Long-term exposure to sediment-associated antidepressants impacts life-history traits in an estuarine deposit-feeding worm.

Hydrophobic pollutants, such as the antidepressant sertraline (SER), tend to sorb to particles in the water column and subsequently accumulate in the sediment. Long-term exposure to these pollutants may significantly affect sediment-dwelling organisms´ fitness and behavior. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the impact of chronic exposure to a range of environmentally relevant and higher concentrations of sediment-associated SER on the deposit-feeding polychaete Capitella teleta.

Metal accumulations in aquatic organisms and health risks in an acid mine-affected site in South China.

Metal contamination from base metal sulphide mines is a major environmental challenge that poses many ecological and health risks. We examined the metal concentrations in the Dabaoshan mine in South China in water, sediments, and aquatic organisms and their specific characteristics (i.e.

Guideline-Based Critical Care Pathway Improves Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Implementation of a critical care pathway (CCP) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has been shown to improve early compliance to guideline-directed therapies and reduce early mortality. Nevertheless its long-term impact on the compliance with medications or clinical outcomes remains unknown. Between 2004 and 2015, 2023 consecutive patients were admitted to our coronary care unit with ACS.

Endomyocardial implantation of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells in advanced ischemic heart failure: a randomized placebo-controlled trial (END-HF).

Prior studies suggest that endomyocardial implantation of autologous bone marrow (BM) mononuclear cell therapy improves symptoms and left ventricular (LV) function in patients with refractory angina; however, the therapeutic efficacy in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy is unclear. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 28 patients with advanced ischemic cardiomyopathy [New York Heart Association III-IV, LV ejection fraction (LVEF) <40 %] were assigned in 2:1 ratio to receive endomyocardial injection of BM cells (100 million, n = 19) or placebo (n = 9), guided by electroanatomical mapping. After 6 months, there was no significant difference between the two groups in LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV end-systolic volume (LVESV), LV infarct volume, and LV peri-infarct ischemic volume as determined by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or exercise capacity.

Attenuation of left ventricular adverse remodeling with epicardial patching after myocardial infarction.

Background: Previous studies suggested that epicardial patch applied to the infarcted site after acute myocardial infarction (MI) can alleviate left ventricular (LV) remodeling and improve cardiac performance; however, the effects of regional epicardial patch on chronic phase of LV remodeling remain unclear.

Methods And Results: We studied 20 pigs with MI induced by distal embolization and impaired LV ejection fraction (LVEF < 45%) as detected by gadolinium-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Eight weeks post-MI, all animal underwent open chest procedure for sham surgery (control, n = 12) or patch implantation over the infarcted lateral LV wall (patch group, n = 12).

New-onset heart failure after permanent right ventricular apical pacing in patients with acquired high-grade atrioventricular block and normal left ventricular function.

Introduction: Emerging data have suggested that right ventricular (RV) apical pacing results in progressive left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and contributes to the development of heart failure (HF). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical predictors for the development of new-onset HF after long-term RV apical pacing in patients with acquired atrioventricular (AV) block who require permanent pacing.

Methods: We studied the clinical outcomes after long-term RV apical pacing for acquired AV block in 304 patients without a prior history of HF.

Prospective randomized trial of direct endomyocardial implantation of bone marrow cells for treatment of severe coronary artery diseases (PROTECT-CAD trial).

Aims: Experimental studies have demonstrated that bone marrow (BM) cells can induce angiogenesis in ischaemic myocardium. Recently, several non-randomized pilot studies have also suggested that direct BM cells implantation appears to be feasible and safe in patients with severe coronary artery diseases (CAD).

Methods And Results: We performed a randomized, blinded, and placebo-controlled trial in 28 CAD patients.

Application of intravenous contrast in PET/CT: does it really introduce significant attenuation correction error?

Unlabelled: The current perception of using contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) for attenuation correction (AC) is that of caution, as it might lead to erroneously elevated (18)F-FDG uptake on the PET scan. This study evaluates in vivo whether an intravenous iodinated contrast agent produces a significant AC artifact in the level of standardized uptake value (SUV) changes in PET/CT.

Methods: Fifty-four patients referred for whole-body (WB) PET/CT scans were enrolled and subdivided into 2 groups.