Analysis of Acute Cerebrovascular Accidents following Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures: A Comprehensive 17-year study involving 24,412 patients at a leading Tertiary care institution in the United Kingdom.

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to quantify the incidence of stroke following cardiac surgery over 17 years at our centre. Additionally, we evaluated the potential risk factors leading to postoperative stroke in these patients.

Methods: Patient characteristics and perioperative data were collected for 24,412 patients undergoing surgery at our centre between January 2005 and December 2021.

Prognostic impact of albuminuria in early-stage chronic kidney disease on cardiovascular outcomes: a cohort study.

Background: The impact of early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) on cardiovascular outcomes, particularly when albuminuria is present, remains unclear. This study examined the associations between early CKD (stages 1 and 2) with and without albuminuria and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), heart failure (HF) and all-cause mortality.

Methods: A cohort of 456 015 participants from the UK Biobank was categorised by CKD stage using serum creatinine to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (≥3 mg/mmol) to define albuminuria.

A new model of experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy using combination of multiple doses of anomer-equilibrated streptozotocin and high fat diet: sex matters.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) leads to a more rapid development of DM cardiomyopathy (dbCM) and progression to heart failure in women than men. Combination of high-fat diet (HFD) and freshly-injected streptozotocin (STZ) has been widely used for DM induction, however emerging data shows that anomer-equilibrated STZ produces an early onset and robust DM model. We designed a novel protocol utilising a combination of multiple doses of anomer-equilibrated STZ injections and HFD to develop a stable murine DM model featuring dbCM analogous to humans.

Rigour of Development of European Society of Cardiology, American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines over a 12-year period (2013-2024): a systematic review of guidelines.

Introduction: The ESC and ACC/AHA regularly publish guidelines for the management of cardiovascular disease. By definition, a guideline should follow strict methodological criteria, and have a transparent, traceable and reproducible development process. We aimed to assess the overall strength of the recommendations and rigour of methodological development in ESC and ACC/AHA guidelines.

NET Models Meeting 2024 white paper: the current state of neuroendocrine tumour research models and our future aspirations.

Current models for the study of neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are severely limited. While (e.g.

Specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators in gut immunophysiology: from dietary precursors to inflammation resolution.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to examine recent research on the role of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) in the regulation of gut immunophysiology.

Recent Findings: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, driven by disruptions in the intestinal barrier and an imbalance between the host immune system and gut microbiota. Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially ω-3 and ω-6, are key regulators of immune responses and help maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier.

Relationship between left ventricular shape and cardiovascular risk factors: comparison between the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and UK Biobank.

Background: Statistical shape atlases have been used in large-cohort studies to investigate relationships between heart shape and risk factors. The generalisability of these relationships between cohorts is unknown. The aims of this study were to compare left ventricular (LV) shapes in patients with differing cardiovascular risk factor profiles from two cohorts and to investigate whether LV shape scores generated with respect to a reference cohort can be directly used to study shape differences in another cohort.

Endogenous C-type natriuretic peptide offsets the pathogenesis of steatohepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, and portal hypertension.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), hepatic fibrosis, and portal hypertension constitute an increasing public health problem due to the growing prevalence of obesity and diabetes. C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is an endogenous regulator of cardiovascular homeostasis, immune cell reactivity, and fibrotic disease. Thus, we investigated a role for CNP in the pathogenesis of MASLD.

Lipid-mediated resolution of inflammation and survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Neuroinflammation impacts on the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Specialized pro-resolving mediators trigger the resolution of inflammation. We investigate the specialized pro-resolving mediator blood profile and their receptors' expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in relation to survival in ALS.

Multiplex lateral flow test sensitivity and specificity in detecting influenza A, B and SARS-CoV-2 in adult patients in a UK emergency department.

Background: Rapid identification of individuals with acute respiratory infections is crucial for preventing nosocomial infections. For rapid diagnosis, especially in EDs, lateral flow devices (LFDs) are a convenient, inexpensive option with a rapid turnaround. Several 'multiplex' LFDs (M-LFDs) now exist, testing for multiple pathogens from a single swab sample.

The structural organisation of pentraxin-3 and its interactions with heavy chains of inter-α-inhibitor regulate crosslinking of the hyaluronan matrix.

Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is an octameric protein, comprised of eight identical protomers, that has diverse functions in reproductive biology, innate immunity and cancer. PTX3 interacts with the large polysaccharide hyaluronan (HA) to which heavy chains (HCs) of the inter-α-inhibitor (IαI) family of proteoglycans are covalently attached, playing a key role in the (non-covalent) crosslinking of HC•HA complexes. These interactions stabilise the cumulus matrix, essential for ovulation and fertilisation in mammals, and are also implicated in the formation of pathogenic matrices in the context of viral lung infections.

Can fast wall shear stress computation predict adverse cardiac events in patients with intermediate non-flow limiting stenoses?

Background And Aims: Coronary angiography-derived wall shear stress (WSS) may enable identification of vulnerable plaques and patients. A new recently introduced software allows seamless three-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography (3D-QCA) reconstruction and WSS computation within a single user-friendly platform carrying promise for clinical applications. This study examines for the first time the efficacy of this software in detecting vulnerable lesions in patients with intermediate non-flow limiting stenoses.

The role of multi-modality imaging for the assessment of left atrium and left atrial appendage. A clinical consensus statement of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI), European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Structural, architectural, contractile or electrophysiological alterations may occur in the left atrium (LA). The concept of LA cardiopathy is supported by accumulating scientific evidence demonstrating that LA remodeling has become a cornerstone diagnostic and prognostic marker. The structure and the function of LA and left atrial appendage (LAA) which is an integral part of the LA, are key elements for a better understanding of multiple clinical conditions, most notably atrial fibrillation (AF), cardioembolism, heart failure and mitral valve diseases.

Environmental impact of commonly used anaesthetic agents: systematic literature review with narrative synthesis.

Background: Increasing awareness of the potential environmental impact of volatile anaesthetic agents has stimulated increased use of total i.v. anaesthesia.

Neutrophils restricted contribution of genetic variants to COVID-19 severity.

The 3p21.31 locus is the most robust genomic region associated with COVID-19 severity. This locus contains a main chemokine receptor (CKR) cluster.

Klinefelter Syndrome: A Review.

Background: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is an uncommonly recognised condition typified by gynaecomastia, small testes and aspermatogenesis. It is caused by a supernumerary X chromosome, resulting in a 47 XXY karyotype. Since its first description, the phenotype of KS has evolved and there is a much greater appreciation of the subtle features of the condition.

Effectiveness and user experience of nose and throat swabbing techniques for SARS-CoV-2 detection: results from the UK COVID-19 National Testing Programme.

Background: The UK's National Health Service Test and Trace (NHSTT) program aimed to provide the most effective and accessible SARS-CoV-2 testing approach possible. Early user feedback indicated that there were accessibility issues associated with throat swabbing. We report the results of service evaluations performed by NHSTT to assess the effectiveness and user acceptance of swabbing approaches, as well as qualitative findings of user experiences from research reports, surveys, and incident reports.

Subclavian Ansae Stimulation on Cardiac Hemodynamics and Electrophysiology in Atrial Fibrillation: A Target for Sympathetic Neuromodulation.

Background: The sympathetic autonomic nervous system plays a major role in arrhythmia development and maintenance. Historical preclinical studies describe preferential increases in cardiac sympathetic tone upon selective stimulation of the subclavian ansae (SA), a nerve cord encircling the subclavian artery.

Objectives: This study sought to define, for the first time, the functional anatomy and physiology of the SA in humans using a percutaneous approach.

Endothelial IGFBP6 suppresses vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Beyond dyslipidemia, inflammation contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. However, intrinsic factors that counteract vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis remain scarce. Here we identify insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6 (IGFBP6) as a homeostasis-associated molecule that restrains endothelial inflammation and atherosclerosis.