Characterizing the underlying microangiopathy of deep cerebellar intracerebral hemorrhage.

Introduction: While cerebral amyloid angiopathy is likely responsible for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) occurring in superficial (grey matter, vermis) cerebellar locations, it is unclear whether hypertensive arteriopathy (HA), the other major cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD), is associated with cerebellar ICH (cICH) in deep (white matter, deep nuclei, cerebellar peduncle) regions. We tested the hypothesis that HA-associated neuroimaging markers are significantly associated with deep cICH compared to superficial cICH.

Patients And Methods: Brain MRI scans from consecutive non-traumatic cICH patients admitted to a referral center were analyzed for cSVD markers.

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on cardiac biomarkers: Results from the STURDY trial.

Objectives: In observational studies, older adults with low serum vitamin D levels are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but randomized trials have failed to demonstrate reduction in CVD risk from vitamin D supplementation, possibly because the doses of vitamin D supplements tested were too low. Our objective was to determine if higher doses of vitamin D supplementation reduce high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTnI) and N-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), markers of subclinical CVD.

Methods: The Study to Understand Fall Reduction and Vitamin D in You (STURDY) was a double-blind, randomized, response-adaptive trial that tested the effects of 4 doses of vitamin D3 supplementation (200, 1000, 2000, 4000 IU/day) on fall risk among older adults with low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations (10-29 ng/mL).

Outcomes Following Fenestrated/Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair for Failed Open Infrarenal Aortic Repair Compared with Primary Fenestrated/Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair.

Objective: As aneurysmal disease is progressive, proximal disease progression and para-anastomotic aneurysms are complications experienced after open infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (AAA). As such, fenestrated or branched endovascular repair (F/BEVAR) may be indicated in these patients. Data describing fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair after prior open repair are limited to institutional databases.

Lessons Learned in Emergency Pelvic and First-Trimester US: Focus on Cognitive Biases.

Nonpregnant and pregnant women who present with acute pelvic pain can pose a diagnostic challenge in the emergency setting. The clinical presentation is often nonspecific, and the differential diagnosis may be very broad. These symptoms are often indications for pelvic US, which is the primary imaging modality when an obstetric or gynecologic cause is suspected.

Outcomes of chronic limb-threatening ischemia revascularization in patients with chronic kidney disease in the BEST-CLI trial.

Background: Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a high risk of poor outcomes. We aimed to compare the outcomes of lower extremity revascularization in patients with CLTI stratified by CKD severity in patients enrolled in the prospective, randomized Best Endovascular vs Best Surgical Therapy in Patients with CLTI (BEST-CLI) trial.

Methods: The BEST-CLI trial dataset was queried to categorize patients into three groups according to CKD stage.

Association of Circulating Phenylacetylglutamine With Multi-Vessel Coronary Disease Severity and Outcomes in ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: There is a lack of evidence regarding the association between plasma phenylacetylglutamine levels and lesion severity and clinical prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with multivessel coronary disease (MVCD). This study aims to investigate the potential of phenylacetylglutamine as a biomarker for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) of patients with STEMI and MVCD.

Methods And Results: Clinical data and blood samples were collected from 631 patients with STEMI and MVCD, who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Effects of Age and Sex on Systemic Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Function in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Systemic inflammation, aging, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) lead to varying degrees of cardiovascular dysfunction and impaired aerobic exercise capacity. This study evaluates the impact of inflammation and sex differences on coronary and peripheral vascular function and exercise capacity in older individuals with and without T2D.

Methods: Older individuals (aged≥65 years) underwent biochemical and tissue inflammatory phenotyping, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, and vascular reactivity testing.

Endothelial FOXM1 and Dab2 promote diabetic wound healing.

Diabetes mellitus can cause impaired and delayed wound healing, leading to lower extremity amputations; however, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor-dependent (VEGF-dependent) angiogenesis remain unclear. In our study, the molecular underpinnings of endothelial dysfunction in diabetes are investigated, focusing on the roles of disabled-2 (Dab2) and Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) in VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) signaling and endothelial cell function. Bulk RNA-sequencing analysis identified significant downregulation of Dab2 in high-glucose-treated primary mouse skin endothelial cells.

Evaluation of racial/ethnic disparities in surgical outcomes after rectal cancer resection: An ACS-NSQIP analysis.

Background: Disparities exist the management of rectal cancer. We sought to evaluate short-term surgical outcomes among different racial/ethnic groups following rectal cancer resection.

Materials And Methods: National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database (2016-2019) was queried.

Leveraging human centered design to enhance clinician communication during pregnancy care: Overcoming language barriers with Spanish-speaking patients.

Background: Engaging patients in quality improvement and innovation projects is increasingly important, yet challenges persist with involving patients who speak languages other than English. This article presents design activities our team used to engage Spanish-speaking patients and cultural brokers.

Objective: To develop a clinician communication tool to enhance patient trust in pregnancy care clinicians, especially among minoritized populations who face language and cultural barriers, using human-centered design (HCD).

Application of the Relative Citation Ratio to Assess Common Characteristics of the Highest Impact Articles in Reconstructive Microsurgery.

 The purpose of this review is to characterize themes among the five reconstructive microsurgery articles achieving the highest Relative Citation Ratios (RCRs) published in the past 20 years in the top journals. In doing so, researchers may be better informed on how to propose salient research questions to impact the field and understand future directions in plastic surgery.  A cross-sectional study was conducted with articles published in the top three journals based on the Impact Factor: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, and Annals of Plastic Surgery.

Development of the Migraine-Related Stigma (MiRS) Questionnaire: Results of the OVERCOME (US) Study.

Background: Stigma is emerging as an important social contributor to migraine-related disability and other outcomes. Currently, there are no published validated measures of migraine-specific measures of stigma.

Objectives: This secondary post hoc analysis of a cross-sectional cohort study aimed to develop a questionnaire to evaluate migraine-related stigma.

Microglia modulate the cerebrovascular reactivity through ectonucleotidase CD39.

Microglia and the border-associated macrophages contribute to the modulation of cerebral blood flow, but the mechanisms have remained uncertain. Here, we show that microglia regulate the cerebral blood flow baseline and the responses to whisker stimulation or intra-cisternal magna injection of adenosine triphosphate, but not intra-cisternal magna injection of adenosine in mice model. Notably, microglia repopulation corrects these cerebral blood flow anomalies.

CD45-PET is a robust, non-invasive tool for imaging inflammation.

Imaging inflammation holds immense potential for advancing the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of many conditions. The lack of a specific and sensitive positron emission tomography (PET) probe to detect inflammation is a critical challenge. To bridge this gap, we present CD45-PET imaging, which detects inflammation with exceptional sensitivity and clarity in several preclinical models.

Evaluating pulmonary stenosis and regurgitation impact on cardiac strain and strain rate in a porcine model via magnetic resonance feature tracking.

Background: Pulmonary stenosis (PS) is common in congenital heart disease and an integral finding in Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Pulmonary regurgitation (PR) is more commonly found following surgery in repaired TOF. We aimed to evaluate the haemodynamic effects of PS and PR on cardiac physiology in a porcine model using cardiac magnetic resonance-based feature tracking (CMR-FT) deformation imaging.

Diversity in the medical research ecosystem: a descriptive scientometric analysis of over 49 000 studies and 150 000 authors published in high-impact medical journals between 2007 and 2022.

Objectives: Health research that significantly impacts global clinical practice and policy is often published in high-impact factor (IF) medical journals. These outlets play a pivotal role in the worldwide dissemination of novel medical knowledge. However, researchers identifying as women and those affiliated with institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have been largely under-represented in high-IF journals across multiple fields of medicine.

Pericardial effusion cytology: malignancy rates, patterns of metastasis, comparison with pericardial window, and genomic correlates.

Introduction: Cytologic evaluation of pericardial fluid is essential for diagnosing malignant pericardial effusions secondary to metastatic disease and for guiding appropriate clinical management; however, large cohort and up-to-date studies on malignancy rates and distribution of primary tumor sites is lacking.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of pericardial fluid specimens from 2 large academic medical centers over a 10-year period was conducted. Clinical and specimen characteristics were correlated with cytologic diagnoses, and compared with surgical pathology pericardial specimens when available.