The impact of shock therapy on depression development and remote prognosis in cardiac resynchronization therapy recipients.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and clinical significance of depression in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (CRT-D). The study was also to evaluate the impact of shock therapy on depression development and long-term prognosis.

Methods: The prospective study encompassed 396 consecutive heart failure (HF) patients implanted with CRT-D.

Post-COVID-19 Era In Heart Transplantation and Its Impact on the Early Postoperative Period After Surgery.

Background: End-stage heart failure patients were at increased risk for acquiring COVID-19 infection and progression to severe disease, given multiple health care contacts and underlying health conditions. Understanding the outcomes of such patients will help risk-stratify and guide optimization before heart transplant surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on heart transplantation activity and outcomes in the early postoperative period.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Complications and Mortality in the Early Postoperative Period After Heart Transplantation.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak directly impacted heart transplantation (HT) surgery activity. Reallocating resources and converting surgical intensive care units to COVID-19 facilities led to reduced accessibility and quality of health care facilities to heart recipient patients.

Aim: To study the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on heart transplantation activity and outcomes in the early postoperative period.

Personal Resources and Expectations and Health Behaviors Among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients-A Multicenter Study.

Background: The long-term success of organ transplantation (Tx) depends on the transplant recipient's ability to self-manage symptoms, treatment, lifestyle changes, and psychosocial consequences. Health behavior (HB) determinants include personality traits such as optimism, self-efficacy, and health locus of control.

Purpose: Assessing the relationship between personal resources and expectations and health behaviors of organ transplant recipients.

Comparison of outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis treated with small and large Medtronic Evolut R and Evolut PRO self-expandable prosthetic valves.

Introduction: Indications for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) continue to expand. Very often TAVI must be done in large annuli. Implantation of the bigger prostheses is often associated with more procedural problems, which may affect the outcomes.

Stabilization of Graphene Oxide Dispersion in Plasma-like Isotonic Solution Containing Aggregating Concentrations of Bivalent Cations.

Unlabelled: Graphene oxide's (GO) intravascular applications and biocompatibility are not fully explored yet, although it has been proposed as an anticancer drug transporter, antibacterial factor or component of wearable devices. Bivalent cations and the number of particles' atom layers, as well as their structural oxygen content and pH of the dispersion, all affect the GO size, shape, dispersibility and biological effects. Bovine serum albumin (BSA), an important blood plasma protein, is expected to improve GO dispersion stability in physiological concentrations of the precipitating calcium and magnesium cations to enable effective and safe tissue perfusion.

PAs in Poland: The inaugural surgical PA curriculum.

After many years of consultations with the international physician assistant (PA) community and a successful pilot program, in November 2021, the Polish Ministry of Health approved a specialty training program for surgical PAs. The inaugural class began studies in July 2022. This article details the circumstances and the process that led to the creation of this new program.

The Antibody Response to the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Booster in Healthcare Workers: Association between the IgG Antibody Titers and Anthropometric and Body Composition Parameters.

Background: Research shows that in most people, two-dose vaccination helps to shape the humoral response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Further studies are required to learn about the vaccine's effectiveness after boosting.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study among 103 healthcare workers (HCWs) from a regional multi-specialty hospital vaccinated with three doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine.

An Immune Response to Heterologous ChAdOx1/BNT162b2 Vaccination against COVID-19: Evaluation of the anti-RBD Specific IgG Antibodies Titers and Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) Test Results.

This study aimed to assess the magnitude of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers and Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) test results following administration of booster BNT162b2 in 48 ChAd-primed participants (vaccination schedule: ChAd/ChAd/BNT). Whole blood samples were collected: first, before and second, 21 days after the booster dose. The IgG level was measured using chemiluminescent immunoassay; the intensity of the T-cell response-IFNγ concentration-was assessed using IGRA test.

Atrial fibrillation ablation improves late survival after concomitant cardiac surgery.

Objective: Preoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) increases risk of stroke, heart failure, and all-cause mortality after cardiac surgery. Despite encouraging results and guideline recommendations, surgical ablation (SA) for AF concomitant with other heart surgery remains low. In the current study we aimed to address the long-term mortality after SA concomitant with cardiac surgery.

Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in children diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporarily associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Poland: the MOIS-CoR study.

Objectives: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is the result of an immune response triggered by a previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2. The clinical presentation of MIS-C overlaps with other life-threatening bacterial infections, in which antimicrobials are the mainstay therapy. The aim of study was to describe the use of antibiotics in children with MIS-C in Poland.

Assessment of the Level of Anxiety for COVID-19 Vaccinations.

Research published especially in the last decade indicates the influence of anxiety on the human decision-making process. This study analyzes the anxiety among individuals who decided to undergo vaccinations for COVID-19. The study assesses that the level of education, especially medical education, age, and gender, had an influence on the level of anxiety in terms of vaccination situations.

Lung Transplant as a Treatment for Patients with End-Stage Respiratory Failure Due to COVID-19.

Background: COVID-19 may lead to development of irreversible acute respiratory distress syndrome. Some patients sustain severe respiratory failure after infection subsides. They may require lung transplant as a last resort treatment.

Health Locus of Control and Health Behaviors in Organ Transplant Recipients: A Multicenter Study.

Background: Adherence to health behaviors and to immunosuppressant medications are variables among heart transplant recipients with potential life-threatening outcomes. It is understood that patients with psychosocial barriers are at increased risk of poor outcomes due to various factors. Health locus of control includes any activity that can be done to prevent health problems.

Early and Longitudinal Humoral Response to the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA BNT162b2 Vaccine in Healthcare Workers: Significance of BMI, Adipose Tissue and Muscle Mass on Long-Lasting Post-Vaccinal Immunity.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the early and longitudinal humoral response in Healthcare Workers (HCWs) after two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine and to assess the association between metabolic and anthropometric parameters and the humoral response after vaccination.

Methods: The study included 243 fully vaccinated HCWs: 25.50% previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 (with prior history of COVID-19-PH) and 74.

First in Poland Simultaneous Liver-Lung Transplantation With Liver-First Approach for Recipient Due to Cystic Fibrosis: A Case Report.

Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal progressive disease affecting the lung, pancreas, and liver. Some patients develop end-stage respiratory and liver failure. For such patients, combined lung-liver transplantation remains the only therapeutic option.

COVID-19 Among Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Study.

Background: When COVID-19 became a pandemic, it was difficult to predict how it would affect lung transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to assess the mortality, influence on graft function as well as attitude toward SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among lung transplant recipients from a single center.

Methods: We analyzed medical data pertaining to 124 recipients who received lung transplants between 2008-2021 from a single center and original questionnaire on the COVID-19 severity classification system and the patients' attitude toward SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

The Utility of Pentraxin and Modified Prognostic Scales in Predicting Outcomes of Patients with End-Stage Heart Failure.

Risk stratification is an important element of management in patients with heart failure (HF). We aimed to determine factors associated with predicting outcomes in end-stage HF patients listed for heart transplantation (HT), with particular emphasis placed on pentraxin-3 (PXT-3). In addition, we investigated whether the combination of PTX-3 with the Heart Failure Survival Score (HFSS), the Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM), or the Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) improved the prognostic strength of these scales in the study population.

Results of Lung Transplantations Among Cystic Fibrosis Patients: A Single-Center Study.

Background: Lung transplantation remains the ultimate treatment for patients who have exhausted all other therapeutic options in the course of end-stage lung disease due to cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of the study was to assess the results of lung transplantations performed via mini-thoracotomy in a single center.

Methods: This retrospective study assesses the survival and need for reoperation among 56 primary lung transplant recipients due to CF in a single center between 2018 and 2021.