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BackgroundRotating and laser sheaths are both routinely used in transvenous lead extraction (TLE) which can lead to catastrophic complications including death. The efficacy and risk of each approach are uncertain. To perform a meta-analysis to compare success and mortality rates associated with rotating and laser sheaths.MethodsWe searched electronic academic databases for case series of consecutive patients and randomized controlled trials published 1998-2017 describing the use of rotating and laser sheaths for TLE. Among 48 studies identified, rotating sheaths included 1,094 patients with 1,955 leads in 14 studies, and laser sheaths included 7,775 patients with 12,339 leads in 34 studies. Patients receiving rotating sheaths were older (63 versus 60 years old) and were more often male (74% versus 72%); CRT-P/Ds were more commonly extracted using rotating sheaths (12% versus 7%), whereas ICDs were less common (37% versus 42%), p > 0.05 for all. Infection as an indication for lead extraction was higher in the rotating sheath group (59.8% versus 52.9%, p = 0.002). The mean time from initial lead implantation was 7.2 years for rotating sheaths and 6.3 years for laser sheaths (p > 0.05).ResultsSuccess rates for complete removal of transvenous leads were 95.1% in rotating sheaths and 93.4% in laser sheaths (p

Abstract In recent years considerable interest has been generated in a new approach known as resist–accept–direct, or RAD, for managing ecosystems in the face of climate change. Under RAD, strategic responses to climate change are described in terms of three broad categories: resisting climate transformation, accepting the transformation and continuing to manage as best one can, and directing the transformed system toward novel ecological conditions. In particular, the potential for integrating RAD and adaptive management has been broadly considered, though absent a decision‐making framework needed for implementation. We propose a hierarchical decision scheme for RAD that accounts for strategy selection among the three RAD options, as well as adaptive decision making within each option. We use stochastic models and uncertainties about ecosystem processes to account for the dynamics of climate‐transformed ecosystems, and show how these features can be used to inform RAD strategies. Operationally, the approach involves decisions at two levels: one level involves choosing a policy for each strategy, and the second level involves deciding which strategy has the greatest policy value. The structure described here extends recent work in climate change adaptation, by including Markovian decisions under climate change, strategy‐specific policies, and value functions for assessing and selecting RAD strategies. We provide a hierarchical accounting of decisions and responses, and develop rules for the timing of those decisions. Combining RAD and adaptive management can help to organize thinking about ecological conservation under climate change, and focus attention on mechanisms for making decisions. We believe the structure presented here can facilitate conservation efforts under the non‐stationary climate conditions we are sure to face for the foreseeable future.

Abstract Recycling plastic waste in construction applications is a common concept for innovative concrete development. Enormous studies have been conducted for the past three decades. Yet, there is a need in understanding the behavior of the plastic, its effects on cement composite, and the possible approaches for extending the usage of plastic waste to be an alternative resource component of cement composites. For the first section, the types of plastic and its characteristic as well as the overview on the plastic production and waste generated are discussed briefly. Further, the paper is focused on the relevant information on the plastic waste in cement composites and the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic as plastic aggregate in cement composites. The review also includes the factors that influence PVC aggregate on cement composites which are physical characteristics of PVC plastic aggregate, the effect on mechanical and permeation properties of cement composites. The paper also examines the possible approaches in improving the PVC plastic aggregate characteristics, which can enhance the usage of PVC plastic aggregate for sustainable construction material.

ObjectivesThis study sought to identify acute changes in human atrial electrophysiology during alcohol exposure.BackgroundThe mechanism by which a discrete episode of atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs remains unknown. Alcohol appears to increase the risk for AF, providing an opportunity to study electrophysiologic effects that may render the heart prone to arrhythmia.MethodsIn this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, intravenous alcohol titrated to 0.08% blood alcohol concentration was compared with a volume and osmolarity-matched, masked, placebo in patients undergoing AF ablation procedures. Right, left, and pulmonary vein atrial effective refractory periods (AERPs) and conduction times were measured pre- and post-infusion. Isoproterenol infusions and burst atrial pacing were used to assess AF inducibility.ResultsOf 100 participants (50 in each group), placebo recipients were more likely to be diabetic (22% vs. 4%; p = 0.007) and to have undergone a prior AF ablation (36% vs. 22%; p = 0.005). Pulmonary vein AERPs decreased an average of 12 ms (95% confidence interval: 1 to 22 ms; p = 0.026) in the alcohol group, with no change in the placebo group (p = 0.98). Whereas no statistically significant differences in continuously assessed AERPs were observed, the proportion of AERP sites tested that decreased with alcohol (median: 0.5; interquartile range: 0.6 to 0.6) was larger than with placebo (median: 0.4; interquartile range: 0.2 to 0.6; p = 0.0043). No statistically significant differences in conduction times or in the proportion with inducible AF were observed.ConclusionsAcute exposure to alcohol reduces AERP, particularly in the pulmonary veins. These data demonstrate a direct mechanistic link between alcohol, a common lifestyle exposure, and immediate proarrhythmic effects in human atria. (How Alcohol Induces Atrial Tachyarrhythmias Study [HOLIDAY]; NCT01996943).

Obesity is a significant public health concern, especially in the Deep South and in Mississippi where prevalence is among the worst in the nation paired, with other poor health outcomes and socioeconomic conditions. Lifestyle management programs that address modifiable risk factors, such as nutrition and physical activity, can be effective mitigation strategies to halt weight accumulation patterns and ameliorate metabolic risk factors for some populations. However, there is limited evidence regarding the implementation of effective practice models to address obesity risk in underserved and underrepresented populations, such as African Americans, and people in the stage of earlier adulthood. Furthermore, there is growing evidence supporting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle management programs that should be considered in these populations. The purpose of this manuscript was to describe the development and telehealth implementation of a weight management program during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide a preliminary examination of recruitment strategies and baseline characteristics for enrolled participants. Passive recruitment (social media, web, email, and other media advertisements) resulted in 157 screening initiations, and 79 of those participants met the study inclusion criteria. Further, of the 79 eligible participants, 38 completed all study enrollment requirements and presented with metabolic abnormalities. The study findings add to the emerging body of evidence for how the pandemic may have impacted lifestyle management programs and is representative of an understudied and underrepresented population.

Background: Prolonged heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval has been associated with incident cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in general Western populations. However, this association is unclear in Asian population. We aim to estimate the association between QTc interval and incident CVD in a general Chinese population. Methods: We analyzed 8,867 participants age ≥35 years and free of CVD at baseline in the Northeast China Rural Cardiovascular Health Study. A resting 12-lead electrocardiogram was performed on all participants, and QTc interval computed using the Framingham formula. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between QTc interval and incident stroke, coronary heart disease, and combined CVD events. Results: Over a median follow-up of 4.66 years, a total of 439 CVD events occurred (298 stroke cases and 152 CHD cases). After full adjustment, prolonged QTc defined by a sex-specific cutoff was associated with increased risk of developing stroke (HR: 1.82, 95% CI 1.20-2.75, P = 0.004) and combined CVD (HR: 1.52, 95% CI 1.05-2.19, P = 0.026). Spline analyses demonstrated no clear thresholds; when modeled as a linear relationship, each 10 ms increase of QTc interval was associated with an HR of 1.12 (95% CI 1.06-1.19, P < 0.001) for stroke and an HR of 1.10 (95% CI 1.05-1.15, P < 0.001) for combined CVD. Baseline QTc interval was not associated with incident CHD with either modeling strategy. Conclusions: Baseline QTc interval is associated with incident stroke and CVD in adults without prior CVD from a general Chinese population.

BackgroundVest Prevention of Early Sudden Death Trial did not demonstrate a significant reduction in arrhythmic death with the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD), but compliance with the device may have substantially affected the results. ThePletcher influence of WCD compliance on outcomes has not yet been fully evaluated.MethodsUsing linear and pooled logistic models, we performed as-treated analyses omitting person-time in the hospital and adjusted for correlates of WCD compliance. To assess the impact of early stopping of WCD, we performed a per-protocol Kaplan-Meier analysis, censoring after the last day the WCD was worn. Interactions of potential effect modifiers with treatment assignment and WCD compliance on outcomes were investigated. Finally, we used linear models to identify predictors of WCD compliance.ResultsA per-protocol analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in total (P

Abstract Conservation and management of biological systems involves decision‐making over time, with a generic goal of sustaining systems and their capacity to function in the future. We address four persistent and difficult conservation challenges: (1) prediction of future consequences of management, (2) uncertainty about the system's structure, (3) inability to observe ecological systems fully, and (4) nonstationary system dynamics. We describe these challenges in terms of dynamic systems subject to different sources of uncertainty, and we present a basic Markovian framework that can encompass approaches to all four challenges. Finding optimal conservation strategies for each challenge requires issue‐specific structural features, including adaptations of state transition models, uncertainty metrics, valuation of accumulated returns, and solution methods. Strategy valuation exhibits not only some remarkable similarities among approaches but also some important operational differences. Technical linkages among the models highlight synergies in solution approaches, as well as possibilities for combining them in particular conservation problems. As methodology and computing software advance, such an integrated conservation framework offers the potential to improve conservation outcomes with strategies to allocate management resources efficiently and avoid negative consequences.

Background Long-term corticosteroid therapy is the standard of care for treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). The efficacy of long-term corticosteroid-sparing immunosuppression in CS is unknown. The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of methotrexate with or without adalimumab for long-term disease suppression in CS, and to assess recurrence and adverse event rates after immunosuppression discontinuation. Methods and Results Retrospective chart review identified treatment-naive CS patients at a single academic medical center who received corticosteroid-sparing maintenance therapy. Demographics, cardiac uptake of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose, and adverse cardiac events were compared before and during treatment and between those with persistent or interrupted immunosuppression. Twenty-eight CS patients were followed for a mean 4.1 (SD 1.5) years. Twenty-five patients received 4 to 8 weeks of high-dose prednisone (>30 mg/day), followed by taper and maintenance therapy with methotrexate±low-dose prednisone (low-dose prednisone,

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common cutaneous disorder. Diet and metabolism, specifically glycemic content and dairy, influence hormones such as insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1, and androgens, which affect acnegenesis. Objective: To systematically review high-quality evidence regarding the association of dietary glycemic and dairy intake with acnegenesis. Methods: A comprehensive literature search, without timeline restriction, of MEDLINE (completed between October and November 2021) for English-language papers that examined the association between diet and acne was conducted. The evidence quality was assessed using the Ottawa quality assessment scale. Results: The literature search yielded 410 articles, of which 34 articles met the inclusion criteria. The literature on whether dairy product intake is associated with acnegenesis is mixed and may be dependent on sex, ethnicity, and cultural dietary habits. High glycemic index and increased daily glycemic load intake were positively associated with acnegenesis and acne severity, an observation supported by randomized controlled trials. Conclusion: High glycemic index, increased glycemic load, and carbohydrate intake have a modest yet significant proacnegenic effect. Increased dairy consumption may have been proacnegenic in select populations, such as those in which a Western diet is prevalent. The impact of diet on acnegenesis is likely dependent on sex and ethnicity. Further randomized trials are necessary to fully characterize the potential associations.

BackgroundDespite the high rate of sudden death after myocardial infarction among patients with a low ejection fraction, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators are contraindicated until 40 to 90 days after myocardial infarction. Whether a wearable cardioverter-defibrillator would reduce the incidence of sudden death during this high-risk period is unclear.MethodsWe randomly assigned (in a 2:1 ratio) patients with acute myocardial infarction and an ejection fraction of 35% or less to receive a wearable cardioverter-defibrillator plus guideline-directed therapy (the device group) or to receive only guideline-directed therapy (the control group). The primary outcome was the composite of sudden death or death from ventricular tachyarrhythmia at 90 days (arrhythmic death). Secondary outcomes included death from any cause and nonarrhythmic death.ResultsOf 2302 participants, 1524 were randomly assigned to the device group and 778 to the control group. Participants in the device group wore the device for a median of 18.0 hours per day (interquartile range, 3.8 to 22.7). Arrhythmic death occurred in 1.6% of the participants in the device group and in 2.4% of those in the control group (relative risk, 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37 to 1.21; P=0.18). Death from any cause occurred in 3.1% of the participants in the device group and in 4.9% of those in the control group (relative risk, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.98; uncorrected P=0.04), and nonarrhythmic death in 1.4% and 2.2%, respectively (relative risk, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.33 to 1.19; uncorrected P=0.15). Of the 48 participants in the device group who died, 12 were wearing the device at the time of death. A total of 20 participants in the device group (1.3%) received an appropriate shock, and 9 (0.6%) received an inappropriate shock.ConclusionsAmong patients with a recent myocardial infarction and an ejection fraction of 35% or less, the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator did not lead to a significantly lower rate of the primary outcome of arrhythmic death than control. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and Zoll Medical; VEST ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01446965 .).

BackgroundAtrial refractoriness may be an important determinant of atrial fibrillation (AF) risk, but its measurement is not clinically accessible. Because the QT interval predicts incident AF and the atrium and ventricle share repolarizing ion currents, we investigated the association between an individual's QT interval and atrial effective refractory period (AERP).MethodsIn paroxysmal AF patients presenting for catheter ablation, the QT interval was measured from the surface 12-lead electrocardiogram. The AERP was defined as the longest S1-S2 coupling interval without atrial capture using a 600-ms drive cycle length.ResultsIn 28 patients, there was a positive correlation between QTc and mean AERP. After multivariate adjustment, a 1-ms increase in QTc predicted a 0.70-ms increase in AERP.ConclusionsThe QTc interval reflects the AERP, suggesting that the QTc interval may be used as a marker of atrial refractoriness relevant to assessing AF risk and mechanism-specific therapeutic strategies.

Background: Transvenous lead extraction (TLE) plays a critical role in managing patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices. Mechanical TLE tools, including rotational sheaths, are used to overcome fibrosis and calcification surrounding leads. Prospective clinical data are limited regarding the safety and effectiveness of use of mechanical TLE devices, especially rotational tools. Objective: To prospectively investigate the safety and effectiveness of mechanical TLE in real-world usage. Methods: Patients were enrolled at 10 sites in the United States and Europe to evaluate the use of mechanical TLE devices. Clinical success, complete procedural success, and complications were evaluated through follow-up (median, 29 days). Patient data were source verified and complications were adjudicated by an independent clinical events committee (CEC). Results: Between October 2018 and January 2020, mechanical TLE tools, including rotational sheaths, were used to extract 460 leads with a median indwell time of 7.4 years from 230 patients (mean age 64.3 ± 14.4 years). Noninfectious indications for TLE were more common than infectious indications (61.5% vs 38.5%, respectively). The extracted leads included 305 pacemaker leads (66.3%) and 155 implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads (33.7%), including 85 leads with passive fixation (18.5%). A bidirectional rotational sheath was needed for 368 leads (88.0%). Clinical success was obtained in 98.7% of procedures; complete procedural success was achieved for 96.3% of leads. CEC-adjudicated device-related major complications occurred in 6 of 230 (2.6%) procedures. No isolated superior vena cava injury or procedural death occurred. Conclusion: This prospective clinical study demonstrates that use of mechanical TLE tools, especially bidirectional rotational sheaths, are effective and safe.

Virulent Enterobacterale strains expressing serine and metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) genes have emerged responsible for conferring resistance to hard-to-treat infectious diseases. One strategy that exists is to develop β-lactamase inhibitors to counter this resistance. Currently, serine β-lactamase inhibitors (SBLIs) are in therapeutic use. However, an urgent global need for clinical metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors (MBLIs) has become dire. To address this problem, this study evaluated BP2, a novel beta-lactam-derived β-lactamase inhibitor, co-administered with meropenem. According to the antimicrobial susceptibility results, BP2 potentiates the synergistic activity of meropenem to a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ≤1 mg/L. In addition, BP2 is bactericidal over 24 h and safe to administer at the selected concentrations. Enzyme inhibition kinetics showed that BP2 had an apparent inhibitory constant (Kiapp) of 35.3 µM and 30.9 µM against New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM-1) and Verona Integron-encoded Metallo-β-lactamase (VIM-2), respectively. BP2 did not interact with glyoxylase II enzyme up to 500 µM, indicating specific (MBL) binding. In a murine infection model, BP2 co-administered with meropenem was efficacious, observed by the >3 log10 reduction in K. pneumoniae NDM cfu/thigh. Given the promising pre-clinical results, BP2 is a suitable candidate for further research and development as an (MBLI).

Salmonella Typhimurium, a zoonotic and foodborne pathogen, has experienced a surge in antibiotic resistance, contributing to a global public health crisis. In response to this crisis, the isolation and studying of bacteriophages has gained significance as an alternative biological control and/or treatment modalities in combating these bacterial pathogens. This study reports the isolation of Salmonella bacteriophages from wastewater at the treatment plant in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. MBBL_B and MBBL_S, two Salmonella Typhimurium bacteriophages, were isolated and their host range was tested against eight serovars. The results showcase two isolated bacteriophages from the class Caudoviricetes with the ability to infect various serovars of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica, including Typhimurium, Tennessee, Lexington, Havana, and Heidelberg, highlighting the potential use of bacteriophages for biocontrol of foodborne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundPersistent severe left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with increased mortality and is a class I indication for implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator.ObjectivesThis study developed models and assessed independent predictors of LV recovery to >35% and ≥50% after 90-day follow-up in patients presenting with acute MI and severe LV dysfunction.MethodsOur multicenter prospective observational study enrolled participants with ejection fraction (EF) of ≤35% at the time of MI (n = 231). Predictors for EF recovery to >35% and ≥50% were identified after multivariate modeling and validated in a separate cohort (n = 236).ResultsIn the PREDICTS (PREDiction of ICd Treatment Study) study, 43% of patients had persistent EF ≤35%, 31% had an EF of 36% to 49%, and 26% had an EF ≥50%. The model that best predicted recovery of EF to >35% included EF at presentation, length of stay, prior MI, lateral wall motion abnormality at presentation, and peak troponin. The model that best predicted recovery of EF to ≥50% included EF at presentation, peak troponin, prior MI, and presentation with ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest. After predictors were transformed into point scores, the lowest point scores predicted a 9% and 4% probability of EF recovery to >35% and ≥50%, respectively, whereas profiles with the highest point scores predicted an 87% and 49% probability of EF recovery to >35% and ≥50%, respectively.ConclusionsIn patients with severe systolic dysfunction following acute MI with an EF ≤35%, 57% had EF recovery to >35%. A model using clinical variables present at the time of MI can help predict EF recovery.

Background: Prolonged heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval has been associated with incident cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in general Western populations. However, this association is unclear in Asian population. We aim to estimate the association between QTc interval and incident CVD in a general Chinese population.Methods: We analyzed 8,867 participants age ≥35 years and free of CVD at baseline in the Northeast China Rural Cardiovascular Health Study. A resting 12-lead electrocardiogram was performed on all participants, and QTc interval computed using the Framingham formula. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between QTc interval and incident stroke, coronary heart disease, and combined CVD events.Results: Over a median follow-up of 4.66 years, a total of 439 CVD events occurred (298 stroke cases and 152 CHD cases). After full adjustment, prolonged QTc defined by a sex-specific cutoff was associated with increased risk of developing stroke (HR: 1.82, 95% CI 1.20–2.75, P = 0.004) and combined CVD (HR: 1.52, 95% CI 1.05–2.19, P = 0.026). Spline analyses demonstrated no clear thresholds; when modeled as a linear relationship, each 10 ms increase of QTc interval was associated with an HR of 1.12 (95% CI 1.06–1.19, P < 0.001) for stroke and an HR of 1.10 (95% CI 1.05–1.15, P < 0.001) for combined CVD. Baseline QTc interval was not associated with incident CHD with either modeling strategy.Conclusions: Baseline QTc interval is associated with incident stroke and CVD in adults without prior CVD from a general Chinese population.