Effects of dopamine β-hydroxylase inhibition in pressure overload-induced right ventricular failure.

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system is observed in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients. This study investigates whether inhibiting the conversion of dopamine into noradrenaline by dopamine -hydroxylase (DH) inhibition with BIA 21-5337 improved right ventricular (RV) function or remodeling in pressure overload-induced RV failure. RV failure was induced in male Wistar rats by pulmonary trunk banding (PTB).

Development and Validation of a Mortality Risk Score for Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: Robust risk assessment is crucial for the growing repaired tetralogy of Fallot population at risk of major adverse clinical outcomes; however, current tools are hindered by lack of validation. This study aims to develop and validate a risk prediction model for death in the repaired tetralogy of Fallot population.

Methods And Results: Patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot enrolled in the INDICATOR (International Multicenter Tetralogy of Fallot Registry) cohort with clinical, arrhythmia, cardiac magnetic resonance, and outcome data were included.

Extending the phenotypic spectrum assessed by the CDR plus NACC FTLD in genetic frontotemporal dementia.

Introduction: We aimed to expand the range of the frontotemporal dementia (FTD) phenotypes assessed by the Clinical Dementia Rating Dementia Staging Instrument plus National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Behavior and Language Domains (CDR plus NACC FTLD).

Methods: Neuropsychiatric and motor domains were added to the standard CDR plus NACC FTLD generating a new CDR plus NACC FTLD-NM scale. This was assessed in 522 mutation carriers and 310 mutation-negative controls from the Genetic Frontotemporal dementia Initiative (GENFI).

Chemotherapy resistant Burkitt lymphoma: Possible novel therapies including CAR-T cell infusion.

Key Clinical Message: The prognosis of patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) BL is poor with limited response to salvage therapy, especially for patients with early relapse (<6 months) or refractory disease. Novel therapies may be promising but need refinement.

Abstract: The prognosis of patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) BL is poor with a limited response to salvage therapy, especially for patients with early relapse (<6 months) or refractory disease.

The contribution of the alternative pathway in complement activation on cell surfaces depends on the strength of classical pathway initiation.

Objectives: The complement system is an important component of innate immunity. The alternative pathway (AP) amplification loop is considered an essential feed forward mechanism for complement activation. However, the role of the AP in classical pathway (CP) activation has only been studied in ELISA settings.

Recurrence risk of venous thromboembolism associated with systemic lupus erythematosus: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Recurrence risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) is unclear.

Aim: To determine the recurrence risk of SLE-associated VTE overall and by presence of provoking factors and SLE flares.

Methods: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted among patients with first SLE-associated VTE who discontinued anticoagulation.

Increased prescription rate of anti-infective agents after diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes.

The a priori risk for infections in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is unknown. This study examines prescription rates of anti-infective agents in MDS patients before and after diagnosis, in both in- and outpatient settings, to provide information on infection management in clinical practice. We performed a population-based study using the HemoBase registry, containing data of all MDS patients diagnosed since 2005 in Friesland, the Netherlands.

Editor's Choice - Sex Differences in Response to Administration of Heparin During Non-Cardiac Arterial Procedures.

Objective: Females are more prone to complications during non-cardiac arterial procedures (NCAPs) than males. The current study investigated the difference in the effect of peri-procedural prophylactic heparin in males and females, using the activated clotting time (ACT). This was a retrospective analysis of a prospective multicentre cohort study.

Strategies to safely use cryopreserved ovarian tissue to restore fertility after cancer: a systematic review.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and subsequent autotransplantation is a successful technique for fertility preservation in oncological patients. However, there are concerns regarding safety, as the graft may contain malignant cells that could lead to the reintroduction of cancer. To circumvent this problem several experimental strategies are being pursued.

Pacing therapy for atrioventricular dromotropathy: a combined computational-experimental-clinical study.

Aims: Investigate haemodynamic effects, and their mechanisms, of restoring atrioventricular (AV)-coupling using pacemaker therapy in normal and failing hearts in a combined computational-experimental-clinical study.

Methods And Results: Computer simulations were performed in the CircAdapt model of the normal and failing human heart and circulation. Experiments were performed in a porcine model of AV dromotropathy.

Association Between an Increase in Serum Sodium and In-Hospital Mortality in Critically Ill Patients.

Objectives: In critically ill patients, dysnatremia is common, and in these patients, in-hospital mortality is higher. It remains unknown whether changes of serum sodium after ICU admission affect mortality, especially whether normalization of mild hyponatremia improves survival.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Dynamics of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in convalescent plasma donors.

Objectives: Characterisation of the human antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection is vital for serosurveillance purposes and for treatment options such as transfusion with convalescent plasma or immunoglobulin products derived from convalescent plasma. In this study, we longitudinally and quantitatively analysed antibody responses in RT-PCR-positive SARS-CoV-2 convalescent adults during the first 250 days after onset of symptoms.

Methods: We measured antibody responses to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the nucleocapsid protein in 844 longitudinal samples from 151 RT-PCR-positive SARS-CoV-2 convalescent adults.

A Multicenter Analysis of Wide Excision and Reconstruction for Severe Anogenital Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Background: An appropriate reconstruction strategy after wide excision for severe cases of anogenital hidradenitis suppurativa (aHS) is important to optimize outcomes, but there is no consensus on which reconstruction strategy should be preferred.

Objective: Evaluate which reconstruction strategy after wide excision in patients with severe aHS is associated with the best outcomes in terms of recurrence rate, complications and patient-reported outcomes on range of motion, pain, appearance, sexual health and satisfaction.

Methods: Multicenter retrospective analysis between 2009 and 2019 of wide excision and reconstruction by primary closure, secondary intention healing, split-thickness skin grafts or fasciocutaneous flaps (FCF).

Multicentre study of surgical referral and outcomes of patients with benign colorectal lesions.

Background: A multicentre cohort study was performed to analyse the motivations for surgical referral of patients with benign colorectal lesions, and to evaluate the endoscopic and pathological characteristics of these lesions as well as short-term surgical outcomes.

Methods: Patients who underwent surgery for a benign colorectal lesion in 15 Dutch hospitals between January 2014 and December 2017 were selected from the pathology registry. Lesions were defined as complex when at least one of the following features was present: size at least 40 mm, difficult location according to the endoscopist, previous failed attempt at resection, or non-lifting sign.

Meta-analysis of epidural analgesia in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy.

Background: The optimal analgesic technique after pancreatoduodenectomy remains under debate. This study aimed to see whether epidural analgesia (EA) has superior clinical outcomes compared with non-epidural alternatives (N-EA) in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy.

Methods: A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed according to PRISMA guidelines.

A Multicenter Comparison of Reconstruction Strategies after Wide Excision for Severe Axillary Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Unlabelled: An appropriate reconstruction strategy after wide excision for severe cases of axillary hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is important to optimize outcomes, but no consensus exists on which reconstruction strategy should be preferred.

Objective: Evaluate which reconstruction strategy after wide excision in patients with severe axillary HS is associated with improved outcomes in terms of recurrence rate, complications, post-reconstruction limb function, aesthetics, and patient satisfaction.

Methods: Retrospective analysis between 2008 and 2018 of wide excision and reconstruction by primary closure (PC), secondary intention healing (SIH), split thickness skin grafts (STSG), or fasciocutaneous flaps (FCF).

Hepatic symptoms and histology in 13 patients with a Zellweger spectrum disorder.

Patients with a Zellweger spectrum disorder (ZSD) have a defect in the assembly or maintenance of peroxisomes, leading to a multisystem disease with variable outcome. Liver disease is an important feature in patients with severe and milder phenotypes and a frequent cause of death. However, the course and histology of liver disease in ZSD patients are ill-defined.

TSH suppression aggravates arterial inflammation - an F-FDG PET study in thyroid carcinoma patients.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the influence of both hypothyroidism and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression on vascular inflammation, as assessed with F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT).

Methods: Ten thyroid carcinoma patients underwent an F-FDG PET/CT during post-thyroidectomy hypothyroidism and during thyrotropin (TSH) suppression after I (radioiodine) ablation therapy. We analysed the F-FDG uptake in the carotids, aortic arch, ascending, descending, and abdominal aorta to investigate the effects of thyroid hormone status on arterial inflammation.