Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Neurosurg 2019 Feb 15:1-7. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

2Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

OBJECTIVEThe American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) online surgical risk calculator uses inherent patient characteristics to provide predictive risk scores for adverse postoperative events. The purpose of this study was to determine if predicted perioperative risk scores correlate with actual hospital costs.METHODSA single-center retrospective review of 1005 neurosurgical patients treated between September 1, 2011, and December 31, 2014, was performed. Read More

Am Heart J 2019 Jan 15;210:98-107. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou (HEGP), Department of Cardiology, Paris, France; Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France; INSERM U-970, Paris, France.

Background: About 30% of angina patients have persisting symptoms despite successful revascularization and antianginal therapy. Moreover, in stable patients, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) does not improve survival as compared with medical therapy alone. Trimetazidine, an antianginal agent devoid of hemodynamic effect, may help reducing symptoms and improving outcomes after PCI. Read More

J Clin Anesth 2019 Feb 13;56:119-125. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Anesthesiology, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China. Electronic address:

Introduction: Whether anesthesia depth affects postoperative mortality remains uncertain.

Measurements: Several databases were systematically searched to identify all articles studying the relationship between depth of anesthesia and postoperative mortality. Post hoc subgroup analyses were conducted for follow-up period (30 days vs. Read More

Cytokine 2019 Feb 13;115:24-31. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Faculdade de Farmácia, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Imunologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brazil. Electronic address:

There appears to be an associative link between chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the exact nature of the relationship between CHC and CVDs has not been elucidated. We investigated the presence of CVDs and the clinical and laboratory alterations associated with these diseases in CHC patients. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2019 Feb 10;55:218-222. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan. Electronic address:

Introduction: Transient Left Ventricular Apical Balloon Syndrome (LV-ABS) is an unknown acute dysfunction of the left ventricle, which develops under emotional or physical stress events like the major surgical postoperative period.

Presentation Of Case: A 68-year-old woman diagnosed with hepatitis C cirrhosis was admitted for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). No evidence for underlying cardiac or pulmonary disease was found. Read More

Eat Behav 2019 Feb 10;33:7-12. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Nutrition Division, Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Lebanon.

Background: Extensive research has been conducted to investigate the effects of media violence on attitudes, behaviors, and cardiovascular health; however, only few studies have examined its effect on appetite, eating behavior and food preferences. Little attention has been given to understand how movie genre manipulates the physiology and the eating behavior of individuals. The present study aimed at investigating the acute effect of violence content in movies on appetite perception, heart rate and blood pressure, along with food preferences and intake in young individuals. Read More

Contemp Clin Trials 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States.

Background: Postmenopausal Latinas are a growing population group in the US who are at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Epidemiological studies have shown that excessive sitting is related to cardiovascular disease risk. Older women sit for prolonged periods and most individuals do not meet physical activity guidelines. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2019 Jan 24;283:13-18. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chiayi Christian Hospital, Chiayi City, Taiwan; Department of Information Management and Institute of Healthcare Information Management, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi County, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Stroke occurrence while on antiplatelet therapy, i.e., a breakthrough stroke, is often conveniently attributed to antiplatelet resistance. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

H.E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan; Department of Biochemistry, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (P.C.M.D.), International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Tetrapleura tetrapteura Taub. is a leguminous multipurpose tree (Fabaceae) indigenous to tropical Africa. Fruits, seeds and stem bark infusions or decoctions of Tetrapleura tetrapteura Taub. Read More

J Card Fail 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Division of Cardiology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.

Microb Pathog 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Limited deep studies are available in the field of early stages of pathogenesis of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection and tissue tropism of NDV. In this study, 24 specific pathogen free (SPF) chickens of white leghorn breed were infected with Newcastle disease (ND) by intranasal administration of 10⁵ 50% EID50/0.1 mL of velogenic NDV (vNDV). Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Division of Vascular Surgery, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; King Saud University-Li Ka Shing Collaborative Research Program, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Electronic address:

Background: Vascular surgeons have a central role in managing peripheral artery disease (PAD). This study assessed their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding pharmacologic risk reduction in PAD and results were compared to a similar 2004 survey conducted by our group.

Methods: An online questionnaire was administered to 161 active members of the Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery. Read More

Exp Gerontol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA; Department of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.

Background: Older adults may have difficulty meeting the Physical Activity (PA) Guidelines. A favorable balance between PA and sedentary time (SED) is an important determinant of physical performance in older adults. Our objective was to explore associations of PA/SED with physical performance across mid-older age in adults without overt mobility disability. Read More

Anaerobe 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA. Electronic address:

Fusobacterium necrophorum is a Gram negative, rod-shaped and aero tolerant anaerobe. In animals, it is an opportunistic pathogen frequently associated with necrotic infections, generally called necrobacillosis, such as calf diphtheria, foot rot and liver abscesses in cattle. Two subspecies exist: subsp. Read More

Resuscitation 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Research Center for Emergency Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus Universitsy Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Center for Resuscitation Science, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.

Aim: To determine whether the removal of atropine from the 2010 ACLS guidelines for non-shockable cardiac arrests was associated with a change in survival.

Methods: Using the Get With The Guidelines®-Resuscitation registry, we included adults with an index in-hospital cardiac arrest between 2006 and 2015. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Read More

Resuscitation 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Emergency Department, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Aims: Cardiac arrest related to accidental hypothermia may occur at temperatures below 32 °C. Our goal was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients who suffered from witnessed hypothermic cardiac arrest (CA) and assess the occurrence of hypothermic CA as a function of patient body temperature.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature on cases of hypothermic CA due to rescue collapse. Read More

Resuscitation 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Center for Resuscitation Science and Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address:

Aim Of The Study: Regionalization of care for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) may improve patient outcomes. We evaluated inter-hospital variations in post-arrest care provision and the relation between hospital case volume and survival in Pennsylvania.

Methods: This retrospective study (2013-2017) used data from adult OHCA cases in Pennsylvania from the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival. Read More

Resuscitation 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Laboratory of Emergency Medical Services, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Objectives: There is growing evidence that optimal post-resuscitation treatment is a significant factor for overall survival and neurological outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, there is also growing evidence of disparities in treatments in vulnerable populations such as elderly individuals or patients with underlying diseases, including cancer.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of cancer status on post-resuscitation therapies among OHCA patients. Read More

Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Endocrine department, Dubai Hospital, United Arab Emirates.

Aim: Most of Muslims patients with diabetes and Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) elect to fast in Ramadan, but the actual risk in this subset of patients with diabetes is largely unknown. We aimed to understand the safety of fasting in CHD patients with diabetes insisting on fasting Ramadan under optimal care. We also monitored the change in biophysical and biochemical parameters of these patients before and after Ramadan. Read More

Eur J Pharmacol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Centre of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela; Physiology and Biochemistry Research Group-PHYSIS, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. Electronic address:

Pomolic acid (PA) isolated from Licania pittieri has hypotensive effects in rats, inhibits human platelet aggregation and elicits endothelium-dependent relaxation in rat aortic rings. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of PA on cardiomyocytes. Trabeculae and enzymatically isolated cardiomyocytes from rats were used to evaluate the concentration-dependent effects of PA on cardiac muscle tension and excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) by recording Ca transients reported with Fluo-3 and Fura-2, as well as L-type Ca currents (LTCC). Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Orthopedics and Trauma - Surgery, Division of Trauma - Surgery, General Hospital of Vienna, Austria.

Immunoglobulin-G4-related disease (IgG4RD) is a novel clinical entity characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates presenting as an excessive fibrosis such as retroperitoneal inflammatory pseudotumor but rarely affecting the heart or the aorta. We describe a case of IgG4RD with multifocal aortic involvement presenting as an acute aortic syndrome. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Dept. of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Thoraxcentrum Twente, Medisch Spectrum Twente Hospital, P.O. Box 50 000, 7500 KA Enschede, The Netherlands; Dept. of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, P.O. Box 30 001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.

Background: Complications related to extracorporeal circulation remain serious. While a Minimal Invasive Extra Corporeal Circulation (MiECC) system was developed to cope with these complications, its effectivity on patient-related outcomes such as blood loss remain uncertain. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare MiECC to an advanced standard system with respect to blood loss. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki University, Finland. Electronic address:

Background: Operative mortality after complete atrioventricular septal defect (cAVSD) repair has improved vastly. Less improvement has been demonstrated regarding late mortality and reoperation rates. There is evident lack of comprehensive population-based studies analyzing the history and progress of the ever-changing operative results. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Professor Cardiovascular Surgery, Indiana University Health, Surgery, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, 1801 Senate Blvd. Indianapolis, IN 46202. Electronic address:

J Mol Cell Cardiol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AS, UK; National Heart and Lung Institute (Cardiovascular Sciences), Faculty of Medicine, Flowers Building, Imperial College, SW7 2AZ, UK and Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6LY, UK.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in development of heart failure but, at a cellular level, their effects range from cytoprotection to induction of cell death. Understanding how this is regulated is crucial to develop novel strategies to ameliorate only the detrimental effects. Here, we revisited the fundamental hypothesis that the level of ROS per se is a key factor in the cellular response by applying different concentrations of HO to cardiomyocytes. Read More

J Mol Cell Cardiol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Electronic address:

Serum response factor (SRF) and the SRF co-activators myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs) are essential for epicardium-derived progenitor cell (EPDC)-mobilization during heart development; however, the impact of developmental EPDC deficiencies on adult cardiac physiology has not been evaluated. Here, we utilize the Wilms Tumor-1 (Wt1)-Cre to delete Mrtfs or Srf in the epicardium, which reduced the number of EPDCs in the adult cardiac interstitium. Deficiencies in Wt1-lineage EPDCs prevented the development of cardiac fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction in aged mice. Read More

J Mol Cell Cardiol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address:

The reduced expression of cardiac sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca ATPase (SERCA2a) is a hallmark of heart failure. We previously showed that miR-25 is a crucial transcriptional regulator of SERCA2a in the heart. However, the precise mechanism of cardiac miR-25 regulation is largely unknown. Read More

J Mol Cell Cardiol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Institute of Physiology, University of Wuerzburg, Germany. Electronic address:

Cardiac functionality is dependent on a balanced protein turnover. Accordingly, regulated protein decay is critical to maintain cardiac function. Here we demonstrate that deficiency of SPRED2, an intracellular repressor of ERK-MAPK signaling markedly expressed in human heart, resulted in impaired autophagy, heart failure, and shortened lifespan. Read More

Biochem Pharmacol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.

Due to its ability to irreversibly inactivate platelet cyclooxygenase, low-dose aspirin (ASA) is the most widely used antithrombotic agent. Although, studies in specific types of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) have shown an incomplete inhibition of platelet's cyclooxygenase, which may increase the variability in drug response. Some aspects of ASA pharmacokinetics (PK) still need further investigation. Read More

J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2019 Feb 16. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Department of Physics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have shown great regenerative potential to repair damaged tissue; however, their injection in vivo results in low retention and poor cell survival. Early clinical research has focused on cell-encapsulation, to improve viability and integration of delivered cells. However, this strategy has been limited by the inability to reproduce large volumes of standardized microcapsules and the lack of information on cell-specific egress and timed release from hydrogel microcapsules. Read More

Am J Phys Anthropol 2019 Feb 16. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Child and Brain Development Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Objectives: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a powerful determinant of health, but the underlying biological mechanisms are poorly understood. This study investigates whether levels of DNA methylation at CpG sites across the genome are associated with SES in a cohort of young adults in the Philippines.

Methods: DNA methylation was assayed with the Illumina HumanMethylation450 Bead Chip, in leukocytes from 489 participants in the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (mean age = 20. Read More

J Physiol 2019 Feb 16. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210.

Key Points Summary: Small-conductance Ca -activated K (SK) channels expressed in ventricular myocytes are dormant in health yet become functional in cardiac disease. SK channels are voltage independent and their gating is controlled by intracellular [Ca ] in a biphasic manner. Submicromolar [Ca ] activates the channel via constitutively-bound calmodulin, while higher [Ca ] exerts inhibitory effect during depolarization. Read More

J Echocardiogr 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, 4860 Y Street, Suite 2820, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.

Percutaneous intervention for mitral valve disease has been established as an alternative to open surgical repair in high risk and inoperable candidates. Edge-to-edge leaflet plication with Mitraclip (Abbott, Menlo Park, CA, USA) is indicated for primary and secondary mitral valve diseases. Echocardiography provides a better understanding of mitral valve anatomy and allows us to classify and quantify mitral regurgitation. Read More

Arch Pharm Res 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Leading-Edge Research Center for Drug Discovery and Development for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, South Korea.

Millions of people worldwide have diabetes, which is diagnosed by fasting blood glucose levels exceeding 126 mg/dL. Regardless of the type of diabetes, prolonged hyperglycemia is damaging to several organs including eyes, kidneys, nerve, and/or heart. The damages are associated with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Read More

J Muscle Res Cell Motil 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.

Tropomyosin, best known for its role in the steric regulation of muscle contraction, polymerizes head-to-tail to form cables localized along the length of both muscle and non-muscle actin-based thin filaments. In skeletal and cardiac muscles, tropomyosin, under the control of troponin and myosin, moves in a cooperative manner between blocked, closed and open positions on filaments, thereby masking and exposing actin-binding sites necessary for myosin crossbridge head interactions. While the coiled-coil signature of tropomyosin appears to be simple, closer inspection reveals surprising structural complexity required to perform its role in steric regulation. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2019 Feb 16. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago.

Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is a biodegradable synthetic polyester synthesized by polymerization or polycondensation. PLLA hydrolytically degrades into lactic acid, a biocompatible metabolic by-product, making it suitable for clinical applications. PLLA scaffolds or nanofibers have been used in various regenerative medicine and drug delivery applications. Read More

J Nucl Cardiol 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.

J Nucl Cardiol 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.

J Nucl Cardiol 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Bichat, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Inserm 1148, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France.

J Ultrasound 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Vascular Surgery, Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, CH2 1UL, UK.

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) compared to computed tomography angiography (CTA) for the detection of endoleaks within endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) surveillance at time of follow up.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was undertaken among the four major databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Ovid) to identify all articles assessing diagnostic specificity and accuracy with comparative modality (CEUS vs CTA) for endoleaks in adult patients at time of follow-up following EVAR. Databases where evaluated and assessed to October 2018. Read More

Eur Radiol Exp 2019 Feb 15;3(1). Epub 2019 Feb 15.

University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Background: Current developments showed a fast-increasing implementation and use of three-dimensional (3D) printing in medical applications. Our aim was to review the literature regarding the application of 3D printing to cardiac valve disease.

Methods: A PubMed search for publications in English with the terms "3D printing" AND "cardiac valve", performed in January 2018, resulted in 64 items. Read More

Neth Heart J 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Objective: Consistent with the aging population in the Western world, there is a growing number of elderly patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the recommended reperfusion strategy in elderly patients; risk models to determine which of these patients are prone to have poor clinical outcomes are, however, essential. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between frailty and short-term mortality and PCI-related serious adverse events (SAE) in elderly patients. Read More

Clin Res Cardiol 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Semmelweis University Heart and Vascular Centre, Városmajor u. 68, Budapest, 1122, Hungary.

Objective: Patients with electrical injury are considered to be at high risk of cardiac arrhythmias. Due to the small number of studies, there is no widely accepted guideline regarding the risk assessment and management of arrhythmic complications after electrical accident (EA). Our retrospective observational study was designed to determine the prevalence of ECG abnormalities and cardiac arrhythmias after EA, to evaluate the predictive value of cardiac biomarkers for this condition and to assess in-hospital and 30-day mortality. Read More

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

INSERM U955 Equipe 13, Faculte de Medecine, 8 rue du General Sarrail, 94010, Créteil Cedex, France.

Purpose: Stress has been suspected to play a role in rhinitis. The role of stress on nasal patency has been not yet elucidated. The aim was to evaluate the potential effects of stress on nasal patency in healthy subjects. Read More

Dig Dis Sci 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of South Carolina, 30 Courtenay Drive, Suite 249, MSC 702, Charleston, SC, 29425-2900, USA.

Background: Due to its smooth muscle relaxing properties, peppermint oil (PO) may relieve dysphagia and chest pain due to esophageal motility disorders.

Aim: To explore the impact of PO on dysphagia and/or chest pain in patients referred for motility testing.

Methods: Patients initiated on PO for dysphagia and/or chest pain from 2013 to 2016 were identified. Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, Strümpellstr. 39, 04289, Leipzig, Germany.

Data derived from several studies suggest a better survival in smokers with acute myocardial infarction, a phenomenon referred to as the 'smoker's paradox'. We aimed to investigate the association of smoking with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging determined infarct severity and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as the occurrence of death, reinfarction, and congestive heart failure at 12 months in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) reperfused by early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this multicenter, registry study 311 NSTEMI patients underwent CMR imaging 3 (interquartile range [IQR] 2-4) days after PCI. Read More

Neurol Sci 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Behavioural and Clinical Neurology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina, 306, Rome, Italy.

Internist (Berl) 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, und Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, 10117, Deutschland.

Arterial hypertension represents one of the most frequent chronic diseases that can lead to complications, such as stroke, dementia, heart attack, heart failure and renal failure. By 2025 the number of hypertensive patients will increase to approximately 1.6 billion people worldwide. Read More

Pediatr Cardiol 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Child Development and Exercise Center, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 85090, 3508 AB, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

There are no previous studies on arterial stiffness and its associations with cardiorespiratory fitness in young Fontan patients. Therefore, we examined the arterial stiffness and its relationship to cardiorespiratory fitness in children and young adults with a Fontan circulation. Altogether, 17 Fontan patients and 26 healthy controls (16 females and 27 males aged 8-40 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Read More

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2019 Feb 16. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.

Clinical manifestation of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism vary with age, with an attenuated, oligosymptomatic presentation of thyroid dysfunction (TD) in older patients. We asked, whether in rodents TD phenotypes are influenced by age and whether this involves changes in systemic and/or organ thyroid hormone (TH) signaling. Chronic hyper- or hypothyroidism was induced in male mice at different life stages (5, 12, 20 months). Read More