Comparison of Robot-Assisted Multivessel Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass and Hybrid Revascularization.

Background: This study compares 2 minimally invasive coronary revascularization approaches: robot-assisted multivessel minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) and the hybrid approach combining MIDCAB with subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on cases of robotic MIDCAB performed at our institution between 2012 and 2022. Two groups of patients were analyzed: the surgery group (undergoing robotic multivessel MIDCAB) and the hybrid group.

Applying the Cytocentric Principles to Regenerative Medicine for Reproducibility.

Purpose Of Review: Cell and tissue products do not just reflect their present conditions; they are the culmination of all they have encountered over time. Currently, routine cell culture practices subject cell and tissue products to highly variable and non-physiologic conditions. This article defines five cytocentric principles that place the conditions for cells at the core of what we do for better reproducibility in Regenerative Medicine.

Delineating between-subject heterogeneity in alpha networks with Spatio-Spectral Eigenmodes.

Between subject variability in the spatial and spectral structure of oscillatory networks can be highly informative but poses a considerable analytic challenge. Here, we describe a data-driven modal decomposition of a multivariate autoregressive model that simultaneously identifies oscillations by their peak frequency, damping time and network structure. We use this decomposition to define a set of Spatio-Spectral Eigenmodes (SSEs) providing a parsimonious description of oscillatory networks.

Recommendations for workforce development in regenerative medicine biomanufacturing.

In its 2019 report, The Skilled Technical Workforce: Crafting America's Science and Engineering Enterprise, the National Science Board recommended a national charge to create a skilled technical workforce (STW) driven by science and engineering. The RegenMed Development Organization (ReMDO), through its RegeneratOR Workforce Development Initiative, has taken on this challenge beginning with an assessment of regenerative medicine (RM) biomanufacturing knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed for successful employment. While STW often refers only to associate degree or other prebaccalaureate prepared technicians, the RM biomanufacturing survey included responses related to baccalaureate prepared technicians.

Prevalence of Inflammatory Heart Disease Among Professional Athletes With Prior COVID-19 Infection Who Received Systematic Return-to-Play Cardiac Screening.

Importance: The major North American professional sports leagues were among the first to return to full-scale sport activity during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Given the unknown incidence of adverse cardiac sequelae after COVID-19 infection in athletes, these leagues implemented a conservative return-to-play (RTP) cardiac testing program aligned with American College of Cardiology recommendations for all athletes testing positive for COVID-19.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of detectable inflammatory heart disease in professional athletes with prior COVID-19 infection, using current RTP screening recommendations.

Examining Batting Performance After a Sports-Related Concussion Among Major League Baseball Position Players.

Background: An ongoing challenge in sports-related concussion (SRC) is determining full recovery. This study examines performance metrics in baseball after an SRC and provides a template for assessment of return-to-performance parameters.

Purpose: To determine whether batting performance returns to baseline after an SRC.

Return to sport for North American professional sport leagues in the context of COVID-19.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. A range of clinical scenarios exist, from an asymptomatic disease course to SARS and death. This document describes important considerations for 5 North American professional sports leagues (Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Basketball Association, National Football League and National Hockey league) assessing when and how to resume phased operations, including practices and games.

Airway Epithelial Telomere Dysfunction Drives Remodeling Similar to Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction.

Telomere dysfunction is associated with multiple fibrotic lung processes, including chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD)-the major limitation to long-term survival following lung transplantation. Although shorter donor telomere lengths are associated with an increased risk of CLAD, it is unknown whether short telomeres are a cause or consequence of CLAD pathology. Our objective was to test whether telomere dysfunction contributes to the pathologic changes observed in CLAD.

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interventricular septum.

Background And Aims: Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum is an uncommon type of cardiac adipose tumor. It is extremely rare for these lesions to be located in the interventricular septum.

Methods: We report this case of incidentally diagnosed lipomatous hypertrophy of the interventricular septum with right ventricular outflow obstruction which caused minimal symptoms and Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern on EKG.

Tau pathology in early Alzheimer's disease is linked to selective disruptions in neurophysiological network dynamics.

Understanding the role of Tau protein aggregation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease is critical for the development of new Tau-based therapeutic strategies to slow or prevent dementia. We tested the hypothesis that Tau pathology is associated with functional organization of widespread neurophysiological networks. We used electro-magnetoencephalography with [F]AV-1451 PET scanning to quantify Tau-dependent network changes.

Compassionate Use of Remdesivir for Patients with Severe Covid-19.

Background: Remdesivir, a nucleotide analogue prodrug that inhibits viral RNA polymerases, has shown in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: We provided remdesivir on a compassionate-use basis to patients hospitalized with Covid-19, the illness caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2. Patients were those with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who had an oxygen saturation of 94% or less while they were breathing ambient air or who were receiving oxygen support.

Concussion Guidelines in National and International Professional and Elite Sports.

The Berlin statement on sport-related concussion was published in 2017 using evidence-based recommendations. We aimed to examine (1) the implementation of, distribution and education based on the Berlin recommendations, and the development of sport-specific protocols/guidelines among professional and elite sports, (2) the implementation of guidelines at the community level, (3) translation of guidelines into different languages, and (4) research activities. Senior medical advisers and chief medical officers from Australian Football League, All Japan Judo Federation, British Horseracing Authority, Cricket Australia, Fédération Equestre Internationale, Football Association, Gaelic Athletic Association, International Boxing Association, Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Hockey League, National Rugby League, and World Rugby completed a questionnaire.

Peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length is associated with survival of sepsis patients.

Shorter peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) telomere length (TL) has been associated with poor outcomes in various chronic lung diseases. Whether PBL-TL is associated with survival from critical illness was tested in this study.We analysed data from a prospective observational cohort study of 937 critically ill patients at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).

Coronary artery fistula.

Background: Coronary artery fistula is a rare anomaly of the coronary arteries which results from an abnormal connection between a coronary artery with a cardiac chamber or vessel. Coronary steal phenomenon can lead to functional ischemia of the myocardium. The condition has been described extensively, however, the modalities for diagnosing this condition continue to advance.

Association Between a Rule Change to Reduce Home Plate Collisions and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Other Injuries in Professional Baseball Players.

Background: Improved player safety is an important goal of professional baseball. Prevention of mild traumatic brain injury (concussion) is an area of emphasis because of the potential for long-term as well as short-term sequelae.

Hypothesis: A rule change can lower the incidence of concussions and other injuries in professional baseball.

International consensus definitions of video signs of concussion in professional sports.

Background: The use of video to assist professional sporting bodies with the diagnosis of sport-related concussion (SRC) has been well established; however, there has been little consistency across sporting codes with regards to which video signs should be used, and the definitions of each of these signs.

Aim: The aims of this study were to develop a consensus for the video signs considered to be most useful in the identification of a possible SRC and to develop a consensus definition for each of these video signs across the sporting codes.

Methods: A brief questionnaire was used to assess which video signs were considered to be most useful in the identification of a possible concussion.

Preventing Concussions From Foul Tips and Backswings in Professional Baseball: Catchers' Perceptions of and Experiences With Conventional and Hockey-Style Masks.

Objective: To understand catchers' preferences for mask type and perceptions regarding safety, comfort, and fit, and determine whether mask type is correlated with self-reported concussion and related symptoms after impacts from foul tips or backswings.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Survey of active baseball catchers.

International study of video review of concussion in professional sports.

Background: Video review has become an important tool in professional sporting codes to help sideline identification and management of players with a potential concussion.

Aim: To assess current practices related to video review of concussion in professional sports internationally, and compare protocols and diagnostic criteria used to identify and manage potential concussions.

Methods: Current concussion management guidelines from professional national and international sporting codes were reviewed.

Histopathological and molecular analysis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis lungs from patients treated with pirfenidone or nintedanib.

Aims: The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of pirfenidone or nintedanib treatment on lung histopathology and molecular mediators of fibrosis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Methods And Results: We collected lung tissue from IPF patients at the time of lung transplantation. Histopathological changes were quantified using a blinded scoring method.

Achieving High H Nuclear Hyperpolarization Levels with Long Lifetimes in a Range of Tuberculosis Drug Scaffolds.

Despite the successful use of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), it is a disease of growing global concern. We illustrate here a series of methods that will dramatically improve the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detectability of nineteen TB-relevant agents. We note that the future probing of their uptake and distribution in vivo would be expected to significantly enhance their efficacy in disease treatment.

The ASCENT (Allocation System Changes for Equity in Kidney Transplantation) Study: a Randomized Effectiveness-Implementation Study to Improve Kidney Transplant Waitlisting and Reduce Racial Disparity.

Introduction: The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) implemented a new Kidney Allocation System (KAS) in December 2014 that is expected to substantially reduce racial disparities in kidney transplantation among waitlisted patients. However, not all dialysis facility clinical providers and end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are aware of how the policy change could improve access to transplant.

Methods: We describe the ASCENT (Allocation System Changes for Equity in KidNey Transplantation) study, a randomized controlled effectiveness-implementation study designed to test the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention to improve access to the early steps of kidney transplantation among dialysis facilities across the United States.