SoftHard Composites with regard to Bioelectric Connections

To describe long-term antithrombotic management patterns (AMPs) in medically managed Asian patients with non-ST-segment myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or unstable angina (UA).
Current guidelines support an early invasive strategy in NSTEMI and UA patients, but many are medically managed, and data are limited on long-term AMPs in Asia.
Data were analyzed from medically managed NSTEMI and UA patients included in the prospective, observational EPICOR Asia study (NCT01361386). Survivors to hospital discharge were enrolled (June 2011 to May 2012) from 8 countries/regions across Asia. Baseline characteristics and AMP use up to 2years post-discharge were collected. Outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and death) and bleeding.
Among 2289 medically managed patients, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) use at discharge was greater in NSTEMI than in UA patients (81.8% vs 65.3%), and was significantly associated with male sex, positive cardiac markers, and prior cardiovascular medications (p<0.0001). By 2years, 57.9% and 42.6% of NSTEMI and UA patients, respectively, were on DAPT. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, risk of MACE at 2years was most significantly associated with older age (HR [95% CI] 1.85 [1.36, 2.50]), diagnosis of NSTEMI vs UA (1.96 [1.47, 2.61]), and chronic renal failure (2.14 [1.34, 3.41]), all p≤0.001. Risk of bleeding was most significantly associated with region (East Asia vs Southeast/South Asia) and diabetes.
Approximately half of all patients were on DAPT at 2years. MACE were more frequent in NSTEMI than UA patients during follow-up.
Approximately half of all patients were on DAPT at 2 years. MACE were more frequent in NSTEMI than UA patients during follow-up.
The aim of this study was to examine range of motion and muscle function in the upper extremity and spine in patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) comparing different surgical approaches.
From October 2017 to February 2019, 150 patients were assessed for inclusion. A total of 99 patients (n = 75 CoA, n = 24 control), were included and assessed regarding muscle function, arm length and circumference, and spinal and thoracic mobility.
There were significant differences between the right and left arm in patients with CoA, operated with the subclavian flap technique compared to controls in regards to shoulder flexion (p < 0.001), elbow flexion (p = 0.001), shoulder abduction (p = 0.02), handgrip strength (p = 0.01), length of upper arm (p < 0.001), lower arm (p < 0.001), and of whole arm (p < 0.001), circumference regarding upper arm (p = 0.001), lower arm (p < 0.001), and wrist (p < 0.001). Structural scoliosis was more frequent in patients who had undergone thoracotomy (25.4%) than patients who had not undergone a thoracotomy (5.9%, p = 0.04), and were often located in the thoracic part of the spine.
Patients with CoA operated on using the subclavian flap technique have impaired muscle function as well as reduced arm length and circumference. An increased rate of structural scoliosis was found in patients who underwent thoracotomy, in comparison with patients who had not undergone a thoracotomy. Further research is needed to determine whether muscle function impaired by surgical procedures can be improved with exercise.
Patients with CoA operated on using the subclavian flap technique have impaired muscle function as well as reduced arm length and circumference. An increased rate of structural scoliosis was found in patients who underwent thoracotomy, in comparison with patients who had not undergone a thoracotomy. Further research is needed to determine whether muscle function impaired by surgical procedures can be improved with exercise.
Sedentary behaviour (SB) is potentially an important target to improve cardiovascular health. This study 1) compared SB between cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients and age-matched controls, 2) identified characteristics associated with high SB levels, and 3) determined the impact of contemporary cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on SB.
For objective 1, we recruited 131 CVD patients and 117 controls. All participants were asked about their general characteristics and medical history. SB was assessed by an objective accelerometer (activPAL3 micro). For objective 2, 2584 CVD patients were asked to fill in a questionnaire about their general characteristics, lifestyle, medical history and their SB. For objective 3, 131 CVD patients were followed over time and measured, pre-, directly post- and 2months post-CR.
Objective 1. CVD patients spent 10.4h/day (Q25 9.5; Q75 11.2) sedentary which was higher compared to healthy controls (9.4h/day [Q25 8.4; Q75 10.29]). Objective 2. CVD patients being male, single or divoret SB in CVD patients.
We hypothesized patients implanted with ILRs for cryptogenic stroke in "real life" clinical practice will show an AF detection rate comparable to prior clinical studies, and that clinical or imaging features may help to identify those at higher risk of AF detection.
A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients who presented with cryptogenic stroke and received an ILR at an academic medical center from 2015 to 2017 with an active inpatient stroke service. The electronic health record and remote monitoring were used to identify occurrence of AF.
A total of 178 patients who received ILRs for cryptogenic stroke were included. Overall, after a thorough evaluation for other etiologies of stroke, 35 (19.6%) were found to have AF detected. Mean follow-up was 365days with a median time to detection of 131days. Advanced age (p=0.001), diastolic dysfunction on echo (p=0.03), as well as ECG findings of premature atrial contractions (PACs) and p wave dispersion (PWD)>40ms were found to be predictively independent predictor. Selleckchem HRS-4642 This has important clinical implications, as better prediction of AF may help identify those at highest risk and might subsequently aid in guiding therapy.
In 2012, the World Heart Federation (WHF) published guidelines for the echocardiographic diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease (RHD). This study assesses individual reviewer performance and inter-rater agreement and reliability on the presence of any RHD, as well classification of RHD based on the 2012 WHF criteria.
Four cardiologists individually reviewed echocardiograms in the context of a randomized clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.govNCT03346525) and participated in a blinded adjudication panel. Panel decision was the reference standard for diagnosis. Performance of individual reviewers to panel adjudication was compared through sensitivity and specificity analyses and inter-rater reliability was assessed between individual panelists using Fleiss free marginal multirater kappa.
Echocardiograms from 784 children had two independent reports and panel adjudication. The accuracy of independent reviewers for any RHD had high sensitivity (94%, 95% CI 93-95%) and moderate specificity (62%, 95% CI 53-70%). Sensitivity and specificity for definite RHD was 61.