheroprotective high-density lipoprotein (HDL) into dysfunctional HDL contributes to the development of AF.

Chest Pain in Cancer Patients: Prevalence of Myocardial Infarction and Performance of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponins.

Background: Little is known about patients with cancer presenting with acute chest discomfort to the emergency department (ED).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), outcomes, and the diagnostic utility of recommended diagnostic tools in this population.

Methods: Patients presenting with chest pain to the ED were prospectively enrolled in an international multicenter diagnostic study with central adjudication.

Combining glucose and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin in the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.

Glucose is a universally available inexpensive biomarker, which is increased as part of the physiological stress response to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and may therefore help in its early diagnosis. To test this hypothesis, glucose, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) T, and hs-cTnI were measured in consecutive patients presenting with acute chest discomfort to the emergency department (ED) and enrolled in a large international diagnostic study (NCT00470587). Two independent cardiologists centrally adjudicated the final diagnosis using all clinical data, including serial hs-cTnT measurements, cardiac imaging and clinical follow-up.

The Association between Emergency Department Length of Stay and In-Hospital Mortality in Older Patients Using Machine Learning: An Observational Cohort Study.

The association between emergency department (ED) length of stay (EDLOS) with in-hospital mortality (IHM) in older patients remains unclear. This retrospective study aims to delineate the relationship between EDLOS and IHM in elderly patients. From the ED patients (n = 383,586) who visited an urban academic tertiary care medical center from January 2010 to December 2016, 78,478 older patients (age ≥60 years) were identified and stratified into three age subgroups: 60-74 (early elderly), 75-89 (late elderly), and ≥90 years (longevous elderly).

Outcomes After Decompressive Surgery for Severe Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Associated or Not Associated with Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: Clinical observations indicated that vaccine-induced immune thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (VITT)-associated cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) often has a space-occupying effect and thus necessitates decompressive surgery (DS). While comparing with non-VITT CVST, this study explored whether VITT-associated CVST exhibits a more fulminant clinical course, different perioperative and intensive care unit management, and worse long-term outcome.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective cohort study collected patient data from 12 tertiary centers to address priorly formulated hypotheses concerning the clinical course, the perioperative management with related complications, extracerebral complications, and the functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale) in patients with VITT-associated and non-VITT CVST, both with DS.