The Cost of Gunshot Wounds to the Head: An Unevenly Distributed Burden.

Background: Despite the significant clinical consequences and socioeconomic costs of gunshot wounds to the head (GSWH), studies examining prehospital risk factors, geospatial patterns, and economic cost are lacking.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for patients with GSWH (single or multiple injuries) presenting to the level one Ryder Trauma Center (hospital patients) as well as the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner (ME) Department, from October 2013 to October 2015. In addition, ME data were queried from the previous decade (2008-2017) to analyze longitudinal trends.

Surgical Resection of a Giant Azygos Vein Aneurysm.

Azygos vein aneurysm is a rare finding with sparse documentation in the medical literature. We present the case of a large thrombosed azygos vein aneurysm and its successful treatment by surgical resection. The size, shape, and nature of the aneurysm as well as the symptomatic presentation substantiated surgical management, which we propose is a safe and effective management strategy for similar cases.

The impact of respiratory motion on electromagnetic fields and specific absorption rate in cardiac imaging at 7T.

Purpose: To present electromagnetic simulation setups for detailed analyses of respiration's impact on and E-fields, local specific absorption rate (SAR) and associated safety-limits for 7T cardiac imaging.

Methods: Finite-difference time-domain electromagnetic field simulations were performed at five respiratory states using a breathing body model and a 16-element 7T body transceiver RF-coil array. and SAR are analyzed for fixed and moving coil configurations.

Tenofovir alafenamide does not inhibit mitochondrial function and cholesterol biosynthesis in human T lymphoblastoid cell line.

In clinical trials, the concentration of tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) in peripheral mononuclear cells was 4 to 5-fold higher in individuals treated with tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) compared to individuals treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). We hypothesized that the higher intracellular accumulation of TFV-DP could cause mitochondrial toxicity from either polymerase gamma (Pol-γ)-dependent or Pol-γ-independent mechanism(s). To test this hypothesis, we cultured human T lymphoblastoid cell line (CEM cells) for up to 12 days with TAF or TDF (multiplicities of C) to investigate the effects on mitochondrial function and respiration, and cholesterol biosynthesis.

Early Rhythm-Control Therapy in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Despite improvements in the management of atrial fibrillation, patients with this condition remain at increased risk for cardiovascular complications. It is unclear whether early rhythm-control therapy can reduce this risk.

Methods: In this international, investigator-initiated, parallel-group, open, blinded-outcome-assessment trial, we randomly assigned patients who had early atrial fibrillation (diagnosed ≤1 year before enrollment) and cardiovascular conditions to receive either early rhythm control or usual care.