Tricuspid Regurgitation after Orthotopic Heart Transplantation: Trajectories and Association With Mortality.

Background: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is common immediately after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT), though the expected outcomes of TR over time remain undefined. In this study, we examined the natural trajectory of TR in the first 120 days post-transplantation. We observed the clinical phenotypes of trajectories of TR after OHT, and assessed trajectory correlation with 1-year mortality and degree of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction.

Converging cytokine and metabolite networks shape asymmetric T cell fate at the term human maternal-fetal interface.

Placentation presents immune conflict between mother and fetus, yet in normal pregnancy maternal immunity against infection is maintained without expense to fetal tolerance. This is believed to result from adaptations at the maternal-fetal interface (MFI) which affect T cell programming, but the identities (i.e.

Reduce intraoperative albumin utilisation in cardiac surgical patients: a quality improvement initiative.

Background: Albumin continues to be used routinely by cardiac anaesthesiologists perioperatively despite lack of evidence for improved outcomes. The Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG) data ranked our institution as one of the highest intraoperative albumin users during cardiac surgery. Therefore, we designed a quality improvement project (QIP) to introduce a bundle of interventions to reduce intraoperative albumin use in cardiac surgical patients.

Intraoperative Echocardiography: Guide to Decision-Making.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to provide a concise overview of key recommendations, with a specific focus on common challenges faced by intraoperative echocardiographers when dealing with frequently encountered valvular pathologies and mechanical circulatory support. It offers valuable insights for medical practitioners in this field.

Recent Findings: The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) and the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) have released updated comprehensive guidelines for the use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for the assessment of cardiac structures and implanted devices to help guide intraoperative decision-making.

Pain trajectories after bilateral orthotopic lung transplantation surgery performed via a clamshell incision.

Introduction: The nature, intensity, and progression of acute pain after bilateral orthotopic lung transplantation (BOLT) performed via a clamshell incision has not been well investigated. We aimed to describe acute pain after clamshell incisions using pain trajectories for the study cohort, in addition to stratifying patients into separate pain trajectory groups and investigating their association with donor and recipient perioperative variables.

Methods: After obtaining IRB approval, we retrospectively included all patients ≥18 years old who underwent primary BOLT via clamshell incision at a single center between January 1, 2017, and June 30, 2022.

Innovative growth and development of a neurological surgery residency cadaveric spine-simulation training program: a single-institution experience.

Objective: Cadaveric and dry 3D model-based simulation training is a valuable educational tool for neurosurgical residents. Such simulation training is an opportunity for residents to hone technical skills and decision-making and enhance their neuroanatomy knowledge. The authors describe the growth and development of the Oregon Health & Science University Department of Neurological Surgery resident-focused, hands-on, spine-simulation surgery courses and provide details of course evaluations, layout, and setup.

Vaginal Bacteria Elicit Acute Inflammatory Response in Fallopian Tube Organoids.

To facilitate in vitro mechanistic studies in pelvic inflammatory disease and subsequent tubal factor infertility, we sought to establish patient tissue derived fallopian tube (FT) organoids and to study their inflammatory response to acute vaginal bacterial infection. FT tissues were obtained from four patients after salpingectomy for benign gynecological diseases. We introduced acute infection in the FT organoid culture system by inoculating the organoid culture media with two common vaginal bacterial species, Lactobacillus crispatus and Fannyhessea vaginae.

Two-year real-world outcome data from a single tertiary centre shows reduced ustekinumab persistence in a non-bio-naïve Crohn's disease cohort with penetrating disease, -ostomies and sarcopenia.

Background: Ustekinumab was approved in 2016 for the treatment of moderate-severe Crohn's disease (CD). Clinical trials and real-world studies have suggested ustekinumab to be a safe and effective treatment; however, studies to date infrequently use imaging techniques to predict response to biologics in CD.

Objectives: We assessed the 2-year real-world effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab in a tertiary CD cohort with the use of novel imaging techniques.

The Role of Recipient Thyroid Hormone Supplementation in Primary Graft Dysfunction After Heart Transplantation: A Propensity-Adjusted Analysis.

Objectives: To investigate whether recipient administration of thyroid hormone (liothyronine [T3]) is associated with reduced rates of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after orthotopic heart transplantation.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Single-center, university hospital.

Adult-Onset Still's Disease in Pregnancy: Lessons Learned and an Approach to Subsequent Pregnancies.

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare autoinflammatory disorder with potential for life-threatening complications in pregnancy. Recently, biologic therapeutics have been increasingly used for treatment of AOSD, but there is little available data on the treatment of AOSD in pregnancy. Here we report a 23-year-old primigravid patient with a history of AOSD who presented at 20 weeks of gestation with fever, arthralgias, rash, fatigue, and highly elevated ferritin, concerning for AOSD flare.

Splanchnic Nerve Modulation Effects on Surrogate Measures of Venous Capacitance.

Background Splanchnic nerve modulation (SNM) is an emerging procedure to reduce cardiac filling pressures in heart failure. Although the main contributor to reduction in cardiac preload is thought to be increased venous capacitance in the splanchnic circulation, supporting evidence is limited. We examined changes in venous capacitance surrogates pre- and post-SNM.

Health care resource utilization and clinical outcomes for adult heart transplant recipients with primary graft dysfunction.

Introduction: The advent of new technologies to reduce primary graft dysfunction (PGD) and improve outcomes after heart transplantation are costly. Adoption of these technologies requires a better understanding of health care utilization, specifically the costs related to PGD.

Methods: Records were examined from all adult patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) between July 1, 2013 and July 30, 2019 at a single institution.

Vaginal bacteria elicit acute inflammatory response in fallopian tube organoids: a model for pelvic inflammatory disease.

To facilitate mechanistic studies in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and subsequent tubal factor infertility, as well as ovarian carcinogenesis, we sought to establish patient tissue derived fallopian tube (FT) organoids and to study their inflammatory response to acute vaginal bacterial infection. Experimental study. Academic medical and researchcenter.

Vaginal bacteria elicit acute inflammatory response in fallopian tube organoids: a model for pelvic inflammatory disease.

Objective: To facilitate mechanistic studies in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and subsequent tubal factor infertility, as well as ovarian carcinogenesis, we sought to establish patient tissue derived fallopian tube (FT) organoids and to study their inflammatory response to acute vaginal bacterial infection.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: Academic medical and research center.

Innovative growth and development of a neurological surgery residency cadaveric skull base simulation training program: A single institution experience.

Objective: Neurosurgical cadaveric and simulation training is a valuable opportunity for residents and fellows to develop as neurosurgeons, further neuroanatomy knowledge, and develop decision-making and technical expertise. The authors describe the growth and development of Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Department of Neurological Surgery (NSG) resident hands-on simulation skull base course and provide details of course layout and setup.

Methods: A three-part surgical simulation series was created to provide training in cadaveric skull base procedures.

Increased fetal microchimerism in immune and stem cell subsets in preeclampsia.

Problem: Preeclampsia (PE) is associated with an increased risk of maternal cardiovascular disease (CVD), however, it is unclear whether this is due to shared underlying physiology or changes which occur during the disease process. Fetal microchimerism (FMc) within the maternal circulation can durably persist decades after pregnancy, is known to occur at greater frequency in PE, and can potentially affect local and systemic immune programming, thus changes in cellular FMc may provide a mechanism for long-term health outcomes associated with PE.

Method Of Study: We investigated whether PE is associated with alterations in FMc immune and stem cell populations.

Donnan dialysis for phosphate recovery from diverted urine.

There is a critical need to shift from existing linear phosphorous management practices to a more sustainable circular P economy. Closing the nutrient loop can reduce our reliance on phosphate mining, which has well-documented environmental impacts, while simultaneously alleviating P pollution of aquatic environments from wastewater discharges that are not completely treated. The high orthophosphate, HPO, content in source-separated urine offers propitious opportunities for P recovery.

Umbilical Cord Maternal Microchimerism in Normal and Preeclampsia Pregnancies.

Bidirectional exchange of cells between mother and fetus establishes microchimerism (Mc). Mc can persist for decades and is associated with later-life health and disease. Greater fetal Mc is detected in the maternal compartment in preeclampsia (PE), but whether maternal Mc (MMC) in umbilical cord blood (CB) is altered in PE is unknown.

The First Autoregulated Total Artificial Heart Implant in the United States.

The Aeson total artificial heart provides right- and left-sided heart replacement for biventricular failure with notable improvements from prior generations. These include enhanced hemocompatibility and autoregulation enabling increased output in response to higher filling pressures. We report the first clinical implantation in the United States as part of an early feasibility study.

Determinants of Cervical Cancer Screening Patterns Among Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are vulnerable to cervical dysplasia due to the persistence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The objective of this cross-sectional retrospective study was to investigate the prevalence of cervical cancer screening according to the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) SLE-specific cervical cancer screening guidelines. We also aimed to identify SLE-specific determinants associated with ASCCP adherence.