Fast vs slow rubidium-82 infusion profiles and test-retest precision of myocardial perfusion using contemporary 3D cardiac analog positron emission tomography-computed tomography imaging.

Background: On legacy 2D positron emission tomography (PET) systems utilizing a 50 mL/min Rb-82 profile, test-retest precision of quantitative perfusion is ∼10%. It is unclear whether Rb-82 infusion rate significantly impacts quantitative perfusion and/or image quality on modern analog 3D PET-CT systems. We aimed to determine whether the Rb-82 infusion profile significantly impacts test-retest precision of quantitative perfusion, perfusion metrics, and/or image quality on a modern analog 3D PET-CT scanner.

Dual vs Single Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Atrial fibrillation and obesity are common, and both are increasing in prevalence. Obesity is associated with failure of cardioversion of atrial fibrillation using a standard single set of defibrillator pads, even at high output.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of dual direct-current cardioversion (DCCV) using 2 sets of pads, with each pair simultaneously delivering 200 J, with traditional single 200-J DCCV using 1 set of pads in patients with obesity and atrial fibrillation.

Effect of Early Amiodarone Use on Warfarin Sensitivity, Blood Product Use, and Bleeding in Patients With a Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Data are scarce on the effect of amiodarone on warfarin sensitivity and related outcomes after placement of a left ventricular assist device (VAD). This retrospective study compared 30-day outcomes between patients on amiodarone vs no amiodarone after VAD implant. After exclusions, 220 patients received amiodarone and 136 patients did not.

Risk of ventricular arrhythmias following implantable cardioverter-defibrillator generator change in patients with recovered ejection fraction: Implications for shared decision-making.

Introduction: Guidelines indicate primary-prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) for most patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35%. Some patients' LVEFs improve during the life of their first ICD. In patients with recovered LVEF who never received appropriate ICD therapy, the utility of generator replacement upon battery depletion remains unclear.

Maternal early warning criteria predict postpartum severe maternal morbidity and mortality after delivery hospitalization discharge: a case-control study.

Background: The predictors of postpartum severe maternal morbidity and mortality have not been well-described using patient-level data.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the application of maternal early warning criteria in the postpartum period and generate a preliminary predictive model for severe maternal morbidity and mortality occurring after delivery hospitalization discharge until 42 days postpartum.

Study Design: A retrospective case-control study was conducted from January 2013 to September 2020.

Six-month outcomes in postapproval HeartMate3 patients: A single-center US experience.

Background: The European CE Mark approval study and the MOMENTUM 3 trial demonstrated safety and a reduction in hemocompatibility-related adverse events with the use of HeartMate 3 (HM3) device. This single-center study investigated the real-world experience in HM3 patients since FDA approval.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study included patients implanted with the HM3 LVAD as a primary implant between October 2017 and March 2020.

Impact of diabetes and modifiable risk factors on pancreatic cancer survival in a population-based study after adjusting for clinical factors.

Purposes: Our study aimed to examine the impact of diabetes, smoking and BMI on pancreatic cancer survival in a population-based setting by adjusting both sociodemographic and clinical factors and measuring their attributable risk.

Methods: Data on pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients diagnosed in 2011-2017 were acquired from the Louisiana Tumor Registry. Diabetes, smoking, height, and weight were abstracted from medical records and linked with Hospital Inpatient Discharge Data to enhance the completeness of the diabetes data.

Prevalence, Distribution and IgG Antibody Levels Associated with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Among Health-System and Community-Based Employees and Patients.

Background: Following the high morbidity and mortality due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in New Orleans, Louisiana, we sought to assess progress toward herd immunity.

Methods: Ochsner Health employees and patients who volunteered for Abbott SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody test between March 1 and May 1, 2020 were included. We estimated IgG prevalence and used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for variables associated with IgG test status.

Anti-inflammatory genes in PBMCs post-spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Background: Neuroinflammation is important in the pathophysiology of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and peripheral inflammatory cells play a role in the clinical evolution and outcome.

Methodology: Blood samples from ICH patients ( = 20) were collected at admission for 5 consecutive days for peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Frozen PBMCs were used for real-time PCR using Taqman probes (NFKB1, SOD1, PPARG, IL10, NFE2L2, and REL) and normalized to GAPDH.

Rapid progression of carotid stenosis was rare in a large integrated healthcare system during an eight-year period.

Objective: Few studies have evaluated the rapid progression of carotid stenosis on a large scale. We created a custom software algorithm to analyze an electronic medical record database to examine the natural progression of carotid stenosis, identify a subset of patients with rapid progression, and evaluate the specific patient risk factors associated with this rapid progression.

Methods: Patients in a large integrated healthcare system who had undergone two or more carotid ultrasound scans from August 2010 to August 2018 were identified.

Induction of IRAK-M in melanoma induces caspase-3 dependent apoptosis by reducing TRAF6 and calpastatin levels.

Melanoma represents the most serious type of skin cancer. Although recent years have seen advances using targeted and immunotherapies, most patients remain at high risk for tumor recurrence. Here we show that IRAK-M, a negative regulator of MyD88 signaling, is deficient or low in melanoma and expression levels correlate with patient survival.

Right Heart Failure in Different Left Ventricular Assist Devices: Single-Center Experience.

Right heart failure (RHF) following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation increases morbidity and mortality for those who develop this complication. The purpose of this study was to assess the differences in incidence of RHF and outcomes between 2 types of continuous-flow LVADs at a single center. From January 2012 through June 2016, 184 patients were implanted with a continuous-flow LVAD (161 patients with the HeartMate II and 23 patients with the HeartWare device) either as a bridge to transplant or as destination therapy.

Bihemispheric Cerebral Oximetry Monitoring's Functionality in Suspected Cerebral Edema Diabetic Ketoacidosis With Therapeutic 3% Hyperosmolar Therapy in a Pediatric Emergency Department.

Background: Suspected cerebral edema diabetic ketoacidosis (SCEDKA) is more common than perceived with symptoms including altered mentation, headache with vomiting, depressed Glasgow coma scale (GCS), abnormal motor or verbal responses, combativeness, and neurological depression. Suspected cerebral edema diabetic ketoacidosis has been associated with initial diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) presentation and at start of DKA therapy.Cerebral oximetry (bihemispheric regional cerebral oxygen saturation [rcSO2] and cerebral blood volume index [CBVI]) can detect increased intracranial pressure (ICP)-induced altered bihemispheric cerebral physiology (rcSO2) (Crit Care Med 2006;34:2217-2223, J Pediatr 2013;163: 1111-1116, Curr Med Chem 2009;16:94-112, Diabetologia 1985;28:739-742, Pediatr Crit Care Med 2013;14:694-700).

Accuracy of Transcutaneous CO Values Compared With Arterial and Capillary Blood Gases.

Background: Transcutaneous monitors are utilized to monitor a patient's respiratory status. Some patients have similar values when comparing transcutaneous carbon dioxide (P ) values with blood gas analysis, whereas others show extreme variability. A retrospective review of data was performed to determine how accurately P correlated with CO values obtained by arterial blood gas (ABG) or capillary blood gas.

Hemispheric Cerebral Oximetry Monitoring During Pediatric Seizure Activity in a Pediatric Emergency Department.

Background: Sustained neuronal activity during seizures causes cellular perturbations, alterations in cerebral physiology, and potentially neurological injury, a neurological emergency. With variable clinical manifestations of seizures, frequent failure of seizure recognition by providers in pediatric and developmentally challenged patients can increase seizure complications. Neuroresuscitation should include rapid cerebral physiology assessment for increased seizure recognition and optimal neurological outcomes.

Differences in Red Blood Cell Indices Do Not Explain Racial Disparity in Hemoglobin A1c in Children with Type 1 Diabetes.

We assessed the association of erythrocyte indices on mean blood glucose-independent racial disparity in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in youth with type 1 diabetes. Blacks still had higher HbA1c after adjustment for mean blood glucose, red blood cell indices, age, and sex. Such differences need to be taken into account when interpreting HbA1c in Black patients.

Prepubertal children exposed to concentrated disadvantage: An exploratory analysis of inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.

Objective: It is unclear whether physiologic and metabolic biomarkers are associated with chronic stressors evidenced during early childhood.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were obtained from a cohort of healthy, prepubertal (Tanner stage < 2) children (n = 96; age: 8.06 [7.

Racial differences in neighborhood disadvantage, inflammation and metabolic control in black and white pediatric type 1 diabetes patients.

Background: Racial variation in the relationship between blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) complicates diabetes diagnosis and management in racially mixed populations. Understanding why HbA1c is persistently higher in blacks than whites could help reduce racial disparity in diabetes outcomes.

Objective: Test the hypothesis that neighborhood disadvantage is associated with inflammation and poor metabolic control in a racially mixed population of pediatric type 1 diabetes patients.

Defining Plasma MicroRNAs Associated With Cognitive Impairment In HIV-Infected Patients.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected individuals are at increased risk for developing neurocognitive disorders and depression. These conditions collectively affect more than 50% of people living with HIV/AIDS and adversely impact adherence to HIV therapy. Thus, identification of early markers of neurocognitive impairment could lead to interventions that improve psychosocial functioning and slow or reverse disease progression through improved treatment adherence.

Therapeutic efficacy of aldoxorubicin in an intracranial xenograft mouse model of human glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor with a median survival of 12 to 15 months after diagnosis. Acquired chemoresistance, high systemic toxicity, and low penetration of the blood brain barrier by many anticancer drugs contribute to the failure of anti-GBM therapies. To circumvent some of these obstacles, we tested a novel prodrug approach to evaluate anti-GBM efficacy by utilizing serum albumin-binding doxorubicin (Doxo), aldoxorubicin (Aldoxo), which is less toxic, is released from albumin in an acidic environment and accumulates in tumor tissues.

A cohort study evaluating the implications of biology, weight status and socioeconomic level on global self-esteem competence among female African-American adolescents.

The link between obesity and self-esteem among minority youth has received minimal empirical evaluation. This study aims to describe the magnitude of risk that body mass index, household income, and transitional age have on global self-esteem levels among African-American adolescents. These analyses were conducted on cross-sectional data obtained from 264 urban-dwelling African-American females between 14 and 18 years of age.

Cerebrospinal fluid miRNA profile in HIV-encephalitis.

MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression by translational repression. Because of their high stability in intracellular as well as extracellular environments, miRNAs have recently emerged as important biomarkers in several human diseases. However, they have not been tested in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of HIV-1 positive individuals.