Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Immunother Cancer 2019 Apr 16;7(1):106. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.

Background: Checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) have revolutionized the treatment of cancer, but their use remains limited by off-target inflammatory and immune-related adverse events. Solid organ transplantation (SOT) recipients have been excluded from clinical trials owing to concerns about alloimmunity, organ rejection, and immunosuppressive therapy. Thus, we conducted a retrospective study and literature review to evaluate the safety of CPIs in patients with cancer and prior SOT. Read More

Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J 2018 Nov 28;18(4):e494-e500. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Cardiology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Objectives: Heart failure (HF) is a common clinical syndrome with an enormous impact on prognosis and lifestyle. Accordingly, rehabilitation measures need to be patient-specific and consider various sociocultural factors so as to improve the patient's quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to develop and validate a HF-specific QOL (HFQOL) questionnaire within a multicultural setting. Read More

J Hum Kinet 2019 Mar 27;66:7-18. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, A1M 3L8.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of unilateral ankle fatigue versus the knee muscles with and without vision on bipedal postural control. Elite judo athletes who competed at the national level with at least 10 years of training experience, were randomised into KNEE (n = 10; 20 ± 2 years) and ANKLE (n = 9; 20 ± 3 years) groups, who performed dynamic isokinetic fatiguing contractions (force decreased to 50% of initial peak torque for three consecutive movements) of the knee flexors and extensors or ankle dorsiflexors and plantar flexors, respectively. Static bipedal postural control (French Posturology Association normative standards) with eyes open and eyes closed was examined before and immediately after the fatiguing task. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2019 Apr 2;55(4). Epub 2019 Apr 2.

School of Healthcare Sciences, Heath Park Campus, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with COPD have increased arterial stiffness, which may predict future CV risk. However, the development of arterial stiffness in COPD has not yet been studied prospectively. Read More

Ann Plast Surg 2019 May;82(5):512-519

From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and.

Background: On June 27, 2015, a colored powder explosion occurred in Taiwan. As a result, 499 people were injured, and over 200 people were in critical condition because of severe burns. Forty-nine casualties were transported to the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Read More

J Med Internet Res 2019 Apr 15;21(4):e13281. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.

Background: Implementation of cardiac rehabilitation has not been optimal, with patient participation rates below 50%. Factors that contribute to cardiac patients' lack of participation in rehabilitation programs are patient motivation, logistical difficulties in getting to the rehabilitation facilities, lack of psychosocial elements, and individualization of activities in the rehabilitation programs. Telerehabilitation has been proposed as a new way to address the challenge of engaging and motivating cardiac patients and their partners to participate in rehabilitation. Read More

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 2019 Apr 12;89(1). Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Cardiology, ICS Maugeri, IRCCS Montescano.

Despite improvements in treatments, the prognosis of heart failure remains poor. Elderly patients with heart failure are burdened with multiple co-morbidities and polypharmacy. Multidisciplinary disease-management programs are recommended as standard care for patients at high risk of hospitalization. Read More

Clin Rehabil 2019 Apr 15:269215519842216. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

2 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Objective: In this secondary analysis of data from the OPTICARE trial, we compared the effects of two behavioral interventions integrated into cardiac rehabilitation to standard rehabilitation with regard to functional capacity, fatigue, and participation in society.

Design: This is a randomized controlled trial.

Setting: This study was conducted in a cardiac rehabilitation setting. Read More

Resuscitation 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, 6G UHC, 4201St., Antoine, Detroit, MI, 48201, United States. Electronic address:

Background: End Tidal CO (ETCO) is a reasonable predictor of Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) in cardiac arrest (CA), though with many limitations. Cerebral Oximetry (CerOx) non-invasively measures brain O saturation and correlates with flow.

Objectives: This study compares ETCO and CerOx for ROSC prediction during both out of hospital (OHCA) and emergency department cardiac arrests (EDCA). Read More

Neth Heart J 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Cardiology, Gaia Hospital Centre, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.

Introduction: Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (EBCR) is part of the management of patients who have suffered an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Patients with a reduced ejection fraction (EF) comprise a higher-risk subgroup and are referred less often for these programmes. This study aimed at assessing the impact of the baseline EF on the functional benefits, as assessed by peak oxygen uptake (pVO) and exercise duration, of an EBCR programme in AMI survivors. Read More

Trials 2019 Apr 11;20(1):208. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Exercise and Health Laboratory, CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada da Costa, 1495-687, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal.

Background: Benefits from cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs are evidence-based and widely recognized. Less than 50% of people who participate in hospital-based CR programs maintain an exercise regime for as long as six months after completion. Little is known about interventions making the patients continue to exercise after the hospital-based formal program has ended. Read More

BMC Health Serv Res 2019 Apr 11;19(1):223. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Knowledge Centre for Rehabilitation and Palliative Care (REHPA) Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has proven health benefits and, according to international guidelines, CR must be offered to all eligible patients. Studies have reported lower uptake of CR among migrants, and migrants are known to face several barriers in their access to healthcare, of which language is the most common. The aim of this study is to examine the provision of CR core components for migrants; and the role of language barriers in the provision of CR in Danish hospitals and municipalities. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242.

MINI: The study investigates the association between preoperative chronic opioid therapy on long-term outcomes (reoperations, ED visits, postoperative opioid use, and adverse events)in patients undergoing primary cervical spine arthrodesis using a commercial claims dataset.

Study Design: Retrospective, observational.

Objective: To define the impact of preoperative chronic opioid therapy (COT) on outcomes following cervical spine fusions. Read More

Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs 2019 Apr 11:1474515119844094. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

1 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University Melbourne, Australia.

Chin J Integr Med 2019 Apr 10. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China.

With increasing morbidity and mortality, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has become one of the major causes of human death, leading to heavy burdens to individuals, families and society. Previous researches have found that though large amount of resources and great effort were devoted, no significant improvements were achieved in reducing the in-hospital mortality of AMI patients. Meanwhile, extensive studies about Chinese medicine (CM) have found that CM has special advantages in treating AMI patients. Read More

Eur J Prev Cardiol 2019 Apr 10:2047487319843079. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

1 Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) can lead to loss of workability and early retirement. We aimed to investigate return to work (RTW) and its relationship towards psychosocial well-being and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Design: Secondary analyses were applied to cross-sectional data from the EUROASPIRE IV survey (European Action on Secondary and Primary prevention through Intervention to Reduce Events). Read More

Eur J Prev Cardiol 2019 Apr 10:2047487319839263. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

1 Center of Rehabilitation Research, University of Potsdam, Germany.

The vocational reintegration of patients after an acute coronary syndrome is a crucial step towards complete convalescence from the social as well as the individual point of view. Return to work rates are determined by medical parameters such as left ventricular function, residual ischaemia and heart rhythm stability, as well as by occupational requirement profile such as blue or white collar work, night shifts and the ability to commute (which is, in part, determined by physical fitness). Psychosocial factors including depression, self-perceived health situation and pre-existing cognitive impairment determine the reintegration rate to a significant extent. Read More

Gut Liver 2019 Feb 27. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Internal Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.

Background/aims: : The incidence and cause of early mortality in acute pancreatitis (AP) arenot fully understood. Refeeding syndrome (RFS) is a fatal clinical complication that can occuras a result of fluid and electrolyte shifts during early nutritional rehabilitation for malnourishedpatients. This study was conducted to determine the clinical implications of RFS in patientswith AP. Read More

Blood Press Monit 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK.

Both regular physical activity and hypertension may be related to increased myocardial thickness, but the interplay between these two factors in causing cardiac remodeling in athletes is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to analyze the relation between resting and peak exercise blood pressure (BP) and myocardial hypertrophy in healthy middle-aged amateur endurance athletes. The study included 30 male, long-term athletes (mean age 40. Read More

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 2019 Mar 27;89(1). Epub 2019 Mar 27.

San Giovanni Addolorata Community Hospital, Cardiology and Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Medicine, Rome.

We reported a case of a young adult male aged 18 years admitted in our institution for syncope during a basketball match. No previous symptoms were reported. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed T-wave inversion in the anterior leads and an incomplete right bundle branch block. Read More

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 2019 Apr 8;89(1). Epub 2019 Apr 8.

San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention Unit.

The echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular (LV) systolic function, and especially of ejection fraction (EF) plays a central role in the diagnosis of heart failure (HF) due to its undisputed prognostic value. Limitations of EF are substantially: i) the variability and reproducibility of measurements, and ii) the load-dependence. Measurement of stroke volume, longitudinal function and myocardial strain can overcome the limitations of EF in assessing the contractile reserve of patients with HF and may help to define both the phenotype and prognosis of the disease. Read More

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 2019 Mar 27;89(1). Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Highly Specialized Rehabilitation Hospital in Motta Di Livenza, Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation Unit.

Serum uric acid (UA) has been shown to be a predictor of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality, and it may play a role in the pathogenesis of CV disease affecting vascular structure and function. However, there is limited evidence of its specific association with carotid artery stiffness and structure. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether UA is associated with early signs of atherosclerosis, namely local carotid arterial stiffness and intima-media thickening. Read More

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 2019 Mar 20;89(1). Epub 2019 Mar 20.

San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital, Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, Rome.

A key factor in cardiovascular prevention is the detection and appropriate management of preclinical heart failure (HF), but information on the subject is scarce. We designed VASTISSIMO as a prospective, observational study to investigate Outpatient Clinic Cardiologists' skills in detecting and managing preclinical HF in Italy. Quality scores were used to assess the appropriateness of clinical management according to guideline recommendations. Read More

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 2019 Mar 27;89(1). Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Highly Specialized Rehabilitation Hospital Motta di Livenza, Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation Unit.

The incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes varies among studies, due to the disagreement in the definitions and the lack of information in this field. Read More

Public Health Nurs 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Nursing, Omaha, Nebraska.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is an important public health issue that involves millions of community-dwelling cancer survivors. CRF is the most debilitating patient reported symptom related to cancer therapies and exacts a significant economic and social toll. It adversely impacts patients' work, social relationships, and overall quality of life. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2019 Apr;8(8):e010885

3 Division of Cardiology University of Ottawa Heart Institute Ottawa Ontario Canada.

Background Bicuspid aortic valve ( BAV ) is the most common congenital cardiac abnormality. A thoracic aortic aneurysm ( TAA ) is present in ≈50% of BAV patients, who also have an 8-fold higher risk of aortic dissection than the general population. Because the health of the aorta is directly reflected in its stiffness and pulsatile hemodynamics, we hypothesized that measures of aortic stiffness and arterial load would be associated with TAA growth in BAV . Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2019 Apr 2;122:47-51. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Speech Therapy Department, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.

Introduction: When identifying the auditory performance of children with phonological disorders, researchers assume that this population has normal peripheral hearing. However, responses at more central levels might be atypical.

Objective: To investigate the effect of phonological disorders on Frequency-Following Responses (FFRs) in the time domain. Read More

Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

University of Ottawa Heart Institute , 40 Ruskin Street , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada , K1Y4W7 ;

Current programs of CR typically provide a standardized approach to all patients. We examined whether CR would produce similar improvements in psychosocial and cardiometabolic health indicators in women compared to men. The records of patients who completed a three-month outpatient CR program were examined. Read More

Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2019 Apr 8:1-23. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

3 School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

Purpose: External counterpulsation (ECP) has previously been used to treat cardiac patients via compression of the lower extremities during diastole to increase venous return and coronary perfusion. However, the effects of ECP on exercise performance and markers of recovery in elite athletes is largely unknown.

Methods: On two separate occasions, 48 h apart, seven elite National Rugby League players performed an identical 60 min field-based conditioning session followed by a 30 min period of either regular ECP treatment or placebo. Read More

Aust J Rural Health 2019 Apr 7. Epub 2019 Apr 7.

School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 2019 Jan 14;32(1):113-115. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute, Baylor University Medical CenterDallasTexas.

A 53-year-old female athlete with spontaneous coronary artery dissection, acute myocardial infarction, and infrarenal abdominal aortic dissection enrolled in a 6-week cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) program. During CR sessions, the patient performed a combination of aerobic, resistance training, and core activities. In the final CR session, the patient performed reflex activities and the forced Valsalva maneuver. Read More

Med Clin North Am 2019 May;103(3):577-584

Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care, Allergy and Immunologic Diseases, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA. Electronic address:

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a core component of management of patients with chronic lung disease that have exercise or functional limitations. Causes of these limitations are manifold but include loss of skeletal muscle mass, power and endurance, diminished respiratory capacity owing to respiratory muscle weakness, inefficient gas exchange, and increased work of breathing, and impaired cardiovascular functioning. Besides physical limitations, patients with chronic lung disease have high rates of depression and anxiety leading to social isolation and increased health care use. Read More

Circulation 2019 Apr 8:CIR0000000000000679. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Cardiovascular disease is a competing cause of death in patients with cancer with early-stage disease. This elevated cardiovascular disease risk is thought to derive from both the direct effects of cancer therapies and the accumulation of risk factors such as hypertension, weight gain, cigarette smoking, and loss of cardiorespiratory fitness. Effective and viable strategies are needed to mitigate cardiovascular disease risk in this population; a multimodal model such as cardiac rehabilitation may be a potential solution. Read More

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Nerima Hikarigaoka Hospital, 2-11-1 Hikarigaoka, Nerima-Ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Objective: Preoperative frailty affects the progression of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after cardiovascular surgery. Different frailty assessment measures are available. However, it remains unclear which tool most likely predicts the progress of CR. Read More

NPJ Prim Care Respir Med 2019 Apr 5;29(1):10. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Respiratory Health (RESPIRE), Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.

More than half of the people with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The increasing disability, reduced productivity, associated anxiety and depression from CRDs result in social isolation and economic hardship for patients and their families. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a guideline-recommended multidisciplinary and multifaceted intervention that improves the physical and psychological condition of people with CRD. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2019 Mar 19. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Division of Cardiac Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address:

Sex-based differences in outcomes have been shown to affect caregiving in medical disciplines.Increased spending due to postacute care transfer policies has led hospitals to further scrutinize patient outcomes and disposition patterns after inpatient admissions. We examined sex-based differences in rehabilitative service utilization after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Read More

Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Division of Trauma Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital and Medical School, 42, Jebong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 61469, Korea.

Purpose: The outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after traumatic cardiac arrest is very poor. Moreover, some consider laparotomy for abdominal trauma after CPR futile. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of trauma patients who were pulseless and received CPR followed by laparotomy. Read More

BMJ Support Palliat Care 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Miriam Hospital, Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

Objectives: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes are standard of care for patients following a coronary event. While such exercise-based secondary prevention programme do offer benefits, they are used by less than 30% of eligible patients and attrition within these programmes is high. This project is a nested qualitative assessment of a pilot programme considering Tai Chi (TC) as an alternative to CR. Read More

G Ital Med Lav Ergon 2019 Mar;41(1):58-64

Department of High Technology Rehabilitation and Pain Rehabilitation Unit, Habilita Care and Research Hospitals, Zingonia di Ciserano (BG), Italy.

Objectives: To describe the functional recovery of consecutive inpatients with Critical Illness Polyneuropathy (CIP) at the time-point of the discharge from rehabilitation units according to Barthel Index scores. To examine whether age, gender, pre-ICU admission diagnosis, tracheostomy performance, heterotopic ossification development and duration of neuro-rehabilitation treatment are among the prognostic factors that can predict the functional outcome in studied patients.

Methods: A retrospective observational clinical study from January 2010 to December 2014 in three rehabilitation units in Greece. Read More

Sleep 2019 Apr;42(4)

Sleep Research Laboratory of the University Health Network Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Study Objectives: In patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF), stroke volume (SV) falls during hyperpnea of Cheyne-Stokes respiration with central sleep apnea (CSR-CSA). We have identified two distinct patterns of hyperpnea: positive, in which end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) remains at or above functional residual capacity (FRC), and negative, in which EELV falls below FRC. The increase in expiratory intrathoracic pressure generated by the latter should have effects on the heart analogous to external chest compression. Read More

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2019 Apr 4;7(4):e10874. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Expertise Center for Digital Media, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.

Background: Telerehabilitation approaches have been successful in supporting coronary artery disease (CAD) patients to rehabilitate at home after hospital-based rehabilitation. However, on completing a telerehabilitation program, the effects are not sustained beyond the intervention period because of the lack of lifestyle adaptations. Furthermore, decline in patients' motivation lead to recurrence of disease and increased rehospitalization rates. Read More

Acta Myol 2018 Dec 1;37(4):241-251. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy.

Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is characterized by progressive muscle weakness, respiratory muscle dysfunction, and minor cardiac involvement. Although in LOPD, as in other neuromuscular diseases, controlled low impact sub-maximal aerobic exercise and functional ability exercise can improve general functioning and quality of life, as well as respiratory rehabilitation, the bulk of evidence on that is weak and guidelines are lacking. To date, there is no specific focus on rehabilitation issues in clinical recommendations for the care of patients with Pompe disease, and standard practice predominantly follows general recommendation guidelines for neuromuscular diseases. Read More

J Gastrointest Surg 2019 Apr 2. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA.

Background: In a changing health care environment where patient outcomes will be more closely scrutinized, the ability to predict surgical complications is becoming increasingly important. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) online risk calculator is a popular tool to predict surgical risk. This paper aims to assess the applicability of the ACS NSQIP calculator to patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). Read More

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2019 Apr 2;16(1):30. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Division of Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4W7, Canada.

Background: With approximately 8 hours of one's waking day spent at work, occupational tasks and environments are important influencers on an individual's physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviours. Little research has compared device-measured physical activity, sedentary behaviour and cardiometabolic outcomes between occupational groups.

Objective: To compare device-measured movement (sedentary time [ST], light intensity physical activity [LPA], moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity [MVPA], and steps) across occupations. Read More

Khirurgiia (Mosk) 2019 (3):80-83

Research Institute 'Ochapovsky Regional Clinical Hospital #1', Krasnodar, Russia.

It is presented case report of minimally invasive surgical repair of chronic aortic dissection type A in a 61-year-old patient. Perspective minimally invasive surgical approach is suggested for this pathology in order to improve quality of life and rehabilitation after cardiac surgery. Surgical technique and features are comprehensively described. Read More

J Artif Organs 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

The Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama-City, 930-0194, Japan.

We recently experienced a 70-year-old woman with left main trunk-acute coronary syndrome who was initially supported by Impella 5.0 which converted to paracorporeal left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation as a bridge to recovery. Optimized guideline-directed medical therapy with cardiac rehabilitation resulted in successful explantation of LVAD and she discharged on foot. Read More

J Phys Ther Sci 2019 Mar 19;31(3):277-281. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Japan.

[Purpose] Heart failure has been identified as a risk factor for reduced physical function and falls; however, the impact of heart failure on functional recovery after a hip fracture is unclear. This study aimed to examine how heart failure and pre-fracture physical function affect recovery after a hip fracture. [Participants and Methods] The study population consisted of 122 patients with sub-acute hip fracture (mean age 81. Read More

Can J Cardiol 2019 Apr 14;35(4):382-388. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) intervention programs are currently not part of management in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We sought to determine the effect of CR compared with a specialized AF clinic (AFC) and usual care on outcomes in patients with AF.

Methods: This was a single-centre retrospective cohort study that was carried out using 3 databases: the Hearts in Motion database (2010-2014), prospectively collected data in an AFC (2011-2014), and a retrospective chart review for patients in usual care (2009-2012). Read More

J Clin Med 2019 Mar 25;8(3). Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.

This matched-control cohort study explored the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on left ventricle (LV) dimensions and survival in heart failure (HF) patients between 2009 and 2016. HF patients who underwent the multidisciplinary disease management program (MDP) were enrolled. Non-exercising participants, aged (mean (95% confidence interval)) 62. Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2019 Mar 14;121:188-196. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Kajetany, Poland.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of 24-h pharyngeal pH monitoring in the diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in children with voice disorders.

Methods: The study was conducted on 68 children aged 3-18 years old. In all cases, pH monitoring was successful; no child removed the probe from the nasal cavity or reported discomfort or other complaints. Read More