Risk of Post-Transplant Malignancy After Isolated Heart Transplant Among Adult Patients With Congenital Heart Disease.

Introduction: Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at increased risk of cancer. In patients with CHD and advanced heart failure, isolated heart transplantation (HT) can be considered. In the overall HT population, immunosuppression after HT increases the risk of post-transplant malignancy (PTM).

Efficacy of a single central injection of lignocaine at the scrotal neck on the behavioural response of lambs to castration.

Objective: To compare the behavioural responses of lambs to ring castration with or without local anaesthetic administration by single midline injection at the scrotal neck.

Study Design: Blinded, randomized block design pen study.

Animals: A group of 60 male Merino lambs; 6-8 weeks of age; average body weight of 18.

Association of Lipoprotein(a) With Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events Across hs-CRP: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The relationship between Lp(a) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in the context of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels remains controversial due to conflicting results from previous studies.

Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to clarify the association between Lp(a) and risk of MACE across different hs-CRP levels in both primary and secondary prevention settings.

Racial and Ethnic Representation in Nephrolithiasis Guidelines: Are They Generalizable?

Objective: To assess whether clinical trials guiding kidney stone care adequately describe the race, ethnicity, and other key demographic variables of their study populations. Guidelines such as those from the American Urological Association represent the highest level of evidence informing clinical practice. We aim to investigate if studies on which they are based include sufficiently diverse patient populations for generalizable results.

Integrative proteomic analyses across common cardiac diseases yield mechanistic insights and enhanced prediction.

Cardiac diseases represent common highly morbid conditions for which molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here we report the analysis of 1,459 protein measurements in 44,313 UK Biobank participants to characterize the circulating proteome associated with incident coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and aortic stenosis. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression identified 820 protein-disease associations-including 441 proteins-at Bonferroni-adjusted P < 8.

Cardiovascular and renal benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors: pathophysiologic mechanisms and clinical evidence.

Large-scale clinical outcome trials have demonstrated significant reductions in cardiovascular (CV) and renal outcomes with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). These benefits are sustained in patients with a range of left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF), irrespective of diabetes status, and in a variety of clinical settings, prompting incorporation into clinical practice guidelines for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), heart failure (HF), and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The clinical benefits are mediated by an interplay of cardio-metabolic-renal mechanisms, and they have a favorable safety profile.

Distinct Genetic Risk Profile in Aortic Stenosis Compared With Coronary Artery Disease.

Importance: Aortic stenosis (AS) and coronary artery disease (CAD) frequently coexist. However, it is unknown which genetic and cardiovascular risk factors might be AS-specific and which could be shared between AS and CAD.

Objective: To identify genetic risk loci and cardiovascular risk factors with AS-specific associations.

Health-related Internet Use Among New Urology Clinic Patients.

Objective: To assess internet usage among new patients seen by urologists and impact on post-consultation understanding for 4 common conditions: kidney stones, elevated prostate-specific antigen, male voiding, and female voiding.

Methods: We performed a prospective study of new urology patients at our diverse urban, academic urology practice for the above conditions over a 1-year period. A voluntary questionnaire assessed patients' internet use related to referred conditions prior to encounters.

Clonal hematopoiesis and atherosclerosis.

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) has emerged as a previously unrecognized, potent, age-related, and common risk factor for atherosclerosis. Somatic mutations in certain known leukemia driver genes give rise to clones of mutant cells in peripheral blood. The increased risk of developing hematologic malignancy does not, on its own, explain excess mortality in individuals with CHIP.

Congenital Left Ventricular Aneurysm.

This paper presents the case of a 30-year-old man who was diagnosed with an apical-lateral wall left ventricular aneurysm with scarring, prominent left ventricular trabeculations, and mildly diminished systolic function. Working diagnosis was a congenital left ventricular aneurysm in the setting of left ventricular noncompaction, yet with a questionable defect of the pericardium.

Updates in Arrhythmia Management in Adult Congenital Heart Disease.

Arrhythmias are highly prevalent in adults with congenital heart disease. For the clinician caring for this population, an understanding of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of arrhythmia is essential. Herein we review the latest updates in diagnostics and treatment of tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias, all in the context of congenital anatomy, hemodynamics, and standard invasive palliations for congenital heart disease.

Behaviours of farmed saltwater crocodiles () housed individually or in groups.

Saltwater crocodiles () are farmed in Australia primarily for their skins and meat. Commercially, they are raised in group pens as hatchlings and grower crocodiles and then moved to unitised (individual) pens for the final finishing stage when they are several years old. They will exhibit aggressive behaviour towards each other in captivity.

Atypical cutaneous manifestations of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in two immunocompetent pediatric patients: Case reports and review of the literature.

Although many clinical variants of Staphylococcus aureus infection are well-recognized, atypical presentations may mimic other conditions. We describe two cases of atypical S. aureus infections in pediatric patients: a S.

Developmental outcomes in abusive head trauma.

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is associated with high mortality and poorer outcomes compared to accidental head injuries. The short and long-term developmental outcomes for AHT are not well identified. Variability in outcome measures, small sample sizes, difficulty in measuring domain-specific developmental skills, co-existence of comorbidities, genetic and environmental factors and high attrition rates all contribute to the challenges on providing data in this area.

Anatomical/Physiological Correlates of Functional Capacity in Adults With Repaired and Nonsevere Coarctation of the Aorta.

Background: There is limited data regarding the interplay of anatomic and physiologic parameters with exercise capacity in adults with native or recurrent nonsevere coarctation of the aorta (CoA).

Objectives: The objective of this study was to use exercise stress echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to identify anatomic and physiologic correlates of exercise capacity in these patients.

Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective analysis of 54 adults with nonsevere CoA (repaired or unrepaired) followed at our institution between 2015 and 2020.

Association of Unmet Social Needs With Missed In-Person Urology Clinic Appointments.

Introduction: Social determinants of health (SDH) are nonbiologic influencers of disease and health care disparities. This study focused on understanding the association between SDH and urology clinic "no-show" visits within a diverse urban population.

Methods: We retrospectively identified patients scheduled for urology clinic visits from October 2015 to June 2022 who completed a 10-question social needs screener.

The New York Section EMPIRE Collaborative: Piloting a Multi-Institutional, Simulation-Based Surgical Skills Boot Camp for Junior Urology Residents.

Introduction: Since the integration of the intern year into urology residencies, programs are mandated to introduce fundamental skills to junior residents. Our goal was to assess the impact of one such program: the 2023 New York Section of the AUA (NYS-AUA) EMPIRE (Educational Multi-institutional Program for Instructing REsidents) Boot Camp.

Methods: Junior urology residents from all 10 NYS-AUA institutions attended a free EMPIRE Boot Camp on June 9, 2023.

Unraveling the Mechanisms of Valvular Heart Disease to Identify Medical Therapy Targets: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Valvular heart disease is a common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and has no effective medical therapy. Severe disease is managed with valve replacement procedures, which entail high health care-related costs and postprocedural morbidity and mortality. Robust ongoing research programs have elucidated many important molecular pathways contributing to primary valvular heart disease.