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Journal and News Scan
August 29, 2019
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
An interesting meta-analysis discouraging perhaps the use of this KATP modulator, especially after surgical revascularization where optimization of serum potassium is generally sought.
August 27, 2019
Submitted by: Jessica Luc
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Heart and Vascular Center, through support from the National Institutes of Health and the Cardiothoracic Surgical Trials Network, announces a call for applications for the Dartmouth National Implementation Science Program (NISP) Scholar in cardiothoracic surgery – an innovative translational research program designed to train the next generation of clinical investigators. The program can be completed during residency and particularly seeks applications from women and underrepresented minorities. More information on the program and application materials can be found at: https://www.hvcresearch.com/implementation-science.html Applications are due by October 1, 2019.
August 26, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Using data from more than 3.3 million patients in the NCDR CathPCI Registry, researchers used machine learning to develop an algorithm that predicts post-PCI major bleeding with a C-statistic of 0.82.
August 25, 2019
Submitted by: Tom C. Nguyen
In an era of increased use of MitraClip, surgical mitral valve repair still offers a durable solution. Tirone David and colleages report 1,234 consecutive patients who had mitral valve repair with 20 year follow-up.
August 23, 2019
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
Zhang and colleagues examined serum biomarker levels in patients undergoing a lobectomy using video-assisted thoracic surgery. Among 626 patients, they found that preoperative serum LDH was an independent predictor of 90-day cardiopulmonary complications. The authors recommend including LDH measurements in the risk assessment process prior to major lung resection.
August 23, 2019
Submitted by: Emily Robinson
Egyud and colleagues evaluated plasma levels of circulating tumor (ct)DNA in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, ranging from stage I to stage IV. The quantity of ctDNA and likelihood of ctDNA detection was greater at later stages, suggesting that it may be challenging to use for early-stage diagnosis. However, changes in ctDNA levels were indicative of response to therapy and recurrence, and the authors conclude that they may serve as a dynamic biomarker to monitor a patient’s response to treatment.
August 23, 2019
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
Excellent and brief summary of the debate on functional mitral regurgitation on mechanical support.
August 22, 2019
Submitted by: Aristotle Protopapas
A robust RCT that denies association of nuclear CT-defined myocardial viability and long-term benefit from surgical coronary revascularisation. It is worth following the discussion this manuscript is certain to generate..
August 22, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
In this multiinstitutional retrospective study, administration of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with persistent nodal disease after induction therapy and esophagectomy was associated with improved survival.
August 22, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
This study of over 25,000 pts from the International Lung Cancer Consortium identified underweight and severly obese patients as having poorer survival than others, whereas a survival advantage was evident among patients who were overweight or mildly obese. Decreased BMI (wt loss) was associated with poorer outcomes across all BMI categories.