Cough hypersensitivity and chronic cough.

Chronic cough is globally prevalent across all age groups. This disorder is challenging to treat because many pulmonary and extrapulmonary conditions can present with chronic cough, and cough can also be present without any identifiable underlying cause or be refractory to therapies that improve associated conditions. Most patients with chronic cough have cough hypersensitivity, which is characterized by increased neural responsivity to a range of stimuli that affect the airways and lungs, and other tissues innervated by common nerve supplies.

Right Ventricular Dysfunction Predicts Outcome in Acute Heart Failure.

Aim: The severity of cardiac impairment in acute heart failure (AHF) predicts outcome, but challenges remain to identify prognostically important non-invasive parameters of cardiac function. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is relevant, but only in those with reduced LV systolic function. We aimed to assess the standard and advanced parameters of left and right ventricular (RV) function from echocardiography in predicting long-term outcomes in AHF.

Experience of Isavuconazole as a Salvage Therapy in Chronic Pulmonary Fungal Disease.

Background: Instances of resistant fungal infection are rising in pulmonary disease, with limited therapeutic options. Therapeutic drug monitoring of azole antifungals has been necessary to ensure safety and efficacy but is considered unnecessary for the newest triazole isavuconazole. Aims: To characterise the prevalence of isavuconazole resistance and use in a tertiary respiratory centre.

Digital communication platforms in cardiothoracic surgery during COVID-19 pandemic: keeping us connected or isolated?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, performing a surgeon's duties has become challenging while adhering to social distancing mandates. To aid in the continuity of healthcare services, rapid implementation of digital communication tools became a necessity. This is an account of experiences using digital communication platforms, namely Microsoft Teams and Zoom, for clinical and educative purposes in the field of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the UK.

Comparison of the clinical sensitivity and specificity of two commercial RNA SARS-CoV-2 assays.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the performance of the NeuMoDx™ SARS-CoV-2 Assay, implemented on the NeuMoDx 96 Molecular System, with that of the ThermoFisher TaqPath™ COVID-19 CE-IVD RT-PCR Kit (reference method).

Methods: Overall, 450 nasopharyngeal swab samples, previously tested using the reference method, were tested by the NeuMoDx Assay, and the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the assay were analyzed.

Results: By retrospective statistical analysis of all valid results, the NeuMoDx Assay had a clinical specificity of 100% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 98.

Mid- and long-term outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair in acute and subacute uncomplicated type B aortic dissection.

Background: Uncomplicated type B aortic dissection (un-TBAD) has been managed conservatively with medical therapy to control the heart rate and blood pressure to limit disease progression, in addition to radiological follow-up. However, several trials and observational studies have investigated the use of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in un-TBAD and suggested that TEVAR provides a survival benefit over medical therapy. Outcomes of TEVAR have also been linked with the timing of intervention.

Effect of Noninvasive Respiratory Strategies on Intubation or Mortality Among Patients With Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure and COVID-19: The RECOVERY-RS Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) have been recommended for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure in patients with COVID-19. Uncertainty exists regarding the effectiveness and safety of these noninvasive respiratory strategies.

Objective: To determine whether either CPAP or HFNO, compared with conventional oxygen therapy, improves clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19-related acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.

What is the optimal timing for thoracic endovascular aortic repair in uncomplicated Type B aortic dissection?

Background: Uncomplicated Stanford Type B aortic dissection (un-TBAD) is characterized by a tear in the aorta distal to the left subclavian artery without ascending aorta and arch involvement. Optimized cardiovascular control (blood pressure and heart rate) is the current gold standard treatment according to current international guidelines. However, emerging evidence indicates that thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is both safe and effective in the treatment of un-TBAD with improved long-term survival outcomes in combination with optimal medical therapy (OMT) relative to OMT alone.

Retrosternal goiter in thoracic surgical practice.

Objective: To evaluate and optimize surgical approaches to the management of retrosternal goiter.

Material And Methods: A cohort retrospective single-center study included 56 patients aged 68.3±9.

Disproportionate Mitral Regurgitation Determines Survival in Acute Heart Failure.

To assess the prevalence and impact of mitral regurgitation (MR) on survival in patients presenting to hospital in acute heart failure (AHF) using traditional echocardiographic assessment alongside more novel indices of proportionality. It remains unclear if the severity of MR plays a significant role in determining outcomes in AHF. There is also uncertainty as to the clinical relevance of indexing MR to left ventricular volumes.

The BET Protein Inhibitor Apabetalone Rescues Diabetes-Induced Impairment of Angiogenic Response by Epigenetic Regulation of Thrombospondin-1.

Therapeutic modulation of blood vessel growth holds promise for the prevention of limb ischemia in diabetic (DM) patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Epigenetic changes, namely, posttranslational histone modifications, participate in angiogenic response suggesting that chromatin-modifying drugs could be beneficial in this setting. Apabetalone (APA), a selective inhibitor of bromodomain (BRD) and bromodomain and extraterminal containing protein family (BET) proteins, prevents bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) interactions with chromatin thus modulating transcriptional programs in different organs.

Cardiovascular Risk Profile, Presentation and Management Outcomes of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Background: Coronary artery bypass (CABG) is an important revascularization procedure with excellent long-term results. However, bypass grafts, particularly venous grafts, develop structural changes and atherosclerotic plaques that may cause angina or even acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Here we aimed to study patients with previous CABG presenting with an ACS and evaluated their cardiovascular (CV) risk profile, clinical presentations, angiographic findings, management strategies and short and long term outcomes.

Collagen 1a1 Expression by Airway Macrophages Increases In Fibrotic ILDs and Is Associated With FVC Decline and Increased Mortality.

Within the Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD), patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and a subset of those with non-IPF fibrotic ILD have a distinct clinical phenotype of progression despite management. This group of patients has been collectively termed the progressive fibrotic phenotype (PFP). Their early recognition may facilitate access to antifibrotic therapies to prevent or slow progression.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy with a Twist.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a relatively common inherited cardiac disorder, with echocardiography still being the initial imaging method for its diagnosis. Cardiac fibroma is a primary neoplasm that most commonly presents in childhood. We present a patient who was investigated for typical cardiac symptoms who went on to have cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and was found to have both of these conditions.

Is it time to incorporate hands-on simulation into the cardiothoracic surgery curriculum?

The COVID pandemic has had huge implications for training in cardiothoracic surgery. The reduction in training opportunities has led to concerns from trainees globally regarding the impact on their learning and their training progression. Surgical simulation is effective in the development of technical skills in cardiothoracic surgery with numerous examples of low and high-fidelity simulators.

Multicenter Outcomes of Catheter Ablation for Atrioventricular Reciprocating Tachycardia Mediated by Twin Atrioventricular Nodes.

Objectives: This study sought to describe the electrophysiologic properties and catheter ablation outcomes for atrioventricular reciprocating tacchycardia via twin atrioventricular nodes (T-AVRT).

Background: Although catheter ablation for T-AVRT is an established entity, there are few data on the electrophysiological properties and outcomes of this procedure.

Methods: An international, multicenter study was conducted to collect retrospective procedural and outcomes data for catheter ablation of T-AVRT.

Understanding the burden of interstitial lung disease post-COVID-19: the UK Interstitial Lung Disease-Long COVID Study (UKILD-Long COVID).

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to over 100 million cases worldwide. The UK has had over 4 million cases, 400 000 hospital admissions and 100 000 deaths. Many patients with COVID-19 suffer long-term symptoms, predominantly breathlessness and fatigue whether hospitalised or not.

Clinical presentation and long-term outcomes of infantile hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a European multicentre study.

Aims: Children presenting with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in infancy are reported to have a poor prognosis, but this heterogeneous group has not been systematically characterized. This study aimed to describe the aetiology, phenotype, and outcomes of infantile HCM in a well-characterized multicentre European cohort.

Methods And Results: Of 301 children diagnosed with infantile HCM between 1987 and 2019 presenting to 17 European centres [male n = 187 (62.

Zero-Fluoroscopy Ablation for Atrial Re-Entry Via a Vein of Marshall Connection Using a Visible Sheath.

We describe a zero-fluoroscopy ablation of a left atrial re-entry tachycardia in a patient with a previous atrial fibrillation ablation procedure. The critical isthmus was demonstrated to use an epicardial connection via the ligament of Marshall after failed endocardial and epicardial ablation along the mitral isthmus line. ().