"Nobody Seemed to Notice My Work": The Lived Experiences of Home Care Workers Assisting People With Chronic Diseases: A Phenomenological Study.

Introduction: Home care workers (HCWs) are paid caregivers who provide support to patients with chronic conditions and functional limitations. Additionally, they provide emotional support to patients and familial support. Although several qualitative studies have been conducted on HCWs, they focused more on studying prevalently the lived experiences about the workplace violence, the end of life, stressor and resilience, during the COVID-19 pandemic or focused more in dementia and heart failure, but not on feelings and working conditions.

Studying gender in the experiences of patients with heart failure: A scoping review of qualitative studies and methodological recommendations.

Background: Considering how gendered experiences play a role in the lives of patients with heart failure (HF) is critical in order to understand their experiences, optimise clinical care and reduce health inequalities.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to review how gender is being studied in qualitative research in HF, specifically to (1) analyse how gender is conceptualised and applied in qualitative HF research; and (2) identify methodological opportunities to better understand the gendered experiences of patients with HF.

Eligibility Criteria: We conducted a systematic search of literature, including qualitive or mixed-methods articles focussing on patients' perspectives in HF and using gender as a primary analytical factor, excluding articles published before 2000.

A new HCM heart sound classification method based on weighted bispectrum features.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), including obstructive HCM and non-obstructive HCM, can lead to sudden cardiac arrest in adolescents and athletes. Early diagnosis and treatment through auscultation of different types of HCM can prevent the occurrence of malignant events. However, it is challenging to distinguish the pathological information of HCM related to differential left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradients.

Myocardial extracellular volume fraction estimations using late enhancement CT in patients with atrial fibrillation: a comparative study with cardiac MR.

Myocardial extracellular volume fraction (ECV) measured via MRI serves as a quantitative indicator of myocardial fibrosis. However, accurate measurement of ECV using MRI in the presence of AF is challenging. Meanwhile, CT could be a promising alternative tool for measuring ECV regardless of sinus rhythm or AF.

Real-world application of CCTA with CT-FFR for coronary assessment pre-TAVI: the CT2TAVI study.

This study aims to evaluate the implementation of concomitant CAD assessment on pre-TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation) planning CTA (CT angiography) aided by CT-FFR (CT-fractional flow reserve) [The CT2TAVI protocol] and investigates the incremental value of CT-FFR to coronary CT angiography (CCTA) alone in the evaluation of patients undergoing CT2TAVI. This is a prospective observational real-world cohort study at an academic health system on consecutive patients who underwent CTA for TAVI planning from 1/2021 to 6/2022. This represented a transition period in our health system, from not formally reporting CAD on pre-TAVI planning CTA (Group A) to routinely reporting CAD on pre-TAVI CTA (Group B; CT2TAVI protocol).

Effectiveness and Safety in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Who Switched from Warfarin to Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Medicare Population.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF), a common heart rhythm abnormality, is linked to a higher risk of stroke. Traditionally, warfarin has been the primary anticoagulation treatment for reducing the stroke risk. The new standard of treatment by direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) offers greater benefits including improved efficacy and fewer adverse effects with reduced monitoring.

Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Complex Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treated with the Dual SGLT Inhibitor Sotagliflozin: A Meta-analysis.

Introduction: Scientific publications have shown sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors to have several beneficial effects in patients with complex type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, sodium-glucose co-transporter-1 (SGLT-1) inhibitor is still under investigation in clinical trials. Recently, a dual inhibitor of sodium-glucose co-transporter (SGLT1/2), sotagliflozin, has been approved for use in patients with T2DM.

Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate for MRAs optimization in HFrEF: lessons learned from the REALIZE-K trial.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) are a cornerstone of guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), offering significant benefits in reducing mortality and hospitalizations. However, their use is often constrained by the risk of hyperkalemia, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease. Patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC), two novel potassium binders, have emerged as highly effective and safe tools for managing hyperkalemia and enabling the optimization of MRA therapy.

An early evaluation of robot-assisted and conventional techniques for posterior approach atlantoaxial displacement instrumentation - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) is a serious condition in which the first two cervical vertebrae lose their anatomical position and stability. This may lead to neurological complications, including death. The treatment of AAD remains controversial, and posterior instrumentation with pedicle screw placement is one of the commonly used methods.

A systematic review on whole-body photobiomodulation for exercise performance and recovery.

Purpose: Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a non-invasive therapeutic procedure that consists of irradiating a local area of the skin with red and near-infrared lasers or light emitting diodes (LEDs). Local PBM has been studied as a method to improve exercise performance and recovery. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy of whole-body PBM for exercise performance and recovery, comparing its findings to the established effects of localized PBM.

An Update on Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Purpose: To summarize the latest research on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Recent Findings: The epidemiology of MIS-C has been dynamic since its initial description. The pathogenesis remains poorly understood.

European central hypoventilation syndrome consortium description of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome neonatal onset.

Unlabelled: It is known that in most cases of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), apnoeas and hypoventilation occur at birth. Nevertheless, a detailed description of initial symptoms, including pregnancy events and diagnostic tests performed, is warranted in infants with neonatal onset of CCHS, that is, in the first month of life. The European Central Hypoventilation Syndrome Consortium created an online patient registry from which 97 infants (44 females) with CCHS of neonatal onset and PHOX2B mutation from 10 countries were selected.

[Catheter ablation in patients with heart failure-who benefits?].

Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is associated with a lower likelihood of death and surgical heart failure (HF) interventions in patients with HF. This effect is mainly driven by reduced all cause and cardiovascular death following ablation. Ablation also results in improved left ventricular (LV) function, decreased AF burden and AF regression.

Infection-Related Hospitalization and Incident Heart Failure: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Background: The immune response to infections may become dysregulated and promote myocardial damage contributing to heart failure (HF). We examined the relationship between infection-related hospitalization (IRH) and HF, HF with preserved ejection fraction, and HF with reduced ejection fraction.

Methods And Results: We studied 14 468 adults aged 45 to 64 years in the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) Study who were HF free at visit 1 (1987-1989).

Intermittent Fetal Heart Monitoring Through Moyo Doppler Improves Nonreassuring Fetal Heart Rate Detection in Hospital of Ethiopia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: This study was aimed to assess the effect of intermittent fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring using Moyo Doppler compared with fetoscope in hospitals of Ethiopia, 2023.

Background: To facilitate more prompt identification of a hypoxic fetus, Laerdal Global Health has recently introduced the Moyo FHR monitor. Nevertheless, there exists limited knowledge regarding its efficacy derived from multicenter contextual trials conducted in resource-constrained environments, specifically in Ethiopia.

Berlin Heart EXCOR sVAD implantation technique for neonates and infants with functionally univentricular ductal-dependent systemic circulation.

The Berlin Heart EXCOR is a pulsatile paracorporeal ventricular assist device (VAD) for neonates, infants, children and adults with congenital or acquired severe ventricular dysfunction. Berlin Heart EXCOR VADs are routinely used as either a bridge to a cardiac transplantation, or occasionally as a bridge to ventricular recovery. Our programmatic philosophy is to bridge neonates and infants with functionally univentricular ductal-dependent systemic circulation or functionally univentricular ductal-dependent pulmonary circulation who are at high risk for staged palliation because of important cardiac risk factors with a single-ventricle VAD (sVAD) as a bridge to a cardiac transplant.

Inactivation of CaV1 and CaV2 channels.

Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) are highly expressed throughout numerous biological systems and play critical roles in synaptic transmission, cardiac excitation, and muscle contraction. To perform these various functions, VGCCs are highly regulated. Inactivation comprises a critical mechanism controlling the entry of Ca2+ through these channels and constitutes an important means to regulate cellular excitability, shape action potentials, control intracellular Ca2+ levels, and contribute to long-term potentiation and depression.

Predictive Value of Left Atrial Strain for Thrombotic Events in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy without Atrial Fibrillation.

Purpose To assess the predictive value of left atrial (LA) fast long-axis strain derived from cardiac MRI for thrombotic events (TEs) in individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Materials and Methods This secondary analysis of an ongoing prospective trial (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900024094) included consecutive participants with HCM without atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent cardiac MRI from January 2012 to December 2020. The LA fast long-axis strain was obtained by semiautomatically tracking the distance between the atrioventricular junction and the midposterior LA wall.

Cardiac sarcoidosis; update for the heart failure specialist.

Purpose Of Review: This review presents contemporary data on epidemiology, common presentations, investigations and diagnostic algorithms, treatment and prognosis. It particularly focuses on topics of most relevance to heart failure specialists, including what left ventricle (LV) function changes can be expected after treatment and outcomes to all standard and advanced heart failure therapies.

Recent Findings: Around 5% of sarcoidosis patients have clinically manifest cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), presenting with significant arrhythmias (such as conduction disturbances and ventricular arrhythmias) or newly developed unexplained heart failure.

Longitudinal study on 3D ultrasound-based rupture risk assessment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Aims: Image-based, patient-specific rupture risk analysis of AAAs is promising but it is limited by invasive and costly imaging modalities. Ultrasound (US) offers a safe, more affordable alternative, allowing multiple assessments during follow-up and enabling longitudinal studies on AAA rupture risk.

Methods And Results: This study used time-resolved three-dimensional US to assess AAA rupture risk parameters over time, based on vessel and intraluminal thrombus (ILT) geometry.