An immune dysfunction score for stratification of patients with acute infection based on whole-blood gene expression.

Dysregulated host responses to infection can lead to organ dysfunction and sepsis, causing millions of global deaths each year. To alleviate this burden, improved prognostication and biomarkers of response are urgently needed. We investigated the use of whole-blood transcriptomics for stratification of patients with severe infection by integrating data from 3149 samples from patients with sepsis due to community-acquired pneumonia or fecal peritonitis admitted to intensive care and healthy individuals into a gene expression reference map.

Cardiac Manifestations of Myotonic Dystrophy in a Pediatric Cohort.

Unlabelled: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most prevalent inherited neuromuscular dystrophy in adults. It is a multisystem disease with cardiac manifestations. Whilst these are well-defined in adults, there are scarce published data in the pediatric population.

Clinical significance of inferolateral early repolarisation and late potentials in children with Brugada Syndrome.

Introduction: The clinical utility of inferolateral early repolarisation (ER) and late potentials (LP) in children with Brugada Syndrome (BrS) has not been previously evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in children with BrS, and to investigate their relationship with clinical outcomes.

Methods: 43 patients with BrS and 47 controls aged ≤18 undergoing systematic clinical and ECG evaluation, including signal-averaged ECG (SAECG) and pharmacological provocation testing, between 2003 and 2019 were included.

The role of the electrocardiographic phenotype in risk stratification for sudden cardiac death in childhood hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is routinely performed in children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). An ECG risk score has been suggested as a useful tool for risk stratification, but this has not been independently validated. This aim of this study was to describe the ECG phenotype of childhood HCM in a large, international, multi-centre cohort and investigate its role in risk prediction for arrhythmic events.

Fatty Acid Content of Retail Cow's Milk in the Northeastern United States-What's in It for the Consumer?

The fatty acid (FA) composition and content of whole milk (3.25% fat) from organic, omega-3 (n-3) FA fortified, and conventional retail brands available in the northeastern U.S.

A comparison of the effects of indexation on standard echocardiographic measurements of the left heart in a healthy multi-racial population.

Accurate reference ranges for measurements from echocardiography rely on an understanding of the distribution of each measurement in the diverse, multi-racial world population. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of gender, age and ethnicity on common echocardiographic measures of the left heart, and to evaluate the effect of different methods of indexation on measurements from healthy, non-Caucasian populations. Standard echocardiographic measurements of left heart size and left ventricular mass (LVM) were assessed in 341 healthy volunteers.

Effects of carbonation on probiotic survivability, physicochemical, and sensory properties of milk-based symbiotic beverages.

Drinkable yogurt is a popular beverage in the United States and there may be a niche for carbonated drinkable yogurt in the functional foods market. Pomegranate (P) and vanilla (V) yogurt beverages were formulated, containing inulin as a prebiotic, along with probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium, to produce symbiotic products. These beverages were stabilized with high-methoxyl pectin and whey protein concentrate and compared to samples with approximately 2 volumes of added carbon dioxide (CO2 ).

Rapid detection of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus type 3 using a reverse transcription loop-mediated amplification method.

Grapevine leafroll disease (GLD) is the most important disease of Grapevines in South Africa. Grapevine leafroll-associated virus type 3 (GLRaV-3) has a close association with the disease and is prevalent in South African vineyards. GLD can be controlled using a combination of virus-free planting material, systemic insecticides to control vector populations and removal of infected vines by roguing.

Physico-chemical properties, probiotic survivability, microstructure, and acceptability of a yogurt-like symbiotic oats-based product using pre-polymerized whey protein as a gelation agent.

Consumption of a food product containing prebiotics and probiotics has been recognized as an important factor in lowering risk of intestinal cancer and gastrointestinal diseases and risks associated with high cholesterol. An oats-based symbiotic yogurt-like food (Oagurt) was developed using oats and probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Bifidobacterium), with pre-polymerized whey protein (PWP) as a gelation agent. The product was also fortified with inulin to increase soluble fiber, minerals, and vitamins.

Changes in tissue-Doppler echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular filling during NT-proBNP guided heart failure treatment titration: a pilot study.

Background: Although brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and E/Ea are closely related in heart failure (HF) patients and may be helpful to guide HF therapy, the response of E/Ea to changes in BNP over several weeks of intensive HF treatment optimisation is unknown. This study was designed to investigate this relationship.

Methods And Results: In 17 patients with decompensated HF, treatment was titrated to reduce the NT-proBNP level to <200pg/mL over 10 weeks.

Prognostic role of echocardiography and brain natriuretic peptide in symptomatic breathless patients in the community.

Aims: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), left ventricular (LV) systolic function, and mitral filling pattern (MFP) are prognostic indicators in patients with heart failure (HF). This study evaluated the potential role of E/Ea for predicting cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with suspected HF. This non-invasive measure of LV filling pressure has been shown to predict outcome in more advanced HF, but not in mild HF in the community.

Caring for bereaved people 2: nursing management.

This two-part unit examines caring for bereaved people. Part 1 discussed the manifestations of grief and explored bereavement models. Part 2 examines nurses' role in helping bereaved relatives.

Caring for bereaved people 1: models of bereavement.

This is part 1 of a two-part unit on caring for bereaved relatives. It discusses manifestations of grief and explores three theoretical perspectives.

The relationship between BNP and E/Ea in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure.

BNP and echocardiographic E/Ea are variables helpful in the management of patients with heart failure (HF). The response of E/Ea to treatment for acute decompensated HF remains uncertain. This pilot study aimed to explore this relationship.

The effect of type 2 diabetes on diastolic function.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether sedentary overweight subjects with type 2 diabetes have impaired diastolic function compared with equally sedentary and overweight nondiabetic subjects.

Methods: Mitral valve pulsed Doppler echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) were used to assess left ventricular structure and diastolic function in 40- to 60-yr-old sedentary overweight subjects with type 2 diabetes (N = 13) and age- and body mass-matched sedentary nondiabetic subjects (N = 15). Pseudonormal filling was identified using preload reduction and TDI.

The nature and severity of urinary incontinence in post-natal women.

This study investigated the frequency, nature and experience of urinary incontinence in post-natal women. Surveys were completed by 224 women, 50% of whom indicated that they had experienced accidental urine loss. The majority of women who had experienced any symptoms were moderately to greatly bothered by them.

Comparison of different methods for detection of diastolic filling abnormalities.

Objective: Heart failure is associated with poor prognosis and the differentiation of patients on the basis of diastolic filling patterns helps to identify several groups of patients with incrementally higher risk. However, this is reliant on accurate definition of filling patterns. The aim of this study was to compare preload reduction with contrast-enhanced pulmonary venous Doppler recordings for the correct assessment of diastolic filling pattern.

Quantitative evaluation of regional endocardial visualisation with second harmonic imaging and contrast left ventricular opacification in heart failure patients.

Aims: Wall motion score index (WMSI) is an important prognostic indicator in heart failure (HF) patients but requires endocardial visualisation. This study evaluated the role tissue harmonic imaging (THI) and contrast opacification (LVO) for improving endocardial visualisation and the determination of WMSI in HF patients.

Methods And Results: Thirty-one HF patients and 30 controls underwent apical echocardiography with fundamental imaging (FUND), THI and THI with contrast agent (Levovist).

Role of echocardiography in the contemporary management of chronic heart failure.

Echocardiography is an excellent noninvasive tool for the assessment of ventricular size and both systolic and diastolic function, and it is routinely used in patients with heart failure. This review will discuss the role of echocardiography in heart failure diagnosis, prognostic assessment and in the management of heart failure patients.

Association of fat-free mass and training status with left ventricular size and mass in endurance-trained athletes.

Objectives: We sought to study the relationship between left ventricular (LV) size and body composition in male endurance athletes and age-matched control subjects.

Background: Endurance training is associated with increases in both left ventricular mass (LVM) and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) in athletes. In other populations, LVM is independently predicted by fat-free mass (FFM).

Effect of tissue harmonic imaging and contrast upon between observer and test-retest reproducibility of left ventricular ejection fraction measurement in patients with heart failure.

Aims: To investigate the effects of tissue harmonic imaging (THI) and contrast chamber opacification (LVO) upon measurement variability and reproducibility of echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) volume and ejection fraction (EF) measurements in patients with heart failure (HF).

Background: Echocardiography is often used in HF patients to determine LV volumes and EF. However, current echo methods are variable and may not be applicable for repeat testing in individual patients.

Effects of carvedilol on left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction: the CAPRICORN Echo Substudy.

Background: The CAPRICORN trial has shown that carvedilol improved outcome in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction treated with ACE inhibitors. The aim of this substudy was to determine the effects of carvedilol on left ventricular remodeling in this patient group.

Methods And Results: Patients entering the CAPRICORN trial from 13 centers in New Zealand, Australia, and Spain were recruited for this echocardiographic substudy.

The effect of an integrated care approach for heart failure on general practice.

Background: Recent studies have investigated specific strategies for heart failure management. None has involved collaboration between primary and secondary care. Potential gains for patients may result from collaborative strategies.