Byskovlundgaard9145

The paretic biceps brachii had ∼8,200 fewer serial sarcomeres and ∼2 cm2 smaller PCSA on average than the contralateral limb (both P less then 0.0001). This was manifested by substantially smaller muscle volumes (112 versus 163 cm3), significantly shorter fascicles (11.0 versus 14.0 cm; P less then 0.0001), and comparable sarcomere lengths (3.55 versus 3.59 μm; P = 0.6151) between limbs. Most notably, this study provides direct evidence of the loss of serial sarcomeres in human muscle observed in a population with neural impairments that lead to disuse and chronically place the affected muscle at a shortened position. This adaptation is consistent with functional consequences (increased passive resistance to elbow extension) that would amplify already problematic, neurally driven motor impairments.

Studying variability in the care provided to secondary prevention coronary heart disease (CHD) outpatients can identify interventions to improve their outcomes.

We studied outpatients who had an index CHD event in the preceding 6-24 months. Eligible CHD events included acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and coronary revascularisation for stable chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). Site training was provided by a core team and data were collected using standardised methods.

Between 2017 and 2019, we enrolled 721 outpatients at nine Irish study sites; 81% were men and mean age was 63.9 (SD ±8.9) years. The study examination occurred a median of 1.16 years after the index CHD event, which was ACS in 399 participants (55%) and stable-CCS in 322. On examination, 42.5% had blood pressure (BP) >140/90 mm Hg, 63.7% had low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) >1.8 mmol/L and 44.1% of known diabetics had an HbA1c >7%. There was marked variability in risk factor control, both by study site and, in particular, ferences in outpatient risk factor control and management on the basis of hospital location and index CHD presentation type (acute vs chronic). These findings highlight the need to reduce hospital-level and patient-level variability in preventive care to improve outcomes; a lesson that should inform CHD prevention programmes in Ireland and around the world.

The purpose of this study was to develop a non-invasive and convenient nomogram based on speckle tracking echocardiography, left atrial appendage function and clinical factors to predict the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation.

A total of 124 prospectively consecutive patients with AF treated with catheter ablation in our hospital was retrospectively analysis. Baseline echocardiographic parameters were measured by using transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography before ablation. Multivariate analysis was performed for selecting predictors for a nomogram and internal validation and calibration were evaluated by the bootstep method.

During the follow-up of 12±3 months, 41 patients (33.1%) occurred AF recurrence after catheter ablation, while 83 patients (66.9%) had maintained sinus rhythm. Four predictors (AF type, left atrial appendage emptying flow velocity, left Atrial maximal volumes index and global longitudinal strain) with the P<0.5 was selected into the nomogram according to multivariate findings. Internal validation by bootstrapping with 1000 resamples was determined C-index of the nomogram for prediction AF recurrence was 0.901, which showed optimal discrimination and calibration of the established nomogram.

Nomogram based on echocardiography and clinical characteristics had good predictive performance for the possibility of AF recurrence, which providing practical guidance for individualised management of patients with AF after catheter ablation.

Nomogram based on echocardiography and clinical characteristics had good predictive performance for the possibility of AF recurrence, which providing practical guidance for individualised management of patients with AF after catheter ablation.

Diagnosing peripheral lung cancer with the bronchoscope is challenging with near miss of the target lesion as major obstacle. Needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE) enables real-time microscopic tumour visualisation at the needle tip (smart needle).

To investigate feasibility and safety of bronchoscopic nCLE imaging of suspected peripheral lung cancer and to assess whether nCLE imaging allows real-time discrimination between malignancy and airway/lung parenchyma.

Patients with suspected peripheral lung cancer based on (positron emission tomography-)CT scan underwent radial endobronchial ultrasound (rEBUS) and fluoroscopy-guided flexible bronchoscopy. After rEBUS lesion detection, an 18G needle loaded with the CLE probe was inserted in the selected airway under fluoroscopic guidance. The nCLE videos were obtained at the needle tip, followed by aspirates and biopsies. The nCLE videos were reviewed and compared with the cytopathology of the corresponding puncture and final diagnosis. Five blindended raters accurately distinguished nCLE videos of lung cancer from airway/lung parenchyma, showing the potential of nCLE imaging as real-time guidance tool.

Recent studies have revealed that the lung microbiota of critically ill patients is altered and predicts clinical outcomes. The incidence of invasive fungal infections, namely, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), in immunocompromised patients is increasing, but the clinical significance of variations in lung bacterial communities is unknown.

To define the contribution of the lung microbiota to the development and course of IPA.

We performed an observational cohort study to characterise the lung microbiota in 104 immunocompromised patients using bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing on bronchoalveolar lavage samples sampled on clinical suspicion of infection. Associations between lung dysbiosis in IPA and pulmonary immunity were evaluated by quantifying alveolar cytokines and chemokines and immune cells. find protocol The contribution of microbial signatures to patient outcome was assessed by estimating overall survival.

Patients diagnosed with IPA displayed a decreased alpha diversity, driven by a markedly increased abundance of the

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