Cardiomegaly Status After Open Repair of an Arch Aneurysm.

This report describes a patient with a thoracic aortic aneurysm who presented with chest pain and dyspnea. Preoperative studies revealed a massive cardiomediastinal silhouette. Within hours after the operation, a profound reduction in cardiomegaly was observed.

Substance Use and Outcomes of Left-Sided Valve Replacement in Patients With Infective Endocarditis.

Background: Rising rates of substance use (SU) have resulted in an increasing need for left-sided valve surgery for SU-associated infective endocarditis (SU-IE). We compared outcomes, readmissions, and costs between IE patients with and without SU-IE in a national cohort.

Methods: Using the Nationwide Readmissions Database (2016-2018), we identified 10,098 patients with infective endocarditis (IE) who underwent isolated aortic or mitral valve replacement.

Long-Term Weight Loss Outcomes in a Virtual Weight Care Clinic Prescribing a Broad Range of Medications Alongside Behavior Change.

Background: Virtually-delivered obesity care has the potential to increase access to weight loss interventions at scale. While there is ample literature assessing various weight loss interventions, studies specifically demonstrating outcomes of commercial programs offering antiobesity medications in virtual care settings are lacking.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study assessed the weight loss outcomes of 66,094 participants in a virtual weight care program that prescribes antiobesity medications alongside a digital behavior change program.

Holiday Weight Change in a US College Student Sample: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

Objective: The November through January holiday period is often thought to produce weight gain, coined "holiday weight gain." While this trend has been documented among early to midlife adults, it is less certain whether college students experience similar levels of weight gain during this period, as they undergo lifestyle changes (e.g.

Quality Analysis of Online Resources for Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Background: Online resources are becoming the primary educational resource for patients. Quality and reliability of websites about coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures are unknown.

Methods: We queried 4 search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo!, and Dogpile) for the terms , , , and .

The Melody Valve in Small Children Undergoing First Mitral Valve Replacement: Better Than Mechanical?

Background: In small children with left atrioventricular valve dysfunction, valve repair is preferred but some will require valve replacement. No prosthetic valve has growth potential, bioprostheses have poor durability, and mechanical prostheses have high rates of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications. We reviewed our experience with a modified bovine jugular vein valve designed for use in the right ventricular outflow tract (Melody valve, Medtronic) and compared this with contemporary mechanical valve replacement.

Surgical Resection of Superior Vena Cava Saccular Aneurysm.

Aneurysms of the superior vena cava are rare vascular malformations of systemic veins. This report presents the case of a 27-year-old woman with an incidental finding of mediastinal shadow widening on the chest roentgenogram that was confirmed by computed tomographic angiography to be a superior vena cava saccular aneurysm >4 cm in diameter. Surgical resection was recommended on the basis of aneurysmal size and shape and was performed through median sternotomy by using cardiopulmonary bypass.

Incidentally Discovered Anomalous Mitral Chordae at the Time of Mitral Valve Repair.

Anomalous supravalvular mitral chordae tendineae that originate from the mitral leaflet(s) and attach to the interatrial septum or dome of the left atrium are a rare congenital anomaly. These supravalvular chordae are often associated with severe mitral regurgitation and surgical experience has included resection of the anomalous chord as part of the repair. We describe an unusual presentation of an incidentally discovered anomalous supravalvular chord at the time of mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation related to a flail posterior leaflet.

Complete Resection of Aorticopulmonary Paraganglioma With Reconstruction in a Pediatric Patient.

Aorticopulmonary paragangliomas are exceedingly rare tumors in pediatric populations. Complete surgical resection is the only curative treatment. However, resection is challenging due to the vascularity of paragangliomas and their close relationship with the great vessels.

Physicochemical Properties and Bioreactivity of Sub-10 μm Geogenic Particles: Comparison of Volcanic Ash and Desert Dust.

Exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter of <10 μm (PM) is a well-established health hazard. There is increasing evidence that geogenic (Earth-derived) particles can induce adverse biological effects upon inhalation, though there is high variability in particle bioreactivity that is associated with particle source and physicochemical properties. In this study, we investigated physicochemical properties and biological reactivity of volcanic ash from the April 2021 eruption of La Soufrière volcano, St.

Applying to Integrated Thoracic Surgery Residency: A Survey-Based Cost Analysis.

Background: Application costs are known for other competitive surgical subspecialties but not for integrated thoracic surgery residency (I6). We sought to quantify I6 application costs, assess the value of away rotations and geographic connections, and identify characteristics of matched applicants.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the Texas Seeking Transparency in Application to Residency survey-based database for I6 applicants (2019-2022).

Intelligent biology and medicine: Accelerating innovative computational approaches.

In this editorial, we summarize the 2023 International Conference on Intelligent Biology and Medicine (ICIBM 2023) conference which was held on July 16-19, 2023 in Tampa, Florida, USA. We then briefly describe the nine research articles included in this special issue. ICIBM 2023 scientific program included four tutorials and workshops, four keynote lectures, four eminent scholars' presentations, 11 concurrent scientific sessions, and a poster session.

Development of a Finite Element Model of the Human Wrist Joint with Radial and Ulnar Axial Force Distribution and Radiocarpal Contact Validation.

This study presents a comprehensive finite element model for the human wrist, constructed from a CT scan of a 68-year-old male (type I wrist). This model intricately captures the bone and soft tissue geometries to study the biomechanics of wrist axial loading through tendon-driven simulations and grasping biomechanics using metacarpal loads. Validation is carried out by assessing the radial and ulnar axial loading distribution, radiocarpal articulation contact patterns, and other standard finite element metrics.

Functional genotype classification groups distinguish disease severity in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a genetic disorder due to pathogenic variants in the COL7A1 gene. In this study we determined the association between different categories of COL7A1 variants and clinical disease severity in 236 RDEB patients in North America. Published reports or in-silico predictions were used to assess the impact of pathogenic variants in COL7A1 on type VII collagen (C7) protein function.

Links between preschool inhibitory control and working memory and elementary school adjustment.

The development of inhibitory control (IC) and working memory (WM) in preschool is linked to a multitude of cognitive, emotional, and social outcomes, including elementary school adjustment. Furthermore, there are both cognitive and socioemotional domains of IC and it is unclear if both are related to these outcomes in the same manner. Using a family study design, the present investigation examined preschoolers' IC, WM and externalizing behavior problems, maternal depression and anxiety measured when the children were in preschool, and elementary school externalizing behaviors and child and family functioning.

Unequal Effects of the Lockdown on Mental Health in Shanghai: The Moderating and Mediating Role of Neighborhood Environment and Online Social Connections.

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted population mental health worldwide. Few studies examined how the neighborhood environment and online social connections might influence the social gradient in mental health during the pandemic lockdown. We aim to examine the moderating and mediating role of neighborhood environment and online social connections in the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and mental health outcomes.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) as a Potential Biomarker in Brain Glioma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates peripheral and CNS BDNF levels in glioma patients.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched databases for studies measuring BDNF in glioma patients and controls. After screening and data extraction, we conducted quality assessment, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

Transvaginal Ultrasound Simulation: Educational Benefits on Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clerkship.

Background: Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) is the primary imaging modality in obstetrics and gynaecology (OB/GYN); however, it is highly user dependent. TVUS education for medical students is often sporadic and inconsistent. Simulation-based training (SBT) is a well-established innovation for learners to safely develop proficiency.

The Korean integrative family therapy model.

Family therapy was introduced in South Korea in the 1970s and has been extensively applied in clinical and academic settings. However, despite the efficacy of using family therapy models from the United States for Korean families, existing models are unable to fully capture the nuances of the Korean family culture, limiting their full potential to help families in crises. Based on observations and counseling of over 1500 families in Korea, this paper presents a theoretical and clinical foundation, namely, the Korean Integrative Family Therapy Model.

Probing the Redox Reactivity of Alkyl Bound Astatine: A Study on the Formation and Cleavage of a Stable At-C Bond.

The formation of a stable alkyl At-C bond occurs during the shipment of At on a 3-octanone-impregnated column and the reactivity of At stripped from columns has been studied. The At could not be recovered from the 3-octanone organic phase using nitric acid or sodium hydroxide, even up to 10 and 15.7 M, respectively.