1-year patency of a novel biorestorative polymeric coronary artery bypass conduit.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) remains the gold standard in the treatment of complex coronary artery disease (CAD). Saphenous vein grafts (SVG) are commonly used for the non-left anterior descending artery (LAD). However, SVG failure rates in CABG surgery have been reported to be as high as 30% at 1 year and ∼50% at 10 years.

Percutaneous hallux fusion with calcaneus bone autograft: a retrospective cohort study of clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Background: In the case of end-stage hallux rigidus, first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint arthrodesis is the gold-standard and is traditionally performed via an open approach. However, complications such as nonunion have been reported to be as high as 30%. Recently, there have been reports demonstrating a percutaneous approach to be effective and safe.

Abdominal myosteatosis measured with computed tomography predicts poor outcomes in patients with glioblastoma.

Background: Alterations in cellular metabolism affect cancer survival and can manifest in metrics of body composition. We investigated the effects of various body composition metrics on survival in patients with glioblastoma (GBM).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who had an abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan performed within 1 month of diagnosis of GBM (178 participants, 102 males, 76 females, median age: 62.

FAP-Targeted SPECT/CT and PET/CT Imaging for Breast Cancer Patients.

Breast cancer presents a significant global health challenge, necessitating continued innovation in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Recent advances have led to the identification of cancer-associated fibroblasts, which are highly prevalent in breast cancers and express fibroblast activation proteins (FAPs), as critical targets. FAP-specific radiotracers, when used with PET/CT and SPECT/CT, have significant potential for improving early breast cancer detection, staging, treatment response monitoring, and therapeutic intervention.

The Resident Scholars Program for Workforce Diversity: A Qualitative Study About Supporting Family Medicine Abortion Providers.

Background And Objectives: While workforce diversity helps mitigate health inequities, few initiatives support prospective abortion providers who are underrepresented in medicine (URiM). To address this issue, Reproductive Health Education in Family Medicine established the Resident Scholars Program for Workforce Diversity (RSPWD), a year-long program for URiM and other Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) residents committed to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) provision. Program elements include: (a) mentorship by BIPOC family physicians; (b) virtual didactic sessions about SRH integration into primary care, advocacy, leadership, reproductive justice, and patient-centered care; (3) conference sponsorship; and (4) community-building among residents and mentors.

Aspirin and Hemocompatibility After LVAD Implantation in Patients With Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease: A Secondary Analysis From the ARIES-HM3 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The Aspirin and Hemocompatibility Events With a Left Ventricular Assist Device in Advanced Heart Failure (ARIES-HM3) study demonstrated that aspirin may be safely eliminated from the antithrombotic regimen after HeartMate 3 (HM3 [Abbott Cardiovascular]) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. This prespecified analysis explored whether conditions requiring aspirin (prior percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI], coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG], stroke, or peripheral vascular disease [PVD]) would influence outcomes differentially with aspirin avoidance.

Objective: To analyze aspirin avoidance on hemocompatibility-related adverse events (HRAEs) at 1 year after implant in patients with a history of CABG, PCI, stroke, or PVD.

Machine Learning Models for 3-Month Outcome Prediction Using Radiomics of Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Perihematomal Edema from Admission Head Computed Tomography (CT).

: Intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH) and perihematomal edema (PHE) are respective imaging markers of primary and secondary brain injury in hemorrhagic stroke. In this study, we explored the potential added value of PHE radiomic features for prognostication in ICH patients. : Using a multicentric trial cohort of acute supratentorial ICH ( = 852) patients, we extracted radiomic features from ICH and PHE lesions on admission non-contrast head CTs.

Renal denervation for hypertension.

Innovative therapies for hypertension are desperately needed given the rising prevalence and falling rates of control of hypertension despite an abundance of available medical therapies. Procedural interventions lower blood pressure without depending on adherence to medications, and endovascular renal denervation (RDN) is the interventional procedure with the best evidence base for the treatment of hypertension. After nearly two decades of study, with major refinements to devices, technique and trial design, two different systems for RDN received approval from the FDA in late 2023 for the treatment of hypertension.

The efficacy of revascularization in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) is characterized by myocardial dysfunction due to myocardial ischemia, associated with the presence of significant coronary artery disease (CAD). We provide a comprehensive review of the current evidence for coronary revascularization in ICM, including consideration of the different modalities of coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous coronary intervention. In addition to a contemporary assessment of the literature, we aim to provide real-world insights and perspectives to guide clinical decision-making in this heterogeneous and complex patient population.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and fine-needle biopsy in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal lymphomas.

Introduction: The role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNA/B) in the clinical management of gastrointestinal lymphoma has not been extensively studied. This study investigates the use of EUS-FNA/B in the diagnosis of first-time and recurrent gastrointestinal lymphomas at a large academic institution.

Materials And Methods: A total of 40 patients who had final diagnosis of lymphoma according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors of hematopoietic lymphoid tissues who underwent EUS-FNA/B were included in the study.

Current approaches to optimize the donor heart for transplantation.

Heart transplantation remains a critical therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure, offering incremental survival and improved quality of life. One of the key components behind the success of heart transplantation is the condition and preservation of the donor's heart. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of ischemic reperfusion injury, risk factors associated with primary graft dysfunction, current use of various preservation solutions for organ procurement, and recent advancements in donor heart procurement technologies.

Immediate postpartum contraceptive implant placement and breastfeeding success in postpartum people at risk for low milk supply: A randomized non-inferiority trial.

Objectives: Our goal was to measure the impact of postpartum contraceptive implant insertion timing on breastfeeding success and duration in a population at high-risk for low milk supply.

Study Design: We conducted a three-armed randomized non-inferiority study of postpartum people who plan to breastfeed and have known risk factors for low milk supply. Participants were randomized to one of three groups for the timing of implant placement: within 30 minutes of placental delivery, 24-72 hours postpartum, or 6+ weeks postpartum.

Primary Versus Secondary Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP): A Meeting Report from the 2023 McMaster ITP Summit.

The McMaster Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) Summit was an educational seminar from leading experts in immune thrombocytopenia and related disorders geared towards hematologists, internists, immunologists, and clinical and translational scientists. The focus of the Summit was to review the mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment of primary versus secondary ITP. Specific objectives were to describe the unique features of secondary ITP, and to review its mechanisms in the context of autoimmune disease and infection.

Left Ventricular Dimensions and Clinical Outcomes With a Fully Magnetically Levitated Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Background: Prior analyses have suggested that a smaller left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) is associated with reduced survival following HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device implantation.

Objectives: In this trial-based comprehensive analysis, the authors sought to examine clinical characteristics and association with the outcome of this specific relationship.

Methods: The authors analyzed the presence of LVEDD <55 mm among 1,921 analyzable HeartMate 3 patients within the MOMENTUM 3 (Multicenter Study of MagLev Technology in Patients Undergoing Mechanical Circulatory Support Therapy With HeartMate 3) trial portfolio, on endpoints of overall survival and adverse events at 2 years.

Safety of prolonged bilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion in aortic arch surgery with moderate hypothermia.

Objectives: This study investigates the impact of bilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) time on outcomes in aortic arch surgery.

Methods: In total, 961 patients underwent either hemiarch (n = 385) or total arch replacement (n = 576) with bilateral ACP and moderate hypothermia management between 2006 and 2020 across 2 aortic centres. ACP time was categorized into 4 groups (≤30 min: n = 169, 30-60 min: n = 298, 60-90 min: n = 261, >90 min: n = 233).

Five Year Outcomes in Low-Risk Patients Undergoing Surgery in the PARTNER 3 Trial.

Background: Surgery remains an important treatment for low-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS). We evaluated 5-year outcomes in low-risk patients undergoing isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or SAVR with concomitant procedures within the randomized PARTNER 3 trial.

Methods: In the PARTNER 3 trial, 454 patients underwent surgery for severe, symptomatic, tri-leaflet AS and were followed for 5 years.

De novo variants disrupt an LDB1-regulated transcriptional network in congenital ventriculomegaly.

Congenital hydrocephalus (CH), characterized by cerebral ventriculomegaly (CV), is among the most common and least understood pediatric neurosurgical disorders. We have identified in the largest-assembled CV cohort (>2,697 parent-proband trios) an exome-wide significant enrichment of protein-altering de novo variants (DNVs) in LDB1 (p = 1.11 x 10-15).

How cardiac computed tomography angiography and positron emission tomography play complementary roles in a Practice's business model.

Cardiovascular imaging is fundamental and crucial for providing accurate diagnosis and guiding treatment. There are unique clinical benefits and uses of Cardiac CT as well as cardiac PET. There have been advances in cardiac PET as well as Cardiac CT which have led to novel applications.