Determinants of medication adherence in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a secondary analysis of a randomised clinical trial.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Approximately half of the patients who have had a prior hospital admission for CHD will have a recurrent coronary event, with the majority of these occurring within 12 months. Despite well-established evidence-based therapies, medication non-adherence is highly prevalent and reasons for medication non-adherence are poorly understood.

Prevalence, trends, and outcomes of same-day discharge following elective percutaneous coronary intervention: a retrospective observational cohort study using routinely-collected health data.

Aims: To identify the prevalence, trends, and outcomes of same-day discharge following elective percutaneous coronary intervention among six public hospitals in one Australian State.

Methods And Results: A retrospective observational research design was used. A total of 4387 cases were obtained from the State Cardiac Outcomes Registry and National Hospital Cost Data Collection.

Differences between sexes in STEMI treatment and outcomes with contemporary primary PCI.

Background: Historically, differences in timely reperfusion and outcomes have been described in females who suffer ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, there have been improvements in the treatment of STEMI patients with contemporary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) strategies.

Methods: Comparisons between sexes were performed on STEMI patients treated with primary PCI over a 4-year period (January 1, 2017-December 31, 2020) from the Queensland Cardiac Outcomes Registry.

Prehospital Activation of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory in ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction for Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background Prehospital activation of the cardiac catheter laboratory is associated with significant improvements in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) performance measures. However, there are equivocal data, particularly within Australia, regarding its influence on mortality. We assessed the association of prehospital activation on performance measures and mortality in patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention from the Queensland Cardiac Outcomes Registry (QCOR).

Text Messages to Improve Medication Adherence and Secondary Prevention After Acute Coronary Syndrome: The TEXTMEDS Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: TEXTMEDS (Text Messages to Improve Medication Adherence and Secondary Prevention After Acute Coronary Syndrome) examined the effects of text message-delivered cardiac education and support on medication adherence after an acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: TEXTMEDS was a single-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled trial of patients after acute coronary syndrome. The control group received usual care (secondary prevention as determined by the treating clinician); the intervention group also received multiple motivational and supportive weekly text messages on medications and healthy lifestyle with the opportunity for 2-way communication (text or telephone).

Surgery versus cast immobilisation for adults with a bicortical fracture of the scaphoid waist (SWIFFT): a pragmatic, multicentre, open-label, randomised superiority trial.

Background: Scaphoid fractures account for 90% of carpal fractures and occur predominantly in young men. The use of immediate surgical fixation to manage this type of fracture has increased, despite insufficient evidence of improved outcomes over non-surgical management. The SWIFFT trial compared the clinical effectiveness of surgical fixation with cast immobilisation and early fixation of fractures that fail to unite in adults with scaphoid waist fractures displaced by 2 mm or less.

Basal thumb osteoarthritis surgery improves health state utility irrespective of technique: a study of UK Hand Registry data.

We used UK Hand Registry data to study two aspects of basal thumb osteoarthritis surgery: first, whether health-related quality of life improves after surgery. Second, whether results from trials comparing simple trapeziectomy and trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition are reproducible in routine clinical practice. Prospectively collected EQ5D index and Patient Evaluation Measure part 2 data were compared at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively in 1456 patients (median age 67 years; 78% female).

The application of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in pv. actinidiae.

pv. actinidiae (Psa) has emerged as a major bacterial pathogen of kiwifruit cultivation throughout the world. We aim to introduce a CRISPR-Cas9 system, a commonly used genome editing tool, into Psa.

Genomic analyses of pv. actinidiae isolated in Korea suggest the transfer of the bacterial pathogen via kiwifruit pollen.

The bacterial pathogen, pv. actinidiae (Psa), has emerged as a major threat to kiwifruit cultivation throughout the world. One pandemic strain (from the Psa3 group) has occurred in various geographical regions.

The Vancouver 3M (Multidisciplinary, Multimodality, But Minimalist) Clinical Pathway Facilitates Safe Next-Day Discharge Home at Low-, Medium-, and High-Volume Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Centers: The 3M TAVR Study.

Objectives: The authors sought to prospectively determine the safety and efficacy of next-day discharge using the Vancouver 3M (Multidisciplinary, Multimodality, but Minimalist) Clinical Pathway.

Background: Transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an alternative to surgery in high- and intermediate-risk patients; however, hospital stays average at least 6 days in most trials. The Vancouver 3M Clinical Pathway is focused on next-day discharge, made possible by the use of objective screening criteria as well as streamlined peri- and post-procedural management guidelines.

Quantified dual energy computed tomography perfusion imaging using myocardial iodine concentration: Validation using CT derived myocardial blood flow and invasive fractional flow reserve in a porcine model.

Background: Myocardial CT perfusion imaging with dual energy (DE-CTP) can produce myocardial iodine perfusion maps. This study evaluated the accuracy of first pass myocardial iodine concentration in DE-CTP compared to CT derived dynamic myocardial blood flow (MBF) to determine regional myocardial ischemia in an animal model of coronary stenosis using invasive Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR).

Methods: Seven anaesthetised pigs (mean weight 51 ± 4 kg) had a graded coronary artery stenosis produced in six vessels (plus one control animal) using a methacrylate plug with FFR recorded in the target artery (ischemia = FFR<0.

The Genome Sequence of M228, a Chinese Isolate of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, Illustrates Insertion Sequence Element Mobility.

We present here the complete genome sequence of M228, a Chinese biovar 3 strain of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, a bacterial pathogen of kiwifruit. A comparison of the insertion sequence (IS) profile of M228 with that of ICMP18708, a New Zealand isolate of P.

Single-Phase PacBio Assembly of the Genome of the Chytrid Fungus a Pathogen of Amphibia.

Here, we present an updated genome assembly of the diploid chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis strain RTP6. This strain is part of the global panzootic lineage (GPL) and was isolated in Dunedin, New Zealand. The assembly was generated using PacBio long-read and Illumina short-read data, allowing for the accurate phasing of heterozygosities.

Development of a Porcine Model of Coronary Stenosis Using Fully Percutaneous Techniques Suitable For Performing Cardiac Computed Tomography, CT-Perfusion Imaging and Fractional Flow Reserve.

Background: The aim of this study was to develop and describe percutaneous coronary angiographic techniques to create a porcine model of acute coronary stenosis with methacrylate plugs that can by assessed using fractional flow reserve (FFR), invasive coronary angiography and coronary computed tomographic (CT) perfusion imaging without introducing artefacts associated with surgical models.

Methods: Following animal care and institutional approval and using percutaneous coronary catheterisation techniques within an animal laboratory we introduced precision drilled methacrylate plugs into one of the three main coronary arteries of 10 experimental female pigs. Coronary pressure wire measurements were performed across the experimental stenosis for the calculation of FFR.

Comparison between complete genomes of an isolate of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae from Japan and a New Zealand isolate of the pandemic lineage.

The modern pandemic of the bacterial kiwifruit pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (Psa) is caused by a particular Psa lineage. To better understand the genetic basis of the virulence of this lineage, we compare the completely assembled genome of a pandemic New Zealand strain with that of the Psa type strain first isolated in Japan in 1983. Aligning the two genomes shows numerous translocations, constrained so as to retain the appropriate orientation of the Architecture Imparting Sequences (AIMs).

Infestation of shore crab gills by a free-living mussel species.

Parasitic and commensal species can impact the structure and function of ecological communities and are typically highly specialized to overcome host defences. Here, we report multiple instances of a normally free-living species, the blue mussel Linnaeus, 1758, inhabiting the branchial chamber of the shore crab (Linnaeus, 1758) collected from widely separated geographical locations. A total of 127 were examined from four locations in the English Channel, one location in the Irish Sea and two locations at the entrance of the Baltic Sea.

Complete Genome Sequence of the Kiwifruit Pathogen pv. actinidiae Biovar 5, Originating from Japan.

We present the first complete genome sequence of a copper-resistant biovar 5 strain of a bacterial pathogen of kiwifruit, pv. actinidiae. Comparison with the genome sequence of a copper-sensitive biovar 5 isolate indicates that copper resistance is encoded on a plasmid.

Development of a Multiple Loci Variable Number of Tandem Repeats Analysis (MLVA) to Unravel the Intra-Pathovar Structure of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae Populations Worldwide.

The bacterial canker of kiwifruit by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae is an emblematic example of a catastrophic disease of fruit crops. In 2008 a new, extremely virulent form of the pathogen emerged and rapidly devastated many Actinidia spp.

Tyrosine Recombinase Retrotransposons and Transposons.

Retrotransposons carrying tyrosine recombinases (YR) are widespread in eukaryotes. The first described tyrosine recombinase mobile element, DIRS1, is a retroelement from the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum. The YR elements are bordered by terminal repeats related to their replication via free circular dsDNA intermediates.

The clock drawing test, mortality, incident cardiovascular events and dementia.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the association of the clock drawing test (CDT) with incident dementia, cardiovascular events and mortality in very elderly hypertensive patients.

Method: All participants were hypertensive and aged 80 years and over. The CDT was administered at baseline and annually thereafter.

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae from recent outbreaks of kiwifruit bacterial canker belong to different clones that originated in China.

A recently emerged plant disease, bacterial canker of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa and A. chinensis), is caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (PSA).

Myocardial perfusion pressure in patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease: implications for DBP targets in hypertension management.

Background: The target blood pressure (BP) in patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been controversial. Whether patients with both diabetes mellitus and CAD should follow targets for either diabetes mellitus or CAD is uncertain. Focusing only on one determinant of coronary blood flow (CBF) - myocardial perfusion pressure (MPP) - coronary BP in patients with hypertension was used to estimate the impact of setting BP targets.