Publications by authors named "Moeller C"

Background: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) leads to impaired myocardial blood flow (MBF), increasing the risk of cardiovascular death or retransplant among heart transplantation (HT) recipients. Data on elevation in donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) and CAV in the absence of rejection are mixed. We sought to test the hypothesis that CAV with reduced MBF (RMBF) is associated with elevated dd-cfDNA.

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Australia's 2019/20 bushfire season was one of the most severe on record, from both land mass burned and the economic impact. This extreme weather season allowed the researchers to examine the effect of high PM exposure during high bushfire days on birthweight and gestational age. It is well known that bushfire smoke is harmful to human health.

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Background: Circulatory support with a catheter-based microaxial flow pump (mAFP) plays a major role in the treatment of severe cardiogenic shock. In most patients who fail to recover while on temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) and who are not eligible for heart transplantation, durable left ventricular assist device (dLVAD) implantation is usually considered a reliable option. This study aimed to describe the outcome of dLVAD therapy following mAFP support and to identify predictors of mortality.

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Background: Donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) has emerged as a reliable, noninvasive method for the surveillance of allograft rejection in heart transplantation (HT) patients, but its utility in multi-organ transplants (MOT) is unknown. We describe our experience using dd-cfDNA in simultaneous MOT recipients.

Methods: A single-center retrospective review of all HT recipients between 2018 and 2022 that had at least one measurement of dd-cfDNA collected.

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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate physician-patient alignment on menopausal symptom burden and impact for women experiencing natural vasomotor symptoms (nVMS) or VMS induced by endocrine therapy for breast cancer (iVMS).

Methods: For this real-world, cross-sectional survey, physicians from the USA and five European countries provided data for consulting patients experiencing nVMS/iVMS; patients optionally self-reported their experiences. Alignment between physician and patient responses was assessed using weighted Cohen's analysis.

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Objectives: Despite the profound impact of menopausal symptoms on women, treatment utilization is low, and many seek alternative therapies. The REALISE study aimed to evaluate the treatment landscape - that is, pharmacological treatment, lifestyle changes (LC), and use of over-the-counter (OTC) products - for women from six high-income countries experiencing vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and receiving healthcare.

Study Design: Analysis of a secondary dataset, the Adelphi Real World Disease Specific Programme™, a large, cross-sectional, point-in-time survey conducted in the United States and five European countries (February-October 2020).

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Article Synopsis
  • The increasing demand for organ transplants and advancements in LVAD technology have made LVADs a key option for patients awaiting heart transplants.
  • The text discusses the current processes involved in LVAD implantation, focusing on patient selection, preparation before the device is implanted, and outcomes after transplantation.
  • A recent policy change in the US has decreased the use of LVADs for transplantation, prompting suggestions to adjust allocation criteria to improve implantation rates.
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Canine osteosarcoma (OSA) is a malignancy that has been shown to modulate the host immune system. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF; CSF1) and interleukin-34 (IL-34; IL34) are both ligands of colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R), and may play a role in the pathogenesis of a variety of human cancers, including OSA. This study aimed to, (1) assess M-CSF and IL-34 expression in canine OSA cell lines and tissue samples, and (2) determine any correlations between M-CSF and IL-34 expression and immune cell infiltrates within canine OSA tissues.

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Objectives: Vasomotor symptoms induced by endocrine therapy are common in breast cancer survivors and a risk factor for therapy discontinuation and lower quality of life. The REALISE study evaluated the real-world treatment landscape in breast cancer survivors with vasomotor symptoms taking endocrine therapy, including pharmaceuticals, lifestyle changes, and over-the-counter products.

Study Design: Secondary analysis of the Adelphi Vasomotor Disease Specific Programme™, a large cross-sectional point-in-time survey and chart review conducted in the US and five European countries (February-October 2020).

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  • The HeartMate 3 survival risk score was validated to predict survival chances for patients receiving a HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device, categorizing them into different survival probability groups.
  • A study involving 181 patients revealed that those in the high survival group had a significantly higher two-year survival rate compared to average and low survival groups, with rates of 93.5%, 81.6%, and 82.0%, respectively.
  • Although the score's original stratification didn't clearly show survival differences, using a binary cutoff indicated better survival for patients in the high-risk category, demonstrating its potential utility in clinical settings.
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  • - The study investigated the effects of two heart preservation methods—ice-cold storage (ICS) and the Paragonix SherpaPak CTS—on ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) following heart transplantation, as ischemic times have increased since the 2018 allocation system change.
  • - Analysis of biopsies from 90 heart transplant recipients showed similar IRI rates between the two methods, but the CTS group had a significant reduction in coagulative myocyte necrosis (CMN) from weeks 1 to 4, and both methods showed reductions by week 8.
  • - Despite longer ischemic times with CTS, the study found no significant differences in rejection rates or survival between the groups, suggesting that CTS is a viable option
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Objectives: To evaluate the clinical implications of adjunctive molecular gene expression analysis (MMDx ) of biopsy specimens in heart transplant (HT ) recipients with suspected rejection.

Introduction: Histopathological evaluation remains the standard method for rejection diagnosis in HT. However, the wide interobserver variability combined with a relatively common incidence of "biopsy-negative" rejection has raised concerns about the likelihood of false-negative results.

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Drawing from collective experiences in our capacity building project: Health Equity Activation Research Team for Inclusion Health, we argue that while community-engaged partnerships tend to focus on understanding health inequities and developing solutions, they can be healing spaces for health professionals and researchers. Data were obtained from a 15-month participatory ethnography, including focus groups and interviews. Ethnographic notes and transcripts were coded and analyzed using both deductive and inductive coding.

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  • Stroke after left ventricular assist device implantation is linked to high mortality rates, and the study investigates the incidence and outcomes related to temporary mechanical support methods in patients needing a bridge to durable LVAD.
  • A retrospective analysis of 341 patients revealed that early ischemic stroke occurred in 10.8% and hemorrhagic stroke in 2.9% of cases post-d-LVAD implantation, with specific device types and conditions affecting hemorrhagic stroke risks.
  • Both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes significantly correlated with higher one-year mortality rates, indicating a need for careful management in patients undergoing d-LVAD procedures.
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  • The study aimed to understand how both physicians and patients perceive the impact of natural and induced vasomotor symptoms (nVMS and iVMS) on women's lives, particularly in relation to mood and sleep disturbances.
  • Conducted through surveys of physicians and patient questionnaires in the USA and Europe, the research collected data on symptom severity and its effects on quality of life and work productivity.
  • Findings revealed that a considerable number of patients with mild symptoms also faced significant mood and sleep issues, which worsened their overall quality of life and daily functioning beyond the vasomotor symptoms themselves.
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  • This study explores the challenges faced by pediatric heart transplant (HT) recipients when transitioning to adult care, focusing on identifying risk factors for poor health outcomes.
  • Researchers analyzed data from 72 patients who made this transition between 2011 and 2021, noting key factors such as medication adherence, psychiatric history, and age at transition.
  • The findings emphasize the need for structured transition plans tailored to high-risk individuals to improve adherence and outcomes in adult HT care.
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  • Belatacept (BTC) is a fusion protein that inhibits T-cell activation and has primarily been used for immunosuppression in kidney transplants, but its effectiveness for heart transplant patients remains less understood.
  • A retrospective study analyzed 21 heart transplant recipients who received BTC between 2017 and 2021, focusing on their health outcomes, including rejection rates and kidney function over a follow-up period that extended to December 2023.
  • Results indicated that BTC treatment had a low rejection rate (4.8%) and stable graft function, with a slight improvement in kidney health for the majority of the patients, though a significant portion of them discontinued the treatment within the study period.
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  • Patients with HeartMate 3 LVADs show improved hemodynamics through pump speed adjustments, particularly during hemodynamic ramp tests conducted from 2015 to 2022.
  • Out of 60 studied patients, only 58% had optimized filling pressures at baseline, but after speed adjustments, 65% achieved optimized measurements.
  • Those who attained optimized pressures experienced significantly lower readmission rates over 6 and 12 months, mainly due to reduced cardiac-related hospitalizations, compared to nonoptimized patients.
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Heart transplantation remains the gold standard treatment for end-stage heart failure patients without contraindications. However, limited donor availability and long wait times have created a need for left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) to be used as a bridge to transplantation in appropriately selected patients. Improvements in LVAD technology have resulted in improved short- and long-term outcomes, further supporting the use of these devices for a bridge-to-transplant (BTT) indication.

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Background: Cyproterone acetate (CPA) is a synthetic progesterone derivative introduced in the 1970s and prescribed as antiandrogenic therapy for inoperable prostate cancer, sexual deviations in men, and signs of androgenization in women. In 2020, the CPA summary of product characteristics (SmPC) was revised to include an updated special warning and precaution about (1) the risk of meningioma with increasing cumulative dose and (2) contraindication in patients with meningioma or history of meningioma. A Direct Healthcare Professional Communication (DHPC) was distributed.

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People experiencing addiction, houselessness, or who have a history of incarceration have worse health outcomes compared with the general population. This is due, in part, to practices and policies of historically White institutions that exclude the voices, perspectives, and contributions of communities of color in leadership, socio-economic development, and decision-making that matters for their wellbeing. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches hold promise for addressing health inequities.

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  • The review discusses the evolution of Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) from older pulsatile systems to newer continuous-flow devices like the HeartMate 3 (HM3), which have improved survival rates and quality of life for heart failure patients.
  • It highlights the dual use of LVADs as both a bridge to transplant and as destination therapy, noting the reduction in complications, particularly hemocompatibility-related adverse events with the HM3.
  • The review also addresses challenges such as infections and complications, introduces risk assessment tools for better patient care, and discusses future technologies that could revolutionize LVAD therapy and heart failure management.
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  • * Out of 10 documented pregnancies during LVAD support, 8 resulted in successful births, while 1 case involved maternal and fetal mortality and another was a spontaneous abortion.
  • * The study emphasizes the importance of a collaborative care approach, proper medication management, and understanding the physiological changes during pregnancy to support maternal and fetal health while on LVAD.
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  • Monitoring for graft rejection is essential in post-transplant care, especially in heart transplants, where traditional methods like endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) have limitations, including complications and variability in interpretation.
  • Newer noninvasive tools, such as cardiac biomarkers, imaging, gene expression profiling, donor-derived cell-free DNA, and the molecular microscope diagnostic system (MMDx), have emerged as important alternatives for rejection surveillance.
  • The paper argues for the use of MMDx to enhance early detection of rejection when results from EMB don't align with other noninvasive screening methods.
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Studies have shown racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence of vasomotor symptoms (VMS), sleep disturbance and VMS treatment in menopause. To assess the reproducibility of these differences, we systematically reviewed observational studies, published in 2000-2021, reporting the prevalence/incidence of VMS, sleep disturbance or treatment use in menopausal women stratified by race/ethnicity. We screened 3799 records from PubMed and Embase and included 27 papers (19 studies).

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