Cardiovascular patches applied in congenital cardiac surgery: Current materials and prospects.

Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) are the most common congenital anomalies, affecting between 4 and 75 per 1000 live births. Cardiovascular patches (CVPs) are frequently used as part of the surgical armamentarium to reconstruct cardiovascular structures to correct CHDs in pediatric patients. This review aims to evaluate the history of cardiovascular patches, currently available options, clinical applications, and important features of these patches.

Variability in perinatal sleep quality is associated with an atypical cortisol awakening response and increased mood symptoms.

Objective: Pregnancy is often typified with a decrease in sleep quality, which for many women, progressively worsens across gestation and into the postpartum. A mechanism linking poor sleep with certain adverse pregnancy outcomes is dysregulation of the HPA axis resulting in atypically elevated cortisol production. While total cortisol output normally increases across pregnancy, the cortisol awakening response (CAR), a response to waking up, is influenced by factors such as stress and mood.

Implementation of a Standardized Process of Coude Catheter Insertion Decreases Traumatic Catheterizations.

Objective: To address the issue of traumatic foley catheterization, we developed and implemented a coude catheter education program for operating room nurses as well as standardize the usage of a coude catheter for male patients. Traumatic catheterization leads to patient morbidity and increased healthcare costs.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted to identify all traumatic catherizations over a 6-month period for several surgical services at our institution.

Synaptotagmins 3 and 7 mediate the majority of asynchronous release from synapses in the cerebellum and hippocampus.

Neurotransmitter release consists of rapid synchronous release followed by longer-lasting asynchronous release (AR). Although the presynaptic proteins that trigger synchronous release are well understood, the mechanisms for AR remain unclear. AR is sustained by low concentrations of intracellular Ca and Sr, suggesting the involvement of sensors with high affinities for both ions.