The Movahed protocol and algorithm for preventing intubation in patients with acute or sympathetic crashing acute pulmonary edema (SCAPE) without cardiogenic shock by repeated administration of buccal nitroglycerin ointments.

Patients presenting with severe acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema with hypoxia commonly require intubation until heart failure treatments take effect. A new term describing similar condition is called sympathetic crashing acute pulmonary edema (SCAPE). It is also called Flash pulmonary edema.

Bodyweight affects mortality in an L-shape pattern in patients undergoing coronary bypass grafting.

Background: The role of body composition as a risk factor for adverse outcomesduring coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) has been controversial. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of body weight on mortality in patients undergoing CABG.

Method: Using a large NIS database and ICD-10 coding for different bodyweight categories, we evaluated the effect of cachexia, overweight, obesity, and morbid obesity on in-hospital mortality after CABG.

Women with breast implants have higher adjusted abnormal cardiac testing and coronary angiography but lower coronary intervention.

Background: Breast implants interfere with myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT) and echocardiographic windows leading to increased false positive results. To validate this concept, we hypothesized that patients with breast implants should have higher positive cardiac testing and coronary angiogram with lower percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rates compared to women without a breast implant.

Methods: Using ICD 10 codes for breast implants, abnormal results of cardiac functional study, coronary angiogram, and percutaneous coronary interventions, we evaluated any association between these parameters in adult women with breast implants utilizing the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database.

Enhanced dynorphin expression and secretion in pancreatic beta-cells under hyperglycemic conditions.

Objective: Dynorphin, an endogenous opioid peptide predominantly expressed in the central nervous system and involved in stress response, pain, and addiction, has intrigued researchers due to its expression in pancreatic β-cells. In this study, we aimed to characterize dynorphin expression in mouse and human islets and explore the mechanisms regulating its expression.

Methods: We used primary mouse and human islets with unbiased published datasets to examine how glucose and other nutrients regulate dynorphin expression and secretion in islets.

The shortcomings of the Medina compared to the Movahed coronary bifurcation classification.

The Medina classification separates true bifurcation lesions into three unnecessary groups: 1.1.1, 1.