Amygdalar activity measured using FDG-PET/CT at head and neck cancer staging independently predicts survival.

Importance: The mechanisms underlying the association between chronic stress and higher mortality among individuals with cancer remain incompletely understood.

Objective: To test the hypotheses that among individuals with active head and neck cancer, that higher stress-associated neural activity (ie. metabolic amygdalar activity [AmygA]) at cancer staging associates with survival.

Differential Effects of COVID-19 Hospitalization on the Trajectory of Liver Disease Progression.

Background And Aims: Patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) were significantly affected by COVID-19. Despite evidence of acute hepatic injury and increased mortality, the long-term effects of COVID-19 hospitalization on the natural history of CLD patients are unknown.

Methods: The Massachusetts General Hospital COVID-19 registry was used to obtain a cohort of CLD patients hospitalized between March 8 and June 3, 2020.

Resident wild koalas show resilience to large-scale translocation of bushfire-rescued koalas.

Wildlife translocation is increasingly utilized as a conservation management action, to mitigate the immediate negative effects of habitat loss and fragmentation (e.g. from land clearing or bushfires).

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis.

Aims: Myocarditis is a potentially fatal complication of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Sparse data exist on the use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in ICI-associated myocarditis. In this study, the CMR characteristics and the association between CMR features and cardiovascular events among patients with ICI-associated myocarditis are presented.

Global Longitudinal Strain and Cardiac Events in Patients With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Myocarditis.

Background: There is a need for improved methods for detection and risk stratification of myocarditis associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a sensitive marker of cardiac toxicity among patients receiving standard chemotherapy. There are no data on the use of GLS in ICI myocarditis.

Cardiovascular Events Among Adults Treated With Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cells (CAR-T).

Background: Chimeric antigen receptors redirect T cells (CAR-T) to target cancer cells. There are limited data characterizing cardiac toxicity and cardiovascular (CV) events among adults treated with CAR-T.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible cardiac toxicities of CAR-T.

Amino-terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Among Patients Living With Both Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Heart Failure.

Background: Among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PHIV), incident heart failure (HF) rates are increased and outcomes are worse; however, the role of amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations among PHIV with HF has not been characterized.

Methods: Patients were derived from a registry of those hospitalized with HF at an academic center in a calender year. We compared the NT-proBNP concentrations and the changes in NT-proBNP levels between PHIV with HF and uninfected controls with HF.

Carvedilol Among Patients With Heart Failure With a Cocaine-Use Disorder.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the safety of carvedilol therapy among heart failure (HF) patients with a cocaine-use disorder (CUD).

Background: Although carvedilol therapy is recommended among certain patients with HF, the safety and efficacy of carvedilol among HF patients with a CUD is unknown.

Methods: This was a single-center study of hospitalized patients with HF.

The Risk for Sudden Cardiac Death Among Patients Living With Heart Failure and Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus infection (PHIV) with heart failure (HF), who were hospitalized for HF, and the risk factors associated with it.

Background: HF is associated with an increased risk for SCD. PHIV are at heightened risk for HF.

Intramyocardial Triglycerides Among Women With vs Without HIV: Hormonal Correlates and Functional Consequences.

Context: Women with HIV (WHIV) on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) are living longer but facing heightened vulnerability to heart failure.

Objective: We investigated metabolic/hormonal/immune parameters relating to diastolic dysfunction-a precursor to heart failure-among WHIV without known cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Design And Outcome Measures: Nineteen ART-treated WHIV and 11 non-HIV-infected women without known CVD enrolled and successfully completed relevant study procedures [cardiac magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and cardiac MRI].

Immune Correlates of Diffuse Myocardial Fibrosis and Diastolic Dysfunction Among Aging Women With Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) imparts increased heart failure risk to women. Among women with HIV (WHIV), immune pathways relating to heart failure precursors may intimate targets for heart failure prevention strategies. Twenty asymptomatic, antiretroviral-treated WHIV and 14 non-HIV-infected women matched on age and body mass index underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and immune phenotyping.

Influenza vaccination and myocarditis among patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Influenza vaccination (FV) is recommended for patients with cancer. Recent data suggested that the administration of the FV was associated with an increase in immune-related adverse events (irAEs) among patients on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Myocarditis is an uncommon but serious complication of ICIs and may also result from infection with influenza.

Heart failure and adverse heart failure outcomes among persons living with HIV in a US tertiary medical center.

Background: Persons living with HIV (PLHIV) have an increased risk of heart failure (HF). However, little is known about outcomes among PLHIV with HF. The study aim was to compare HF outcomes among PLHIV with HF versus individuals without HIV with HF.

Incidence, Predictors, and Outcomes of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Discharge Among People Living With HIV.

Background People living with HIV ( PHIV ) are at an increased risk for sudden cardiac death, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators ( ICDs ) prevent SCD . There are no data on the incidence, predictors, and effects of ICD therapies among PHIV . Methods and Results We compared ICD discharge rates between 59 PHIV and 267 uninfected controls.

Protease Inhibitors and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With HIV and Heart Failure.

Background: Incident heart failure (HF) is increased in persons with human immunodeficiency virus (PHIV). Protease inhibitors (PIs) are associated with adverse cardiac remodeling and vascular events; however, there are no data on the use of PIs in PHIV with HF.

Objectives: This study sought to compare characteristics, cardiac structure, and outcomes in PHIV with HF who were receiving PI-based versus non-PI (NPI) therapy.