Using Patient Experience Surveys to Identify Potential Diagnostic Safety Breakdowns: A Mixed Methods Study.

Objectives: One in 20 outpatients in the United States experiences a diagnostic error each year, but there are no validated methods for collecting feedback from patients on diagnostic safety. We examined patient experience surveys to determine whether patients' free text comments indicated diagnostic breakdowns. Our objective was to evaluate associations between patient-perceived diagnostic breakdowns reported in free text comments and patients' responses to structured survey questions.

Multicenter evaluation of left ventricular assist device implantation with or without ECMO bridge in cardiogenic shock.

Background: The efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to left ventricular assist device (LVAD) remains unclear, and recipients of the more contemporary HeartMate 3 (HM3) LVAD are not well represented in previous studies. We therefore undertook a multicenter, retrospective study of this population.

Methods And Results: INTERMACS 1 LVAD recipients from five U.

Repeat catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is an established therapy that reduces AF burden, improves quality of life, and reduces the risks of cardiovascular outcomes. Although there are clear guidelines for the application of de novo catheter ablation, there is less evidence to guide recommendations for repeat catheter ablation in patients who experience recurrent AF. In this review, we examine the rationale for repeat ablation, mechanisms of recurrence, patient selection, optimal timing, and procedural strategies.

Quantification of Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume and Attenuation for Cardiac CT Scans Using Deep Learning in a Single Multi-Task Framework.

Background: Recent studies have shown that epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is an independent atrial fibrillation (AF) prognostic marker and has influence on the myocardial function. In computed tomography (CT), EAT volume (EATv) and density (EATd) are parameters that are often used to quantify EAT. While increased EATv has been found to correlate with the prevalence and the recurrence of AF after ablation therapy, higher EATd correlates with inflammation due to arrest of lipid maturation and with high risk of plaque presence and plaque progression.

Genetic regulation of OAS1 nonsense-mediated decay underlies association with COVID-19 hospitalization in patients of European and African ancestries.

The chr12q24.13 locus encoding OAS1-OAS3 antiviral proteins has been associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) susceptibility. Here, we report genetic, functional and clinical insights into this locus in relation to COVID-19 severity.

Generalizable Framework for Atrial Volume Estimation for Cardiac CT Images Using Deep Learning With Quality Control Assessment.

Objectives: Cardiac computed tomography (CCT) is a common pre-operative imaging modality to evaluate pulmonary vein anatomy and left atrial appendage thrombus in patients undergoing catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF). These images also allow for full volumetric left atrium (LA) measurement for recurrence risk stratification, as larger LA volume (LAV) is associated with higher recurrence rates. Our objective is to apply deep learning (DL) techniques to fully automate the computation of LAV and assess the quality of the computed LAV values.

'Lipo-tourism' gone wrong: blood transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirus disease.

Medical tourism is the pursuit of more affordable surgeries; however, this comes at the risk of suboptimal standards and potential for life-threatening complications. In this case, we describe the diagnostic challenge of cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia in a 40-year-old woman who experienced wound dehiscence and subsequent blood transfusion-transmitted CMV as complications of liposuction in the Dominican Republic. We explore the role of histopathology in the diagnosis of disseminated CMV, discuss the underlying aetiology of CMV pneumonia in this patient and weigh the risks and benefits of initiating antiviral therapy in an immunocompetent patient with CMV disease.

Screening and Analysis of Janelia FlyLight Project Enhancer-Gal4 Strains Identifies Multiple Gene Enhancers Active During Hematopoiesis in Normal and Wasp-Challenged Larvae.

A GFP expression screen has been conducted on >1000 Janelia FlyLight Project enhancer-Gal4 lines to identify transcriptional enhancers active in the larval hematopoietic system. A total of 190 enhancers associated with 87 distinct genes showed activity in cells of the third instar larval lymph gland and hemolymph. That is, gene enhancers were active in cells of the lymph gland posterior signaling center (PSC), medullary zone (MZ), and/or cortical zone (CZ), while certain of the transcriptional control regions were active in circulating hemocytes.