Prognostic relevance of magnesium alterations in patients with a myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction: insights from the EPHESUS trial.

Aims: Magnesium changes are common in myocardial infarction (MI) complicated with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and/or heart failure (HF). The relation between serum magnesium and clinical outcomes is insufficiently elucidated in this population.

Methods And Results: The EPHESUS trial randomized 6632 patients to either eplerenone or placebo.

Nanocelluloses as skin biocompatible materials for skincare, cosmetics, and healthcare: Formulations, regulations, and emerging applications.

Nowadays, skin biocompatible products are fast-growing markets for nanocelluloses with increasing number of patents published in last decade. This review highlights recent developments, market trends, safety assessments, and regulations for different nanocellulose types (i.e.

Primary and metastatic peritoneal surface malignancies.

Peritoneal surface malignancies comprise a heterogeneous group of primary tumours, including peritoneal mesothelioma, and peritoneal metastases of other tumours, including ovarian, gastric, colorectal, appendicular or pancreatic cancers. The pathophysiology of peritoneal malignancy is complex and not fully understood. The two main hypotheses are the transformation of mesothelial cells (peritoneal primary tumour) and shedding of cells from a primary tumour with implantation of cells in the peritoneal cavity (peritoneal metastasis).

Romosozumab reduces incidence of new vertebral fractures across severity grades among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Vertebral fractures (VFs) are the most common type of osteoporotic fracture, and their prevalence and severity are key risk factors for future fragility fractures. Here, we assess the treatment effect of romosozumab on the incidence of new on-study VFs according to Genant severity grades (mild, moderate, and severe). Data are reported from two phase 3 clinical studies for patients who received romosozumab versus placebo through 12 months, followed by denosumab through 24 months (FRAME: NCT01575834), and for patients who received romosozumab through 12 months, followed by alendronate through 24 months, versus alendronate only through 24 months (ARCH: NCT01631214).

Efficacy and Safety of Ticagrelor Monotherapy by Clinical Presentation: Pre-Specified Analysis of the GLOBAL LEADERS Trial.

Background The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after coronary drug-eluting stent placement in adults with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) versus acute coronary syndromes (ACS) remains uncertain. Methods and Results This was a prespecified subgroup analysis of the GLOBAL LEADERS trial. Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to the experimental or reference strategy, stratified by ACS (experimental, n=3750; reference, n=3737) versus SCAD (experimental, n=4230; reference, n=4251).

The effect of fluid bolus administration on cerebral tissue oxygenation in post-cardiac arrest patients.

Purpose: Fluid boluses (FB) are often used in post-cardiac arrest (CA) patients with haemodynamic instability. Although FB may improve cardiac output (CO) and mean arterial pressure (MAP), FB may also increase central venous pressure (CVP), reduce arterial PaO, dilute haemoglobin and cause interstitial oedema. The aim of the present study was to investigate the net effect of FB administration on cerebral tissue oxygenation saturation (SctO) in post-CA patients.

Operative management of isolated posterior cruciate ligament injuries improves stability and reduces the incidence of secondary osteoarthritis: a systematic review.

Purpose: To evaluate the evidence for operative and non-operative management of isolated posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries.

Methods: Using Pubmed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases, a systematic review was conducted of studies investigating the treatment of isolated PCL injuries published until July 2020. Quality assessment was performed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool (level I), the Newcastle-Ottowa Scale (level II-III) and the National Institute of Health quality assessment tool (level IV).

Early high antibody titre convalescent plasma for hospitalised COVID-19 patients: DAWn-plasma.

Background: Several randomised clinical trials have studied convalescent plasma for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using different protocols, with different severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) neutralising antibody titres, at different time-points and severities of illness.

Methods: In the prospective multicentre DAWn-plasma trial, adult patients hospitalised with COVID-19 were randomised to 4 units of open-label convalescent plasma combined with standard of care (intervention group) or standard of care alone (control group). Plasma from donors with neutralising antibody titres (50% neutralisation titre (NT)) ≥1/320 was the product of choice for the study.

Guidance on the management of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) supported patients for the non-LVAD specialist healthcare provider: executive summary.

The accepted use of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) technology as a good alternative for the treatment of patients with advanced heart failure together with the improved survival of patients on the device and the scarcity of donor hearts has significantly increased the population of LVAD supported patients. Device-related, and patient-device interaction complications impose a significant burden on the medical system exceeding the capacity of LVAD implanting centres. The probability of an LVAD supported patient presenting with medical emergency to a local ambulance team, emergency department medical team and internal or surgical wards in a non-LVAD implanting centre is increasing.

Cognitive decline is associated with an accelerated rate of bone loss and increased fracture risk in women: a prospective study from the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study.

Cognitive decline and osteoporosis often coexist and some evidence suggests a causal link. However, there are no data on the longitudinal relationship between cognitive decline, bone loss and fracture risk, independent of aging. This study aimed to determine the association between: (i) cognitive decline and bone loss; and (ii) clinically significant cognitive decline (≥3 points) on Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) over the first 5 years and subsequent fracture risk over the following 10 years.

Impact of QRS duration on left ventricular remodelling and survival in patients with heart failure.

Aims: In patients with chronic heart failure, QRS duration is a consistent predictor of poor outcomes. It has been suggested that for indicated patients, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) could come sooner in the treatment algorithm, perhaps in parallel with the attainment of optimal guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). We aimed to investigate differences in left ventricular (LV) remodelling in those with narrow QRS (NQRS) compared with wide QRS (WQRS) in the absence of CRT, whether an early CRT strategy resulted in unnecessary implants and the effect of early CRT on outcomes.

Uptake of hepatitis C virus screening and treatment in persons under opioid substitution therapy between 2008 and 2013 in Belgium.

Background: Hepatitis C is a viral infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) with people who inject drugs as the main group at risk worldwide.

Aim: This study investigated the differences in uptake for HCV screening and treatment between persons in opioid substitution therapy (OST) and the other members of the Christian Health Insurance Fund in Belgium.

Methods: Invoice data were retrospectively collected from the Christian Health Insurance Fund, representing 42% of the healthcare users.

Self-Esteem and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life within a Cleft Lip and/or Palate Population: A Prospective Cohort Study.

(1) Objective: To investigate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and self-esteem (SE) of a population with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) and to compare it with a non-affected control cohort. (2) Materials and methods: This study comprised 91 CLP patients and a control group of 790 individuals, seeking orthodontic treatment. OHRQoL and SE were assessed by the Child's Perception Questionnaire (CPQ) and the Dutch adaptation of the Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents.

The effect of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose on cardiac reverse remodelling following cardiac resynchronization therapy-the IRON-CRT trial.

Aims: Iron deficiency is common in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and negatively affects cardiac function and structure. The study the effect of ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) on cardiac reverse remodelling and contractile status in HFrEF.

Methods And Results: Symptomatic HFrEF patients with iron deficiency and a persistently reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF <45%) at least 6 months after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implant were prospectively randomized to FCM or standard of care (SOC) in a double-blind manner.

Optimized implementation of cardiac resynchronization therapy: a call for action for referral and optimization of care.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is one of the most effective therapies for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and leads to improved quality of life, reductions in heart failure hospitalization rates and all-cause mortality. Nevertheless, up to two-thirds of eligible patients are not referred for CRT. Furthermore, post-implantation follow-up is often fragmented and suboptimal, hampering the potential maximal treatment effect.

Serum sodium and eplerenone use in patients with a myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction or heart failure: insights from the EPHESUS trial.

Background: Sodium changes are common in myocardial infarction (MI) complicated with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and/or heart failure (HF). Sodium handling is fine-tuned in the distal nephron, were eplerenone exhibits some of its pleotropic effects. Little is known about the effect of eplerenone on serum sodium and the prognostic relevance of sodium alterations in patients with MI complicated with LVSD and/or HF.

2021 ISHNE/HRS/EHRA/APHRS collaborative statement on mHealth in Arrhythmia Management: Digital Medical Tools for Heart Rhythm Professionals: From the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology/Heart Rhythm Society/European Heart Rhythm Association/Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society.

This collaborative statement from the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology/Heart Rhythm Society/European Heart Rhythm Association/Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society describes the current status of mobile health ("mHealth") technologies in arrhythmia management. The range of digital medical tools and heart rhythm disorders that they may be applied to and clinical decisions that may be enabled are discussed. The facilitation of comorbidity and lifestyle management (increasingly recognized to play a role in heart rhythm disorders) and patient self-management are novel aspects of mHealth.

Added Value of Quantitative Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Values for Neuroprognostication After Cardiac Arrest.

Objective: To test the prognostic value of brain MRI in addition to clinical and electrophysiologic variables in patients post-cardiac arrest (CA), we explored data from the randomized Neuroprotect Post-CA trial (NCT02541591).

Methods: In this trial, brain MRIs were prospectively obtained. We calculated receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the average apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value and percentage of brain voxels with an ADC value <650 × 10 mm/s and <450 × 10 mm/s.

Short term effects of interceptive expansion treatment: a prospective study.

Objectives: This prospective cohort study investigated the short term effects of interceptive orthodontic treatment with a removable expansion plate, evaluating the changes in occlusion in all its dimensions: transversal, sagittal and vertical.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 226 patients treated with a removable expansion plate (slow maxillary expansion, SME) by orthodontic residents at the Department of Orthodontics, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium were included. The patients had a mean age of 8.