Pneumococcal Endocarditis, Sepsis, and Meningitis in an Immunocompromised Patient: A Case Study.

BACKGROUND Streptococcus pneumoniae is an uncommon but serious cause of infective endocarditis (IE), particularly in immunocompromised individuals, such as those with untreated HIV. When pneumococcal IE occurs, it is associated with high morbidity and mortality due to the high prevenance of complications such as acute valvular destruction and septic embolization. Therefore, early recognition and prompt surgical intervention are paramount to improving outcomes.

Case Series of Coronary Artery Anomalies in Athletes: Challenges in Clinical Management and Sports Eligibility.

Coronary artery anomalies include a spectrum of pathologic changes associated with sudden cardiac death in athletes. We highlight the inherent challenges in risk stratification and management of athletes with coronary artery anomalies by presenting 3 cases, each with distinct pathologic coronary anatomy and clinical management decisions. ().

Metabolic syndrome, fatty liver, and artificial intelligence-based epicardial adipose tissue measures predict long-term risk of cardiac events: a prospective study.

Background: We sought to evaluate the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and computed tomography (CT)-derived cardiometabolic biomarkers (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] and epicardial adipose tissue [EAT] measures) with long-term risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in asymptomatic individuals.

Methods: This was a post-hoc analysis of the prospective EISNER (Early-Identification of Subclinical Atherosclerosis by Noninvasive Imaging Research) study of participants who underwent baseline coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring CT and 14-year follow-up for MACE (myocardial infarction, late revascularization, or cardiac death). EAT volume (cm) and attenuation (Hounsfield units [HU]) were quantified from CT using fully automated deep learning software (< 30 s per case).

Machine learning integration of circulating and imaging biomarkers for explainable patient-specific prediction of cardiac events: A prospective study.

Background And Aims: We sought to assess the performance of a comprehensive machine learning (ML) risk score integrating circulating biomarkers and computed tomography (CT) measures for the long-term prediction of hard cardiac events in asymptomatic subjects.

Methods: We studied 1069 subjects (age 58.2 ± 8.

Deep Learning-Based Quantification of Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume and Attenuation Predicts Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Asymptomatic Subjects.

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume (cm) and attenuation (Hounsfield units) may predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of fully automated deep learning-based EAT volume and attenuation measurements quantified from noncontrast cardiac computed tomography.

Methods: Our study included 2068 asymptomatic subjects (56±9 years, 59% male) from the EISNER trial (Early Identification of Subclinical Atherosclerosis by Noninvasive Imaging Research) with long-term follow-up after coronary artery calcium measurement.

Machine learning to predict the long-term risk of myocardial infarction and cardiac death based on clinical risk, coronary calcium, and epicardial adipose tissue: a prospective study.

Aims: Our aim was to evaluate the performance of machine learning (ML), integrating clinical parameters with coronary artery calcium (CAC), and automated epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) quantification, for the prediction of long-term risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiac death in asymptomatic subjects.

Methods And Results: Our study included 1912 asymptomatic subjects [1117 (58.4%) male, age: 55.

Revascularization in Patients With Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an increasingly recognized cause of myocardial infarction (MI) in younger women, often treated conservatively due to revascularization risks. Revascularization outcomes are largely unknown in SCAD presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare revascularization strategies and outcomes of STEMI-SCAD with STEMI atherosclerosis (STEMI-ATH).

Simultaneous Tc-99m PYP/Tl-201 dual-isotope SPECT myocardial imaging in patients with suspected cardiac amyloidosis.

Introduction: Assessment of myocardial uptake of Tc-99m-pyrophosphate (Tc-99m PYP) is pivotal in distinguishing transthyretin-associated cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR) from light chain amyloid (AL). It is often difficult to differentiate myocardial uptake from blood pool radioactivity with planar imaging or SPECT. We studied whether simultaneous dual-isotope Tc-99m PYP/Tl-201 SPECT improves assessment of Tc-99m PYP uptake compared to single-isotope SPECT.

Fertile and selectively flirty: women's behavior toward men changes across the ovulatory cycle.

Past research shows that men respond to women differently depending on where women are in their ovulatory cycle. But what leads men to treat ovulating women differently? We propose that the ovulatory cycle alters women's flirting behavior. We tested this hypothesis in an experiment in which women interacted with different types of men at different points in their cycle.

Pretreatment 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and durability of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases.

Introduction: Emerging evidence supports an immunologic role for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here we examined if pretreatment vitamin D status influences durability of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α therapy in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: All IBD patients who had plasma 25(OH)D level checked <3 months prior to initiating anti-TNF-α therapy were included in this retrospective single-center cohort study.

When the economy falters, do people spend or save? Responses to resource scarcity depend on childhood environments.

Just as modern economies undergo periods of boom and bust, human ancestors experienced cycles of abundance and famine. Is the adaptive response when resources become scarce to save for the future or to spend money on immediate gains? Drawing on life-history theory, we propose that people's responses to resource scarcity depend on the harshness of their early-life environment, as reflected by childhood socioeconomic status (SES). In the three experiments reported here, we tested how people from different childhood environments responded to resource scarcity.

Ovulation leads women to perceive sexy cads as good dads.

Why do some women pursue relationships with men who are attractive, dominant, and charming but who do not want to be in relationships--the prototypical sexy cad? Previous research shows that women have an increased desire for such men when they are ovulating, but it is unclear why ovulating women would think it is wise to pursue men who may be unfaithful and could desert them. Using both college-age and community-based samples, in 3 studies we show that ovulating women perceive charismatic and physically attractive men, but not reliable and nice men, as more committed partners and more devoted future fathers. Ovulating women perceive that sexy cads would be good fathers to their own children but not to the children of other women.

Sex ratio and women's career choice: does a scarcity of men lead women to choose briefcase over baby?

Although the ratio of males to females in a population is known to influence behavior in nonhuman animals, little is known about how sex ratio influences human behavior. We propose that sex ratio affects women's family planning and career choices. Using both historical data and experiments, we examined how sex ratio influences women's career aspirations.