Publications by authors named "Platz K"

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) who engage in effective HF self-care have better quality of life, and lower risks of all-cause and HF-related hospital readmission and mortality. It is unclear whether social isolation and loneliness, which are prevalent among patients with HF and known to affect other self-care behaviors, can predict HF self-care.

Objective: The aim was to explore the relationship between social isolation, loneliness, and HF self-care.

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Background: Exercise is a class 1A recommendation to improve the lives of patients with heart failure, yet less than one-third adhere to physical activity guidelines, and less than 3% attend cardiac rehabilitation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of gentle nonaerobic exercise on initial and long-term adherence in patients with heart failure.

Methods: We used a qualitative descriptive approach with qualitative content analysis to analyze previously recorded interview data collected as part of the 6-month GEtting iNTo Light Exercise-Heart Failure study and looked for trends in responses among our sample.

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Mitochondria play a central role in energy production and cellular metabolism. Mitochondria contain their own small genome (mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA) that carries the genetic instructions for proteins required for ATP synthesis. The mitochondrial proteome, including the mitochondrial transcriptional machinery, is subject to post-translational modifications (PTMs), including acetylation and phosphorylation.

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The mitochondrial proteome is subject to abundant post-translational modifications, including lysine acetylation and phosphorylation of serine, threonine, and tyrosine. The biological function of the majority of these protein modifications is unknown. Proteins required for the transcription and translation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are subject to modification.

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Objective: Newer therapies have increased heart failure (HF) survival rates, but these therapies are rarely curative. The consequence of increased longevity is the likelihood that patients with HF will experience higher symptom burdens over time. Exercise such as cardiac rehabilitation programs can palliate symptom burdens, but numerous barriers prevent exercise participation and adherence.

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Purpose: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves health outcomes and quality of life for patients with cardiovascular disease, yet only a quarter of eligible patients enroll. A myriad of CR models that use either an alternative location (ie, home-based) and/or an alternative exercise have been developed to overcome known attendance and physical limitation barriers; however, patient experiences with these models have not been systematically reviewed. Our aim is to review patient experiences with these models of CR.

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Purpose: Despite known health benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), only a quarter of eligible patients attend. Among CR barriers are physical (eg, walking) and in-person attendance limitations. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of difficulty walking and dependence on another person to attend medical appointments among people with and without CVD using national survey data.

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The potential for short-range transport via air, i.e. volatilisation from the area of application and subsequent deposition on adjacent non-target areas, was investigated for the fungicide fenpropimorph in a wind tunnel system and under outdoor conditions in a higher-tier field study.

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Acute rejection remains the main risk factor following intestinal transplantation. New immunosuppressive agents have substantially reduced the incidence of severe acute rejection. The question arises, which is the most powerful immunosuppressive combination with the lowest incidence of side effects? According to International Intestinal Transplant Registry data, anti-IL-2 antibodies are slightly advantageous compared with antilymphocyte preparations with respect to long-term patient survival.

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Liver transplantation is a highly successful treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease and acute liver failure. However, serious postoperative complications can significantly compromise patient survival. Complications can be technical, medical, or immunological in nature.

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Patients suffering irreversible loss of intestinal function require total parenteral nutrition (TPN). During long-term TPN, catheter infections are a common problem and intestinal transplantation (ITx) is indicated when patients experience loss of venous access. We report two patients with short bowel syndrome--one before and one after ITx.

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Acute rejection is still the main risk factor following intestinal transplantation. Potent immunosuppression decreases rejection frequency, but may increase immunosuppression-related complications. Isolated small intestinal transplantation was performed in 14 adult patients with short bowel syndromes.

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There is some evidence that portal venous drainage may offer immunologic and metabolic advantages in small bowel transplantation. Isolated small bowel transplantation was performed in 14 adult patients. In all cases, the donor pancreas was transplanted into another patient.

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During the last years, clinical small bowel transplantation has significantly improved. This is especially true for isolated small bowel transplantation with success rates of 80 % 1-year patient survival. Currently, approximately 100 small bowel transplantations are performed per year worldwide.

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L-arginine and molsidomine application prior to reperfusion significantly reduced the preservation and reperfusion-related injury after small bowel transplantation. The architecture of the mucosa was best preserved after treatment with L-arginine and methylprednisolone. The macroscopic appearance of the mucosa was improved (less watery and less thin than after reperfusion of non-treated recipients).

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Acute rejection resistant to established immunosuppressive rescue protocols remains the most prominent risk factor after intestinal transplantation. In two patients presenting with steroid-resistant severe acute cellular rejection 9 months and 2 years after intestinal transplantation, complete resolution was not achieved despite 5 and 10 days of OKT3 treatment, respectively, and high-dose triple baseline immunosuppression with tacrolimus, rapamycin, and steroids. There was a dissociated course of rejection with persistent moderate to severe rejection in the terminal portion of the graft despite complete recovery from rejection in the proximal parts.

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A 50-year-old recipient of an intestinal and coecal graft with sudden onset of abdominal distention and pain, lack of bowel movements, and vomiting after closure of the diagnostic ostomy 7 months after transplantation is reported. A plain abdominal radiograph revealed pneumatosis intestinalis. An angiography excluded obstruction of large vessels, however, with absent microcirculation of the intestine.

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OBJECTIVE This study focused on the effect of immunoregulatory cytokines on tissue injury after intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (IR). Furthermore, the role of nitric oxide, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and the transcription factor NF-kappaB/Rel in the disease process was evaluated.SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Oxidative stress and inflammatory gene products contribute to ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI).

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