The Impact of the Novel Coronavirus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Pandemic on Case Fatality Rates and Cost of Surgical Care in Brazil.

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic provoked disruptions in healthcare delivery. Following the recommendations of major surgical societies and surgical departments globally, most surgeries were widely canceled or postponed, causing significant disruptions to healthcare delivery worldwide, including in Brazil. Brazil's public healthcare system - Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) was particularly affected, with a substantial decline in elective procedures, especially during the pandemic's early stages.

Depression following small vessel stroke is common and more prevalent in women.

Objectives: We sought to examine the frequency of depression after small vessel-type stroke (SVS) and associated risk factors.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of patients enrolled in the American Stroke Association-Bugher SVS Study, which included 200 participants within 2-years of SVS and 79 controls without a history of stroke from 2007 to 2012 at four sites. The primary outcome was PHQ-8, with scores ≥10 consistent with post-stroke depression (PSD).

Retinal vessel caliber and cognitive performance: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA).

Retinal vessel calibers share anatomic and physiologic characteristics with the cerebral vasculature and can be visualized noninvasively. In light of the known microvascular contributions to brain health and cognitive function, we aimed to determine if, in a community based-study, retinal vessel calibers and change in caliber over 8 years are associated with cognitive function or trajectory. Participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort who completed cognitive testing at Exam 5 (2010-2012) and had retinal vascular caliber measurements (Central Retinal Artery and Vein Equivalents; CRAE and CRVE) at Exam 2 (2002-2004) and Exam 5 were included.

Characterization of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway in catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

is an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen responsible for a subset of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). In a murine model of CAUTI, we previously demonstrated that urea within urine suppresses quorum sensing and induces the Entner-Doudoroff (E-D) pathway. The E-D pathway consists of the genes , , , and .

Characterization of the Entner-Douderoff Pathway in Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections.

is an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen responsible for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). In a murine model of CAUTI, we previously demonstrated that urea within urine suppresses quorum sensing and induces the Entner-Douderoff (E-D) pathway. The E-D pathway consists of the genes , , , and .

Cerebrovascular Disease Mortality Trends in Brazil: An In-Depth Joinpoint Analysis.

Background Cerebrovascular disease is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability following heart disease. In 2019, there were over 101 million people living with a stroke and 12.2 million incidents of stroke globally.

Strategies to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Inequities in Stroke Preparedness, Care, Recovery, and Risk Factor Control: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Stroke is a disease of disparities, with tremendous racial and ethnic inequities in incidence, prevalence, treatment, and outcomes. The accumulating literature on the relationship between stroke and social determinants of health (ie, the structural conditions of the places where people live, learn, work, and play) contributes to our understanding of stroke inequities. Several interventions have been tested concurrently to reduce racial and ethnic inequities in stroke preparedness, care, recovery, and risk factor control.

Cognitive Impairment After Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Purpose: Cognitive impairment is a common consequence of stroke and has direct implications for poststroke functioning and quality of life, including the ability to maintain a job, live independently, sustain interpersonal relationships, and drive a vehicle. In this scientific statement, we critically appraise the literature on the prevalence, diagnosis, and management of poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and provide a framework for clinical care while highlighting gaps that merit further study.

Methods: We performed a scoping literature review of randomized controlled clinical trials, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies, clinical guidelines, review articles, and editorials on the incidence and prevalence, natural history, diagnosis, and management of PSCI.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection by progresses through acute and chronic phases of infection.

Healthcare-associated infections are major causes of complications that lead to extended hospital stays and significant medical costs. The use of medical devices, including catheters, increases the risk of bacterial colonization and infection through the presence of a foreign surface. Two outcomes are observed for catheterized patients: catheter-associated asymptomatic bacteriuria and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI).

The hypereosinophilic syndrome - an unusual cause of myocarditis and cardioembolic strokes.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by excessive peripheral eosinophilia and eosinophil associated end-organ damage. Clinical presentations are heterogenous and can involve skin, pulmonary, cardiac and neurologic dysfunction. Eosinophilic myocarditis is a life-threatening complication that increases the risk of cardiac microemboli, which can subsequently lead to embolic strokes.

Immuno-phenotyping of Canadian beef cattle: adaptation of the high immune response methodology for utilization in beef cattle.

The high immune response (HIR) methodology measures the genetic performance of the adaptive immune system to identify and breed animals with balanced and robust immunity. The HIR methodology has previously been used in dairy and swine to reduce disease but has not been fully investigated in beef cattle. The first objective of the current study was to examine whether the HIR methodology as standardized for use in dairy cattle was appropriate for use in beef cattle.

Association of in-hospital depression and anxiety symptoms following stroke with 3 months- depression, anxiety and functional outcome.

Background: Post-stroke depression and anxiety are common and are associated with worse post-stroke outcomes. Even though checking for depression during stroke hospitalization has become a common practice, the prognostic value of a positive in-hospital depression screen following stroke remains unclear.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with stroke or TIA discharged home from a tertiary care center.

Effects of Fragmentation and the Case for Greater Cohesion in Neurologic Care Delivery.

Goals: To define fragmentation in neurologic care delivery, explain the positive and negative drivers in neurologic practice that contribute to fragmentation, illustrate situations that increase fragmentation risk, emphasize the costs and impact on both patients and providers, and propose solutions that allow for more cohesive care.

Work Group: The Transforming Leaders Program (TLP) class of 2020 was tasked by American Academy of Neurology (AAN) leadership to identify the leading trends in inpatient and outpatient neurology and to predict their effects on future neurologic practice.

Methods: Research material included AAN databases, PubMed searches, discussion with topic experts, and AAN leadership.

Alternative Payment Models and Associations With Stroke Outcomes, Spending, and Service Utilization: A Systematic Review.

Stroke contributes an estimated $28 billion to US health care costs annually, and alternative payment models aim to improve outcomes and lower spending over fee-for-service by aligning economic incentives with high value care. This systematic review evaluates historical and current evidence regarding the impacts of alternative payment models on stroke outcomes, spending, and utilization. Included studies evaluated alternative payment models in 4 categories: pay-for-performance (n=3), prospective payments (n=14), shared savings (n=5), and capitated payments (n=14).

Psychiatric sequelae of stroke affecting the non-dominant cerebral hemisphere.

There are a plethora of cognitive sequelae in addition to neglect and extinction that arise with unilateral right hemispheric stroke (RHS). Cognitive deficits following non-dominant (right) hemisphere stroke are common with unilateral neglect and extinction being the most recognized examples. The severity of RHS is usually underestimated by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), which in terms of lateralized right hemisphere cognitive deficits, tests only for visual inattention/extinction.

Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion deletion polymorphism and androgenetic alopecia susceptibility among Egyptian patients: A preliminary case-controlled study.

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a prevalent condition with a complex etiopathogenesis. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene located on the chromosome 17q23 contains an insertion (I) and deletion (D) polymorphism in the intron 16. This gene polymorphism plays a role in multiple inflammatory disorders.

Effectiveness of Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide against Ictalurid Catfish Bacterial Pathogens.

One of the major goals in aquaculture is to protect fish against infectious diseases as disease outbreaks could lead to economic losses if not controlled. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a class of highly conserved peptides known to possess direct antimicrobial activities against invading pathogens, were evaluated for their ability to protect Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and hybrid catfish (female Channel Catfish × male Blue Catfish I. furcatus) against infection caused by the fish pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila ML09-119.

Characteristics of strokes associated with centrifugal flow left ventricular assist devices.

Stroke is a devastating complication of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy. Understanding the characteristics, risk factors and outcomes of strokes associated with the centrifugal flow LVADs is important to devise better strategies for management and prevention. This is a retrospective cohort study at a single US academic medical center.

Development of a spermatogonia cryopreservation protocol for blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus.

Sustainability of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus ♀ × blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus ♂ hybrid aquaculture relies on new innovative technologies to maximize fry output. Transplanting spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) from blue catfish into channel catfish hosts has the potential to greatly increase gamete availability and improve hybrid catfish fry outputs. Cryopreservation would make these cells readily accessible for xenogenesis, but a freezing protocol for blue catfish testicular tissues has not yet been fully developed.

Assessing changes in attitudes toward engineering and biomechanics resulting from a high school outreach event.

National Biomechanics Day aims to introduce students to the emerging field of biomechanics and improve their perception of engineering and engineers. This quantitative study examines participants' attitude changes following one such event. By prioritizing increasing excitement and engagement over teaching content, we anticipate that students' opinions of engineering and biomechanics will improve following the event.

Vascular Cellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and Memory Impairment in African-Americans after Small Vessel-Type Stroke.

Background: African-Americans (AA) are 3 times more likely to have small-vessel-type ischemic strokes (SVS) than Whites. Small vessel strokes are associated with cognitive impairment, a relationship incompletely explained by white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden. We examined whether inflammatory/endothelial dysfunction biomarkers are associated with cognition after SVS in AAs.