Impact of restrictive red blood cell transfusion strategy on thrombosis-related events: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background And Objectives: There is an ongoing controversy regarding the risks of restrictive and liberal red blood cell (RBC) transfusion strategies. This meta-analysis assessed whether transfusion at a lower threshold was superior to transfusion at a higher threshold, with regard to thrombosis-related events, that is, whether these outcomes can benefit from a restrictive transfusion strategy is debated.

Materials And Methods: We searched PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Scopus from inception up to 31 July 2021.

The moderating effect of solar radiation on the association between human mobility and COVID-19 infection in Europe.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a global pandemic. Some studies have suggested a negative association between sunlight intensity and COVID-19 infection, alluding to the belief that it might be safe to go out on sunny days. This paper examined whether solar radiation mitigated the association between human mobility and COVID-19 infection in Europe using a dynamic panel data model to investigate the effect of human mobility, solar radiation, and their interaction on COVID-19 infection.

A rare case of ectopic retrosternal goiter.

It is important for the clinician to be familiar with interpreting a variety of radiological modalities that provide vital information that will aid in the preoperative planning, counseling, and subsequent management of patients with retrosternal goiter.

Effect of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors on Acute Kidney Injury Among Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Review and Meta-Analysis.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of cardiac surgery, which can lead to higher mortality and long-term renal function impairment. The effect of perioperative renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) therapy on AKI incidence in patients undergoing cardiac surgery remains controversial. We reviewed related studies in PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library from inception to February 2020.

Validation of prognostic accuracy of the SOFA score, SIRS criteria, and qSOFA score for in-hospital mortality among cardiac-, thoracic-, and vascular-surgery patients admitted to a cardiothoracic intensive care unit.

Unlabelled: SEPSIS-3 DEFINITION: Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection. The clinical criteria of sepsis include organ dysfunction, which is defined as an increase of two points or more on the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA). For patients with infection, an increase of 2 SOFA points yields an overall mortality rate of 10%.

To extubate or not to extubate: Risk factors for extubation failure and deterioration with further mechanical ventilation.

Background: Extubation is a critical step in the intensive care unit (ICU). In this study, we aim to investigate the risk factors for both extubation failure and deterioration with further mechanical ventilation (MV).

Methods: Data were collected from a cardiothoracic ICU in a tertiary hospital.

Bedside pleural procedures by pulmonologists and non-pulmonologists: a 3-year safety audit.

Background And Objective: Pleural procedures such as tube thoracostomy and chest aspirations are commonly performed and carry potential risks of visceral organ injury, pneumothorax and bleeding. In this context limited information exists on the complication rates when non-pulmonologists perform ultrasound-guided bedside pleural procedures. Bedside pleural procedures in our university hospital were audited to compare complication rates between pulmonologists and non-pulmonologists.

Stem cell transplantation: potential impact on heart failure.

Cell transplantation is a promising new modality in treating damaged myocardium after myocardial infarction and in preventing postmyocardial infarction LV remodelling. Two strategies are plausible: the first uses adult tissue stem cells to replace the scar tissues and amend the lost myocardium, whilst the second strategy uses embryonic stem cells in an attempt to regenerate myocardium and/or blood vessels.

Anastomosis of small arteries: implications for coronary artery grafts in Asians.

The internal mammary artery (IMA) in patients with small body surface area, frequently found in the Asian population, is often small and delicate and can be easily damaged during suturing, particularly at the "toe" of the anastomosis. This may lead to less frequent utilization of the IMA as a bypass conduit. We describe a technique for anastomosing a small-caliber IMA to a coronary artery, using the tip of the graft as an autologous buttress to reinforce the toe of the anastomosis.