Right Anterior Minithoracotomy Approach for Aortic Valve Replacement.

By sparing the sternum, the right anterior minithoracotomy (RAMT) approach may facilitate a quicker functional recovery when compared with conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR). In the following review, outcomes after RAMT AVR are compared with full sternotomy AVR. The RAMT approach is described, including suggestions for patient selection.

Driving performance of long-term users of sedating antidepressants and benzodiazepines.

Objective: Using benzodiazepines and certain antidepressants is associated with an increased risk of motor vehicle crashes due to impaired driving skills. Hence, several countries prohibit people who use these drugs from driving. Traffic regulations for driving under the influence of these drugs are, however, largely based on single-dose studies with healthy participants.

Right anterior mini thoracotomy for redo cardiac surgery: case series from North America and Europe.

Background: Right anterior mini thoracotomy (RAMT) for aortic valve replacement (AVR) is a minimally invasive procedure that avoids sternotomy. Herein, we report the outcomes of patients who underwent redo-cardiac via a RAMT approach for AVR.

Methods: This case series reports the clinical outcomes of 14 consecutive redo operations, done in Calgary (Canada) and Gdansk (Poland) between 2020 and 2023.

Post-COVID fatigue: Reduced quality-of-life associated with clinically relevant fatigue in mild disease courses.

Fatigue is a pervasive symptom experienced by many individuals after COVID-19. Despite its widespread occurrence, fatigue remains a poorly understood and complex phenomenon. Our aim is to evaluate the subjective experience of mental fatigue after COVID-19 and to assess its significance for daily life functioning.

Do electric bicycles cause an increased injury risk compared to conventional bicycles? The potential impact of data visualisations and corresponding conclusions.

The increasing number of bicycle crashes leading to injuries in the Netherlands is frequently related (e.g., in the media) to increased use of the electric bicycle.

Repeated conditionally automated driving on the road: How do drivers leave the loop over time?

The goal of this on the road driving study was to investigate how drivers adapt their behavior when driving with conditional vehicle automation (SAE L3) on different occasions. Specifically, we focused on changes in how fast drivers took over control from automation and how their gaze off the road changed over time. On each of three consecutive days, 21 participants drove for 50 min, in a conditionally automated vehicle (Wizard of Oz methodology), on a typical German commuting highway.

Sex Differences in Trends in Incidence of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Repair and Aortic Dissection: 2005-2015.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine trends in the incidence of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) repair and aortic dissection.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of patients from the period 2005-2015 with thoracic aortic disease. Unadjusted mortality was compared in women vs men.

Increased Travel Time to the Tertiary Centre Is Associated With Decreased Long-term Survival Following Ascending Aortic Operations.

Background: The association between travel time from tertiary care centre and outcomes after ascending thoracic aortic surgery is unknown. We determined the effect of travel time from the tertiary care centre on outcomes in ascending aortic repair in Nova Scotia.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing elective and emergent ascending thoracic aortic operations from 2005 to 2015 was carried out.

Keeping the driver in the loop through semi-automated or manual lane changes in conditionally automated driving.

In the current study we investigated if drivers of conditionally automated vehicles can be kept in the loop through lane change maneuvers. More specifically, we examined whether involving drivers in lane-changes during a conditionally automated ride can influence critical take-over behavior and keep drivers' gaze on the road. In a repeated measures driving simulator study (n = 85), drivers drove the same route three times, each trial containing four lane changes that were all either (1) automated, (2) semi-automated or (3) manual.

Exploring the effect of glaucomatous visual field defects of current drivers on a neuropsychological test battery.

Purpose: This study explores the effect of glaucomatous visual field defects on several neuropsychological tests that are often used in research and in clinical settings.

Methods: Nineteen glaucoma patients and nineteen healthy participants, which are current drivers and older than 65 years old were included. All participants completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Trail Making Test (TMT), the Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT), the Snellgrove Maze Task (SMT) and the Digit Span Test (DST).

Clinical Response to Procedural Stroke Following Carotid Endarterectomy: A Delphi Consensus Study.

Objective: No dedicated studies have been performed on the optimal management of patients with an acute stroke related to carotid intervention nor is there a solid recommendation given in the European Society for Vascular Surgery guideline. By implementation of an international expert Delphi panel, this study aimed to obtain expert consensus on the optimal management of in hospital stroke occurring during or following CEA and to provide a practical treatment decision tree.

Methods: A four round Delphi consensus study was performed including 31 experts.

Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2019 Case of the Week series.

The Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) is an international society focused on the research, education, and clinical application of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). The SCMR web site ( https://www.scmr.

An explorative approach to understanding individual differences in driving performance and neurocognition in long-term benzodiazepine users.

Objective: Previous research reported cognitive and psychomotor impairments in long-term users of benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRAs). This article explores the role of acute intoxication and clinical complaints.

Methods: Neurocognitive and on-road driving performance of 19 long-term (≥6 months) regular (≥twice weekly) BZRA users with estimated plasma concentrations, based on self-reported use, exceeding the therapeutic threshold (C +), and 31 long-term regular BZRA users below (C -), was compared to that of 76 controls.

Astrocyte-Oligodendrocyte-Microglia Crosstalk in Astrocytopathies.

Defective astrocyte function due to a genetic mutation can have major consequences for microglia and oligodendrocyte physiology, which in turn affects the white matter integrity of the brain. This review addresses the current knowledge on shared and unique pathophysiological mechanisms of astrocytopathies, including vanishing white matter, Alexander disease, megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts, Aicardi-Goutières syndrome, and oculodentodigital dysplasia. The mechanisms of disease include protein accumulation, unbalanced secretion of extracellular matrix proteins, pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules, cytokines and chemokines by astrocytes, as well as an altered gap junctional network and a changed ionic and nutrient homeostasis.

Driving performance and neurocognitive skills of long-term users of sedating antidepressants.

Objective: To assess driving performance and neurocognitive skills of long-term users of sedating antidepressants, in comparison to healthy controls.

Methods: Thirty-eight long-term (>6 months) users of amitriptyline (n = 13) and mirtazapine (n = 25) were compared to 65 healthy controls. Driving performance was assessed using a 1-h standardised highway driving test in actual traffic, with road-tracking error (standard deviation of lateral position [SDLP]) being the primary measure.

Minimally Invasive Hybrid Approach to High Risk Mitral Disease With Severe Mitral Annular Calcification.

Severe circumferential mitral annular calcification (MAC) remains a significant challenge, complicating surgical treatment of mitral valve disease. Transcatheter treatment options are attractive; however, they remain fraught with risks of annular fixation, paravalvular leak, atrioventricular-groove disruption, and left-ventricular outflow tract obstruction. We describe a novel minimally invasive hybrid technique of transcatheter mitral valve replacement in a patient with severe circumferential MAC.

Cycling on the edge: the effects of edge lines, slanted kerbstones, shoulder, and edge strips on cycling behaviour of cyclists older than 50 years.

To prevent single-bicycle crashes, this study is the first to evaluate effects of slanted kerbstones, edge lines, shoulder strips, and edge strips on cycling behaviour of cyclists ≥50 years. In Experiment 1, 32 participants cycled on a control path and paths with edge lines, slanted kerbstones, and three types of 0.5 m wide shoulder strips (with grey artificial grass, green artificial grass, or concrete street-print).

Driving performance and neurocognitive skills of long-term users of benzodiazepine anxiolytics and hypnotics.

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare actual driving performance and skills related to driving of patients using benzodiazepine anxiolytics or hypnotics for at least 6 months to that of healthy controls.

Methods: Participants were 44 long-term users of benzodiazepine and benzodiazepine-related anxiolytics (n = 12) and hypnotics (n = 32) and 65 matched healthy controls. Performance was assessed using an on-the-road driving test measuring standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP, in cm) and a battery of neurocognitive tasks.

A Clinical Validation Study of Anatomical Risk Scoring for Procedural Stroke in Patients Treated by Carotid Artery Stenting in the International Carotid Stenting Study.

Objectives: Vascular anatomy of the aortic arch and supra-aortic arteries has been suggested as influencing the risk of carotid artery stenting (CAS). The expert opinion based Delphi anatomical risk (DAR) score was developed to predict difficulty of CAS in relation to procedural stroke risk, and thereby aid patient selection. The aim was to validate the DAR score in the context of a randomised clinical trial.

Cardiac Resynchronization in Women: A Substudy of the Resynchronization-Defibrillation for Ambulatory Heart Failure Trial.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D) as compared with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) on mortality, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, and ventricular arrhythmia in women versus men.

Background: CRT-D has demonstrated reduced mortality and HF hospitalizations with greater benefit observed in women compared with men. However, whether CRT-D prevented ventricular arrhythmias in women compared with men was unclear.

Walking Without Awareness.

Pedestrians are commonly engaged in other activities while walking. The current study assesses (1) whether pedestrians are sufficiently aware of their surroundings to successfully negotiate obstacles in a city, and (2) whether various common walking practices affect awareness of obstacles and, or, avoidance behavior. To this end, an obstacle, i.

Driving Difficulties Among Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Disorders.

Background/objective: Neurodegenerative disorders impact fitness to drive of older drivers, but on-road driving studies investigating patients with different neurodegenerative disorders are scarce. A variety of driving errors have been reported in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), but it is unclear which types of driving errors occur most frequently. Moreover, patients with other neurodegenerative disorders than AD typically present with different symptoms and impairments, therefore different driving errors may be expected.