Postcardiotomy Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation With and Without Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump.

Objectives: To compare the outcomes of patients with postcardiotomy shock treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) only compared with VA-ECMO and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP).

Design: A retrospective multicenter registry study.

Setting: At 19 cardiac surgery units.

Gender and the Outcome of Postcardiotomy Veno-arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Objective: There is a paucity of sex-specific data on patients' postcardiotomy venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). The present study sought to assess this issue in a multicenter study.

Design: Retrospective, propensity score-matched analysis of an international registry.

Outcome of Repeat Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Postcardiotomy Cardiogenic Shock.

Objective: Data on patients requiring a second run of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support in patients affected by postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCS) are very limited. The authors aimed to investigate the effect of a second run of VA-ECMO on PCS patient survival.

Design: Retrospective analysis of an international registry.

Five-year survival after post-cardiotomy veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Aims: Veno-arterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCS) after adult cardiac surgery is associated with satisfactory hospital survival. However, data on long-term survival of these critically ill patients are scarce.

Methods And Results: Between January 2010 and March 2018, 665 consecutive patients received VA-ECMO for PCS at 17 cardiac surgery centres and herein we evaluated their 5-year survival.

Neurologic Injury in Patients Treated With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Postcardiotomy Cardiogenic Shock.

Objective: To investigate the frequency, predictors, and outcomes of neurologic injury in adults treated with postcardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (PC-ECMO).

Design: A retrospective multicenter registry study.

Setting: Twenty-one European institutions where cardiac surgery is performed.

Duration of Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Mortality in Postcardiotomy Cardiogenic Shock.

Objective: The optimal duration of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in patients affected by postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCS) remains controversial. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of VA-ECMO duration on hospital outcomes.

Design: Retrospective analysis of an international registry.

Postcardiotomy Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients Aged 70 Years or Older.

Background: There is uncertainty whether venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) should be used in older patients with cardiopulmonary failure after cardiac surgery.

Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter study of 781 patients who required postcardiotomy VA-ECMO for cardiopulmonary failure after adult cardiac surgery from 2010 to 2018 at 19 cardiac surgery centers. A parallel systematic review with meta-analysis of the literature was performed.

Frequency and predictors of cholesterol target attainment in patients with stable coronary heart disease in Belgium: results from the Dyslipidemia International Study II (DYSIS II ).

: To document the frequency and predictors of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target value attainment among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Belgium. : The second Dyslipidemia International Study (DYSIS II) was an observational study of the prevalence of dyslipidemias and lipid target value attainment. Patients in this analysis were aged ≥ 18, had documented CHD, and had a full lipid profile.

Low Cytochrome Oxidase 1 Links Mitochondrial Dysfunction to Atherosclerosis in Mice and Pigs.

Background: Cytochrome oxidase IV complex regulates energy production in mitochondria. Therefore, we determined the relation of COX genes with atherosclerosis in mice and pigs.

Methods And Results: First, we compared atherosclerosis in the aortic arch of age-matched (24 weeks) C57BL/6J control (n = 10), LDL-receptor deficient (n = 8), leptin-deficient ob/ob (n = 10), and double knock-out (lacking LDL-receptor and leptin) mice (n = 12).

Cost and co-morbidities associated with hypoglycemic inpatients in Belgium.

Background And Objectives: Little is known about the economic burden of hypoglycemia in Belgium, or its related co-morbidities. This study aimed at estimating the cost and length of stay associated with hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations in diabetic patients in Belgium and the association between hypoglycemia and in-hospital all-cause mortality, incidence of traumatic fractures, depression, and cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction or unstable angina), using retrospective data from 2011.

Methods: Patient data were retrieved from the IMS Hospital Disease Database, including longitudinal (per calendar year) information on diagnoses, procedures, and drugs prescribed in ∼20% of all Belgian hospital beds.

Global Access Programs: A Collaborative Approach for Effective Implementation and Management.

Global access programs (GAPs) provide access to medicinal products for patients with serious medical conditions and no commercially available treatment options. Providing early access to medicines can be challenging for a pharmaceutical company. The demand for a GAP often occurs at a time when other activities are the prime focus, such as delivery of pivotal clinical trials or gaining of marketing authorization.

Low cytochrome oxidase 4I1 links mitochondrial dysfunction to obesity and type 2 diabetes in humans and mice.

Objectives: Cytochrome oxidase (COX) dysfunction is associated with mitochondrial oxidative stress. We determined the association between COX expression, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Subjects/methods: COX4I1 and COX10 genes were measured in monocytes of 24 lean controls, 31 glucose-tolerant and 67 diabetic obese patients, and 17 morbidly obese patients before and after bariatric surgery.

Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-3 is a key inhibitor of inflammation in obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Background: Visceral obesity is associated with the rising incidence of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Low-grade chronic inflammation and oxidative stress synergize in obesity and obesity-induced disorders.

Objective: We searched a cluster of molecules that support interactions between these stress conditions in monocytes.

The discursive practices of nurse practitioner legislation in Australia.

Aim: The aim of this paper was to examine the nurse practitioner legislative framework in Australia from a critical social theory perspective.

Background: National regulation for nurses and midwives has superseded all previous state legislation with effect from July 2010. The aim of this change was to streamline regulation processes across all health professionals requiring regulation, in order to eliminate diverse state-based regulatory policies that were identified as hindering transferability of the workforce across Australia.

MicroRNAs regulating oxidative stress and inflammation in relation to obesity and atherosclerosis.

A primary event in atherogenesis is the infiltration of activated inflammatory cells into the arterial wall. There they secrete reactive oxygen species and oxidize lipoproteins, inducing foam cell formation and endothelial cell apoptosis, which in turn lead to plaque growth, erosion, and rupture. In addition, there is evidence that this vicious circle between oxidative stress and inflammation occurs not only in the diseased arterial wall but also in adipose tissues in obesity.

Oxidized LDL and the metabolic syndrome.

The metabolic syndrome is a common and complex disorder combining obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and insulin resistance. It is associated with a high cardiovascular risk that can only partially be explained by its components. There is evidence that low-grade inflammation and high oxidative stress add to this risk.

Increased PAFAH and oxidized lipids are associated with inflammation and atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic pigs.

Objective: To study the association of PAF-acetyl hydrolase (PAFAH) activity with inflammation, oxidative stress, and atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic swine.

Methods And Results: Cholesterol-rich diet feeding of miniature pigs was associated with an increase in PAFAH activity and an increase of the PAFAH to PON1 ratio. PLA2G7 RNA (coding for PAFAH) expression was increased in blood monocytes and plaque macrophages.

Rosuvastatin increases vascular endothelial PPARgamma expression and corrects blood pressure variability in obese dyslipidaemic mice.

Aims: Statins improve atherosclerotic diseases through cholesterol-reducing effects. Whether the latter exclusively mediate similar benefits, e.g.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced expression of ABCA1 in blood monocytes precedes coronary atherosclerosis and is associated with plaque complexity in hypercholesterolemic pigs.

Background: Elevated oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is associated with atherosclerosis and high cardiovascular risk. Previously, we identified 18 genes in coronary plaque macrophages of hypercholesterolemic pigs that correlated with plaque oxLDL.

Objective: To determine which of these genes were differentially expressed in blood monocytes and correlated with blood and plaque oxLDL and with plaque complexity.

Spheres of influence or autonomy? A discourse analysis of the introduction of Nurse Practitioners in rural and remote Australia.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study to examine the social discourses of nursing within health care as these produce understandings about autonomy for Nurse Practitioners, where autonomy refers to the ability of Nurse Practitioners to practise as professionals in their own right.

Background: Nurse Practitioners were recently introduced to the nursing career pathways in Australia. Despite a plethora of international information, the role implementation in rural and remote Australia is slow with a number of influences emerging to hinder progress.

Rosuvastatin restores superoxide dismutase expression and inhibits accumulation of oxidized LDL in the aortic arch of obese dyslipidemic mice.

Background And Purpose: Our goal was to elucidate mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of rosuvastatin on the accumulation of plaque oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxLDL) and on plaque volume, without lowering cholesterol, in mice with combined leptin and LDL-receptor deficiency (DKO).

Experimental Approach: Twelve-week old DKO mice were treated with rosuvastatin (10 mg kg(-1) day(-1), s.c.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein correlates positively with toll-like receptor 2 and interferon regulatory factor-1 and inversely with superoxide dismutase-1 expression: studies in hypercholesterolemic swine and THP-1 cells.

Background: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is associated with cardiovascular disease. Macrophages contribute to LDL oxidation, and oxidized LDL (oxLDL) affects macrophage function. We searched for the strongest gene correlates of oxLDL in macrophages in coronary plaques and studied the effect of oxLDL on their expression in THP-1 cells.

Weight-loss-associated induction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma correlate with reduced atherosclerosis and improved cardiovascular function in obese insulin-resistant mice.

Background: Weight loss in obese insulin-resistant but not in insulin-sensitive persons reduces coronary heart disease risk. To what extent changes in gene expression are related to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular function is unknown.

Methods And Results: We studied the effect of diet restriction-induced weight loss on gene expression in the adipose tissue, the heart, and the aortic arch and on atherosclerosis and cardiovascular function in mice with combined leptin and LDL-receptor deficiency.

Nurse practitioners: a contract for change and excellence in nursing.

The role of the Nurse Practitioner has been in existence in a variety of contexts and within a broad range of the scope of their practice throughout the world for a number of years. Many nurses work at this advanced level of clinical practice without the acknowledgement f the very important and responsible role that they play within the healthcare setting. Although the United States and United Kingdom have recognised the role of the advanced Nurse Practitioner for a number of years, there still exists confusion and disagreement as to their scope of practice.

Nursing research in practice: the case study revisited.

This paper makes reference to some of the many issues and problems surrounding nursing research in the context of the rural and remote areas of Australia. The focus is on the use of case studies as an appropriate methodology for small-scale research projects and for students preparing for examinations at higher degree levels. Throughout this paper, the term rural will be used to denote rural and remote area nursing.