Nine Years of Continuous Flow LVAD (HeartMate 3): Survival and LVAD-Related Complications before and after Hospital Discharge.

Background: End-stage heart failure is associated with high mortality. Recent developments such as the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) have improved patient outcomes. The HeartMate 3 LVAD is a novel centrifugal pump that was developed to provide hemodynamic support in heart failure patients, either as a bridge-to-transplant (BTT), myocardial recovery, or destination therapy (DT).

Influence of Obesity on Short-Term Surgical Outcomes in HFrEF Patients Undergoing CABG: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

: This retrospective multicenter study investigates the impact of obesity on short-term surgical outcomes in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Given the rising global prevalence of obesity and its known cardiovascular implications, understanding its specific effects in high-risk groups like HFrEF patients is crucial. : The study analyzed data from 574 patients undergoing CABG across four German university hospitals from 2017 to 2023.

Depression and anxiety mediate the relationship between illness representations and perceived distress in patients with chronic pain.

Illness representations explain the individual's perception and processing of health-related information. In a chronic condition such as persistent pain, illness representations might influence treatment adherence and outcome. This study aims to exploratively identify illness representations of patients with chronic pain and their association to mental disorders and subjective distress.

Health-Related Quality of Life after Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Qualitative Comparison of Perspectives of Children and Adolescents after TBI and a Comparison Group without a History of TBI.

Background: The assessment of the impact of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the children and adolescents affected can be ameliorated by a disease-specific instrument. Such an instrument does not yet exist. This qualitative study investigates how children and adolescents after TBI subjectively perceive their HRQoL and whether and how this differs from the perspective of individuals without a history of TBI.

Comparing stress, areas of stress and coping-strategies between distance-learning and on-campus students - A mixed-methods approach.

In recent years, the increase in stress experienced by students, and the related health problems have become a key challenge for health psychologists. The aim of this cross-sectional survey study was to compare stress, areas of stress and coping-strategies of 246 distance-learning (81.7% female; 33.

The impact of 3D printed models on spatial orientation in echocardiography teaching.

Purpose: During our transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) courses, medical students showed difficulty in spatial orientation. We implemented the use of 3D printed cardiac models of standard TTE views PLAX, PSAX, and A4C and assessed their efficacy in TTE-teaching.

Methods: One hundred fifty-three participants were split into two groups.

Comparing the Acceptance of Mobile Hypertension Apps for Disease Management Among Patients Versus Clinical Use Among Physicians: Cross-sectional Survey.

Background: High blood pressure or hypertension is a vastly prevalent chronic condition among adults that can, if not appropriately treated, contribute to several life-threatening secondary diseases and events, such as stroke. In addition to first-line medication, self-management in daily life is crucial for tertiary prevention and can be supported by mobile health apps, including medication reminders. However, the prescription of medical apps is a relatively novel approach.

Mitral Valve Surgery via Upper Ministernotomy: Single-Centre Experience in More than 400 Patients.

Minimally invasive mitral valve (MV) surgery has emerged as an alternative to conventional sternotomy aiming to decrease surgical trauma. The aim of the study was to describe our experience with minimally invasive MV surgery through partial upper sternotomy (PUS) regarding short- and long-term outcomes. From January 2004 through March 2014, 419 patients with a median age of 58.

Investigating the Persuasive Effects of Testimonials on the Acceptance of Digital Stress Management Trainings Among University Students and Underlying Mechanisms: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This experiment aims to investigate the influence of narrative information varying in the degree of perceived similarity and source credibility in supplemented testimonials on the acceptance of digital mental health services (digi-MHSs). In fall 2020, =231 university students were randomly assigned to an active control group (aCG, =55, "information only") or one of three intervention groups (IGs) receiving information plus different testimonials being presented either by nonacademic staff (IG1, =60), university students (IG2, =58) or experts (IG3, =58). We assessed mediation effects of similarity and credibility on acceptance in terms of attitudes and usage intentions.

To Get Vaccinated, or Not to Get Vaccinated, That Is the Question: Illness Representations about COVID-19 and Perceptions about COVID-19 Vaccination as Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccination Willingness among Young Adults in The Netherlands.

Mass vaccination is considered necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, vaccination willingness was found to be especially low among young adults. Therefore, based on the extended Common Sense Model, the unique effects and the interplay of illness representations about COVID-19 and perceptions about COVID-19 vaccination in explaining COVID-19 vaccination willingness was investigated using a cross-sectional design. An online survey measuring the relevant variables was filled in by 584 participants (69.

Needle penetration test - qualifying examination of 3D printable silicones for vascular models in surgical practice.

Background: During cardiogenic shock blood circulation is minimal in the human body and does not suffice to survive. The extracorporeal life support system (ECLS) acts as a miniature heart-lung-machine that can be temporarily implanted over major vessels e.g.

Synthetic Material Abdominal Swabs Reduce Activation of Platelets and Leukocytes Compared to Cotton Materials.

During surgical procedures, cotton abdominal swabs with their high absorptive capacity and malleability are used to retain organs and absorb blood or other body fluids. Such properties of the natural material cotton are advantageous for most operations, but in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery, a high blood volume can accumulate in the thoracic cavity that is quickly retransfused via the heart-lung machine (HLM). This common practice is supposed to be safe due to the high anticoagulation.

Exploring the influence of testimonial source on attitudes towards e-mental health interventions among university students: Four-group randomized controlled trial.

Electronic mental health services (eMHSs) offer additional options for the dissemination of psychological interventions for university students. Still, many university students are reluctant to use eMHSs. Narrative messages may help increase the awareness and acceptance of quality-approved programs.

Effect of an internet- and app-based stress intervention compared to online psychoeducation in university students with depressive symptoms: Results of a randomized controlled trial.

Depression is highly prevalent among university students. Internet-based interventions have been found to be effective in addressing depressive symptoms, but it is open if this also applies to interventions directed at academic stress. It is also largely unclear if the techniques employed in such programs provide significant additional benefits when controlling for non-specific intervention effects.

ECMO implantation training: Needle penetration in 3D printable materials and porcine aorta.

Aim: Patients with cardiogenic shock or ARDS, for example, in COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2, may require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). An ECLS/ECMO model simulating challenging vascular anatomy is desirable for cannula insertion training purposes. We assessed the ability of various 3D-printable materials to mimic the penetration properties of human tissue by using porcine aortae.

Is it Safe for Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices to Undergo Non-Cardiac Surgery?

Since the first use of ventricular assist devices (VADs) as bridge to recovery and bridge to cardiac transplantation in the early 1990s, significant technological advances have transformed VAD implantation into a routine destination therapy. With improved survival, many patients present for cardiac surgery for conditions not directly related to their permanent mechanical circulatory support. The aim of this study was to analyze the indications and outcomes of non-cardiac surgeries (NCSs) of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients in tertiary center.

Effects of a brief multimodal online intervention on the intention to conduct sun protective behaviours through targeting illness representations about skin cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

The incidence of skin cancer can be reduced by increasing sun protective behaviours. Based on the Common-Sense Model and the Intervention Mapping approach, a brief intervention targeting illness representations about skin cancer to increase the intention to conduct sun protective behaviours was developed and evaluated regarding its effectiveness. A randomized pre-post control group design with 509 healthy participants (69% women, mean age 39 years).

Video assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy for intractable recurrent VT after minimal-invasive LVAD implantation.

Background: Recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) can occur after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. In this case, medical treatment might be insufficient. We report a case of a left-sided thoracoscopic sympathectomy as a feasible treatment escalation in intractable VT.

Internet- and App-Based Stress Intervention for Distance-Learning Students With Depressive Symptoms: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Mental disorders are highly prevalent among university students. Distance-learning students are particularly burdened and have limited access to conventional university health services. Interventions for stress are sought after in distance learners and may help increase treatment coverage.

Acceptance of Mobile Health Apps for Disease Management Among People With Multiple Sclerosis: Web-Based Survey Study.

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) apps might have the potential to promote self-management of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in everyday life. However, the uptake of MS apps remains poor, and little is known about the facilitators and barriers for their efficient utilization, such as technology acceptance.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the acceptance of mHealth apps for disease management in the sense of behavioral intentions to use and explore determinants of utilization among people with MS based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT).

Improving attitudes toward e-mental health services in the general population via psychoeducational information material: A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: In recent years, effective Internet-delivered electronic (e-) mental health services have been developed to overcome the limited resources in face-to-face health care. For the successful dissemination of e-mental health services, individual predictors for their uptake and utilization need to be explored. For instance, little is known about the role of different information sources in attitudes toward Internet therapies.

Public Attitudes Toward Guided Internet-Based Therapies: Web-Based Survey Study.

Background: Internet interventions have been proposed to improve the accessibility and use of evidence-based psychological treatments. However, little is known about attitudes toward such treatments, which can be an important barrier to their use.

Objective: This study aimed to (1) determine attitudes toward guided internet interventions, (2) assess its acceptability compared with other internet-based formats, and (3) explore predictors of acceptance.