Plasma Ceramides as Prognostic Biomarkers and Their Arterial and Myocardial Tissue Correlates in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

We identified a plasma signature of 11 C14 to C26 ceramides and 1 C16 dihydroceramide predictive of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, those with recent AMI, compared with those without recent AMI, showed a significant increase in 5 of the signature's 12 ceramides in plasma but not simultaneously-biopsied aortic tissue. In contrast, a rat AMI model, compared with sham control, showed a significant increase in myocardial concentrations of all 12 ceramides and up-regulation of 3 ceramide-producing enzymes, suggesting ischemic myocardium as a possible source of this ceramide signature.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of biodegradable polymer versus durable polymer drug-eluting stents incorporating real-world evidence.

Aim: Compared with second-generation durable polymer drug-eluting stents (DP-DES), the cost-effectiveness of biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents (BP-DES) remains unclear in the real-world setting. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of BP-DES in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We developed a decision-analytic model to compare the cost-effectiveness of BP-DES to DP-DES over 1 year and 5 years from healthcare payer perspective.

Clinical Results of Mean GTV Dose Optimized Robotic-Guided Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Lung Tumors.

Introduction: We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of gross tumor volume (GTV) mean dose optimized stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for primary and secondary lung tumors with and without robotic real-time motion compensation.

Materials And Methods: Between 2011 and 2017, 208 patients were treated with SBRT for 111 primary lung tumors and 163 lung metastases with a median GTV of 8.2 cc (0.

Treatment planning for spinal radiosurgery : A competitive multiplatform benchmark challenge.

Purpose: To investigate the quality of treatment plans of spinal radiosurgery derived from different planning and delivery systems. The comparisons include robotic delivery and intensity modulated arc therapy (IMAT) approaches. Multiple centers with equal systems were used to reduce a bias based on individual's planning abilities.

Treatment of Very Small De Novo Coronary Artery Disease With 2.0 mm Drug-Coated Balloons Showed 1-Year Clinical Outcome Comparable With 2.0 mm Drug-Eluting Stents.

Objective: To evaluate the 1-year clinical outcomes of patients treated with 2.0 mm drug-coated balloon (DCB) vs 2.0 mm drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in small-caliber vessel de novo coronary artery disease (CAD).

Incidence and predictors of target lesion failure in a multiethnic Asian population receiving the SYNERGY coronary stent: A prospective all-comers registry.

Objectives: To evaluate the target lesion failure (TLF) rate of the SYNERGY stent in all-comers, multiethnic Asian population.

Background: Currently, most drug eluting stents deliver anti-proliferative drugs from a durable polymer which is associated with a risk of late stent thrombosis. The novel everolimus-eluting, platinum chromium SYNERGY stent is coated with a bioabsorbable abluminal polymer that resolves within 4 months.

Sources of variability in quantifying circulating thymosin beta-4: literature review and recommendations.

Introduction: Thymosin beta-4 (TB4) is an endogenous peptide with protective and regenerative effects in models of cellular and organ injury. TB4 is increasingly measured as a potential plasma or serum biomarker in human cardiovascular, liver, infectious, and autoimmune disease.

Areas Covered: The focus of this review is the quantification of TB4 in clinical cohort studies and whether reported TB4 concentrations differ with respect to method of sample preparation.

A systematic review of burnout among doctors in China: a cultural perspective.

Background: Numerous studies around the world has already suggested that burnout among doctors is a global phenomenon. However, studies for burnout in doctors are relatively limited in Chinese communities when compared to the West. As risk factors, barriers to intervention and strategies combatting burnout in different parts of the world can vary a lot due to different social culture and healthcare system, study with a focus at doctors in China from a cultural perspective is a worthful endeavor.

Prognostic Implications of Dual Platelet Reactivity Testing in Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Studies on platelet reactivity (PR) testing commonly test PR only after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been performed. There are few data on pre- and post-PCI testing. Data on simultaneous testing of aspirin and adenosine diphosphate antagonist response are conflicting.

Frailty Predicts Incident Urinary Incontinence Among Hospitalized Older Adults-A 1-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: The relationship between frailty and urinary incontinence (UI) remains highly complex. There is limited data on the impact of frailty on new-onset UI among hospitalized older adults. Thus, we examined the ability of frailty to predict incident UI among them.

Optimizing the prescription isodose level in stereotactic volumetric-modulated arc radiotherapy of lung lesions as a potential for dose de-escalation.

Background: To derive and exploit the optimal prescription isodose level (PIL) in inverse optimization of volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT) as a potential approach to dose de-escalation in stereotactic body radiotherapy for non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC).

Methods: For ten patients, inverse Monte Carlo dose optimization was performed to cover 95% PTV by varying prescription isodose lines (PIL) at 60 to 80% and reference 85%. Subsequently, these were re-normalized to the median gross tumor volume dose (GTV-based prescription) to assess the impacts of PTV and normal tissue dose reduction.

Direct dose correlation of MRI morphologic alterations of healthy liver tissue after robotic liver SBRT.

Purpose: For assessing healthy liver reactions after robotic SBRT (stereotactic body radiotherapy), we investigated early morphologic alterations on MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) with respect to patient and treatment plan parameters.

Patients And Methods: MRI data at 6-17 weeks post-treatment from 22 patients with 42 liver metastases were analyzed retrospectively. Median prescription dose was 40 Gy delivered in 3-5 fractions.

A propensity score-matched comparison of biodegradable polymer vs second-generation durable polymer drug-eluting stents in a real-world population.

Aims: The safety and efficacy of BP-DES compared to second-generation DP-DES remain unclear in the real-world setting. We compared the clinical outcomes of biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents (BP-DES) with second-generation durable polymer drug-eluting stents (DP-DES) in an all-comer percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) registry.

Methods/results: The study included a cohort of 1065 patients treated with either BP-DES or DP-DES from January 2009 through October 2015.

Genome-wide association study identifies a missense variant at APOA5 for coronary artery disease in Multi-Ethnic Cohorts from Southeast Asia.

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified multiple loci associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) among predominantly Europeans. However, their relevance to multi-ethnic populations from Southeast Asia is largely unknown. We performed a meta-analysis of four GWAS comprising three Chinese studies and one Malay study (Total N = 2,169 CAD cases and 7,376 controls).

Burden among Family Caregivers of Dementia in the Oldest-Old: An Exploratory Study.

Background: With >85 years, the fastest growing age segment in developed countries, dementia in the oldest-old is projected to increase exponentially. Being older, caregivers of dementia in oldest-old (CDOO) may experience unique challenges compared with younger-age groups. Thus, we aim to explore demographic characteristics and burden pattern among CDOO.

Frailty in Hospitalized Older Adults: Comparing Different Frailty Measures in Predicting Short- and Long-term Patient Outcomes.

Objectives: Data for the assessment of frailty in acutely ill hospitalized older adults remains limited. Using the Frailty Index (FI) as "gold standard," we compared (1) the diagnostic performance of 3 frailty measures (FRAIL, Clinical Frailty Scale [CFS], and Tilburg Frailty Indicator [TFI]) in identifying frailty, and (2) their ability to predict negative outcomes at 12 months after enrollment.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Breathing-motion-compensated robotic guided stereotactic body radiation therapy : Patterns of failure analysis.

Purpose: We retrospectively evaluated the patterns of failure for robotic guided real-time breathing-motion-compensated (BMC) stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in the treatment of tumors in moving organs.

Patients And Methods: Between 2011 and 2016, a total of 198 patients with 280 lung, liver, and abdominal tumors were treated with BMC-SBRT. The median gross tumor volume (GTV) was 12.

Frailty and Risk of Adverse Outcomes in Hospitalized Older Adults: A Comparison of Different Frailty Measures.

Objectives: There is a paucity of data for the assessment of frailty in acutely ill hospitalized older adults. We aim to (1) compare the performance of frailty measures [5-item scale of fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illnesses, and loss of weight) (FRAIL), Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), and Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS)] in identifying frailty, using the widely adopted Frailty Index (FI) as "gold standard," and (2) compare their ability to predict negative outcomes among hospitalized older adults.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Integrated metabolomics and metallomics analyses in acute coronary syndrome patients.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Accurate risk prediction in ACS patients is critically important for helping clinicians make therapeutic decisions, such as recommending a more aggressive intervention and intensive follow-up. However, risk stratification in ACS patients remains challenging, and the identification of novel predictors is necessary for improving the prognostic prediction in ACS patients.