Hot topics and trends in cardiovascular research.

Aims: Comprehensive data on research undertaken in cardiovascular medicine can inform the scientific community and can support policy building. We used the publication output from 2004 to 2013 and the 2014 references to these documents, to identify research topics and trends in the field of cardiovascular disease.

Methods And Results: Text fragments were extracted from the titles and abstracts of 478 000 publications using natural language processing.

A Changing Landscape in Cardiovascular Research Publication Output: Bridging the Translational Gap.

The concern about predominance of basic discovery research and lack of translation into clinical medicine, and segregation between these research communities, led the authors to study these research communities through mapping networks of publications and cross-references. Cardiovascular research from 1993 to 2013 was published in 565 journals, including 104 new journals. Only 50% were published in core cardiovascular journals, such as the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, whereas one-half of cardiovascular publications were found in broader biomedical/multidisciplinary journals.

Functional Role of Cardiovascular Exosomes in Myocardial Injury and Atherosclerosis.

Extracellular vesicles are now widely recognized as key players in the prevention, repair or progression of cardiovascular disease. Here we first focus on the functional roles of extracellular vesicles in the cross-talk between cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells, important for maintaining normal development and function of the heart. Second, we discuss the role of extracellular vesicles secreted by embryonic and non-embryonic stem cells in repairing cardiomyocyte function and in restoring angiogenic potential after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Mapping cross-border collaboration and communication in cardiovascular research from 1992 to 2012.

Aims: The growing burden of cardiovascular disease requires growth in research and innovation. We examine world-wide participation and citation impact across the cardiovascular research landscape from 1992 to 2012; we investigate cross-fertilization between countries and examine whether cross-border collaboration affects impact.

Methods And Results: State-of-the-art bibliometric methods and indicators are used to identify cardiovascular publications from the Web of Science, and to map trends over time in output, citation impact, and collaboration.

Identifying circulating microRNAs as biomarkers of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review.

The aim of the present study is to identify microRNAs (miRs) with high potential to be used as biomarkers in plasma and/or serum to clinically diagnose, or provide accurate prognosis for survival in, patients with atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A systematic search of published original research yielded a total of 72 studies. After review of the risk of bias of the published studies, according to Cochrane Collaboration and the QUADUAS Group standards, 19 studies were selected.

Sensory environment on health-related outcomes of hospital patients.

Background: Hospital environments have recently received renewed interest, with considerable investments into building and renovating healthcare estates. Understanding the effectiveness of environmental interventions is important for resource utilisation and providing quality care.

Objectives: To assess the effect of hospital environments on adult patient health-related outcomes.

Pilot cluster randomised controlled trial of flooring to reduce injuries from falls in elderly care units: study protocol.

Unlabelled: Falls are an issue disproportionately affecting older people who are at increased risk of falls and injury. This protocol describes a pilot study investigating shock-absorbing flooring for fall-related injuries in wards for older people.

Objectives: To inform future research by evaluating fall-related injuries on the intervention and existing flooring, assessing the sustainability of the flooring in ward environments, estimating the cost-effectiveness of the floor and assessing how the floor affects patients and other users.

Care home versus hospital and own home environments for rehabilitation of older people.

Background: Rehabilitation for older people has acquired an increasingly important profile for both policy-makers and service providers within health and social care agencies. This has generated an increased interest in the use of alternative care environments including care home environments. Yet, there appears to be limited evidence on which to base decisions.

Leisure-time versus full-day energy expenditure: a cross-sectional study of sedentarism in a Portuguese urban population.

Background: Low physical activity is known to be a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease. With high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the Portuguese urban population, little is known about how sedentary this population is and what factors are associated to sedentary lifestyles. This study's objective was to examine sedentary lifestyles and their determinants through a cross-sectional study.