Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in severe mitral regurgitation following acute myocardial infarction - aetiology-based analysis.

Aims: To evaluate the association between transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) and outcomes in patients with significant mitral regurgitation (MR) following acute myocardial infarction (MI), focusing on the aetiology of acute post-MI MR in high-risk surgical patients.

Methods And Results: The International Registry of MitraClip in Acute Mitral Regurgitation following Acute Myocardial Infarction (IREMMI) includes 187 patients with severe MR post-MI managed with TEER. Of these, 176 were included in the analysis, 23 (13%) patients had acute papillary muscle rupture (PMR) and 153 (87%) acute secondary MR.

Comparing achievability and reproducibility of pulsed wave doppler and tissue doppler myocardial performance index and spatiotemporal image correlation annular plane systolic excursion in the cardiac function assessment of normal pregnancies.

Objectives: Multiple techniques have been proposed for functional fetal cardiology, including pulsed-wave (PW) and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), Myocardial Performance Index (MPI), annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE/MAPSE) and spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC). We aimed to compare these techniques' achievability and reproducibility to determine their clinical utility for each cardiac side.

Methods: Uncomplicated pregnancies from 22 to 39 weeks were recruited and images and volumes stored for offline analysis.

The use of a ChatGPT-4-based chatbot in teledermatology: A retrospective exploratory study.

Background And Objectives: Integration of artificial intelligence in healthcare, particularly ChatGPT, is transforming medical diagnostics and may benefit teledermatology. This exploratory study compared image description and differential diagnosis generation by a ChatGPT-4 based chatbot with human teledermatologists.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study compared 154 teledermatology consultations (December 2023-February 2024) with ChatGPT-4's performance in image descriptions and diagnoses.

Sterilization Surgery Trends in Texas after Passage of the Texas Heartbeat Act: Sterilization surgery trends in Texas.

Objective: On September 1, 2021, abortion became illegal in Texas once embryonic cardiac activity is detected. The aim of this study was to compare women's characteristics undergoing surgical sterilization before and following the change in abortion-banning laws in Texas.

Design: A retrospective study.

mTOR Variants Activation Discovers PI3K-like Cryptic Pocket, Expanding Allosteric, Mutant-Selective Inhibitor Designs.

mTOR plays a crucial role in PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. We hypothesized that mTOR activation mechanisms driving oncogenesis can advise effective therapeutic designs. To test this, we combined cancer genomic analysis with extensive molecular dynamics simulations of mTOR oncogenic variants.

Machine learning-based prediction of disease progression in primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) affects 10-15% of multiple sclerosis patients and presents significant variability in the rate of disability progression. Identifying key biological features and patients at higher risk for fast progression is crucial to develop and optimize treatment strategies. Peripheral blood cell transcriptome has the potential to provide valuable information to predict patients' outcomes.

Persistence of Long COVID Symptoms Two Years After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Background/objectives: Millions of individuals worldwide continue to experience symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and phenotype of multi-system symptoms attributed to Long COVID-including fatigue, pain, cognitive-emotional disturbances, headache, cardiopulmonary issues, and alterations in taste and smell-that have persisted for at least two years after acute infection, which we define as "persistent Long COVID". Additionally, the study aimed to identify clinical features and blood biomarkers associated with persistent Long COVID symptoms.

Actor-Partner Effects of Personality Traits and Psychological Flexibility on Psychological Distress Among Couples Coping with Cancer.

In this study, we applied the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) to explore the associations between personality traits (Big Five) and psychological flexibility, on the one hand, and depression and anxiety, on the other hand, among patients with cancer and their spouses. Method: Forty-six patient-spouse dyads (N = 92) completed the anxiety and depression scales from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), the ten-item personality inventory (TIPI), and the psychological flexibility scale (AAQ-2). Multilevel APIM models, adjusted for multiple testing, showed that neuroticism and psychological flexibility had actor effects on patients' depression and anxiety.

FOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN CARDIAC AMYLOIDOSIS. WHY IS THIS ARRHYTHMIA DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER ARRHYTHMIAS?

AF is a common arrhythmia in cardiomyopathy, particularly when congestive heart failure is present. The neurohormonal activation in congestive heart failure may trigger fibrotic and other changes in the left atrium and the atrial stretch associated with heart failure may induce further atrial pathology and/ or directly trigger AF (8). By the time that patients with AF develop extensive fibrosis, the arrhythmia has been shown to be associated with a greater difficulty in maintaining sinus rhythm despite attempted ablation procedures.

The importance of proper naming - A review of Neuroscience-based Nomenclature (NbN).

Neuroscience-based Nomenclature (NbN) is a pharmacologically-driven classification of psychotropics, aiming to revise the current indication-based classification (antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics etc.). Whereas the number of psychotropics has risen dramatically over the years, the current nomenclature preserves a rather narrow categorization that overlooks the rich neurobiological knowledge accumulated to date.

Three Decades of Outpatient Plastic Surgery Safety: A Review of 42,720 Consecutive Cases.

Background: Outpatient plastic surgery offers cost-effective solutions and enhanced privacy but demands careful patient assessment for suitability and vigilant anticipation of adverse events. This study provides recommendations to enhance patient safety in outpatient settings by analyzing over 40,000 consecutive cases spanning across three decades.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive cases completed by board-certified plastic surgeons at an accredited outpatient surgical center between 1995-2023.

Prevalence and characteristics of mistreatment during childbirth in two Israeli hospitals.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of mistreatment during childbirth in Israeli medical centers, addressing gaps in quantitative data within developed countries.

Study Design: A new questionnaire, incorporating demographic, obstetric, and mistreatment-related questions, was developed and distributed to postpartum women in two Israeli hospitals. Mistreatment categories included physical, sexual, and verbal abuse, failure to meet professional standards, poor rapport between women and providers, and health system conditions.

A Queen City Legacy: 45 Years of Research in Pregnant Women with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, The Diabetes in Pregnancy Program Project Grant.

The Diabetes in Pregnancy Program Project Grant (PPG) was a 15-year program focused on enhancing the care for women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) during pregnancy and improving the well-being of their offspring. Launched in July 1978 at the University of Cincinnati, the PPG pursued a multifaceted research agenda encompassing basic science, animal and placental studies, and maternal and neonatal clinical trials to understand the physiological and pathophysiological aspects of IDDM during pregnancy. A total of 402 singleton pregnancies in 259 women with IDDM were enrolled prior to 10 weeks gestation over the 15-year period.

Is Pregnancy a Risk Factor for Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy and Nephropathy in Type 1 Diabetes? A Matched Cohort Study.

Objective:  This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the development or deterioration of nephropathy and retinopathy over time is not affected by pregnancy in women with pregestational type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Study Design:  Prospective, observational study of nephropathy and retinopathy follow-up during pregnancy and in a subsequent period of 2 years in a group of pregnant women with T1DM (study group) that we compared with pair-matched non-pregnant women with T1DM (control group) who underwent similar intensive follow-up.

Results:  The rate of renal microvascular complications was similar at entry, 17.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Small and Very Small Aortic Valve Annuli: A Propensity-Matched Analysis Between Self-Expanding Versus Balloon-Expandable Valves.

Background: The management of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) patients with a small aortic annulus (SAA) postures a substantial challenge, increasing the risk of patient- prosthesis mismatch (PPM) and overall mortality.

Aims: This study aimed to compare the hemodynamic and clinical outcomes of transcatheter balloon-expandable valve (BEV) versus transcatheter self-expandable valve (SEV) in SAA.

Methods: We conducted propensity score matching (PSM) of severe AS patients with SAA who underwent trans-femoral TAVR and enrolled to the Israeli TAVR registry between the years 2008 and 2023.

Vacuum extraction is successful in 95% of cases with an occiput posterior position: the results of a prospective, multi-center study.

Background: Occiput-posterior (OP) position is associated with labor arrest, need of operative delivery and failed instrumental vaginal delivery with resulting adverse peripartum outcomes. Vacuum extraction (VE) is the most commonly performed type of instrumental delivery worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the outcome of VE in fetuses with sonographically confirmed OP position prior to the procedure.

Association of intravitreal and topical anti-inflammatory therapies on short-term anatomical and functional outcomes following epiretinal membrane surgery.

Purpose: Here we examine the association of anti-inflammatory therapy with anatomical and functional outcomes of epiretinal membrane surgery.

Methods: The study included consecutive patients having gone through epiretinal membrane surgery at Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, between 2017 and 2021. The association of perioperative intravitreal and postoperative topical anti-inflammatory therapies with surgical outcomes was assessed.

Ablative radiofrequency microplasma for lateral dermatochalasis-indications and treatment recommendations.

To determine in which cases ablative radiofrequency microplasma is preferred for the treatment of lateral dermatochalasis over a surgical approach as well as discussing each method's benefits and limitations. Twenty-one patients underwent 3 interventions of plasma exeresis. Photographic and RCM images were acquired at baseline and 4 weeks after final plasma exeresis.

Early childhood respiratory morbidity according to gestational age at birth: A nationwide cohort study.

Background: Preterm birth survivors are at risk for short- and long-term respiratory morbidity. This includes increased rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and infectious morbidity. Previous studies showed increased utilization of healthcare services throughout early childhood.

Single-modality endocrine therapy versus radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery in women aged 70 years and older with luminal A-like early breast cancer (EUROPA): a preplanned interim analysis of a phase 3, non-inferiority, randomised trial.

Background: Optimal therapy following breast-conserving surgery in older adults with low-risk, early-stage breast cancer remains uncertain. The EUROPA trial aims to compare the effects of radiotherapy and endocrine therapy as single-modality treatments on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence (IBTR) outcomes in this population.

Methods: This non-inferiority, phase 3, randomised study was conducted at 18 academic hospitals across Italy (17 centres) and Slovenia (one centre).

SoutheAsTern eUrope microciRculATION (SATURATION) registry - Design and rationale.

Background: A considerable number of symptomatic patients leave the cardiac catheterization lab without a definitive diagnosis for their symptoms because no epicardial stenoses are found. The significance of disorders of coronary microvasculature and vasomotion as the cause of symptoms and signs of ischemia has only recently been appreciated. Today we have a wide spectrum of invasive coronary physiology tools but little is known about when and how these tools are used in clinical practice.