Sex Disparities in Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality in Europe.

Background: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of death in the European Union (EU). Understanding variations by sex, income, and countries can help in tailoring effective public health policies.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to examine trends in sex differences in IHD prevalence and prognosis within the EU.

Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Among Attendees From a Large Health Care System During the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Background: Few studies have evaluated home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) during the pandemic, compared to prepandemic center-based CR (CBCR), with respect to patient characteristics, participation rates, and its efficacy on clinical metrics, health-related quality of life (QoL), and modifiable risk factors.

Objectives: We aimed to describe patient characteristics and participation rates for those attending HBCR compared to patients who attended CBCR and compare the effects of HBCR vs CBCR on clinical metrics, health-related QoL, and modifiable risk factors in CR patients pre vs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study comparing 511 HBCR patients and 765 CBCR patients from the Mayo Clinic Health System.

Etiology and Phenotypes of Cardiomyopathy in Southern Africa: The IMHOTEP Multicenter Pilot Study.

Background: Cardiomyopathies are an important cause of heart failure in Africa yet there are limited data on etiology and clinical phenotypes.

Objectives: The IMHOTEP (African Cardiomyopathy and Myocarditis Registry Program) was designed to systematically collect data on individuals diagnosed with cardiomyopathy living in Africa.

Methods: In this multicenter pilot study, patients (age ≥13 years) were eligible for inclusion if they had a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy or myocarditis.

Left Atrial Dimension and CHADS-VASc Score in Predicting Stroke in Patients with Rheumatic Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Rheumatic atrial fibrillation (AF) patients are at an elevated risk of stroke events, yet the associated risk factors remain unclear.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the CHADS-VASc score in predicting stroke events in rheumatic AF patients and explore potential enhancements for increased predicting accuracy in the Asian population, comparing it to nonvalvular AF.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study spanning March 2010 to December 2020 included 29,341 AF patients followed up for up to 10 years, with 1,942 identified as having rheumatic AF.

Global Health Inequities in Electrophysiology Care: A State-of-the-Art Review.

This state-of-the-art review examines disparities in the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of cardiac arrhythmias globally. These arrhythmias include atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachyarrhythmias underlying sudden cardiac death, and bradyarrhythmias associated with sinus node and atrioventricular node disease. Arrhythmias in low- and middle-income countries often result in higher mortality rates due to complex and poorly documented risk factors, lack of clinical expertise among health care personnel, lack of sufficient infrastructure, and challenges in access to care.

Systemic Sirolimus Therapy Is Associated With Reduced Intervention Frequency in Pulmonary Vein Stenosis.

Background: Early clinical outcomes data for adjunctive systemic sirolimus therapy (SST) for moderate to severe pediatric pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) are promising but limited.

Objectives: The authors aimed to characterize a cohort of patients treated with SST to determine if SST was associated with a reduction in frequency of PVS interventions.

Methods: Medical records of 45 patients with PVS treated with SST for ≥1 month from 2015 to 2022 were retrospectively reviewed.

Promotion of Cardiovascular Health in Africa: The Alliance for Medical Research in Africa (AMedRA) Expert Panel.

This proposed scientific statement is focused on providing new insights regarding challenges and opportunities for cardiovascular health (CVH) promotion in Africa. The statement includes an overview of the current state of CVH in Africa, with a particular interest in the cardiometabolic risk factors and their evaluation through metrics. The statement also explains the main principles of primordial prevention, its relevance in reducing noncommunicable disease and the different strategies that have been effective worldwide.

Atypical HPV Typing: Detection of Genital-Associated HPV Type 6 in Verruca Vulgaris of the Hands and Feet in an HIV-Positive Patient.

Verruca vulgaris is a cutaneous infection predominantly caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) type 1, 2, and 4. In immunocompromised individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, HPV leads to a higher prevalence of infections and also has a greater likelihood of being infected with atypical types such as genital-associated HPV in extragenital sites. This case report describes a 48-year-old male patient who presented with skin-colored verrucous papules on the hands and feet, with no evidence of genital lesions.

Impact of bladder management methods and other factors on sexual activity in women with chronic spinal cord injury/disease.

Background: Spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D) profoundly affects both sexuality and urinary function. Catheterization is often necessary to manage bladder voiding and it can interfere with sexual activity.

Aim: We aim to investigate the effect of the bladder evacuation method on sexual activity in women with chronic SCI/D.

Exploring Asian maternal experiences and mHealth needs for postpartum mental health care.

Background: Mental health care during the postpartum period is notably underexplored within Asian demographics, with barriers such as stigma, privacy concerns, logistical challenges, and a shortage of mental health professionals that limits access to optimal mental healthcare. Previous studies found that mobile health (mHealth) technology has been offering a promising solution to these issues. However, the perspectives of mothers on existing mental health services and their mHealth needs are still not well understood and warrant further exploration.

Benzenedialdehyde-crosslinked gelatin nanoparticles for Pickering emulsion stabilization.

In this work, three types of benzenedialdehydes (1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-BDAs) were used to prepare BDA-crosslinked gelatin nanoparticles and the 1,2-BDA-crosslinked gelatin nanoparticle was explored to stabilize fish oil-loaded Pickering emulsions. The nanoparticle preparation was dependent on both pH and crosslinker types. 1,2-BDA and preparation pH of 12.

Six weeks that changed the preterm infant brain: lessons learned from the Family Nurture Intervention randomized controlled trials.

Aim: We review extensive results from two randomized controlled trials conducted over 9 years, comparing standard care (SC) in level-4 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) with SC plus Family Nurture Intervention (FNI).

Methods: FNI included ~six weeks of facilitated mother-infant interactions aimed at achieving mother-infant 'autonomic emotional connection', a novel construct that describes the emotional mother-baby relationship at the level of the autonomic nervous system.

Results And Conclusion: Thus far, 18 peer-reviewed publications documented significant positive short-and long-term effects of FNI on infant neurobehavioral functioning, developmental trajectories and both mother and child autonomic health through five years.

Strong Association Between HIV Incidence and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 in Zambia and South Africa: Prospective Data From the HPTN 071 (PopART) Trial.

Background: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) is an important cofactor for HIV acquisition and transmission. Associations between the infections are reexamined in longitudinal data from an HIV prevention trial.

Methods: The HPTN 071 (PopART) trial evaluated a combination prevention intervention in 21 urban communities in Zambia and South Africa.

The Prevalence of Multidrug Resistance in Enterobacterales Is Higher in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health emergency. Patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) are at increased risk for severe infections with multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms, although more data are needed on the relative burden of MDR Enterobacterales (MDR-E) in immunocompromised populations. In this study, we compare the prevalence of Enterobacterales resistance in cultures from patients undergoing HCT with that of non-HCT patients seeking care at a large healthcare system in North Carolina, USA.

Risk Factors for Disseminated Tuberculosis and Associated Survival in Adults Without Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Background: The global resurgence of disseminated tuberculosis (TB) after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic highlights the necessity of understanding host risk factors, especially in adults without human immunodeficiency virus.

Methods: We reviewed TB cases admitted to Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center from 2017 to 2022. We analyzed baseline characteristics and outcomes.

Preference for HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Access Among Men who Have Sex With Men in China: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

Background: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective but not widely used by men who have sex with men (MSM; 27%) in China.

Methods: In June 2023, an online cross-sectional survey with a discrete choice experiment (DCE) was distributed to PrEP-eligible MSM in China who were at least 18 years old. The DCE explored attributes of PrEP modality (daily pill, on-demand pill, injections, implants), clinical care model (same-day, 2-visit, telehealth prescription), medication pickup (clinic, community health center, pharmacy, MSM-focused community-based organization, home delivery), enhanced support (self-management, smartphone app, text reminder, anonymous peer support group), and cost.

Disseminated TB With IRIS Presenting as a Pancreatic Mass in Newly Diagnosed HIV: A Case Report.

Pancreatic tuberculosis (TB) is an uncommon extrapulmonary presentation of TB. Identification of coinfection with HIV may unmask not only disseminated TB but also immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). We present the case of a 70-year-old Indian woman newly diagnosed with AIDS and pancreatic tuberculosis with miliary disseminated disease.

Disparities in cardiac arrest mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease: A US-based epidemiological analysis.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases cardiac arrest (CA) risk because of renal and cardiovascular interactions.

Methods: Using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data from 1999 to 2020, we analyzed CKD-related CA mortality and the impact of social vulnerability index (SVI).

Results: We identified 336 494 CKD-related CA deaths, with stable age-adjusted mortality rates over time.

Association between ventricular arrhythmia (premature ventricular contractions burden and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia) and cardiovascular events in patients without structural heart disease.

Background: Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) are common arrhythmias in cardiovascular clinical settings. However, the clinical significance of PVCs and NSVT in the absence of structural heart disease has not yet been fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PVCs, NSVT, and clinical outcomes.