Socioeconomic status as a predictor of post-operative mortality and outcomes in carotid artery stenting vs. carotid endarterectomy.

Background: The association between low socioeconomic status (SES) and worse surgical outcomes has become an emerging area of interest. Literature has demonstrated that carotid artery stenting (CAS) poses greater risk of postoperative complications, particularly stroke, than carotid endarterectomy (CEA). This study aims to compare the impact of low SES on patients undergoing CAS vs.

Minimally invasive approach associated with lower resource utilization after aortic and mitral valve surgery.

Objective: To investigate the effect of minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) on resource utilization, cost, and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing left-heart valve operations.

Methods: Data were retrospectively reviewed for patients undergoing single-valve surgery (eg, aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement, or mitral valve repair) at a single center from 2018 to 2021, stratified by surgical approach: MICS vs full sternotomy (FS). Baseline characteristics and postoperative outcomes were compared.

Ambulatory Electrocardiography Monitoring for Early Discharge After Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery.

Introduction: We sought to compare outcomes after early discharge in patients with and without predischarge diagnosis of arrhythmia following minimally invasive valve surgery (MIVS).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed ambulatory electrocardiography (AECG) datasheets and medical records of patients discharged with 14-d AECG monitoring from our facility between October 2019 and March 2022 ≤ 3 d after MIVS. Baseline and clinical characteristics, arrhythmias during AECG monitoring, and 30-d adverse outcomes were reported for the population and stratified by presence or absence of predischarge arrhythmia.

Outcomes of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement in patients with obese body mass indices.

Background: Minimally invasive heart valve surgery has previously been shown to be safe and feasible in obese patients. Within this population, we investigated the effect of obesity class on the patient outcomes of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (mini-AVR).

Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with obese body mass indices (BMIs) who underwent mini-AVR between 2012 and 2020.

The "Let's Talk!" Conference: A Culture-Specific Community Intervention for Asian and Asian American Student Mental Health.

Asian and Asian American students face culture-specific mental health risk factors, and the current study aims to examine whether a culture-specific community intervention in the form of a conference is an effective modality for psychoeducation in the Asian American community. Participants were assessed for reported changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behavior intentions related to mental health after attending the conference. A total of 118 conference participants filled out the survey.

Loss of glucocerebrosidase 1 activity causes lysosomal dysfunction and α-synuclein aggregation.

Lysosomal dysfunction is a common pathological feature of neurodegenerative diseases. GTP-binding protein type A1 (GBA1) encodes β-glucocerebrosidase 1 (GCase 1), a lysosomal hydrolase. Homozygous mutations in GBA1 cause Gaucher disease, the most common lysosomal storage disease, while heterozygous mutations are strong risk factors for Parkinson's disease.

Glucocerebrosidase, a new player changing the old rules in Lewy body diseases.

Mutations in the gene encoding glucocerebrosidase (GBA1) cause Gaucher disease (GD), a lysosomal storage disease with recessive inheritance. Glucocerebrosidase (GCase) is a lysosomal lipid hydrolase that digests glycolipid substrates, such as glucosylceramide and glucosylsphingosine. GBA1 mutations have been implicated in Lewy body diseases (LBDs), such as Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Antibody-aided clearance of extracellular α-synuclein prevents cell-to-cell aggregate transmission.

Abnormal deposition and intercellular propagation of α-synuclein plays a central role in the pathogenesis of disorders such as Parkinson's Disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Previous studies demonstrated that immunization against α-synuclein resulted in reduced α-synuclein accumulation and synaptic loss in a transgenic (tg) mouse model, highlighting the potential for immunotherapy. However, the mechanism by which immunization prevents synucleinopathy-associated deficits remains unknown.