The uses of right heart catheterization in cardio-pulmonary disease: State-of-the-art.

The right heart catheterization (RHC) remains an important diagnostic tool for a spectrum of cardiovascular disease processes including pulmonary hypertension (PH), shock, valvular heart disease, and unexplained dyspnea. While it gained widespread utilization after its introduction, the role of the RHC has evolved to provide valuable information for the management of advanced therapies in heart failure (HF) and cardiogenic shock (CS) to name a few. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview on the indications, utilization, complications, interpretation, and calculations associated with RHC.

Bladder health in US women: population-based estimates from the RISE FOR HEALTH study.

Background: Bladder health encompasses total bladder well-being and not merely the absence of urinary symptoms. While much is known about the prevalence of urinary symptoms in women, little is known about the distribution of bladder health (eg, optimal to poor).

Objective: We report the distributions of multiple dimensions of bladder health and function in a population-based sample of community-dwelling women, overall and separately in women without urinary symptoms to begin to explore bladder health dimensions that may precede the onset of symptoms.

Resilience as a protective factor against depression in informal caregivers.

Introduction: Although previous research has demonstrated that resilience can be protective against various mental health conditions such as depression, existing studies examining the relationship between resilience and depression have limitations. To our knowledge, the moderators of the relationship have not been examined. The aim of this study was to determine whether resilience acts as a protective factor against depression in informal caregivers and to examine potential moderators of the relationship between these variables.

ECOG-ACRIN EAZ171: Prospective Validation Trial of Germline Predictors of Taxane-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Black Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Black women experience higher rates of taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) compared with White women when receiving adjuvant once weekly paclitaxel for early-stage breast cancer, leading to more dose reductions and higher recurrence rates. EAZ171 aimed to prospectively validate germline predictors of TIPN and compare rates of TIPN and dose reductions in Black women receiving (neo)adjuvant once weekly paclitaxel and once every 3 weeks docetaxel for early-stage breast cancer.

Methods: Women with early-stage breast cancer who self-identified as Black and had intended to receive (neo)adjuvant once weekly paclitaxel or once every 3 weeks docetaxel were eligible, with planned accrual to 120 patients in each arm.

Plasma Proteomics Identifies B2M as a Regulator of Pulmonary Hypertension in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) represents an important phenotype in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, management of PH-HFpEF is challenging because mechanisms involved in the regulation of PH-HFpEF remain unclear.

Methods: We used a mass spectrometry-based comparative plasma proteomics approach as a sensitive and comprehensive hypothesis-generating discovery technique to profile proteins in patients with PH-HFpEF and control subjects.

Skeletal Muscle SIRT3 Deficiency Contributes to Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling in Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a major complication linked to adverse outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), yet no specific therapies exist for PH associated with HFpEF (PH-HFpEF). We have recently reported on the role of skeletal muscle SIRT3 (sirtuin-3) in modulation of PH-HFpEF, suggesting a novel endocrine signaling pathway for skeletal muscle modulation of pulmonary vascular remodeling.

Methods: Using skeletal muscle-specific knockout mice () and mass spectrometry-based comparative secretome analysis, we attempted to define the processes by which skeletal muscle SIRT3 defects affect pulmonary vascular health in PH-HFpEF.

Societal implications of the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization decision.

On June 24, 2022, the US Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization marked the removal of the constitutional right to abortion in the USA, introducing a complex ethical and legal landscape for patients and providers. This shift has had immediate health and equity repercussions, but it is also crucial to examine the broader impacts on states, health-care systems, and society as a whole. Restrictions on abortion access extend beyond immediate reproductive care concerns, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the ruling's consequences across micro and macro levels.

Health-care workforce implications of the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization decision.

The Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court decision, which revoked the constitutional right to abortion in the USA, has impacted the national medical workforce. Impacts vary across states, but providers in states with restrictive abortion laws now must contend with evolving legal and ethical challenges that have the potential to affect workforce safety, mental health, education, and training opportunities, in addition to having serious impacts on patient health and far-reaching societal consequences. Moreover, Dobbs has consequences on almost every facet of the medical workforce, including on physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and others who work within the health-care system.

Resilience to diabetic retinopathy.

Chronic elevation of blood glucose at first causes relatively minor changes to the neural and vascular components of the retina. As the duration of hyperglycemia persists, the nature and extent of damage increases and becomes readily detectable. While this second, overt manifestation of diabetic retinopathy (DR) has been studied extensively, what prevents maximal damage from the very start of hyperglycemia remains largely unexplored.

Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in US Women: Contemporary Prevalence Estimates from the RISE FOR HEALTH Study.

Purpose: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of a wide range of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in US women, and explore associations with bother and discussion with health care providers, friends, and family.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed baseline data collected from May 2022 to December 2023 in the RISE FOR HEALTH study-a large, regionally representative cohort study of adult female community members. LUTS and related bother were measured by the 10-item Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network Symptom Index, and discussion was assessed by a study-specific item.

Beta blockers are associated with lower all-cause mortality among HFpEF patients.

Background: The evidence regarding beta blocker (BB) benefit in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains inconclusive, leading to consideration of BB withdrawal in this population.

Objectives: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the association of BB on all-cause mortality in HFpEF patients.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective cohort study of 20,206 patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) ≥ 50% who were hospitalized with decompensated HF between January 2011 and March 2020.

Longitudinal outcomes of obeticholic acid therapy in ursodiol-nonresponsive primary biliary cholangitis: Stratifying the impact of add-on fibrates in real-world practice.

Background: Suboptimal response to ursodeoxycholic acid occurs in 40% of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients, affecting survival. Achieving a deep response (normalisation of alkaline phosphatase [ALP] and bilirubin ≤0.6 upper limit of normal) improves survival.

The History of Academic Leadership Education in Orthopaedic Surgery.

Background: The growth of the American academic orthopaedic community over the last 53 years has been accompanied by an expanding need for academic leadership education.

Methods: The transition of the Association of Orthopaedic Chairmen, to the Academic Orthopaedic Society, to the American Orthopaedic Association through its Academic Leadership Committee and American Orthopaedic Association Council of Residency Directors is reviewed.

Results: Academic orthopaedic community members recognized that the evolving leadership needs of the academic community could be better addressed by transitioning to a new organization, the Academic Orthopaedic Society and eventually by creating a new structure within a well aligned and well-resourced existing organization, the American Orthopaedic Association.

Predictive factors for decompensating events in patients with cirrhosis with primary biliary cholangitis under different lines of therapy.

Background And Aims: The landscape in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) has changed with the advent of second-line treatments. However, the use of obeticholic acid (OCA) and fibrates in PBC-related cirrhosis is challenging. We assessed the impact of receiving a second-line therapy as a risk factor for decompensated cirrhosis in a real-world population with cirrhosis and PBC, and identify the predictive factors for decompensated cirrhosis in these patients.

Long-term surveillance of the feline leukemia virus in the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Andalusia, Spain (2008-2021).

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection is considered one of the most serious disease threats for the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) Over 14 years (2008-2021), we investigated FeLV infection using point-of-care antigen test and quantitative real-time TaqMan qPCR for provirus detection in blood and tissues in lynxes from Andalusia (Southern Spain). A total of 776 samples from 586 individuals were included in this study. The overall prevalence for FeLV antigen in blood/serum samples was 1.

A randomized controlled pilot study of a cognitive-behavioral video game intervention for the promotion of active aging.

Background: Due to the accessibility barriers of in-person programs for active aging, the development of programs that use innovative technologies is needed. Video games can be an engaging tool for disseminating active aging interventions.

Objective: The objective of this pilot study was to analyze the feasibility of a cognitive-behavioral intervention to promote active aging administered through a video game.

Intimate Partner Violence Detected during Abortion-Related Visits: A Systematic Review of Screenings and Interventions.

Objective:  To perform a systematic review of screening tools and interventions focused on reducing adverse health outcomes associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) at abortion-related visits.

Study Design:  Studies were eligible if they included individuals seeking pregnancy options health care services in the United States, screening for or implementation of an intervention for IPV, and were published in English after the year 2000. The primary outcomes were to summarize screening tools, interventions studied, and if interventions led to individuals being connected to IPV-related resources.

Feasibility of a Composite Measure of Pulmonary Vascular Impedance and Application to Patients with Chronic RV Failure Post LVAD Implant.

Pulmonary vascular impedance (PVZ) describes RV afterload in the frequency domain and has not been studied extensively in LVAD patients. We sought to determine (1) feasibility of calculating a composite (c)PVZ using standard of care (SoC), asynchronous, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and flow (PAQ) waveforms; and (2) if chronic right ventricular failure (RVF) post-LVAD implant was associated with changes in perioperative cPVZ.PAP and PAQ were obtained via SoC procedures at three landmarks: T(1), Retrospectively, pre-operative with patient conscious; and T(2) and T(3), prospectively with patient anesthetized, and either pre-sternotomy or chest open with LVAD, respectively.