An International Delphi Based Study for Developing A Core Outcome Set For Hypospadias Surgery.

Introduction Explicit outcomes routinely measured across the life span following hypospadias surgery, defined by a core outcome set (COS), will harmonize and overcome reporting heterogeneity. Methods Age specific outcomes identified in a literature review were presented in a three round Delphi survey. Participants (professionals, parents and patients) were encouraged to suggest outcomes in the first Delphi round.

Cannulation Configuration and Its Effects on Bridging to Lung Transplant: Analysis of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry.

Background: Donor stagnation and modification of lung allocation scores has resulted in a higher acuity of patient presentation before lung transplantation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used as a bridge to lung transplant (BTT), although the effect of cannulation strategy on outcomes has not been well investigated. We analyzed contemporary data on ECMO BTT by using a large, international registry of patients.

Multi-institutional model to predict intensive care unit length of stay after cardiac surgery.

Objective: Intensive care unit length of stay (ICU LOS) accounts for a large percentage of inpatient cost after cardiac surgery. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk calculator predicts total LOS but does not discriminate between ICU and non-ICU time. We sought to develop a predictive model of prolonged ICU LOS.

Assessing the impact of socioeconomic distress on hospital readmissions after cardiac surgery.

Background: The impact of socioeconomic distress on readmission rates following cardiac surgery has not been studied. We hypothesized that patients living in distressed communities would have a higher 30-day readmission rate after cardiac surgery compared to those living in less distressed communities.

Methods: Patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between 2016 and 2023 within a regional collaborative were identified.

Ovarian teratoma-associated Anti-NMDAR encephalitis in women with first-time neuropsychiatric symptoms: A meta-analysis and systematic review of reported cases.

Objective: Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is frequently associated with ovarian teratomas. The diverse clinical presentations and several stages of disease development pose a significant diagnostic challenge for clinicians. The main objective of this research was to show the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms of ovarian-teratoma-associated anti-NMDAR encephalitis and to highlight the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease progression.

Does Timing Matter? The Effect of Intensive Care Unit Arrival Timing on Elective Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Due to staffing changes at scheduled intervals and decreases in essential staff in the evenings, late intensive care unit (ICU) arrivals may be at risk for suboptimal outcomes. Utilizing a regional collaborative, we sought to determine the effect of ICU arrival timing on outcomes in elective isolated coronary artery bypass.

Methods: Adults undergoing elective, isolated coronary artery bypass from 17 hospitals between 2013 and 2023 were identified.

Cardiac Surgical Unit-Advanced Life Support-certified centers are associated with improved failure to rescue after cardiac arrest: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Objective: The impact of Cardiac Surgical Unit-Advanced Life Support (CSU-ALS) training on failure to rescue after cardiac arrest (FTR-CA) is unknown. We hypothesized that institutional CSU-ALS certification would be associated with lower FTR-CA.

Methods: Patients undergoing Society of Thoracic Surgeons index operations from 2020 to 2023 from a regional collaborative were analyzed.

Prophylactic left atrial appendage ligation during coronary artery bypass grafting: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Objective: The study objective was to evaluate short-term outcomes and statewide practice patterns of prophylactic left atrial appendage ligation in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting without preoperative atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Adult patients who underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (2017-2023) within a regional collaborative were identified. Patients with a history of atrial fibrillation, previous cardiac surgery, or nondevice-based left atrial appendage ligation were excluded.

Sustained metabolic dysregulation and the emergence of diabetes: associations between HbA1c and metabolic syndrome components in Tunisian diabetic and nondiabetic groups.

Introduction: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), diabetes, and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have been a major focus of research in recent decades as the prevalence of these conditions continues to rapidly increase globally. However, the timing and patterns of development from metabolic risk factors to disease states are less well understood and are especially critical to understand in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and populations undergoing epidemiological transitions.

Methods: Nationally representative sociodemographic, anthropometric, and point-of-care biomarker data from the 2016 Tunisian Health Examination Survey (n = 8170) were used to determine the prevalence of diabetes and MetS components in Tunisia and to investigate associations between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and MetS components (blood pressure [BP], HDL cholesterol [HDL], triglycerides [TG], and waist circumference [WC]) in participants aged 15-97 years old.

Targeted HER2-positive cancer therapy using ADAPT6 fused to horseradish peroxidase.

Targeted cancer therapy is a promising alternative to the currently established cancer treatments, aiming to selectively kill cancer cells while sparing healthy tissues. Hereby, molecular targeting agents, such as monoclonal antibodies, are used to bind to cancer cell surface markers specifically. Although these agents have shown great clinical success, limitations still remain such as low tumor penetration and off-target effects.

Adenosine 2A Receptor Agonism Improves Survival in Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

Introduction: Despite resuscitation advances including extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), freedom from neurologic and myocardial insult after cardiac arrest remains unlikely. We hypothesized that adenosine 2A receptor (A2AR) agonism, which attenuates reperfusion injury, would improve outcomes in a porcine model of ECPR.

Methods: Adult swine underwent 20 min of circulatory arrest followed by defibrillation and 6 h of ECPR.

Pilot Assessment of Platelet Thrombus Area and Contractile Force in Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery Patients Using a Microfluidic Device.

Objectives: This work was designed to evaluate maximum platelet contractile force and thrombus area before and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in pediatric patients having congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery using a microfluidic device.

Design: A prospective cohort study was designed.

Setting: The work took place at an academic medical center.

Mitral valve repair in a regional quality collaborative: Respect or resect?

Objective: Mitral valve repair is the gold standard for treatment of mitral regurgitation, but the optimal technique remains debated. By using a regional collaborative, we sought to determine the change in repair technique over time.

Methods: We identified all patients undergoing isolated mitral valve repair from 2012 to 2022 for degenerative mitral disease.

Continuous rotary kiln pyrolysis of cassava plant shoot system and wide speciation of oxygenated and nitrogen-containing compounds in bio-oil by HESI and APPI-Orbitrap MS.

This work proposes the pyrolysis of the cassava plant shoot system biomass and a comprehensive chemical characterization of the resulting bio-oil. The highest yields of liquid products were obtained at 600 °C, with 12.6 % bio-oil (organic fraction), which presented the lowest total acid number of 65.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 channel inhibition attenuates lung ischemia-reperfusion injury in a porcine lung transplant model.

Objective: Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is a nonselective cation channel important in many physiological and pathophysiological processes, including pulmonary disease. Using a murine model, we previously demonstrated that TRPV4 mediates lung ischemia-reperfusion injury, the major cause of primary graft dysfunction after transplant. The current study tests the hypothesis that treatment with a TRPV4 inhibitor will attenuate lung ischemia-reperfusion injury in a clinically relevant porcine lung transplant model.

Polymorphisms in the CD6-ALCAM axis may modulate psoriasis risk and outcomes.

The fact that CD6, along with its ligand - ALCAM, plays a role in regulating T cell activation makes the genes encoding these molecules promising candidates for research in T cell-mediated diseases such as psoriasis vulgaris (PsV). Our study aimed to determine whether CD6 (rs17824933C>G, rs11230563C>T and rs12360861G>A) and ALCAM (rs6437585C>T, rs11559013G>A) polymorphisms may affect psoriasis susceptibility and severity (assessed by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)). Moreover, the presence of HLA-C*06:02, the strongest psoriasis risk factor in the Caucasian population, was also investigated.

Microwave and ultrasound extraction of antioxidant phenolic compounds from Lantana camara Linn. leaves: Optimization, comparative study, and FT-Orbitrap MS analysis.

Introduction: The species Lantana camara is used in folk medicine. The biological activities of this medicinal plant are attributable to the presence of various derivatives of triterpenoids and phenolic compounds present in its preparations, indicating excellent economic potential.

Objective: In this study, the operational conditions of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were optimized using Box-Behnken design to improve the total phenolic content (TPC) recovered in hydroethanolic extracts of L.

Impact of Frailty in Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery.

Objective: Psoas muscle size is a reliable marker of sarcopenia and frailty that correlates with adverse outcomes after cardiac surgery. However, its use in mitral and minimally invasive cardiac surgery is lacking. We sought to determine whether frailty, as measured by psoas muscle index, increases surgical risk for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

Trends in the Use of Recombinant Activated Factor VII and Prothrombin Complex Concentrate in Heart Transplant Patients in Virginia.

Objectives: To explore trends in intraoperative procoagulant factor concentrate use in patients undergoing heart transplantation (HTx) in Virginia. Secondarily, to evaluate their association with postoperative thrombosis.

Design: Patients who underwent HTx were identified using a statewide database.