Cone-rod homeobox transcriptionally activates TCF7 to promote the proliferation of retinal pigment epithelial and retinoblastoma cells .

Aim: To investigate the proliferation regulatory effect of cone-rod homeobox (CRX) in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and retinoblastoma (RB) cells to explore the potential application and side effect (oncogenic potential) of CRX-based gene therapy in RPE-based retinopathies.

Methods: Adult human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE)-19 and human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE)-1 cells and Y79 RB cell were used in the study. Genetic manipulation was performed by lentivirus-based technology.

Astilbin inhibited neutrophil extracellular traps in gouty arthritis through suppression of purinergic P2Y6 receptor.

Background: Gouty arthritis (GA), a common inflammatory condition triggered by monosodium urate crystal accumulation, often necessitates safer treatment alternatives due to the limitations of current therapies. Astilbin, a flavonoid from Smilax glabra Roxb, has demonstrated potential in traditional Chinese medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the anti-GA effect and its underlying mechanism have not been fully elucidated.

Outcomes of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Among Older Adults in the United States: A Nationwide Study.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is increasingly recommended as first-line therapy for atrial fibrillation. Recent data suggest growing PVI volumes but rising complication rates, although comprehensive real-world outcomes including both inpatient and outpatient encounters remain unclear.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient characteristics, population rates, and 30-day outcomes of PVI in a nationwide sample of U.

Synergistic and antibiofilm activity of DNase I and glucose oxidase loaded chitosan nanoparticles against dual-species biofilms of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella.

Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes are two of the most common foodborne pathogens in the food industry. They form dual-species biofilms, which have a higher sensitivity to antimicrobial treatment and a greater microbial adhesion. In this experiment, we loaded DNase I and glucose oxidase (GOX) on chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) to explore their inhibitory effects on and disruption of dual-species biofilms of Salmonella enterica and L.

Community Socioeconomic Status, Acute Cardiovascular Hospitalizations, and Mortality in Medicare, 2003 to 2019.

Background: Socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in the United States disproportionately experience poor cardiovascular outcomes. Little is known about how hospitalizations and mortality for acute cardiovascular conditions have changed among Medicare beneficiaries in socioeconomically disadvantaged and nondisadvantaged communities over the past 2 decades.

Methods: Medicare files were linked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's social vulnerability index to examine age-sex standardized hospitalizations for myocardial infarction, heart failure, ischemic stroke, and pulmonary embolism among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries ≥65 years of age residing in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities (highest social vulnerability index quintile nationally) and nondisadvantaged communities (all other quintiles) from 2003 to 2019, as well as risk-adjusted 30-day mortality among hospitalized beneficiaries.

Medicare's Value-Based Purchasing And 30-Day Mortality At Hospitals Caring For High Proportions Of Black Adults.

The care of Black adults is highly concentrated at a limited set of US hospitals that often have limited resources. In 2011, the Medicare Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program began financially penalizing or rewarding hospitals based on thirty-day mortality rates for target conditions (myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pneumonia). Because the VBP Program has disproportionately penalized resource-constrained hospitals caring for high proportions of Black adults since its implementation in 2011, clinicians, health system leaders, and policy makers have worried that the program may unintentionally be widening racial disparities in health outcomes.

Days at Home After Transcatheter Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Low-Risk Patients.

Background: Days at home (DAH) represents an important patient-oriented outcome that quantifies time spent at home after a medical event; however, this outcome has not been fully evaluated for low-surgical-risk patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We sought to compare 1- and 2-year DAH (DAH and DAH) among low-risk patients participating in a randomized trial of TAVR with a self-expanding bioprosthesis versus surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

Methods: Using Medicare-linked data from the Evolut Low Risk trial, we identified 619 patients: 606 (322 TAVR/284 SAVR) and 593 (312 TAVR/281 SAVR) were analyzed at 1 and 2 years, respectively.

pH-Activated Scallop-Type Nanoenzymes for Oxidative Stress Amplification and Photothermal Enhancement of Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Effect.

Ferric phosphate (FePOs) nanoenzymes can express peroxidase (POD) activity under the dual stimulation of an acidic environment and high HO concentrations. In living organisms, this generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in sites of lesion infection, and thus FePOs nanoenzymes can act as antimicrobial agents. Here, CeO and ZnO were immobilized in a scallop-type FePOs nanoenzyme material loaded with a photosensitizer, indocyanine green, to synthesize a multifunctional cascade nanoparticle system (FePOs-CeO-ZnO-ICG, FCZI NPs).

Longitudinal outcomes following peripheral vascular intervention among older persons living with HIV.

Background: Persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PLWH) have an increased risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in comparison to the general population. However, a gap remains in understanding optimal management for this condition. This study assesses longitudinal outcomes associated with peripheral endovascular intervention (PVI) for PAD among PLWH.

Long term risk of death and readmission after hospital admission with covid-19 among older adults: retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To characterize the long term risk of death and hospital readmission after an index admission with covid-19 among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, and to compare these outcomes with historical control patients admitted to hospital with influenza.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: United States.

White matter hyperintensities burden in the frontal regions is positively correlated to the freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease.

Objective: Previous studies have reported that white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are associated with freezing of gait (FOG), but it is not clear whether their distribution areas have correlations with FOG in Parkinson's disease (PD) and the potential influencing factors about WMHs.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-six patients with PD who underwent brain MRI were included. Participants were divided into PD with FOG ( = 111) and PD without FOG ( = 135) groups.

Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs for Medicare Beneficiaries With Cardiovascular Risk Factors Under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Background: High out-of-pocket prescription drug costs contribute to financial toxicity, medication nonadherence, and adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. Policymakers recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which will cap Medicare out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000/year and expand full low-income subsidies (LIS). It is unclear how these provisions will affect Medicare beneficiaries with CV risk factors and/or conditions.

Comparison of Unibody and Non-Unibody Endografts for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair in Medicare Beneficiaries: The SAFE-AAA Study.

Background: Concerns have been raised about the long-term performance of aortic stent grafts for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms, in particular, unibody stent grafts (eg, Endologix AFX AAA stent grafts). Only limited data sets are available to evaluate the long-term risks related to these devices. The SAFE-AAA Study (Comparison of Unibody and Non-Unibody Endografts for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair in Medicare Beneficiaries Study) was designed with the Food and Drug Administration to provide a longitudinal assessment of the safety of unibody aortic stent grafts among Medicare beneficiaries.

Comparative performance of distinct frailty measures among patients undergoing percutaneous left atrial appendage closure.

Aims: Frailty is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing left atrial appendage closure (LAAC). This study aimed to compare the performance of two claims-based frailty measures in predicting adverse outcomes following LAAC.

Methods: We identified patients 66 years and older who underwent LAAC between October 1, 2016, and December 31, 2019, in Medicare fee-for-service claims.

Cardiac Rehabilitation and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Persistent Declines in Cardiac Rehabilitation Participation and Access Among US Medicare Beneficiaries.

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participation in and availability of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is unknown.

Methods: Among eligible Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, we evaluated, by month, the number of CR sessions attended per 100 000 beneficiaries, individuals eligible to initiate CR, and centers offering in-person CR between January 2019 and December 2021. We compared these outcomes between 2 periods: December 1, 2019 through February 28, 2020 (period 1, before declaration of the pandemic-related national emergency) and October 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 (period 2, the latest period for which data are currently available).

Days at home after transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement in high-risk patients.

Background: Days at home (DAH) quantifies time spent at home after a medical event but has not been fully evaluated for TAVR. We sought to compare 1- and 5-year DAH (DAH, DAH) among high-risk patients participating in a randomized trial of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with a self-expanding bioprosthesis versus surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

Methods: We linked data from the U.

Antibiofilm Effect of Cinnamaldehyde-Chitosan Nanoparticles against the Biofilm of .

Food contamination caused by food-spoilage bacteria and pathogenic bacteria seriously affects public health. is a typical foodborne pathogen which easily forms biofilm. Once biofilm is formed, it is difficult to remove.

Mitral Regurgitation and Mortality Risk in Medicare Beneficiaries With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction.

The association of mitral regurgitation (MR) severity and mortality in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is uncertain. We sought to evaluate the relation between MR severity on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and subsequent all-cause mortality in Medicare beneficiaries with HFpEF. We linked 57,608 patients referred for TTE at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to Medicare inpatient claims from 2003 to 2017.

Characterizing the Accuracy of Administrative Claims for Aortic Valve Disease.

Background: Administrative claims for aortic stenosis (AS) regurgitation may be useful, but their accuracy and ability to identify individuals at risk for valve-related outcomes have not been well characterized.

Methods: Using echocardiographic (transthoracic echocardiogram [TTE]) reports linked to US Medicare claims, 2017 to 2018, the performance of candidate claims to ascertain AS/aortic regurgitation was evaluated. The optimal performing algorithm was tested against outcomes at 1-year after TTE in a separate 100% sample of US Medicare claims, 2017 to 2019.