Predicting in-hospital mortality using Elixhauser comorbidity in patients underwent single and multiple coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) is a high-risk surgery. Cardiovascular diseases are strongly associated with comorbidities. This study aimed to assess the prediction of in-hospital mortality by comorbidities in patients who underwent CABG.

Shifts in the spatiotemporal profile of inflammatory phenotypes of innate immune cells in the rat brain following acute intoxication with the organophosphate diisopropylfluorophosphate.

Acute intoxication with cholinesterase inhibiting organophosphates (OP) can produce life-threatening cholinergic crisis and status epilepticus (SE). Survivors often develop long-term neurological consequences, including spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) and impaired cognition. Numerous studies implicate OP-induced neuroinflammation as a pathogenic mechanism contributing to these chronic sequelae; however, little is known about the inflammatory phenotype of innate immune cells in the brain following acute OP intoxication.

Preoperative Depression is Associated With a Higher Risk of Bleeding in Type a Aortic Dissection Repair: A Population Study of National Inpatient Sample From 2015-2020.

Background: Depression is highly prevalent in patients with aortic diseases. While depression has been shown to predispose patients to adverse outcomes after surgery, its impact on postoperative outcomes in Stanford Type A Aortic Dissection (TAAD) has not been established. This study aimed to conduct a population-based examination of the effect of preoperative depression on in-hospital outcomes after TAAD using the National/Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, the largest all-layer database in the US.

Alcohol use disorder is associated with a lower risk of in-hospital mortality in type A aortic dissection repair: a population-based study of National Inpatient Sample from 2015-2020.

Background: While alcohol consumption is implicated in the development of aortic dissection, the impact of alcohol use disorder (AUD) on the outcomes of type A aortic dissection (TAAD) repair is still largely unexplored. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive, population-based analysis of effect of AUD on in-hospital outcomes following TAAD repair using National/Nationwide Inpatient Sample, the largest all-payer database in the United States.

Methods: Patients undergoing TAAD repair were identified in National/Nationwide Inpatient Sample from Q4 2015-2020.

Smaller Hospital Size is Associated With Higher Mortality in Stanford Type A Aortic Dissection.

Background: Stanford Type A Aortic Dissection (TAAD) is associated with high in-hospital mortality and the need for immediate surgical intervention. Larger hospital size may be associated with better patient care and surgical outcomes. This study aimed to examine the effect of hospital size on TAAD outcomes.

Does previous valve replacement affect short-term coronary artery bypass grafting outcomes? A population-based National Inpatient Sample study from 2015 to 2020.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) and valvular disease frequently coexist due to similar pathophysiology. Effort has been dedicated to comprehending the outcomes of concomitant coronary revascularization and valve replacement procedures. However, the understanding of how prior valve replacement affects the outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains limited.

In-hospital outcome of type A aortic dissection repair in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A population study of National Inpatient Sample from 2015 to 2020.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common comorbidity that has been linked to higher mortality and respiratory complications in cardiac surgery. However, the postoperative outcomes for COPD patients undergoing Type A Aortic Dissection (TAAD) repair remain unexplored. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of COPD on in-hospital outcomes of TAAD repair in a national registry.

Patients with metastatic cancer have worse short-term coronary artery bypass grafting outcomes: A population-based study of National Inpatient Sample from 2015 to 2020.

Background: Metastasis is a hallmark for cancer progression. While patients with metastatic cancer (MC) have higher risk profiles, outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in these patients have not been established, likely due to their smaller representation in the CABG patient population. This study aimed to examine the short-term outcomes of patients with MC who underwent CABG.

Hydrogen Sulfide Delivery to Enhance Bone Tissue Engineering Cell Survival.

Though crucial for natural bone healing, local calcium ion (Ca) and phosphate ion (P) concentrations can exceed the cytotoxic limit leading to mitochondrial overload, oxidative stress, and cell death. For bone tissue engineering applications, HS can be employed as a cytoprotective molecule to enhance mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) tolerance to cytotoxic Ca/P concentrations. Varied concentrations of sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaSH), a fast-releasing HS donor, were applied to assess the influence of HS on MSC proliferation.

Gene therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration by subretinal delivery of RGX-314: a phase 1/2a dose-escalation study.

Background: Frequent anti-vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) injections reduce the risk of rapid and severe vision loss in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD); however, due to undertreatment, many patients lose vision over time. New treatments that provide sustained suppression of VEGF-A are needed. RGX-314 (currently known as ABBV-RGX-314) is an adeno-associated virus serotype 8 vector that expresses an anti-VEGF-A antigen-binding fragment, which provides potential for continuous VEGF-A suppression after a single subretinal injection.

The Adherence to an Intraoperative Blood Product Transfusion Algorithm Is Associated With Reduced Blood Product Transfusions in Cardiac Surgical Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts and Aortic and/or Valve Replacement Surgery: A Single-Center, Observational Study.

Objective: To demonstrate the value of a viscoelastic-based intraoperative transfusion algorithm to reduce non-RBC product administration in adult cardiac surgical patients.

Design: A prospective observational study.

Setting: At a quaternary academic teaching hospital.

African Americans have worse outcomes after transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement: A national inpatient sample analysis from 2015 to 2020.

Background: Racial disparities in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) are controversial among African Americans (AA). This study investigated racial disparities comparing AA and Caucasians undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Methods: Patients who underwent SAVR and TAVR for aortic stenosis were identified in National Inpatient Sample from Q4 2015-2020.

New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation after mitral valve surgery: Determinants and the effect on survival.

Objective: Mitral valve surgery (MVS) carries substantial risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation (PAF). Identifying patients who benefit from prophylactic left atrial appendage amputation (LAAA) or maze is ill-defined. To guide such interventions, we determined preoperative predictors of PAF and investigated 3-year survival of patients with PAF.

Smoker's paradox in transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A National Inpatient Sample analysis from 2015 to 2020.

Background: While smoking is recognized as a risk factor for multiple cardiovascular conditions, prior research has identified a smoker paradox, wherein smokers had better post-procedural outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in the initial years of its introduction among high-risk patients only. In recent years, TAVR has expanded to significant larger groups of low-risk patients and became the dominate approach for aortic valve replacement. Consequently, the study cohort from the previous research can no longer represent the current patient populations undergoing TAVR.

Enabling Proregenerative Medical Devices via Citrate-Based Biomaterials: Transitioning from Inert to Regenerative Biomaterials.

Regenerative medicine aims to restore tissue and organ function without the use of prosthetics and permanent implants. However, achieving this goal has been elusive, and the field remains mostly an academic discipline with few products widely used in clinical practice. From a materials science perspective, barriers include the lack of proregenerative biomaterials, a complex regulatory process to demonstrate safety and efficacy, and user adoption challenges.

Development of Comorbidity Index for in-hospital mortality for patients who underwent coronary artery revascularization.

Background: For myocardial revascularization, coronary artery bypass grafting (CAGB) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are two common modalities but with high in-hospital mortality. A Comorbidity Index is useful to predict mortality or can be used with other covariates to develop point-scoring systems. This study aimed to develop specific comorbidity indices for patients who underwent coronary artery revascularization.

Weekend Admission is Associated with Higher Kidney Failures after Thoracic Endovascular Aneurysm Repair for Stanford Type B Aortic Dissection.

Background: Weekend effect characterized by worse perioperative outcomes has been demonstrated in some surgery patients admitted on weekends, as opposed to weekdays. This study aimed to examine weekend effect on open surgical repair or thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) for Stanford Type B Aortic Dissection (TBAD).

Methods: Patients who underwent TBAD repair were identified in National/Nationwisde Inpatient Sample from Q4 2015-2020.

Time- and region-dependent blood-brain barrier impairment in a rat model of organophosphate-induced status epilepticus.

Acute organophosphate (OP) intoxication can trigger seizures that progress to status epilepticus (SE), and survivors often develop chronic morbidities, including spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS). The pathogenic mechanisms underlying OP-induced SRS are unknown, but increased BBB permeability is hypothesized to be involved. Previous studies reported BBB leakage following OP-induced SE, but key information regarding time and regional distribution of BBB impairment during the epileptogenic period is missing.

Impact of lung transplantation on diastolic dysfunction in recipients with pretransplant pulmonary hypertension.

Objective: Pulmonary hypertension can cause left ventricular diastolic dysfunction through ventricular interdependence. Moreover, diastolic dysfunction has been linked to adverse outcomes after lung transplant. The impact of lung transplant on diastolic dysfunction in recipients with pretransplant pulmonary hypertension is not defined.

Disparity among Asian Americans in transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement.

Background: Racial disparities in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) outcomes have been established, but research has predominantly focused on African Americans and Hispanics, leaving a gap in Asian Americans. This study aimed to investigate disparities in aortic valve replacement outcomes among Asian Americans.

Methods: Patients who underwent SAVR and TAVR were identified in National Inpatient Sample from the last quarter of 2015-2020.

Effect of Combination of Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty and Medical Therapy on Reverse Right Ventricular Remodeling and Hemodynamics in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

Introduction: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a progressive and debilitating disorder that results from incomplete resolution of vascular obstructions resulting in pulmonary hypertension. Surgical pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is the treatment of choice for CTEPH. Unfortunately, many CTEPH patients are ineligible for PTE or do not have access to an expert surgical center.

A call to action in thoracic transplant surgical training.

Thoracic organ recovery and implantation is increasing in complexity. Simultaneously the logistic burden and associated cost is rising. An electronic survey distributed to the surgical directors of thoracic transplant programs in the United States indicated dissatisfaction amongst 72% of respondents with current procurement training and 85% of respondents favored a process for certification in thoracic organ transplantation.

Posterolateral thoracotomy: unique approach to tricuspid valve replacement after right pneumonectomy.

A 72-year-old patient presented with severe tricuspid regurgitation and patent foramen ovale (PFO) in the setting of severe mediastinal shifting after remote right pneumonectomy. Surgical approach was challenging given the significant herniation of the heart and left lung into the right hemithorax. This report describes tricuspid valve replacement with PFO closure via a right posterolateral thoracotomy and alternative cardiopulmonary bypass cannulation strategy.