Changes in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Scores in a Predominantly Black Cohort with HIV and Associated Comorbidities: A Preliminary Study.

Introduction: People with HIV (PWH) have an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) compared to non-PWH, but the reasons for this increased risk remain elusive. We investigated the change in ASCVD risk scores over 4 years to identify clinical factors associated with change in risk scores or high-risk scores.

Methods: We conducted a preliminary study using retrospective analysis of PWH, between 40 and 75 years old, seen at the Evelyn Jordan Center with at least two routine HIV visits.

Safety and Efficacy of Radial Artery Access for Peripheral Vascular Intervention: A Single-Center Experience.

Radial artery (RA) access has been increasingly utilized for coronary procedures because of lower rates of access-site complications and improved patient satisfaction. However, limited data are available for RA access for peripheral vascular intervention (PVI). We performed a retrospective review of 143 patients who underwent PVI through RA access from February 2020 to September 2022 at a single institution.

Trends in comorbid chronic kidney disease and atrial fibrillation-related cardiovascular mortality in the United States.

Background: The impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on atrial fibrillation outcomes (AF) is not well understood.

Methods: We conducted analyses of comorbid AF and CKD related death in the United States from 1999 to 2020 using descriptive epidemiology.

Results: Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 increased from 0.

Impact of Sarcoidosis on In-hospital Outcomes Among Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Readmissions Database Analysis.

Sarcoidosis is a disease that involves multiple organs, including the cardiovascular system. While cardiac sarcoidosis has been increasingly recognized, the impact of sarcoidosis on atrial fibrillation (AF) is not well established. This study aimed to analyze the impact of sarcoidosis on in-hospital outcomes among patients who were admitted for a primary diagnosis of AF.

Social vulnerability and lung malignancy mortality.

Introduction: Lung cancer is a major cause of death in the United States. Social determinants of health (SDOH) are important factors that impact the treatment and prognosis of lung cancer. The social vulnerability index (SVI) is a validated measure of SDOH.

Utility of the social vulnerability index to risk stratify atrial fibrillation mortality outcomes.

Background: Multiple methods of quantifying social determinants of health exist, such as the social vulnerability index (SVI). We assess the impact of the SVI on atrial fibrillation (AF)-related cardiovascular disease mortality.

Methods: CDC databases were used to obtain mortality and SVI information.

A case report of self-audible pericardial rub secondary to acute pericarditis from post-pericardiotomy syndrome (pericardial rub tinnitus).

Background: Pericarditis is a common pericardial disorder that is frequently accompanied by a pericardial friction rub, which can be detected during a physical examination. Although patients' awareness of cardiac murmurs and vascular bruits has been extensively reported, there are no reports on patients' self-awareness of a pericardial friction rub.

Case Summary: We present the first case of a patient with acute pericarditis associated with objective self-awareness of a pericardial friction rub, which we recorded with an electronic stethoscope and confirmed the sound with the patient.

Integrating evidence-based medicine into resident education.

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is the practice of applying scientific evidence to clinical decision-making, with a focus on addressing the individualized needs and values of patients. It requires not only a solid foundation of medical knowledge and the ability to gather a thorough patient history but also the skills to locate, interpret, and apply relevant principles from the medical literature. Given the rapid advancements in the field of medicine, understanding medical literature holds significant importance for residents during their education and future careers.

Trends and disparities in ventricular tachycardia mortality in the United States.

We aimed to evaluate trends and disparities in mortality from ventricular tachycardia in patients with underlying cardiovascular disease. We performed cross-sectional analyses using publicly available data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database. We identified a total of 7025 deaths from ventricular tachycardia between the years 2007 and 2020.

Hemodynamics in Distally Based Sural Flaps for Lower Leg Reconstruction: A Literature Review.

Coverage of posttraumatic and chronic wounds at the distal leg is a difficult problem due to limited soft tissue available for local flaps. The sural flap is a versatile and effective method for reconstruction in this area since it does not need a significant amount of time or assistance to complete. Improving the survival of these flaps is critically dependent on understanding the basics of flap circulation and why recent modifications were introduced.

Using FDA-approved drugs as off-label fluorescent dyes for optical biopsies: from in silico design toproof-of-concept.

Optical biopsies bring the microscope to the patient rather than the tissue to the microscope, and may complement or replace the tissue-harvesting component of the traditional biopsy process with its associated risks. In general, optical biopsies are limited by the lack of endogenous tissue contrast and the small number of clinically approveddyes. This study tests multiple FDA-approved drugs that have structural similarity to research dyes as off-labelfluorescent alternatives to standardhematoxylin & eosin tissue stain.

Pregnancy associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection: A case report and review of literature.

Background: Pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection (PSCAD) is an important cause of chest pain and acute myocardial infarction in pregnant and postpartum women. Pregnancy is considered an isolated risk factor for spontaneous coronary artery dissection. The etiology, pathogenesis, and incidence of PSCAD are not known.

Clostridium Difficile and COVID-19: Novel Risk Factors for Acute Portal Vein Thrombosis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented global health care crisis. COVID-19 patients are found to have increased thrombotic risk. Despite being on prophylactic anticoagulation, many develop serious arterial and venous thromboembolic events.