Using heart rate data from wrist worn activity trackers to define thresholds for moderate to vigorous physical activity in children and young people with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Children and young people with cystic fibrosis (CYPwCF) are encouraged to do an average of 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily. However, there are no agreed heart rate (HR) thresholds for defining MVPA, so it is difficult to ascertain whether these targets are actually achieved. Wearable activity trackers enable continuous monitoring of fitness-related measures such as HR and could be used to measure duration and intensity of habitual MVPA.

Catheter ablation using pulmonary vein isolation with versus without left atrial posterior wall isolation for persistent atrial fibrillation: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the cornerstone of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the results are suboptimal for persistent AF. The left atrial posterior wall (LAPW) is thought to be a major additional area in initiation and perpetuation of persistent AF. Therefore, adjunctive ablation of the posterior wall may reduce AF recurrence in patients with persistent AF.

Real-world effectiveness of airway clearance techniques in children with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is commonly characterised by thick respiratory mucus. From diagnosis, people with CF are prescribed daily physiotherapy, including airway clearance techniques (ACTs). ACTs consume a large proportion of treatment time, yet the efficacy and effectiveness of ACTs are poorly understood.

QT Prolongation and In-Hospital Ventricular Arrhythmic Complications in Patients With Apical Ballooning Takotsubo Syndrome.

Background: Takotsubo syndrome is associated with life threatening arrhythmias, and the apical ballooning pattern is characterized by a peculiar QT prolongation and particularly high-risk of arrhythmias.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the association of QT interval on electrocardiogram for ventricular arrhythmic complications in patients with apical ballooning Takotsubo syndrome in a diverse population at a large urban hospital in the U.S.

Quantity and quality of airway clearance in children and young people with cystic fibrosis.

Children and young people with CF (CYPwCF) get advice about using positive expiratory pressure (PEP) or oscillating PEP (OPEP) devices to clear sticky mucus from their lungs. However, little is known about the quantity (number of treatments, breaths, or sets) or quality (breath pressures and lengths) of these daily airway clearance techniques (ACTs) undertaken at home. This study used electronic pressure sensors to record real time breath-by-breath data from 145 CYPwCF (6-16y) during routine ACTs over 2 months.

Case report: paradoxically reversible perfusion defects on vasodilator stress imaging in a case of metastatic coronary compression.

Background: Patients with malignancy who experience metastasis to cardiac structures may exhibit ST-segment elevations and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) through poorly understood pathophysiologic mechanisms. We present a case in which vasodilator stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance provides unique insight into one such patient who suffered from recurrent episodes resembling ACS.

Case Summary: A 58-year-old male with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma presented with refractory angina and dynamic inferior electrocardiogram changes.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Coronary Artery Disease.

Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Acute coronary syndrome as a first presentation is common and patients with established disease have a high rate of recurrent ischemic events, despite antiplatelet therapy. Over the past several years, direct oral anticoagulants have become available and have been studied in patients with coronary artery disease.

Impact of intrarectal chromofungin treatment on dendritic cells-related markers in different immune compartments in colonic inflammatory conditions.

Background: Chromofungin (CHR: chromogranin-A 47-66) is a chromogranin-A derived peptide with anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by a colonic decrease of CHR and a dysregulation of dendritic CD11c cells.

Aim: To investigate the association between CHR treatment and dendritic cells (DCs)-related markers in different immune compartments in colitis.

Deceased Donor Renal Transplantation: A Single Center Experience.

Introduction: Deceased donor kidney transplant are still not common across India. This study was done to assess various measures taken at a single center level to increase organ donation rate and to analyse the outcomes of transplants performed from these donors.

Methods: All deceased donor renal transplants performed from November 2011 to February 2017 were analysed for patient and death censored graft survival, rate of delayed graft function, rate of rejection and mortality.

Cardiovascular disease and prevention among people living with HIV in South Florida.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved survival of patients living with HIV (PLWH); however, this has been accompanied by an increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although preventative measures for CVD among the general population are well described, information is limited about CVD prevention among PLWH. The goal of this study was to characterize the prevalence of CVD in our population and to assess the use of primary and secondary prevention.

Presence and activation of pro-inflammatory macrophages are associated with CRYAB expression in vitro and after peripheral nerve injury.

Background: Inflammation constitutes both positive and negative aspects to recovery following peripheral nerve injury. Following damage to the peripheral nervous system (PNS), immune cells such as macrophages play a beneficial role in creating a supportive environment for regrowing axons by phagocytosing myelin and axonal debris. However, a prolonged inflammatory response after peripheral nerve injury has been implicated in the pathogenesis of negative symptoms like neuropathic pain.

Protocol for Project Fizzyo, an analytic longitudinal observational cohort study of physiotherapy for children and young people with cystic fibrosis, with interrupted time-series design.

Introduction: Daily physiotherapy is believed to mitigate the progression of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. However, physiotherapy airway clearance techniques (ACTs) are burdensome and the evidence guiding practice remains weak. This paper describes the protocol for Project Fizzyo, which uses innovative technology and analysis methods to remotely capture longitudinal daily data from physiotherapy treatments to measure adherence and prospectively evaluate associations with clinical outcomes.

Denosumab Regulates Gut Microbiota Composition and Cytokines in Dinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid (DNBS)-Experimental Colitis.

The pro-inflammatory mediator receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) plays a significant role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis; however, its role in inflammatory bowel disease is unknown. Genome-wide association meta-analysis for Crohn's disease (CD) identified a variant near the TNFSF11 gene that encodes RANKL and CD risk allele increased expression of RANKL in specific cell lines. This study aims to elucidate if the RANKL inhibitor denosumab can reduce the severity of experimental colitis and modify the gut microbiota composition using murine dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS)-experimental model of colitis mimicking CD.

Experience With 15 Years of Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy: Review of 2500 Cases.

Background: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) is considered the gold standard for live donor nephrectomies owing to lesser pain, shorter hospitalization, and earlier return to normal activities, yet it remains a technically challenging surgery. Repetition of a highly skilled task such as LDN should lead to improved performance reflected in shorter surgery times and a decrease in adverse events.

Methods: The records of over 2524 LDNs from February 2004 to June 2019 were evaluated for duration of surgery (from incision time to clamping of the renal artery) and occurrence of complications.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in low risk patients: a review of PARTNER 3 and Evolut low risk trials.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become a mainstay in treatment for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are considered high-risk surgical candidates. The use of TAVR in low-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis is being explored as an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Recent results from the Medtronic Evolut Low Risk trial and the Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves (PARTNER) 3 trial shed light on the use of TAVR in low-risk surgical candidates.

Immunocytochemical detection of minichromosome maintenance protein 2 as a potential urinary-based marker of bladder cancer: A prospective observational study.

Introduction: Numerous biomarkers have been investigated for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with bladder cancer, but none has achieved desirable acceptability. In the search of biomarkers, minichromosome maintenance protein 2 (MCM2), a cell cycle regulatory protein, was investigated and the preliminary results were promising. Hence, we conducted a study to investigate the role of immunocytochemical (ICC) detection of MCM2 in voided urinary samples of patients with bladder cancer in an Indian population.

Is liquid-based cytology an alternative to conventional cytology for detection of malignant cells in urine of bladder cancer? Eastern Indian prospective observational study.

Objective: Conventional cytology (CC) is a widely employed biomarker for the detection of bladder cancer, but due to its decreased sensitivity, liquid-based cytology (LBC) has been studied. Despite its improved cell-free background, decreased cell degeneration, and an automated slide preparation technique, it shows a variable rate of malignant cells detection. Thus, we did this study to compare the positivity of LBC with CC in eastern Indian population.

Long-term Safety of Minimally Invasive Left Ventricular Assist Device Discontinuation for Myocardial Recovery.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) play important roles in advanced heart failure (HF) management. In patients who experience myocardial recovery, the LVAD is often explanted via a resternotomy, which may negatively impact the newly recovered heart. We describe a case-series of LVAD discontinuation using a minimally invasive approach, focusing on thromboembolic phenomenon and infection rates in long-term follow-up.

Pain and anxiety assessment during cystourethroscopy in males using voiding instruction: A prospective, randomized controlled study.

Introduction: Office cystourethroscopy is one of the common and most frequent urological procedures. Pain and anxiety during the procedure might lead to noncompliance and incomplete cystoscopic examination. Negotiating cystoscope through external sphincter is the most painful and uncomfortable distressing part of cystoscopy.

Retroperitoneal Single Port Versus Transperitoneal Multiport Donor Nephrectomy: A Prospective Randomized Control Trial.

Background: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) converted a retroperitoneal (RP) procedure into a transperitoneal (TP) operation with reports of bowel and solid organ injuries leading to mortality in occasional cases. Laparoscopic RP donor nephrectomy can reduce these risks but never became popular because of the muscle cutting approach. Lumbotomy incision can be used to approach retroperitoneum by incising fascial planes, eliminating disadvantages of the RP approach.

Thyroid Storm Triggered by Strangulation in a Patient with Undiagnosed Graves' Disease.

Thyroid storm is the life-threatening end-organ manifestation of severe thyrotoxicosis. If left untreated, thyroid storm may cause acute heart failure, multiorgan dysfunction, and death. A high degree of suspicion is necessary to make the diagnosis and start antithyroid medications to decrease mortality.

Complicated triple gallbladder: clinical presentation and surgical approach.

We report a patient with previous biliary symptoms and endoscopic interventions who presented with clinical features suggestive of choledocholithiasis. Open surgical exploration disclosed three gallbladders with copious stones and varying degrees of acute and chronic inflammation. Literature review revealed only 16 previously reported cases.

PARP inhibitor, olaparib ameliorates acute lung and kidney injury upon intratracheal administration of LPS in mice.

We have previously shown that PARP-1 inhibition provides protection against lung inflammation in the context of asthma and acute lung injury. Olaparib is a potent new generation PARP inhibitor that has been approved for human testing. The present work was designed to evaluate its beneficial potential against LPS-induced acute lung injury and acute kidney injury upon intratracheal administration of the endotoxin in mice.