Demographic and Regional Trends of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy-Related Mortality in the United States, 1999 to 2019.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)-related mortality has been decreasing within the United States; however, persistent disparities in demographic subsets may exist. In this study, we assessed nationwide trends in mortality related to HCM among people ≥15 years of age in the United States from 1999 to 2019.

Methods: Trends in mortality related to HCM were assessed through a cross-sectional analysis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiological Research database.

Younger Patients Do Not Develop More Advanced Polyps on Surveillance Colonoscopy Than Their Index Colonoscopy When Compared With Older Patients.

Background And Goals: Colonic polyp surveillance guidelines are based on data from patients 50 and above. Given the recent lowering for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening to age 45, the aim of this study was to assess whether existing colonic polyp surveillance guidelines are appropriate to use in younger patients.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent 2 colonoscopies within a 10-year period.

Imaging techniques for assessment of vascular involvement in systemic sclerosis.

Purpose Of Review: Vascular assessment in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is included in classification criteria for this disease, thus routinely used in the evaluation of patients in which this diagnosis is being considered. In this review, imaging techniques for assessment of vascular involvement in SSc hands and skin are discussed.

Recent Findings: Longitudinal use of imaging techniques has important implications for understanding the progressive vasculopathy and fibrotic transition in SSc.

AKI-to-CKD transition is a potential mechanism for non-albuminuric diabetic kidney disease.

Although albuminuria development is considered the natural course of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), increasing evidence indicate that the disease can present as non-albuminuric DKD (NA-DKD), characterized by prominent tubulointerstitial injury and fibrosis without obvious glomerulopathy. However, the pathogenic mechanisms underlying NA-DKD remain unclear. As diabetic patients are more susceptible to acute kidney injury (AKI), and the maladaptive repair of kidney tubules following AKI occurs more frequently in diabetic than non-diabetic patients, the enhanced AKI-to-CKD transition may be a significant contributor of NA-DKD.

Clinical Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Vs. Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR) in Patients With Durable Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD).

Patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) often develop aortic insufficiency requiring an intervention on the aortic valve. We sought to analyze the outcomes of patients with a history of LVAD who underwent either transcatheter aortic valve replacement or surgical aortic valve replacement. The Nationwide Readmission Database was used to extract relevant patient information from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018.

Association of dementia with in-hospital outcomes in primary heart failure and acute myocardial infarction hospitalizations.

Background: Dementia and cardiovascular diseases contribute to a significant disability and healthcare utilization in the elderly.

Objective: The in-hospital treatment patterns and outcomes of heart failure (HF) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are not well-studied in this population.

Methods: We used the National Inpatient Sample database to identify AMI and HF hospitalizations in adults ≥65 years between 2016 and 2018.

National trends and disparities in statin use for ischemic heart disease from 2006 to 2018: Insights from National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

Background: Statins are a cornerstone guideline-directed medical therapy for secondary prevention of ischemic heart disease (IHD). However, recent temporal trends and disparities in statin utilization for IHD have not been well characterized.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included data from outpatient adult visits with IHD from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) between January 2006 and December 2018.

Impact of Pharmacist-Led Heart Failure Clinic on Optimization of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy (PHARM-HF).

This prospective study included patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) with LVEF < = 40% to evaluate the impact of pharmacist on guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT). The primary outcome was to compare proportion of triple GDMT achieved for Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme-Inhibitors (ACEI)/Angiotensin-Receptor-Blockers (ARB)/Angiotensin-Receptor-Neprilysin-Inhibitors (ARNI), beta-blockers, aldosterone antagonists (AA), and quadruple GDMT which in additional to triple therapy, included Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) at 90-day post-enrollment compared to baseline. Secondary endpoints included achieving target and/or maximally tolerated ACEI/ARB/ARNI and beta-blockers combined and individually as well as SGLT2i and AA GDMT at 90-day post-enrollment compared to baseline.

Reticulon-1A mediates diabetic kidney disease progression through endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial contacts in tubular epithelial cells.

Recent epidemiological studies suggest that some patients with diabetes progress to kidney failure without significant albuminuria and glomerular injury, suggesting a critical role of kidney tubular epithelial cell (TEC) injury in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression. However, the major risk factors contributing to TEC injury and progression in DKD remain unclear. We previously showed that expression of endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein Reticulon-1A (RTN1A) increased in human DKD, and the increased RTN1A expression promoted TEC injury through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response.

Racial Disparities in Clinical Outcomes and Resource Utilization of Type 2 Myocardial Infarction in the United States: Insights From the National Inpatient Sample Database.

Race-based differences in clinical outcomes have been well described in type 1 myocardial infarction. However, type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) is more common in contemporary practice, with scarce data regarding racial differences in outcomes. The National Inpatient Sample Database October 2017-December 2018 was queried for hospitalizations with T2MI.

Lipid phosphate phosphatase 3 in smooth muscle cells regulates angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm formation.

Genetic variants that regulate lipid phosphate phosphatase 3 (LPP3) expression are risk factors for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. LPP3 is dynamically upregulated in the context of vascular inflammation with particularly heightened expression in smooth muscle cells (SMC), however, the impact of LPP3 on vascular pathology is not fully understood. We investigated the role of LPP3 and lysophospholipid signaling in a well-defined model of pathologic aortic injury and observed Angiotensin II (Ang II) increases expression of PLPP3 in SMCs through nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling Plpp3 global reduction (Plpp3) or SMC-specific deletion (SM22-Δ) protects hyperlipidemic mice from AngII-mediated aneurysm formation.

Clinical and Economic Profile of Homeless Young Adults with Stroke in the United States, 2002-2017.

Homelessness is a major social determinant of health. We studied the clinical and economic profile of homeless young adults hospitalized with stroke. We studied the National Inpatient Sample database (2002-2017) to evaluate trends of stroke hospitalization, clinical outcomes, and health expenditure in homeless vs non-homeless young adults (<45 years).

Diagnostic performance of volumetric laser endomicroscopy for Barrett's esophagus dysplasia amongst gastroenterology trainees.

Background: Volumetric laser endomicroscopy (VLE) is an advanced imaging modality used in Barrett's esophagus (BE) surveillance. VLE image interpretation is challenged by subtle grayscale image variation across a large amount of data. Training in VLE interpretation is not standardized.

Noncoding-RNA-Based Therapeutics with an Emphasis on Prostatic Carcinoma-Progress and Challenges.

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) defy the central dogma by representing a family of RNA molecules that are not translated into protein but can convey information encoded in their DNA. Elucidating the exact function of ncRNA has been a focus of discovery in the last decade and remains challenging. Nevertheless, the importance of understanding ncRNA is apparent since these molecules regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level exerting pleiotropic effects critical in development, oncogenesis, and immunity.

Social Determinants of Health Among Non-Elderly Adults With Stroke in the United States.

Objective: To examine the association of social determinants of health (SDOH) on prevalence of stroke in non-elderly adults (<65 years of age).

Methods: We used the National Health Interview Survey (2013-2017) database. The study population was stratified into younger (<45 years of age) and middle age (45 to 64 years of age) adults.

Trends in Characteristics and Outcomes in Primary Heart Failure Hospitalizations Among Older Population in the United States, 2004 to 2018.

Background: Heart failure (HF) accounts for a significant proportion of morbidity, mortality, and health care costs among older adults in the United States. We evaluated trends in clinical outcomes and the economic burden of HF hospitalizations in older patients (≥80 years).

Methods: This analysis included data from the National Inpatient Sample between January 2004 and December 2018.

Single-cell multi-omics reveals dyssynchrony of the innate and adaptive immune system in progressive COVID-19.

Dysregulated immune responses against the SARS-CoV-2 virus are instrumental in severe COVID-19. However, the immune signatures associated with immunopathology are poorly understood. Here we use multi-omics single-cell analysis to probe the dynamic immune responses in hospitalized patients with stable or progressive course of COVID-19, explore V(D)J repertoires, and assess the cellular effects of tocilizumab.

Gestational Insulin Resistance Is Mediated by the Gut Microbiome-Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase Axis.

Background & Aims: Normal gestation involves a reprogramming of the maternal gut microbiome (GM) that contributes to maternal metabolic changes by unclear mechanisms. This study aimed to understand the mechanistic underpinnings of the GM-maternal metabolism interaction.

Methods: The GM and plasma metabolome of CD1, NIH-Swiss, and C57 mice were analyzed with the use of 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry throughout gestation.

Practical Clinical Applications of Islet Autoantibody Testing in Type 1 Diabetes.

Background: The distinction between type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is extremely important for the choice of therapy, body weight and dietary management, screening for coexistent autoimmune diseases and comorbidities, anticipated prognosis, and risk assessment in relatives. Not uncommonly, the presentation of the patient may not allow an unambiguous discrimination between T1D and T2D. To help resolve this challenge, the detection of islet autoantibodies can support the diagnosis of T1D.

Neurology Telemusic Program at the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Turning Hospital Time Into Aesthetic Time During Crisis.

Strict precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic left patients isolated during already stressful hospital stays. Research indicates that listening to music recruits regions in the brain involved with social interaction and reduces feelings of loneliness. We formed a team of clinicians and clinical musicians to bring music to the bedside, as "psychological first aid.

A Review on Splenic Diffuse Red Pulp Small B-Cell Lymphoma.

Splenic diffuse red pulp small B-cell lymphoma (SDRPL) is a rare disease, representing <1% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). The most common clinical manifestations include splenomegaly, lymphocytosis, and hemocytopenia. A diagnosis of SDRPL can be challenging, as it shares multiple clinical and laboratory features with splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL), hairy cell leukemia (HCL), and HCL variant (HCL-v).

Trends in Premature Mortality From Acute Myocardial Infarction in the United States, 1999 to 2019.

Background Evaluating premature (<65 years of age) mortality because of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by demographic and regional characteristics may inform public health interventions. Methods and Results We used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's WONDER (Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research) death certificate database to examine premature (<65 years of age) age-adjusted AMI mortality rates per 100 000 and average annual percentage change from 1999 to 2019. Overall, the age-adjusted AMI mortality rate was 13.