Magnetic Ball Chain Robots for Cardiac Arrhythmia Treatment.

This paper introduces a novel magnetic navigation system for cardiac ablation. The system is formed from two key elements: a magnetic ablation catheter consisting of a chain of spherical permanent magnets; and an actuation system comprised of two cart-mounted permanent magnets undergoing pure rotation. The catheter design enables a large magnetic content with the goal of minimizing the footprint of the actuation system for easier integration with the clinical workflow.

The therapeutic potential of circular RNAs.

Over the past decade, research into circular RNA (circRNA) has increased rapidly, and over the past few years, circRNA has emerged as a promising therapeutic platform. The regulatory functions of circRNAs, including their roles in templating protein translation and regulating protein and RNA functions, as well as their unique characteristics, such as increased stability and a favourable immunological profile compared with mRNAs, make them attractive candidates for RNA-based therapies. Here, we describe the properties of circRNAs, their therapeutic potential and technologies for their synthesis.

mTOR Signaling Regulates Multiple Metabolic Pathways in Human Lung Fibroblasts After TGF-β and in Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal disease characterized by the TGF-β-dependent activation of lung fibroblasts, leading to excessive deposition of collagen proteins and progressive replacement of healthy lung with scar tissue. We and others have shown that TGF-β-mediated activation of the Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) and downstream upregulation of Activating Transcription Factor 4 (ATF4) promote metabolic reprogramming in lung fibroblasts characterized by upregulation of the de synthesis of glycine, the most abundant amino acid found in collagen protein. Whether mTOR and ATF4 regulate other metabolic pathways in lung fibroblasts has not been explored.

Ventricular septation for double inlet ventricle: Avoiding conduction injury.

Objectives: Although conduction location can be reliably predicted in double inlet ventricle, ventricular septation continues to carry a significant risk of complete heart block. This study describes our experience using intraoperative conduction mapping during ventricular septation.

Methods: Patients undergoing ventricular septation from 2017 to 2023 were identified.

Adsorption of Ag, Au, Cu, and Ni on MoS: theory and experiment.

Here, we present results of a computational and experimental study of adsorption of various metals on MoS. In particular, we analyzed the binding mechanism of four metallic elements (Ag, Au, Cu, Ni) on MoS. Among these elements, Ni exhibits the strongest binding and lowest mobility on the surface of MoS.

Electrocardiogram-Based Deep Learning to Predict Mortality in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: Artificial intelligence-enhanced electrocardiogram (AI-ECG) analysis shows promise to predict mortality in adults with acquired cardiovascular diseases. However, its application to the growing repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) population remains unexplored.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop and externally validate an AI-ECG model to predict 5-year mortality in rTOF.

Blood Cancer Network Ireland (BCNI) and National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) collaboration: challenges and utility of an Enhanced Blood Cancer Outcomes Registry (EBCOR) pilot.

Background: The Blood Cancer Network Ireland and National Cancer Registry Ireland worked to create an Enhanced Blood Cancer Outcomes Registry (EBCOR). Enhanced data in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) included an extensive data dictionary, bespoke software and longitudinal follow-up.

Aims: To demonstrate the utility of the database, we applied the data to examine a clinically relevant question: Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) usefulness in predicting AML patients' survival.

Epicardial pacing outcomes in infants with heart block: Lead and device complications from a multicenter experience.

Background: Infants with complete heart block (CHB) require epicardial pacemaker (PM) insertion. Prior studies described epicardial pacing outcomes in infants and children, although they were limited by small or heterogeneous populations.

Objective: This study aimed to explore patient- and procedure-level associations with device complications in infants with CHB who received a permanent PM.

Primary nasal influenza infection rewires tissue-scale memory response dynamics.

The nasal mucosa is often the initial site of respiratory viral infection, replication, and transmission. Understanding how infection shapes tissue-scale primary and memory responses is critical for designing mucosal therapeutics and vaccines. We generated a single-cell RNA-sequencing atlas of the murine nasal mucosa, sampling three regions during primary influenza infection and rechallenge.

ATF4 and mTOR regulate metabolic reprogramming in TGF-β-treated lung fibroblasts.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal disease characterized by the TGF-β-dependent activation of lung fibroblasts, leading to excessive deposition of collagen proteins and progressive replacement of healthy lung with scar tissue. We and others have shown that fibroblast activation is supported by metabolic reprogramming, including the upregulation of the synthesis of glycine, the most abundant amino acid found in collagen protein. How fibroblast metabolic reprogramming is regulated downstream of TGF-β is incompletely understood.

A Six-Year Follow-Up of Bloodstream Infections in Hemodialysis Facilities in the United States, National Healthcare Safety Network, 2020.

Background: Approximately 500,000 people in the United States undergoing hemodialysis are at risk of bloodstream infections (BSIs). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network conducts surveillance for BSIs among outpatient hemodialysis facilities in the United States. Quality improvement initiatives encourage these facilities to adopt evidence-based interventions to decrease the incidence of BSI in patients.

Surgical debulking of large ventricular fibromas in children.

Objective: This study aims to provide an update on the clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, operative strategies, and midterm outcomes in children undergoing ventricular fibroma resection.

Methods: Single-center, retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing ventricular fibroma resection between 2000 and 2023.

Results: Among 52 patients, median age at surgery was 2.

Primary nasal viral infection rewires the tissue-scale memory response.

The nasal mucosa is frequently the initial site of respiratory viral infection, replication, and transmission. Recent work has started to clarify the independent responses of epithelial, myeloid, and lymphoid cells to viral infection in the nasal mucosa, but their spatiotemporal coordination and relative contributions remain unclear. Furthermore, understanding whether and how primary infection shapes tissue-scale memory responses to secondary challenge is critical for the rational design of nasal-targeting therapeutics and vaccines.

Inducing expression of ICOS-L by oncolytic adenovirus to enhance tumor-specific bi-specific antibody efficacy.

Background: Intratumoral injection of oncolytic viruses (OVs) shows promise in immunotherapy: ONCOS-102, a genetically engineered OV that encodes Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) demonstrated efficacy in early clinical trials, enhancing T cell infiltration in tumors. This suggests OVs may boost various forms of immunotherapy, including tumor-specific bi-specific antibodies (BsAbs).

Methods: Our study investigated in vitro, how ONCOS-204, a variant of ONCOS-virus expressing the ligand of inducible T-cell co-stimulator (ICOSL), modulates the process of T cell activation induced by a BsAb.

Long-Term Outcomes of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Patients With Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: A Multicenter Study.

Background: A growing number of patients with tetralogy of Fallot develop left ventricular systolic dysfunction and heart failure, in addition to right ventricular dysfunction. Although cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established treatment option, the effect of CRT in this population is still not well defined. This study aimed to investigate the early and late efficacy, survival, and safety of CRT in patients with tetralogy of Fallot.

An Update From the National Healthcare Safety Network on Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs in the United States, 2014-2021.

Background: In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASPs) and began monitoring uptake through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Annual Hospital Survey. In 2019, CDC updated the Core Elements and in 2022 released the Priorities for Hospital Core Element Implementation. We describe Core Element uptake from 2014 to 2021, provide a snapshot of specific ASP practices in acute care hospitals in 2021, and describe how we plan to monitor stewardship moving forward.