Clinical features and prognosis of surgically proven constrictive pericarditis after orthotopic heart transplantation.

Constrictive pericarditis (CP) results in pericardial non-compliance and diastolic dysfunction. Definitive treatment is pericardiectomy, but data on CP after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) are limited. Accordingly, a retrospective review of 8 cases of surgically proven CP after OHT undergoing pericardiectomy was conducted.

Video games for people with schizophrenia.

Background: Commercial video games are a vastly popular form of recreational activity. Whilst concerns persist regarding possible negative effects of video games, they have been suggested to provide cognitive benefits to users. They are also frequently employed as control interventions in comparisons of more complex cognitive or psychological interventions.

A simple and cost-effective protocol for high-yield expression of deuterated and selectively isoleucine/leucine/valine methyl protonated proteins in Escherichia coli grown in shaker flasks.

A simple and cost-effective protocol is presented for expression of perdeuterated, Ile/Leu/Val H/C methyl protonated proteins from 100 ml cultures in M9 ++ /DO medium induced at high (OD ~ 10) cell density in shaker flasks. This protocol, which is an extension of our previous protocols for expression of H/N/C and H/C labeled proteins, yields comparable quantities of protein from 100 ml cell culture to those obtained using a conventional 1 L culture with M9/DO medium, while using three-fold less α-ketoisovaleric (1,2,3,4-C; 3,4',4',4'-d) and α-ketobutyric (C; 3,3-d) acid precursors.

Preoperative measurements for cataract surgery: a comparison of ultrasound and optical biometric devices.

Purpose: To evaluate differences in preoperative measurements and refractive outcomes between ultrasound and optical biometry when using the Barrett Universal II intraocular lens (IOL) power formula.

Methods: In this consecutive case series, cataract extraction and IOL implantation cases from two surgical centers in Toronto, Canada, were recruited between January 2015 and July 2017. Differences between ultrasound (applanation or immersion A-scan) and optical biometry (IOLMaster 500) were compared for axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth and refractive outcomes.

Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a co-design approach to developing an integrated model of care for people with multi-morbid COPD in rural Nepal: a qualitative study.

Objective: To understand the feasibility and acceptability of a co-design approach to developing an integrated model of healthcare for people with multi-morbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in rural Nepal.

Settings: A rural setting of Nepal.

Participants: Data collection included five video recordings, five key informant interviews and observation notes from a final co-design workshop that involved a total of 68 stakeholders: persons with COPD and their family members; healthcare providers, including respiratory physicians; local community leaders; representatives from local, provincial and federal government; academics; and representatives from non-government organisations.

Community lives of adolescents across multiple special needs: Discrimination, community belonging, trusted people, leisure activities, and friends.

We sought to gain insights into the community lives, experiences, and activities of adolescents across multiple categories of special needs. Specifically, we: explored the particular aspects of their lives adolescents felt elicited discrimination; determined whether adolescents feel a sense of community belongingness, as well as the categories of people whom adolescents approach when help is needed; and detailed the leisure activities respondents undertake and with which frequency, in addition to the quantity of friendships they have. We performed assorted descriptive analyses of the McCreary Centre Society's 2013 British Columbia Adolescent Health Survey (BCAHS) database.

Cost-effectiveness of managing low-risk pulmonary embolism patients without hospitalization. The low-risk pulmonary embolism prospective management study.

Objective: Evaluate the cost-effectiveness and difference in length-of-stay when patients in the ED diagnosed with low-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) are managed with early discharge or observation.

Methods: Single cohort prospective management study from January 2013 to October 2016 of patients with PE diagnosed in the ED and evaluated for a primary composite endpoint of mortality, recurrent venous thromboembolism, and/or major bleeding event at 90 days. Low-risk patients had a PE Severity Index score < 86, no evidence of proximal deep vein thrombosis on venous compression ultrasonography of both lower extremities, and no evidence of right heart strain on echocardiography.

Accuracy of dopaminergic imaging as a biomarker for mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies.

Background: Dopaminergic imaging is an established biomarker for dementia with Lewy bodies, but its diagnostic accuracy at the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage remains uncertain.

Aims: To provide robust prospective evidence of the diagnostic accuracy of dopaminergic imaging at the MCI stage to either support or refute its inclusion as a biomarker for the diagnosis of MCI with Lewy bodies.

Method: We conducted a prospective diagnostic accuracy study of baseline dopaminergic imaging with [123I]N-ω-fluoropropyl-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)nortropane single-photon emission computerised tomography (123I-FP-CIT SPECT) in 144 patients with MCI.

Identification of a Stable Hydrogen-Driven Microbiome in a Highly Radioactive Storage Facility on the Sellafield Site.

The use of nuclear power has been a significant part of the United Kingdom's energy portfolio with the Sellafield site being used for power production and more recently reprocessing and decommissioning of spent nuclear fuel activities. Before being reprocessed, spent nuclear fuel is stored in water ponds with significant levels of background radioactivity and in high alkalinity (to minimize fuel corrosion). Despite these challenging conditions, the presence of microbial communities has been detected.

Dynamic Shear Deformation of a Precipitation Hardened AlCoCrFeNi Eutectic High-Entropy Alloy Using Hat-Shaped Specimen Geometry.

Lamellar eutectic structure in AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) is emerging as a promising candidate for structural applications because of its high strength-ductility combination. The alloy consists of a fine-scale lamellar + B2 microstructure with high flow stresses > 1300 MPa under quasi-static tensile deformation and >10% ductility. The response to shear loading was not investigated so far.

Natural attenuation of lead by microbial manganese oxides in a karst aquifer.

Lead is a toxic environmental contaminant associated with current and historic mine sites. Here we studied the natural attenuation of Pb in a limestone cave system that receives drainage from the ancient Priddy Mineries, UK. Extensive deposits of manganese oxides were observed to be forming on the cave walls and as coatings in the stream beds.

Trauma surgery at a designated COVID-19-free site during the pandemic: a safe model and a possible way to restart routine elective surgery.

Aims: Elective operating was halted during the COVID-19 pandemic to increase the capacity to provide care to an unprecedented volume of critically unwell patients. During the pandemic, the orthopaedic department at the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board restructured the trauma service, relocating semi-urgent ambulatory trauma operating to the isolated clean elective centre (St. Woolos' Hospital) from the main hospital receiving COVID-19 patients (Royal Gwent Hospital).

Double-Binding Botulinum Molecule with Reduced Muscle Paralysis: Evaluation in In Vitro and In Vivo Models of Migraine.

With a prevalence of 15%, migraine is the most common neurological disorder and among the most disabling diseases, taking into account years lived with disability. Current oral medications for migraine show variable effects and are frequently associated with intolerable side effects, leading to the dissatisfaction of both patients and doctors. Injectable therapeutics, which include calcitonin gene-related peptide-targeting monoclonal antibodies and botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A), provide a new paradigm for treatment of chronic migraine but are effective only in approximately 50% of subjects.

Tree mode of death and mortality risk factors across Amazon forests.

The carbon sink capacity of tropical forests is substantially affected by tree mortality. However, the main drivers of tropical tree death remain largely unknown. Here we present a pan-Amazonian assessment of how and why trees die, analysing over 120,000 trees representing > 3800 species from 189 long-term RAINFOR forest plots.

Mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies: blood perfusion with arterial spin labelling.

Objective: To use arterial spin labelling to investigate differences in perfusion in mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB) compared to Alzheimer type MCI (MCI-AD) and healthy controls.

Methods: We obtained perfusion images on 32 MCI-LB, 30 MCI-AD and 28 healthy subjects of similar age. Perfusion relative to cerebellum was calculated, and we aimed to examine differences in relative perfusion between MCI-LB and the other groups.

Structural Insights into the Recognition of Mono- and Diacetylated Histones by the ATAD2B Bromodomain.

Bromodomains exhibit preferences for specific patterns of post-translational modifications on core and variant histone proteins. We examined the ligand specificity of the ATAD2B bromodomain and compared it to its closely related paralogue in ATAD2. We show that the ATAD2B bromodomain recognizes mono- and diacetyllysine modifications on histones H4 and H2A.

Electroconvulsive Therapy for Patients with Catatonia: Current Perspectives.

Catatonia is a serious, common syndrome of motoric and behavioral dysfunction, which carries high morbidity and mortality. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the definitive treatment for catatonia, but access to ECT for the treatment of catatonia remains inappropriately limited. Catatonia is observable, detectable, and relevant to various medical specialties, but underdiagnosis impedes the delivery of appropriate treatment and heightens risk of serious complications including iatrogenesis.

Understanding and Responding to Health Literacy as a Social Determinant of Health.

Evidence of a social gradient in health literacy has been found in all reported national population surveys. Health literacy is a midstream determinant of health but not a panacea for addressing health inequities created by the maldistribution of opportunity and resources. It is possible to optimize the contribution health literacy makes in mediating the causes and effects of established social determinants of health.

The Rohingya Little Local: exploring innovative models of refugee engagement in Sydney, Australia.

The Rohingya community living in the City of Canterbury-Bankstown in Sydney have been identified as a priority population with complex health needs. As part of ongoing work, AU$10000 was provided to the community to address important, self-determined, health priorities through the Can Get Health in Canterbury program. Program staff worked with community members to support the planning and implementation of two community-led events: a soccer (football) tournament and a picnic day.

Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury Screening Criteria Should Include Motor Vehicle Crash Characteristics.

Background: Current screening criteria miss 30% of blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs). Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are the leading BCVI mechanism, and delineating MVC characteristics associated with BCVI formation may augment current screening criteria.

Methods: We retrospectively identified BCVI Denver injury screening criteria as able from the Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN) database.

Degradable Hydrogels for the Delivery of Immune-modulatory Proteins in the Wound Environment.

Chronic wounds represent a growing clinical problem for which limited treatment strategies exist. Defects in immune cell-mediated healing play an important role in chronic wound development, presenting an attractive clinical target in the treatment of chronic wounds. However, efforts to improve healing through the application of growth factors and cytokines have been limited by the rapid degradation and diffusion of these molecules in the wound environment.