Adjunctive Midodrine Therapy for Vasopressor-Dependent Shock in the ICU: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: To summarize the efficacy of midodrine as an adjunctive therapy in critically ill patients. Safety of midodrine was assessed as a secondary outcome.

Data Sources: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis using a peer-reviewed search strategy combining the themes of vasopressor-dependent shock, critical care, and midodrine and including MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane library databases until September 14, 2023.

Pain management for hospitalized patients with rib fractures: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials.

Study Objective: Rib fractures (RF) are common injuries. Multiple analgesia strategies are available for treatment of pain associated with RF. However, the optimal multimodal technique for pain management is not known.

"Waterpipe Is Like a Wife": Qualitative Assessment of Perspectives on Waterpipe Smoking Dependence.

Background: Waterpipe (WP) smoking has become a global public health problem in recent decades and growing evidence indicates that it can cause nicotine dependence. Most evidence on WP dependence to date has been derived from survey- or laboratory-based studies. This study employed qualitative methods to explore WP users' perceptions of dependence in Aleppo, Syria.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Robot-Assisted Mitral Valve Repair.

Objective: Robot-assisted surgery is a minimally invasive approach for repairing the mitral valve. This study aimed to assess its safety and clinical efficacy when compared with conventional sternotomy, partial sternotomy, and right minithoracotomy.

Methods: A systematic review of peer-reviewed studies comparing robot-assisted mitral valve repair with conventional sternotomy, partial sternotomy, and right minithoracotomy was conducted following Cochrane Collaboration guidelines.

A mixed-methods evaluation of the Tobacco Retailer Advanced Compliance (TRAC) online training (e-learning) program.

Introduction: Tobacco vendor training is recognized as an essential element to reduce youth access to tobacco. The TRAC training program was developed utilizing best-practices in tobacco retailer training, adult instruction, and e-learning. The objective of this mixed-methods study is to evaluate the acceptability, usability and knowledge impact of an online tobacco retailer program.

Forty-eight years of research on psychosocial interventions in the treatment of opioid use disorder: A scoping review.

Background: Mapped the sources and types of evidence available on psychosocial interventions in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), with and without pharmacotherapies.

Methods: Six electronic databases were searched for research published until July 1, 2019. Included studies were coded on publication characteristics, evidence sources, treatment settings and modalities, study populations and patient characteristics, intervention(s) offered to patients, research questions addressed in experimental studies, and outcomes investigated.

Robot-assisted coronary artery bypass surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies.

Background: Robot-assisted coronary bypass (RCAB) surgery has been proposed as an alternative to conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (C-CABG) for managing coronary heart disease, but the evidence on its performance compared to other existing treatments is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess, through a systematic review of comparative studies, the safety and clinical effectiveness of RCAB compared to C-CABG and other minimally invasive approaches for the treatment of coronary heart disease.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of primary studies in the English-language literature comparing RCAB to existing treatment options (C-CABG, minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass [MIDCAB] and port-access coronary artery bypass [PA-CAB]) following Cochrane Collaboration guidelines.

A community-based pharmacist-led smoking cessation program, before elective total joint replacement surgery, markedly enhances smoking cessation rates.

Introduction: We compared smoking cessation outcomes between those who used a pharmacist-led community-based smoking cessation intervention and those who did not, prior to total joint replacement (TJR) surgery. Also, we examined intervention characteristics (e.g.

Impact of a standardized referral to a community pharmacist-led smoking cessation program before elective joint replacement surgery.

Introduction: Smokers undergoing total joint replacement (TJR) are more likely to develop infections and be re-admitted than non-smokers. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of standardized preoperative referral to a community-based pharmacist-led smoking cessation program compared to usual care for patients undergoing TJR. Secondarily, we evaluated the use of the smoking cessation program.

Nicotine addiction management following surgery: a quality improvement approach in the post anesthesia care unit.

Quality Problem: For smokers, hospital admission is accompanied by forced involuntary nicotine abstinence due to smoke-free site/grounds policies. An audit of patients admitted to our surgical wards revealed that identification of smoking status was inadequate and that nicotine addiction management (NAM) was infrequently offered. The project aimed to enhance both these metrics by initiating NAM in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU).

Assessing the accuracy of algorithm-derived cardiorespiratory fitness in surgical patients: a prospective cohort study.

Purpose: To determine if a non-exercise algorithm-derived assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) accurately predicted estimated values obtained using a six-minute walk test (CRF) and the Duke Activity Status Index (CRF).

Methods: Following research ethics board approval, an observational cohort study was conducted in selected, consenting patients undergoing elective surgery. Participants completed questionnaires assessing their self-reported exercise capacity.

Exploring Attitudes of Children 12-17 Years of Age Toward Electronic Cigarettes.

The purpose of this study is to explore electronic cigarettes (EC) use among youth. Focus group sessions with youth (aged 12-17) were held to explore their knowledge and attitudes about EC use. Content analysis techniques were used.

Knowledge About the Waterpipe (Hookah), a Qualitative Assessment Among Community Workers in a Major Urban Center in Canada.

Waterpipe (WP) use has surged in popularity since the introduction of flavoured shisha. It is now an increasingly popular form of smoking among youth in North America. Health professionals/educators knowledge about the WP may well be inadequate.

Waterpipe (Hookah) Smoking Among Youth and Women in Canada is New, not Traditional.

Introduction: When asserting the right of individuals to be free to smoke a hookah (waterpipe [WP]) in public places, the "cultural" importance of the practice is often cited. The purpose of this study was to explore the cultural significance of WP smoking.

Methods: Qualitative methods were used to elicit the views of groups of WP smokers from different cultural backgrounds.

Expanding the reach of the Quitline by engaging volunteers to market it in hospitals and shopping venues - a pilot study.

Background: In Canada, although there are periodic media campaigns to raise awareness of Quitlines, these services are underused. We sought to determine if a dedicated kiosk, similar to that used in the retail industry but staffed by volunteers trained in smoking cessation techniques, would be effective method to enhance Quitline reach.

Methods: We located a kiosk in the foyer of two hospitals and in two shopping malls in Edmonton, Canada between Feb/2012 and July/2014.

Smoking status and survival: impact on mortality of continuing to smoke one year after the angiographic diagnosis of coronary artery disease, a prospective cohort study.

Background: Smoking is an undertreated risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) and is associated with adverse outcomes after myocardial infarction. Aims of our study were to determine if management of CAD by medical therapy (MT) alone or with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) influence smoking status at one year following angiography and if a change in smoking status at one year influences long term survival.

Methods: Prospective cohort study using the APPROACH registry.

Social norms and attitudes linked to waterpipe use in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) is on the rise globally, particularly among vulnerable populations such as youth and women. Increasing knowledge about toxicant yield from waterpipe tobacco and deleterious health effects points to the potential for a health epidemic. WTS is often viewed as a safe alternative to cigarette smoking.

'Herbal' but potentially hazardous: an analysis of the constituents and smoke emissions of tobacco-free waterpipe products and the air quality in the cafés where they are served.

Background: There are limited data on the composition and smoke emissions of 'herbal' shisha products and the air quality of establishments where they are smoked.

Methods: Three studies of 'herbal' shisha were conducted: (1) samples of 'herbal' shisha products were chemically analysed; (2) 'herbal' and tobacco shisha were burned in a waterpipe smoking machine and main and sidestream smoke analysed by standard methods and (3) the air quality of six waterpipe cafés was assessed by measurement of CO, particulate and nicotine vapour content.

Results: We found considerable variation in heavy metal content between the three products sampled, one being particularly high in lead, chromium, nickel and arsenic.

Future physicians and tobacco: an online survey of the habits, beliefs and knowledge base of medical students at a Canadian University.

Background: Little is known about the knowledge and attitudes towards tobacco use among medical students in Canada. Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of tobacco use among medical students, assess their perceived level of education about tobacco addiction management and their preparedness to address tobacco use with their future patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered to University of Alberta undergraduate medical school trainees.

Women and waterpipe tobacco smoking in the eastern mediterranean region: allure or offensiveness.

The prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking is increasing worldwide, despite evidence indicating its adverse health effects. Women and young people seem more likely to be choosing waterpipe tobacco smoking over cigarettes. The objective of this qualitative study was to understand better whether and why waterpipe smoking is a more acceptable form of tobacco use than cigarettes for women in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and to understand whether the strategies used by multi-national corporations to attract women to cigarette smoking were perceived to be relevant in the context of waterpipe tobacco use.

Smoking cessation interventions in the pre-admission clinic: assessing two approaches.

Purpose: Brief intervention (BI) to encourage patients who smoke to quit is effective and should occur at every patient interaction. If smokers receive a motivational interview in addition to BI and are offered pharmacotherapy to treat nicotine withdrawal, cessation rates may be improved. We compared the uptake, implementation, and effectiveness of these two approaches in the delivery of a smoking cessation intervention during assessments in a pre-admission clinic (PAC).

Outcomes and adherence in Syria's first smoking cessation trial.

Objective: To determine the feasibility of implementing cessation interventions in Syria.

Methods: We randomized 50 smokers to either a brief or intensive behavioral cessation intervention. Adherence to treatment and cessation through 3 months postcessation were calculated.

Are waterpipe users interested in quitting?

Waterpipe smoking has increased dramatically worldwide in recent years, with an estimated 100 million daily users. Research on this traditional Middle Eastern tobacco use method is in its infancy, and little is known about users' cessation-related attitudes and experiences. A random sample of 268 narghile (waterpipe) smokers (40% female; mean age = 30 years; range = 18-68) was obtained from cafes and restaurants in Aleppo, Syria.

Beliefs and attitudes related to narghile (waterpipe) smoking among university students in Syria.

Purpose: To assess the beliefs and attitudes related to narghile (waterpipe) smoking that are likely to contribute to its increased popularity among young people in Syria.

Methods: In 2003, a cross-sectional survey was administered to university students in Aleppo, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Overall, 587 students participated in the study (278 males, 309 females; mean age, 21.