Phenotyping heart failure by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of cardiac macro- and microscopic structure: state of the art review.

Heart failure demographics have evolved in past decades with the development of improved diagnostics, therapies, and prevention. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has developed in a similar timeframe to become the gold-standard non-invasive imaging modality for characterizing diseases causing heart failure. CMR techniques to assess cardiac morphology and function have progressed since their first use in the 1980s.

Perceived workplace support and mental health, well-being and burnout among health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cohort analysis.

Background: Little is known about the relationship between workplace support and mental health and burnout among health care professionals (HCPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this cohort study, we sought to evaluate the association between perceived level of (and changes to) workplace support and mental health and burnout among HCPs, and to identify what constitutes perceived effective workplace support.

Methods: Online surveys at baseline (July-September 2020) and follow-up 4 months later assessed the presence of generalized anxiety disorder (using the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale [GAD-7]), clinical insomnia, major depressive disorder (using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire), burnout (emotional exhaustion and depersonalization) and mental well-being (using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Score).

Myocardial Metabolism in Heart Failure.

Purpose Of Review: Myocardial metabolism is intricately linked to cardiac function. Perturbations of cardiac energy metabolism result in an energy-starved heart and the development of contractile dysfunction. In this review, we discuss alterations in myocardial energy supply, transcriptional changes in response to different energy demands, and mitochondrial function in the development of heart failure.

Improved lifestyle is associated with improved depression, anxiety and well-being over time in UK healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: insights from the CoPE-HCP cohort study.

Background: One potential modifiable factor to improve the mental health of healthcare professionals (HCPs) during the pandemic is lifestyle.

Aims: This study aimed to assess whether an improved lifestyle during the pandemic is associated with improved mental health symptoms and mental well-being in HCPs over time.

Methods: This was a cohort study involving an online survey distributed at two separate time points during the pandemic (baseline (July-September 2020) and follow-up (December 2020-March 2021)) to HCPs working in primary or secondary care in the UK.

Feasibility, diagnostic performance and clinical value of an abbreviated echocardiography protocol in an out-patient cardiovascular setting: a pilot study.

Background: There has been a growing demand for echocardiography services over the last 5 years, with this supply-demand mismatch exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior studies have suggested a high proportion of normal findings among echocardiograms requested for patients without known cardiovascular disease, particularly in low-risk cohorts. This pilot study investigates the role of an abbreviated echocardiography protocol in improving access to echocardiography services in a low-risk outpatient setting within the rapid access chest pain (RACP) clinic.

Quantifying the Excess Risk of Adverse COVID-19 Outcomes in Unvaccinated Individuals With Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Ischaemic Heart Disease or Myocardial Injury: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: More than 80% of individuals in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are unvaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In contrast, the greatest burden of cardiovascular disease is seen in LMIC populations. Hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and myocardial injury have been variably associated with adverse COVID-19 outcomes.

Early and Mid-Term Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Physical, Behavioral and Mental Health of Healthcare Professionals: The CoPE-HCP Study Protocol.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented strain to healthcare systems worldwide and posed unique challenges to the healthcare professionals (HCPs) and the general public.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health, behavioral, and physical wellbeing of HCPs in the early and mid-term periods of the pandemic in comparison to non-HCPs. Thus, facilitating and guiding optimum planning and delivery of support to HCPs.

Current Perspectives on Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Cardiovascular Disease: A White Paper by the Editors.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected more than 3.0 million people worldwide and killed more than 200,000 as of April 27, 2020. In this White Paper, we address the cardiovascular co-morbidities of COVID-19 infection; the diagnosis and treatment of standard cardiovascular conditions during the pandemic; and the diagnosis and treatment of the cardiovascular consequences of COVID-19 infection.

Neurocysticercosis in pregnancy: maternal and fetal outcomes.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic infection with the larvae of Taenia solium from contaminated pork. It is a leading cause of seizures in the developing world. Symptoms may be secondary to live or degenerating cysts, or previous infection causing calcification or gliosis.

Human-derived natural antibodies: biomarkers and potential therapeutics.

The immune system generates antibodies and antigen-specific T-cells as basic elements of the immune networks that differentiate self from non-self in a finely tuned manner. The antigen-specific nature of immune responses ensures that normal immune activation contains non-self when tolerating self. Here we review the B-1 subset of lymphocytes which produce self-reactive antibodies.

Fundamental studies of hybrid poly(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate)/poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) films and capsules.

Hybrid and multicompartment carriers are of significant interest for the development of next-generation therapeutic drug carriers. Herein, fundamental investigations on layer-by-layer (LbL) capsules consisting of two different polymers are presented. The hybrid systems were designed to have pH-responsive, charge-shifting poly(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDPA) inner layers and low-fouling poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVPON) outer layers.

Clickable Poly(2-oxazoline) Architectures for the Fabrication of Low-Fouling Polymer Capsules.

Hollow polymer capsules were prepared from linear as well as brushlike poly(2-oxazoline)s (POxs). Linear POxs containing alkene functionalities were obtained by cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP), whereas the brush POxs bearing alkyne moieties were synthesized by a combination of CROP and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Multilayers consisting of POx/poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) were sequentially deposited onto silica particle templates, and the films were stabilized either by thiol-ene (TE) chemistry or copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAc).

Controlled release of DNA from poly(vinylpyrrolidone) capsules using cleavable linkers.

The design of polymer carriers with tunable degradation and cargo release is fundamental for applications in drug and gene delivery. In this study, we report low-fouling poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVPON) capsules assembled via hydrogen bonding and stabilized using covalent cross-linking. We first investigated the effects of pH and ionic strength to optimize the assembly conditions.

Thin multilayer films and microcapsules containing DNA quadruplex motifs.

The assembly of multifunctional nanostructures bearing G-quadruplex motifs broadens the prospects of using G-quadruplexes as therapeutic carriers. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of an oligodeoxyguanosine, G15-mer polymer conjugate. We demonstrate that G15-mer oligonucleotides grafted to a polymer chain preserve the ability to self-assemble into ordered structures.