How close are we to a success stratification tool for improving biological therapy in ulcerative colitis?

Introduction: Biological therapies have become the standard treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC). However, clinical remission rates post-induction therapy remain modest at 40-50%, with many initial responders losing response over time. Current treatment strategies frequently rely on a 'trial and error' approach, leading to prolonged periods of ineffective and costly therapies for patients, accompanied by associated treatment complications.

Clinical Outcomes in Younger Women Hospitalized With an Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Contemporary Population-Level Analysis.

Background: For younger women with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), little is known regarding their contemporary care pathways and clinical outcomes.

Methods: We studied AMI patients aged 18-55 years, hospitalized from April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2019, in Ontario, Canada. We compared trends in comorbidities, angiographic findings, and revascularisation rates in men and women.

Heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction: retrospective study of ejection fraction trajectory risk.

Aims: Heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) is associated with a favourable prognosis compared with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF). We assessed whether left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) trajectory can be used to identify groups of patients with HFmrEF who have different clinical outcomes in a large retrospective study of patients with serial imaging.

Methods And Results: Patients with HF and ≥2 echocardiograms performed ≥6 months apart were included if the LVEF measured 40-49% on the second study.

Calibration and discrimination of the Framingham Risk Score and the Pooled Cohort Equations.

Background: Although accurate risk prediction is essential in guiding treatment decisions in primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the accuracy of the Framingham Risk Score (recommended by a Canadian guideline) and the Pooled Cohort Equations (recommended by US guidelines) has not been assessed in a large contemporary Canadian population. Our primary objective was to assess the calibration and discrimination of the Framingham Risk Score and Pooled Cohort Equations in Ontario, Canada.

Methods: We conducted an observational study involving Ontario residents aged 40 to 79 years, without a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, who underwent cholesterol testing and blood pressure measurement from Jan.

Real-world risk of cardiovascular outcomes associated with hypertriglyceridaemia among individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and potential eligibility for emerging therapies.

Aims: Hypertriglyceridaemia in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) has been in focus following the REDUCE-IT trial showing benefit with icosapent ethyl. Among individuals with prevalent ASCVD, we sought to quantify the contemporary, real-world risk of ASCVD events associated with hypertriglyceridaemia, as well as estimate icosapent ethyl eligibility and compare trial participants with REDUCE-IT-like individuals in the population.

Methods And Results: We examined data from 2 424 865 adults with lipid panels in the Ontario population.

Eligibility, Clinical Outcomes, and Budget Impact of PCSK9 Inhibitor Adoption: The CANHEART PCSK9 Study.

Background The FOURIER (Further Cardiovascular Outcomes Research With PCSK9i [Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin-Kexin Type 9 Inhibitors] in Subjects With Elevated Risk) trial found a reduction in cardiovascular events in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease ( ASCVD ). Our objective was to estimate the eligibility, clinical outcomes, and budget impact of adopting PCSK 9i in a large healthcare system. Methods and Results Ontario, Canada, residents alive in 2011, aged 40 to 85 years, were eligible for inclusion.

"Bed Side" Human Milk Analysis in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review.

Human milk analyzers can measure macronutrient content in native breast milk to tailor adequate supplementation with fortifiers. This article reviews all studies using milk analyzers, including (i) evaluation of devices, (ii) the impact of different conditions on the macronutrient analysis of human milk, and (iii) clinical trials to improve growth. Results lack consistency, potentially due to systematic errors in the validation of the device, or pre-analytical sample preparation errors like homogenization.

Validation of Correction Algorithms for Near-IR Analysis of Human Milk in an Independent Sample Set-Effect of Pasteurization.

Commercial infrared (IR) milk analyzers are being increasingly used in research settings for the macronutrient measurement of breast milk (BM) prior to its target fortification. These devices, however, may not provide reliable measurement if not properly calibrated. In the current study, we tested a correction algorithm for a Near-IR milk analyzer (Unity SpectraStar, Brookfield, CT, USA) for fat and protein measurements, and examined the effect of pasteurization on the IR matrix and the stability of fat, protein, and lactose.