COVID-19 infodemic and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic respiratory diseases: A multicentre, observational study.

Background: The explosion of information, misinformation and disinformation (the "infodemic") related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on digital and social media is reported to affect mental health and quality of life. However, reports assessing the COVID-19 infodemic on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with chronic diseases are scarce. In this study, we investigated the associations between the infodemic and HRQL in uninfected individuals with pre-existing chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other CRDs.

Exposure to insulating materials and risk of coronary artery diseases: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Although previous reports link exposure to insulating materials with an increased risk of mesothelioma and chronic respiratory diseases, studies evaluating their associations with the risk of coronary artery diseases (CAD) are lacking.

Aims: We aimed at evaluating the associations between exposure to insulating materials and the 10-year risk of CAD among insulators.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 643 adults (≥18 years), full-time insulators from the Local 110 Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Union in Edmonton, Alberta.

Less Social Deprivation Is Associated With Better Health-Related Quality of Life in Asthma and Is Mediated by Less Anxiety and Better Sleep Quality.

Background: Previous studies on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in asthma have mainly focused on clinical and environmental determinants. Little is known about the role of social determinants on HRQoL in asthma.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the association between social deprivation and HRQoL in asthma.

Chronic effects of occupational exposure to mineral fibres and recurrent chest infections in insulators.

https://bit.ly/38cUpmA.

Short-Term Acute Exposure to Wildfire Smoke and Lung Function among Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Officers.

The increasing incidence of extreme wildfire is becoming a concern for public health. Although long-term exposure to wildfire smoke is associated with respiratory illnesses, reports on the association between short-term occupational exposure to wildfire smoke and lung function remain scarce. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from 218 Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers (mean age: 38 ± 9 years) deployed at the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016.

Non-Malignant Respiratory Illnesses in Association with Occupational Exposure to Asbestos and Other Insulating Materials: Findings from the Alberta Insulator Cohort.

Many insulating materials are used in construction, although few have been reported to cause non-malignant respiratory illnesses. We aimed to investigate associations between exposures to insulating materials and non-malignant respiratory illnesses in insulators. In this cross-sectional study, 990 insulators (45 ± 14 years) were screened from 2011-2017 in Alberta.

Providing Rapid Out of Hospital Acute Cardiovascular Treatment 4 (PROACT-4).

Background: Whether prehospital point-of-care (POC) troponin further accelerates the time to diagnosis in patients with chest pain (CP) is unknown. We conducted a randomized trial of POC-Troponin testing in the ambulance.

Methods And Results: Patients with chest pain presenting by ambulance were randomized to usual care (UC) or POC-Troponin; ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients or those with noncardiovascular symptoms were excluded.

Alignment of site versus adjudication committee-based diagnosis with patient outcomes: Insights from the Providing Rapid Out of Hospital Acute Cardiovascular Treatment 3 trial.

Background: Adjudication by an adjudication committee in clinical trials plays an important role in the assessment of outcomes. Controversy exists regarding the utility of adjudication committee versus site-based assessments and their relationship to subsequent clinical events.

Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of the Providing Rapid Out of Hospital Acute Cardiovascular Treatment-3 trial, which randomized patients with chest pain or shortness of breath for biomarker testing in the ambulance.

Providing Rapid Out of Hospital Acute Cardiovascular Treatment 3 (PROACT-3).

Background: The outcomes of acute cardiovascular symptom presentations are potentially modifiable with the use of biomarkers to accelerate accurate diagnosis. This randomized trial tested troponin and B-type natriuretic peptide before hospital guidance in patients with acute cardiovascular symptoms.

Methods: Patients with either chest pain or shortness of breath were randomized to usual care or biomarkers analyzed using a point-of-care device in the ambulance.

Impact of on-site cardiac interventional facilities on management and outcome of patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of on-site cardiac interventional facilities on the management and outcome of patients with versus those without ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in the Canadian-American Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO) IIb population.

Methods: Data from 4605 patients were analyzed in relation to the admitting hospital's capability to perform coronary procedures (noninvasive, angiography-capable and interventional hospitals). Differences in medication use, revascularization rate and patient outcome were determined.

Enhanced NO and superoxide generation in dysfunctional hearts from endotoxemic rats.

Free radicals have been implicated in the etiology of cardiac dysfunction during sepsis, but the actual species responsible remains unclear. We studied the alterations in myocardial nitric oxide (NO), superoxide, and peroxynitrite generation along with cardiac mechanical function and efficiency in hearts from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated rats. Six hours after LPS (4 mg/kg ip) or saline (control) treatment, hearts were isolated and perfused for 1 h with recirculating Krebs-Henseleit buffer and paced at 300 beats/min.