Incidental Coronary Artery Calcification and the Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes.

Background Incidental findings of coronary artery calcifications (CACs) are not consistently reported, and the clinical significance relating to cardiovascular outcomes remains to be established. In this single-center cross-sectional study, we assessed the association between incidental coronary artery calcification documented on formal chest CT reports and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Methods A MACE was defined as the occurrence of stroke or transient ischemic attack or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, or undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Pearls and Pitfalls of T1-Weighted Neuroimaging: A Primer for the Clinical Radiologist.

All T1-weighted images are built upon one of two fundamental pulse sequences, spin-echo and gradient echo, each of which has distinct signal characteristics and clinical applications. Moreover, within each broadly defined category of T1-weighting, acquisition parameters can be modified to affect image quality, contrast, and scan duration; each tailored sequence has unique advantages, drawbacks, clinical indications, and potential artifacts. In this review, we describe key features that distinguish different types of T1-weighted sequences and discuss the utility of each sequence for specific clinical settings, including neuro-oncology, vasculopathy, and pediatric neuroradiology.

Comparisons of healthcare personnel relating to awareness, concern, motivation, and behaviours of climate and health: A cross-sectional study.

Aim(s): To describe a sample of healthcare professionals' responses to the valid and reliable Climate and Health Tool and compare participant characteristics relating to Climate and Health Tool subscales.

Design: Observational, cross-sectional, multi-site study.

Methods: An electronic survey containing the Climate and Health Tool was administered to healthcare professionals across a large, multi-state health system in the Western United States with a committed effort to reducing carbon emissions.

Factors associated with health personnel-chaplain interactions in the hospital setting: a cross-sectional survey study.

Health personnel may seek chaplain support to discuss stressors related to complex patient cases, difficult team dynamics, and personal issues. In this survey study of 1376 healthcare interprofessional clinicians, participants reported interacting with chaplains most frequently over patient-related stressors in the prior 12 months. Factors associated with chaplain interactions to discuss all three stressors included: reporting chaplains provide spiritual support to health personnel, more years of service, seeking professional help to deal with stressors, and higher levels of secondary traumatic stress.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Preoperative Beta Blocker Working Group Interim Report.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs commonly after cardiac surgery and is associated with multiple adverse outcomes. Older randomized trials suggested that perioperative β- blockade reduced postoperative AF, and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) composite measure includes β-blocker administration preoperatively within 24 hours of surgery and at discharge. However, some more recent studies suggest preoperative β-blockade has limited value and question its continuation as an STS quality measure.

Med rec double check: Inpatient psychiatry medication errors identified on admission using Medicaid Web portals and electronic pharmaceutical claims data.

Introduction: The role of pharmacists during medication reconciliation (MR) is well established, with a number of reports describing this in the context of psychiatric hospitalizations. However, medication errors (MEs) are common during transitions of care, with no exception during psychiatric hospitalizations. Our institution uses pharmacy-performed MR processes using patient interviews and reviewing objective sources, such as electronic pharmaceutical claims data (EPCD), which includes Medicaid Web portals.

Sociodemographic Disparities in Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitors and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Prescription Patterns Among Patients With Poorly Controlled Diabetes.

Introduction Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2Is) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are novel antihyperglycemic agents that reduce cardiovascular mortality through insulin-independent mechanisms. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated prescription patterns of these drugs and identified inequities in antihyperglycemic utilization. Methods Unique encounters for diabetes care between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, were identified through a systematic query of our healthcare system's database.

Survival trends for left and right sided colon cancer using population-based SEER database: A forty-five-year analysis from 1975 to 2019.

Background: Survival differences between left-sided colon cancer (LSCC) and right-sided colon cancer (RSCC) has been previously reported with mixed results, with various study periods not accounting for other causes of mortality.

Purpose: We sought to assess the trends in colon cancer cause- specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) based on sidedness.

Method: Fine-Gray competing risk and Cox models were used to analyze Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) population-based cohort from 1975 to 2019.

The Influence of Arrhythmias and Metabolic Profile on Inpatient Mortality in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

In patients with end-stage heart failure, durable Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) can be used as a bridge to transplant or destination therapy. LVADs have been shown to improve survival for patients with heart failure (HF). HF is associated with electrolyte abnormalities and the development of sustained arrhythmias.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-associated encephalitis: A review of clinicopathologic hallmarks and multimodal imaging manifestations.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-associated encephalitis (NMDARE) is a rare immune-mediated neuroinflammatory condition characterized by the rapid onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms and autonomic dysfunction. The mechanism of pathogenesis remains incompletely understood, but is thought to be related to antibodies targeting the GluN1 subunit of the NMDA receptor with resultant downstream dysregulation of dopaminergic pathways. Young adults are most frequently affected; the median age at diagnosis is 21 years.

Association between Psychiatric Disorders and the Incidence of Heart Failure in Women.

Background: Depression and anxiety occur more frequently in women and are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Objectives: Data on the association between these psychiatric conditions and the incidence of acute heart failure (HF) and how they influence heart failure outcomes in women are lacking. We investigated this potential relationship using data from the National Inpatient Sample.

The impact of COVID-19 on mortality, length of stay, and cost of care among patients with gastrointestinal malignancies: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic have had a lasting impact on the care of cancer patients. The impact on patients with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies remains incompletely understood. We aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on mortality, length of stay (LOS), and cost of care among patients with GI malignancies, and identify differences in outcomes based on primary tumor site.

Perceived Barriers to Patient Mobilization Among Therapy and Nursing Acute Care Staff: A Multi-Site Survey Study.

Objective: To identify differences in perceived barriers to patient mobilization in acute care among therapy and nursing clinicians, and among hospitals of different sizes and types.

Design: Cross-sectional survey study.

Setting: Eight hospitals of various sizes and types (teaching vs non-teaching; urban vs rural), from 2 different states in the Western region of the United States.

Association between histamine 2 receptor antagonists and sepsis outcomes in ICU patients: a retrospective analysis using the MIMI-IV database.

Background: Sepsis is marked by elevated histamine, which is a vasodilator that increases vascular permeability. Although human studies are lacking, murine models of sepsis have indicated potential protective effects of histamine 2 receptor antagonist administration (H2RAs).

Objective: To assess any association between H2RA use in sepsis-3 patients admitted to the ICU and mortality, mechanical ventilation, length of stay, and markers of renal, liver, and lung dysfunction.

Effect of atrial fibrillation on mortality in SARS-CoV-2 patients: A propensity score-matched analysis of nationwide hospitalizations in the United States.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmias encountered in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. There are racial disparities in the incidence of AF and COVID-19. Several studies have reported an association between AF and mortality.

Relationships Between Perceived Importance of Chaplain Presence and Health Professionals' Emotional Well-Being in the United States.

Hospital-based chaplains receive specialized training to provide spiritual support to patients and healthcare staff during difficult health transitions. However, the impact of perceived chaplain importance on healthcare staff's emotional and professional well-being is unclear. Healthcare staff (n = 1471) caring for patients in an acute care setting within a large health system answered demographic and emotional health questions in Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap).

Hybrid and Traditional Cardiac Rehabilitation in a Rural Area: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY.

Purpose: Cardiac rehabilitation is a prescribed exercise intervention that reduces cardiovascular mortality, secondary events, and hospitalizations. Hybrid cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) is an alternative method that overcomes barriers to participation, such as travel distance and transportation issues. To date, comparisons of HBCR and traditional cardiac rehabilitation (TCR) are limited to randomized controlled trials, which may influence outcomes due to supervision associated with clinical research.

Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and methamphetamine on motor vehicle driving performance: A systematic review of experimental and observational studies.

Methamphetamine (METH) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) are common drugs of abuse and driving under their influence may occur in 1 million people yearly in the United States. This systematic review fills the currently unmet need in understanding the effects of METH and MDMA on motor vehicle driving performance (MVP) and provides insight into the forensic community. A PubMed search on September 24, 2020, for experimental and observational studies, which evaluated the impact of METH and MDMA on MVP was performed.

Influence of HIV on in-hospital outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: The development of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has markedly prolonged the life expectancy of individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The prevalence of age-related cardiovascular disease (CVD) and arrhythmias is therefore expected to increase among the HIV-positive population.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the trends in prevalence, and inpatient outcomes among patients with HIV and atrial fibrillation (AF).

Nurse-sensitive environmental indicators: A qualitative study.

Aim: This study aims to explore the proposed concept of "nurse-sensitive environmental indicators" among nursing and non-nursing leaders of environmental stewardship who work with nurses.

Background: Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, nurses are obligated to "practice in a manner that advances environmental safety and health." Little is known about environmental impacts in acute-care nursing.