A dual-center analysis of conservative versus liberal glycoprotein IIb-IIIa antagonist strategies in the treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

While the efficacy of GpIIb-IIIa-inhibitors during primary PCI (pPCI) for ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) has previously been demonstrated, its ongoing role and safety in combination with newer P2Y12-inhibitors is unclear. We therefore sought to compare outcomes between two centers with divergent approaches to the use of GpIIbIIIa antagonists in pPCI. We performed a retrospective chart review of all-comer STEMI patients treated with pPCI at two high-volume Montreal academic tertiary care centers.

Contemporary incidence and predictors of left ventricular thrombus in patients with anterior acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The incidence of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) after anterior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been well established in the era of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) and potent dual antiplatelet therapy. The objective of this study is to establish the contemporary incidence of LVT in this population, to identify their risk factors, and to examine their association with clinical outcomes.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort study including AMI patients with new-onset antero-apical wall motion abnormalities treated with pPCI between 2009 and 2017 was conducted.

Oral Anticoagulation for the Prevention of Thromboembolic Events in Patients With Anterior ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Objectives: The objective is to assess the comparative effectiveness and safety of dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) vs triple therapy (TT) with DAPT + oral anticoagulant (OAC) in patients with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and with new-onset anterior/apical wall-motion abnormalities (WMAs) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: Patients with STEMI and new-onset anterior/apical WMA may benefit from the addition of OAC to prevent left ventricular thrombus and cardioembolic events.

Methods: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted.

Assessing the current state of medical education on cannabis in Canada: Preliminary findings from Quebec.

The legalization of recreational cannabis across Canada has revealed the importance of medical education on cannabis-related topics. A recent study has indicated that Canadian physicians report a significant gap in current versus desired knowledge regarding the therapeutic use of cannabis. However, the state of education on cannabis has never been studied in Canadian medical schools.

Inflammation of the choroid plexus and ependymal layer of the ventricle following intraventricular hemorrhage.

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), which afflicts thousands of people of all ages every year, frequently results in the development of communicating hydrocephalus. Classically, IVH-induced hydrocephalus has been attributed to reduced resorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) due to dysfunction of arachnoid granulations, but this explanation may be incomplete. We hypothesized that IVH would cause inflammation of the choroid plexus and of the ependymal lining of the ventricles, resulting in dysfunction of these barrier cells.

Rodent model of direct cranial blast injury.

Traumatic brain injury resulting from an explosive blast is one of the most serious wounds suffered by warfighters, yet the effects of explosive blast overpressure directly impacting the head are poorly understood. We developed a rodent model of direct cranial blast injury (dcBI), in which a blast overpressure could be delivered exclusively to the head, precluding indirect brain injury via thoracic transmission of the blast wave. We constructed and validated a Cranium Only Blast Injury Apparatus (COBIA) to deliver blast overpressures generated by detonating .