Introduction: Heart failure (HF) burdens the US healthcare system, with annual costs exceeding $30 billion. Outpatient intravenous (OP IV) diuresis in clinic or home settings may potentially improve outcomes and reduce costs, though limited data exists. This systematic review evaluates the safety, efficacy, and outcomes of OP IV diuresis in managing decompensated HF as a hospitalization alternative.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCardiovasc Eng Technol
December 2024
Purpose: Central venous catheters (CVCs) provide a direct route to the venous circulation but are prone to catheter-related thrombosis (CRT). A known CRT risk factor is a high catheter-to-vein ratio (CVR), or a large catheter diameter with respect to the indwelling vein size. In this study, the CVR's effect on CVC hemodynamics and its impact on CRT is investigated with in vitro and in silico experiments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The spectrum of histological findings in transplanted kidneys from HIV-positive donors to HIV-positive recipients is relatively unexplored. This study describes the type and timing of histological diagnoses observed in this unique cohort.
Methods: Adequate biopsies were analyzed at implantation and posttransplant between September 2008 and May 2022.
Supraphysiological shear rates (>2000 s) amplify von Willebrand factor unfurling and increase platelet activation and adhesion. These elevated shear rates and shear rate gradients also play a role in shear-induced platelet aggregation (SIPA). The primary objective of this study is to investigate the contributions of major binding receptors to platelet deposition and SIPA in a stenotic model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHematological malignancies are associated with an increased risk of complications during SARS-CoV-2 infections. Primary series or monovalent booster vaccines reduce disease severity, hospitalization, and death among multiple myeloma patients. We characterized virus-neutralizing and spike-binding antibody profiles following monovalent (WA1) or bivalent (WA1/BA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder marked by disruptions in circadian rhythms and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, hyperphagia, and episodes of emotional outbursts. Previous trials suggest that both invasive and non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) can reduce emotional outbursts in PWS, potentially through its effects on vagal activity.
Aim: This case series investigated the effects of transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) on cardiac markers of circadian vagal activity, specifically heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate (HR), and their potential links to improvements in emotional outbursts.
Background: Patients with advanced heart failure (AHF) desire communication around values and goals prior to treatment decisions.
Objectives: To evaluate the timing and content of the first serious illness communication (SI conversation) for patients with AHF after referral to a specialist palliative care (PC) team (HeartPal).
Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we used electronic health records to identify patients referred to HeartPal and their first SI conversations at a tertiary care hospital between October 2018 and September 2021.
Front Bioeng Biotechnol
August 2024
Thrombus formation in blood-contacting medical devices is a major concern in the medical device industry, limiting the clinical efficacy of these devices. Further, a locally formed clot within the device has the potential to detach from the surface, posing a risk of embolization. Clot embolization from blood-contacting cardiovascular devices can result in serious complications like acute ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Mech Behav Biomed Mater
November 2024
Purpose: Acute ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide. Despite advances in medical technology, nearly 30% of strokes result in incomplete vessel recanalization. Recent studies have demonstrated that clot composition correlates with success rates of mechanical thrombectomy procedures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRepetitive subconcussive head impacts (RSHI) are believed to induce sub-clinical brain injuries, potentially resulting in cumulative, long-term brain alterations. This study explores patterns of longitudinal brain white matter changes across sports with RSHI-exposure. A systematic literature search identified 22 datasets with longitudinal diffusion magnetic resonance imaging data.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMaternal prenatal depression can affect child brain and behavioral development. Specifically, altered limbic network structure and function is a likely mechanism through which prenatal depression impacts the life-long mental health of exposed children. While developmental trajectories are influenced by many factors that exacerbate risk or promote resiliency, the role of child age and sex in the relationship between prenatal depression and the child brain remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: At Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, the number of deceased organ donors has declined over the past 2 decades, necessitating a more liberal approach to donor selection. In 2007, measures to expand the deceased kidney donor pool were implemented, including an HIV positive-to-positive transplant programme and the utilisation of extended-criteria donors as well as donors after circulatory death (DCDs).
Objectives: To report on our institutional experience with DCD kidney transplants and to encourage this approach among other African centres to improve access to transplantation.
Background: Solid-organ transplantation (SOT) has been proven to be a highly effective and life-saving treatment modality for adults and children suffering from end-stage organ failure. However, high paediatric waiting-list mortality has been reported, and children may suffer irreversible physical and deleterious psychological effects if not transplanted timeously.
Objectives: To identify in-hospital barriers to organ donation and gain a better understanding of the paediatric donor landscape.
Background: HIV-infected kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19 are at increased risk of acute illness and death owing to their underlying comorbidities and chronic immunosuppression.
Objectives: To describe the incidence, clinical presentation and course of COVID-19, vaccination status, and SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity rate among HIV-infected-to-HIV-infected kidney transplant recipients in South Africa (SA).
Methods: This retrospective study reports on rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 and mortality among SA HIV-infected kidney transplant recipients who received organs from HIV-infected donors (HIV positive to HIV positive), before and after vaccination.
Background: Biologic therapies inhibiting the IL-4 or IL-5 pathways are very effective in the treatment of asthma and other related conditions. However, the cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 also play a role in the generation of adaptive immune responses. Although these biologics do not cause overt immunosuppression, their effect in primary severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunization has not been studied completely.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndustry 4.0 technology is promoted as improving manufacturing flexibility, and competitiveness; though Australia has been slow to adopt. The Australian Navy shipbuilding program provides opportunities for accelerating technology adoption, revitalising manufacturing productivity and competitiveness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Development of nursing leadership is necessary to ensure that nurse leaders of the future are well-equipped to tackle the challenges of a burdened healthcare system. In this context, the Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare Leadership program was delivered to 121 participants from 5 organizations in Canada in 2021 and 2022. To date, no study used a qualitative approach to explore nursing leaders' perceptions of a leadership Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare Leadership program three months post training.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Targeted interventions have been found effective for developing leadership practices in nurses. However, to date, no leadership training program based on the Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare Leadership approach exists.
Objectives: Demonstrate the effectiveness of a Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare Leadership 6-month program designed for nurse and healthcare leaders on leadership capacity and psychological outcomes.
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry
September 2024
Objective: Anxiety superimposed on late life depression (LLD) results in greater changes to prefrontal and medial temporal brain regions compared to depression alone. Yet, the combined impact of anxiety and depression on cognition in LLD has not been thoroughly investigated. The current study investigated whether annual changes in state and trait anxiety were associated with cognitive changes in older adults with major depression.
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