Community-Based Outreach for People Living With Methamphetamine-Associated Cardiomyopathy.

Methamphetamine-associated cardiomyopathy continues to grow within the United States. Although initiation of guideline-directed medical therapy and cessation of methamphetamine are cornerstones of therapy, many barriers to guideline-directed medical therapy use exist for patients with methamphetamine-associated cardiomyopathy. This paper presents a case series of patients who demonstrated profound clinical and echocardiographic improvement with engagement in a community heart failure program paired with the use of alarmed pill containers to target medication adherence.

Adults with CHD balancing motivations and concerns in pregnancy decision-making.

Background: While the incidence of pregnancy has increased among individuals with adult CHD, little has been described about considerations and experiences of patients with adult CHD regarding pregnancy.

Objective: We aimed to explore patients' motivations, concerns, and decision-making processes regarding pregnancy.

Methods: In April 2019-January 2020, we conducted in-depth telephone interviews with patients (n = 25) with simple, moderate, or complex adult CHD, who received prenatal care at the University of Washington during 2010-2019 and experienced a live birth.

Ethanol tolerance of Clostridium thermocellum: the role of chaotropicity, temperature and pathway thermodynamics on growth and fermentative capacity.

Background: Clostridium thermocellum is a promising candidate for consolidated bioprocessing of lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol. The low ethanol tolerance of this microorganism is one of the remaining obstacles to industrial implementation. Ethanol inhibition can be caused by end-product inhibition and/or chaotropic-induced stress resulting in increased membrane fluidization and disruption of macromolecules.

Modified Martius graft - a renaissance of surgical procedure.

Aim: The rectovaginal fistula (RVF) is relatively uncommon and by clinical manifestations grave illness. The surgery treatment of RVF is extremely demanding and represents the subject of frustration for many surgeons. Miscellaneous etiology of RVF and various heights of fistula in a rectovaginal septum are crucial for the choice of surgical procedure.

Effectiveness, Adverse Events, and Immune Response Following Double Vaccination with BNT162b2 in Staff at the National Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCCC).

Vaccination remains the leading strategy against COVID-19 worldwide. BNT162b2 is among the first licensed vaccines with high effectiveness. However, the role of antibody and cell immunity response monitoring after vaccination remains unclear.

Patient perspectives on clinician-patient partnerships to achieve comprehensive pregnancy care in adult congenital heart disease.

Background: Because adverse events are more common than in the general population, pregnancy is a high-risk experience for some patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). Guidelines for pregnancy are based on published literature, informed by adverse clinical outcomes with less priority given to patients' lived experiences. This study aims to describe ACHD patients' expectations for and experiences with pregnancy, including factors that influenced patients' perceived quality of care.

Cardiac and Pregnancy Outcomes of Pregnant Patients With Congenital Heart Disease According to Risk Classification System.

Pregnancy risk assessment for patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) must include physiologic and anatomic impacts. We aimed to determine whether maternal cardiac and pregnancy outcomes vary by disease severity defined according to the following 3 different classifications: ACHD anatomic severity, ACHD physiologic class, and modified World Health Organization (mWHO) class. Cardiac outcomes included a composite of arrhythmia, heart failure, stroke, and thromboembolism.

Experience With Advance Care Planning Discussions Among Pregnant Women With Congenital Heart Disease.

Context: Women with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) have an increased risk of adverse events during pregnancy. Advance care planning may therefore be an appropriate component of prenatal care.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the perspectives of women with ACHD surrounding advance care planning during pregnancy.

Selective versus routine lymphadenectomy in the treatment of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Limited data are available on the importance of routine lymphadenectomy of the hepatoduodenal ligament in the treatment of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer in the literature.

Methods: A single center retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate morbidity and long-term survival in patients who had undergone selective versus routine lymphadenectomy during surgery for colorectal liver metastasis. From January 2006 to December 2009, eighty-one patients undergoing radical resection due to liver metastasis from colorectal cancer were included.

Evaluation of protein expression and DNA methylation profiles detected by pyrosequencing in invasive breast cancer.

Breast carcinoma is the most common cancer with high mortality caused by metastatic disease. New molecular biomarkers predicting the tumour's metastatic potential would therefore improve metastasis prevention and personalised care. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between DNA methylation levels in invasivity and metastasising associated genes with aberrant protein expression and also to evaluate whether a similar DNA methylation level is present in the tumour and circulating cell-free DNA for utilising plasma DNA methylation as prognostic biomarker.

Portomesenteric vein gas and pneumatosis intestinalis--a rare complication after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in oesophageal cancer.

Portomesenteric vein gas and pneumatosis intestinalis is most commonly caused by mesenteric ischemia and bowel necrosis but may have a variety of other causes. The etiology is multifactorial and the clinical presentation is variable. The diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical suspicion and radiographic findings.

[Postoperative ileus--pathophysiology, prevention and treatment (overview)].

Postoperative ileus is relatively frequent postoperative complication after major abdominal operations, extending the patient's hospital stay and thus the cost of hospitalization. Multimodal fast-tract-access surgery is increasingly being implemented into clinical practice allows for an early resumption of intestinal activity and shortening hospital stays after uncomplicated major gastrointestinal operations.

Specific aspects of acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is still a disease with a significant mortality rate, mainly concerning the severe forms of this disease. Mortality in acute pancreatitis has 2 peaks. The first peak is caused by systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which takes place in the first week of the disease.

Enterovesical fistulas in Crohn's disease.

Background: Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the bowel, that may affects the urinary system. Although fistula formation has been reported in up to 35% patients suffering from Crohn's disease, urinary fistulas affect only 2 to 8% patients.

Patients And Methods: Authors have done a retrospective study with the aim to investigate the incidence of enterovesical fistulas in patients admitted due to Crohn's disease to the IInd Department of Surgery of the Comenius University Medical School and Department of Surgery of University Hospital Nitra during 10 years long period.

Valsalva leak point pressure predicts outcome after transobturator suburethral tape implantation--fact or fiction?

Introduction And Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of Valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP) on outcome of transobturator suburethral tape (TOT) implantation.

Material And Methods: 65 female patients underwent surgery between March 2004 and November 2005. Their inclusion criterion was urodynamic stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Septic complications of acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a potentially lethal disease. There are numerous studies published on acute pancreatitis. This article presents the results of research of many scientists in the field of acute pancreatitis.

Cystic renal cell carcinoma--rare clinical finding. Radiographic variations of tumor/cyst appearance and further diagnostic work-up.

Objectives: To review the cases of cystic renal cell carcinoma and multilocular cystic nephroma, point out the radiographic variations and define further diagnostic work-up.

Materials And Methods: Between 2003 and 2005 5 patients with suspected cystic renal cell carcinoma were treated surgically (1 pt underwent radical nephrectomy, 1 pt laparoscopic cyst decortication, 3 pts ablation), 2 patients with multilocular cystic nephroma underwent ultrasound guided biopsy.

Results: Histopathologic examination confirmed cystic renal cell carcinoma (CRCC) T1aNOM0 Fuhrman grade 1 in 3 cases, T1bN0M0 Fuhrman grade 2 in one case.

Effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor perindopril on endothelial and platelet functions in essential hypertension.

Endothelial damage and platelet hyperactivity may play a role in the vascular complications of essential hypertension. Restoration of endothelial function and reduction of increased platelet aggregation in essential hypertension are one of the aims of modern anti-hypertensive therapy. Therefore, the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on endothelial and platelet functions is of interest.

Portal vein thrombosis uncommon clinical picture.

The authors described a case of the patient of the idiopatic group of PVT. Due to only a few symptoms, the diagnosis was established late. This was confirmed by the fact, that the patient was not hospitalized.

The correlation of procalcitonin serum levels with the presence of biliary obstruction.

Introduction: There is still no general agreement as to which patients suffering from attacks of acute biliary pancreatitis should undergo emergent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with subsequent endoscopic intervention (endoscopic papilotomy, stent placement etc.). Many authors have described large differences in Procalcitonin (PTC) serum levels in patients suffering from biliary pancreatitis as opposed to patients whose acute pancreatitis is based on toxic etiology.

Epicystoscopic approach in the treatment of foreign body in the urethra and urinary bladder.

In most cases the foreign body can be removed transurethrally with a pair of grasping forceps. In some cases objects have to be cut or resected into small fragments, making it easier to extract the object or wash it out. An open surgical procedure via suprapubic transvesical approach is reserved for large-sized bodies or in cases when endoscopic methods are unsuccessful.

Retroperitoneoscopic approach in the treatment of symptomatic renal cysts.

Introduction And Objective: The authors present the results and follow up of patients with simple parenchymal and peripelvic cysts who underwent retroperitoneoscopic cyst decortication.

Material And Methods: The records of 19 patients who underwent 3/4-port retroperitoneoscopic cyst decortication between January 1999 and January 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients admitted to the hospital were symptomatic, the most common presenting syptoms were flank pain (19p) and hematuria (6p).

The clinical value of the procalcitonin in prediction of severity and outcome in acute pancreatitis.

Background/aims: Early identification of patients with severe forms of acute pancreatitis (AP) and subsequent management of these high risk patients are the most important aims in order to decrease mortality from AP. Procalcitonin (PCT) as a marker for systemic inflammation appears to be a useful marker for early identification of severe forms.

Methodology: 101 patients with confirmed AP have been admitted to department of general surgery.

Renal autotransplantation in irreversible ureteral injury.

The authors describe a case of ureteral avulsion in ureteroscopy and extraction of calculus from the central part of the ureter. They chose a renal autotransplantation for the ureter reconstruction. They share the same opinion as the authors who use renal autotransplantation as the method of choice in irreversible ureteral injury.

CEA and relapse after the operation of colorectal carcinoma.

Background: Relapses have an important meaning in relation to the curative surgical intervention. In RO resections according to UICC classification, the local relapses were classified as the most important factor for survival. Without any doubts the most important of these tumor-biological prognostic factors in patients with colorectal carcinoma is the carcino-embryonal antigen.