PET-CT Defined Micro-Vascular Dysfunction and Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy Risk Factors in Heart Transplant Recipients.

Microvascular dysfunction (MVD) is considered a form of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), independently associated with poor prognosis after heart transplantation (HTX). It is unknown whether traditional risk factors for CAV are also applicable to MVD. We retrospectively analyzed factors associated with MVD in 94 HTX recipients who completed a PET scan after a normal baseline left heart catheterization excluding epicardial CAV.

Persistent Renal Dysfunction After Acute Kidney Injury Among STEMI Patients Undergoing Primary Coronary Intervention: Prevalence and Predictors.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious complication of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). AKI and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are highly heterogeneous, leaving a wide gap between them. Therefore, the term acute kidney disease (AKD) was implemented, describing prolonged renal injury between 7 and 90 days.

Early neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) measurement could rule out future acute kidney injury in patients with acute coronary syndrome-Prospective observational study.

Background And Aims: The diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) is of importance among patients with ST segment elevation (STEMI) undergoing primary coronary intervention (PCI). It is often delayed given the need in serial measurements of creatinine or other serum markers. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a proven marker for AKI, although its role as an early predictor in this setting was scarcely addressed before and was the aim of our study.

The Blastulation Rate Is Negatively Associated With Euploid Rate.

Objectives: To study the association between the blastulation rate, the presence of 1 pronucleus (1PN) zygotes, and the ploidy of the cohort of blastocysts.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using the existing databases of 2 university fertility centres in Canada. We included 345 cycles from 235 couples who underwent next-generation sequencing preimplantation genetic testing for the detection of aneuploidy in the study.

Indexed neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin: a novel biomarker for the assessment of acute kidney injury.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinically relevant and common complication among patients with acute coronary syndrome. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), secreted from different cells including renal tubules, has been widely studied as an early marker for kidney injury. However, chronic kidney disease (CKD) could impact NGAL levels and alter their predictive performance.

Macular hole repair: the effect of size and nonsupine posture on postoperative outcomes.

Background: Postoperative face-down positioning (FDP) for up to 2 weeks is believed to be necessary for successful closure of macular holes. FDP, however, can be disabling and uncomfortable and is a major burden for elderly patients. The aim of this study was to investigate how nonsupine posturing and macular hole size affect anatomical and functional success of macular hole closure.

Increased risk for incisional hernia following cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Introduction: The incidence of incisional hernias (IH) after midline laparotomy varies from 11% to 20%. Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) is potentially prone to hernias because a Xiphoid to pubis laparotomy incision performed on patients who have undergone previous abdominal surgeries with the addition of chemotherapy and its related adverse effects.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis on a prospectively maintained single institution database from March 2015 to July 2020.

Early signaling of bacteremia in patients who present to the department of emergency medicine with relatively low C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations.

Objectives: Examiningthe usefulness of C-reactive protein velocity (CRPv) as an early biomarker for the presence of bacteraemia in patients presenting to the Department of Emergency Medicine with acute infection/inflammation and suspected bacteraemia.

Methods: A retrospective study examining a cohort of patients who presented to the E.R and in whom blood cultures were taken.

Predictive value of elevated neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels for assessment of in-hospital adverse outcomes among myocardial infarction patients.

Background: Inflammatory biomarkers are known to rise and have predictive value for adverse outcomes in patients with acute coronary ischemia. One of those biomarkers is neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). To date, only very few studies have assessed the prognostic value of NGAL in this setting.

Microbiota transfer following liver surgery involves microbial extracellular vesicle migration that affects liver immunity.

Background: Short-term perioperative administration of probiotics was shown to alleviate postoperative complications and promote liver recovery among patients undergoing resection for liver malignancy. The mechanisms by which probiotic bacteria effectively influence the gut microbiome composition during the perioperative time are controversial. Here, we aim to elucidate the short-term direct biological effect of probiotic microbiota-derived vesicles on host liver cells during the perioperative period.

Impact of care bundles on the occurrence and outcomes of acute kidney injury among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Several reports suggested that compliance with acute kidney injury care bundles among hospitalized patients resulted in improved kidney and patient outcomes. We investigated the effect of acute kidney injury care bundle utilization on the incidence of acute kidney injury and renal outcomes in a large cohort of myocardial infarction patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods: We included patients with myocardial infarction admitted following percutaneous coronary intervention between January 2008 and December 2020.

Epilepsy and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: An overview of etiology, prevalence, and treatment.

Epilepsy and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are closely connected and commonly seen in both children and adults. Each of the disorders has major psychosocial and quality of life (QOL) effects, and their co-occurrence makes coping even more challenging for both the patients and their families. Moreover, an adverse effect of some anti-seizure medications can potentially induce or exacerbate symptoms of ADHD on the one hand, while some ADHD medications may increase seizure risk on the other.

Risk factors, clinical characteristics and prognostic value of acute kidney injury in COVID-19 compared with influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus.

Background: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) complicates a substantial part of patients with COVID-19. Direct viral penetration of renal cells through the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 receptor, and indirect damage by the aberrant inflammatory response characteristic of COVID-19 are likely mechanisms. Nevertheless, other common respiratory viruses such as Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are also associated with AKI.

Revisiting Age Criterion for Surgery in Asymptomatic Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

Objective: To revisit the current age criterion (50 years) for surgical candidacy in patients diagnosed with asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).

Study Design: A predictive model relying on past publications using the electronic databases "PubMed," "Embase," "Medline," and "Google Scholar."

Setting: Hypothetical large cohort.

Clinical and endoscopic predictors of gastric precancerous conditions: a large population case control study.

Background: Atrophic gastritis (AG) and gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) are well defined intermediate precancerous conditions (PCCs) in the gastric cancer cascade. The diagnosis of PCCs may be suspected based on endoscopic findings but is established by histology. Estimates of the global prevalence of PCCs vary widely but simple clinical or endoscopic predictors of their diagnosis are ill defined.

Newly Diagnosed Crohn's Disease Patients in India and Israel Display Distinct Presentations and Serological Markers: Insights from Prospective Cohorts.

Background: Crohn’s disease (CD) incidence is rising in India. However, features of newly diagnosed patients with CD in this population are largely unknown. The Indo-Israeli IBD GastroEnterology paRtnership (TiiiGER) aimed to investigate differences in presentation among patients with newly diagnosed CD in India and Israel, and to explore phenotype−serotype correlations.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Adolescents: Ten-Years Follow-up.

Purpose: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) has emerged as the most effective treatment for adolescents with severe obesity. Despite the steady increase in frequency of MBS in adolescents, most reports focus on short-term (1-2 years) follow-up.

Objective: To report on long-term weight loss and status of obesity-related comorbidities of adolescents who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

Relation of Gender to the Occurrence of AKI in STEMI Patients.

Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) are prone to a wide range of complications; one complication that is constantly correlated with a worse prognosis is acute kidney injury (AKI). Gender as an independent risk factor for said complications has raised some interest; however, studies have shown conflicting results so far. We aimed to investigate the possible relation of gender to the occurrence of AKI in STEMI patients undergoing PCI.

Sexual needs and sexual function of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a frequent non-motor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) that is rarely addressed, and sexual counseling is sporadic.

Objectives: To investigate PD patients' SD and sexual counseling motivation and to propose an interventional strategy for movement disorder specialists.

Methods: All consecutive PD patients who presented to a movement disorder unit between 2018 and 2019 completed anonymous questionnaires containing the Female Sexual Function Index, the International Index of Erectile Function, and a questionnaire on sexual needs and motivation to receive sexual counseling.

Association between tissue human neutrophil peptide 1-3 levels and cardiovascular phenotype: a prospective, longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: Inflammation is associated with atherogenesis. Although a higher neutrophil count is associated with the plaque burden, the role of neutrophil activation is unclear. Human neutrophil peptides 1-3 (HNP1-3) are a risk factor for atherogenesis in bench models and are elevated in human atheromas.