Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Across Hemodynamic Subtypes of Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis: A Network Meta-analysis.

Background: Studies assessing outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) with hemodynamic subtypes have demonstrated mixed results with respect to outcomes and periprocedural complications. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of TAVR in patients across various hemodynamic subtypes of severe AS.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched through September 2023 to identify all observational studies comparing outcomes of TAVR in patients with paradoxical low flow low gradient (pLFLG), classic LFLG, and high gradient AS (HGAS).

Cardiovascular Outcomes Associated With Exposure To Radiation Therapy In Thoracic Malignancies: An Insight Study Using the National Inpatient Database.

Background Thoracic irradiation is a widely used therapeutic and palliative treatment option for thoracic neoplasms. However, short- and long-term cardiovascular adverse effects of radiation exposure remain a major concern. The short-term adverse effects are observed within months of exposure such as pericardial diseases; meanwhile, the long-term complications are usually insidious and manifest over decades, such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, conduction disorders, constrictive pericarditis, and valvular heart disease.

Outcomes in patients with COVID-19 and new onset heart blocks: Insight from the National Inpatient Sample database.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in a worldwide health crisis since it first appeared. Numerous studies demonstrated the virus's predilection to cardiomyocytes; however, the effects that COVID-19 has on the cardiac conduction system still need to be fully understood.

Aim: To analyze the impact that COVID-19 has on the odds of major cardiovascular complications in patients with new onset heart blocks or bundle branch blocks (BBB).

Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients Excluded From Clinical Trials.

Background: The use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with aortic valve disease excluded from clinical trials has increased with no large-scale data on its safety.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the trend of utilization and adjusted outcomes of TAVI in clinical trials excluded (CTE) vs clinical trials included TAVI (CTI-TAVI) patients.

Methods: We used the National Readmission Database (2015-2019) to identify 15 CTE-TAVI conditions.

Impact of Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program Policy on 30-Day and 90-Day Readmissions in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: A 10-Year Trend From the National Readmissions Database.

Hospital readmissions following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) pose a significant economic burden on health care utilization. The hospital readmission reduction program (HRRP) enacted in 2012 focused on reducing readmissions by penalizing Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare hospitals. We aim to assess the trend of readmissions after AMI hospitalization between 2010 and 2019 and assess the impact of HRRP.

Factor Xa inhibitors versus vitamin K antagonist in morbidly obese patients with venous thromboembolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Guidelines have endorsed non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), consisting of factor Xa inhibitors (xabans) and direct thrombin inhibitors, as the first line of treatment in venous thromboembolism (VTE) and atrial fibrillation. However, morbidly obese patients were under-represented in landmark trials of NOACs. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review and perform a meta-analysis of studies on xabans versus vitamin K antagonist (VKA) in this high-risk population with VTE.

Trends and Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease: Insights From the National Readmissions Database.

Due to shared risk factors, many patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) also have concomitant peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The readmission rates and long term clinical outcomes of these patients following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in a large sample has not been well defined. The National Readmissions Database (NRD) (2015-2019) was used to identify patients undergoing TAVI.

Causes and predictors of immediate and short-term readmissions following percutaneous left atrial appendage closure procedure.

Introduction: Percutaneous left atrial appendage device closure has been offered as an alternative to anticoagulation for high-risk patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Given the relative novelty of the procedure, we aimed to analyze the rates and causes of immediate (30 days) and short-term (90 days) readmission after the procedure.

Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study using the Nationwide Readmissions Database for 2018.

Readmission and In-Hospital Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Dementia.

Background/purpose: The prevalence of dementia and aortic stenosis (AS) increases with each decade of age. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a definitive treatment for AS, but there are scarce data on morbidity, mortality, and readmission risk after TAVR in patients with dementia.

Methods/materials: We identified all admissions for TAVR in patients with AS in the National Readmissions Database in 2017-2018 and stratified them according to the presence or absence of a secondary diagnosis of dementia.

Electrolyte Abnormalities Associated With the Use of Atezolizumab - A Systematic Review.

Background And Objectives: In recent years, immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) particularly atezolizumab is on the rise in treating advanced malignancies. With its increased clinical use, various electrolyte abnormalities have been reported in the literature. In this review, we have addressed the question of significant electrolyte abnormalities associated with atezolizumab.

Safety and efficacy of ultrafiltration versus diuretics in patients with decompensated heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Ultrafiltration (UF) is used for fluid removal patients with acute decompensated heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) refractory to diuretics. However, data on the relative merits of UF and diuretics are limited.

Methods: Online databases were queried to identify clinical trials on the comparison of UF and diuretics.

Efficacy and Toxicity Profile of Carfilzomib-Based Regimens for Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: A Systematic Review.

Carfilzomib (CFZ) is a proteasome inhibitor currently approved for the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Multiple trials are ongoing to evaluate its efficacy and safety in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). The use of CFZ-based two- or three-drug combination regimens as induction for the management of NDMM is an emerging approach.

How strong is the evidence that it is possible to get SARS-CoV-2 twice? A systematic review.

With a large number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients being discharged from hospital with negative test results for SARS-CoV-2, it has been reported that several recovered cases tested positive after discharge (re-positive, RP). This finding has raised several important questions for this novel coronavirus and Covid-19 disease. In this review, we have discussed several important questions, including: (1) Can the virus re-infect recovered individuals? (2) What are the possible causes of the re-positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test in recovered patients? (3) What are the implications of these re-positive cases concerning the spread of the virus? Understanding how recovery from Covid-19 confers immunity to decrease the risk of re-infection is needed to inform current efforts to safely scale back population-based interventions, such as physical distancing.

Efficacy and Safety of Regimens Used for the Treatment of POEMS Syndrome- A Systematic Review.

POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy/edema, monoclonal plasma protein [M protein], and skin changes) is a rare paraneoplastic disorder associated with underlying plasma cell neoplasia. Although limited-stage disease can be treated with radiotherapy, treatment for the more advanced disease remains unclear. The most commonly used therapies for POEMS syndrome include alkylators and steroids, high-dose chemotherapy with autologos stem cell transplantation, lenalidomide, and bortezomib.

Role of Venetoclax in the Treatment of Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

Biomarker-driven targeted therapies have been an area of exploration for innovative therapeutic options in oncology. B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) protein is an anti-apoptotic protein expressed on the clonal plasma cells in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). MM subsets with t (11;14) have overexpression of BCL-2 and can benefit from venetoclax (VEN) when used either alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents with an overall response rate (ORR) ranging from 40% to 100%.

Safety and Efficacy of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors in COVID-19 Population.

Introduction: The safety of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) among COVID-19 patients has been controversial since the onset of the pandemic.

Methods: Digital databases were queried to study the safety of RAASi in COVID-19. The primary outcome of interest was mortality.

Bottom-up analysis of emergent properties of N-acetylcysteine as an adjuvant therapy for COVID-19.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an abundantly available antioxidant with a wide range of antidotal properties currently best studied for its use in treating acetaminophen overdose. It has a robustly established safety profile with easily tolerated side effects and presents the Food and Drug Administration's approval for use in treating acetaminophen overdose patients. It has been proven efficacious in off-label uses, such as in respiratory diseases, heart disease, cancer, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and seasonal influenza.

Role of Radiofrequency Ablation in the Management of Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancies of the digestive tract and carries a poor prognosis. The majority of patients have advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Surgical resection offers the only curative treatment, but only a small proportion of patients can undergo surgical resection.

Relapsed breast cancer complicated by isolated brain metastasis.

The most common etiology of malignant brain tumors is metastatic lesions. They usually present as multiple lesions at the gray-white matter junction. However, they can unconventionally present as a single space-occupying lesion mimicking meningioma.