An Organic Mineral Adhesive Bone Graft: A Preclinical Study.

The development of a successful bone grafting technology with cohesive and adhesive properties has been an elusive goal for dental and orthopedic researchers. Tetracalcium phosphate combined with phosphoserine (TTCP-PS) is a synthetic, injectable, cohesive, self-setting, mineral-organic wet-field adhesive. The objective of this study was to evaluate four formulations of TTCP-PS in comparison to the conventional grafting materials, Bioglass and deproteinized cancellous bovine bone with a bioresorbable collagen membrane in standardized defects created in the angle of the rat mandible.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Methamphetamine Abuse Among Veterans With Heart Failure.

Methamphetamine is one of the most commonly abused illicit substances worldwide. Chronic methamphetamine abuse (MA) is associated with the development of a dilated cardiomyopathy. MA in patients with heart failure (MethHF) is increasingly reported yet poorly characterized.

Observation of stethoscope sanitation practices in an emergency department setting.

Background: Stethoscopes harbor pathogens that can be transferred to patients when proper sanitary measures are not taken. Our aim was to assess medical provider stethoscope cleaning and hand hygiene in an emergency department setting.

Methods: The frequency and methods of stethoscope cleaning during and after provider-patient encounters were observed anonymously in an emergency department of the VA San Diego Healthcare System.

Heart Failure With Recovered Ejection Fraction in African Americans: Results From the African-American Heart Failure Trial.

Background: Recent studies have described the entity of heart failure with recovered ejection fraction (HFrecEF), but population-specific studies remain lacking. The aim of this study was to characterize patients enrolled in the African-American Heart Failure Trial (A-HeFT) who had significant improvement in their ejection fraction (EF) during the 1st 6 months of follow-up.

Methods And Results: Subjects with HFrecEF (improvement in EF from <35% to >40% in 6 months; n = 59) were compared with 259 subjects with heart failure and persistently reduced EF (HFrEF), defined as EF ≤40% at 6-month follow-up.

Using biomarkers to guide heart failure management.

Biomarkers have revolutionized the diagnosis of heart failure (HF), but it remains unclear how to use biomarkers to guide management of HF. Areas covered: An exhaustive literature search on using biomarkers to guide HF management was performed. HF guidelines were carefully scrutinized for references pertaining to this topic, and Medline was employed to identify further references.