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05) but corticosteroid use was independently associated with VTE (HR 3.06, p = 0.007 for PE, HR 6.21, p less then 0.0001 for DVT). On logistic regression analysis, corticosteroid dose was found to be independently associated with both PE (p = 0.001) and DVT (p = 0.007). Optimal threshold for defining VTE risk with corticosteroid therapy was a prednisone-equivalent dose of 17.5 mg. In conclusion, contrary to previous studies, this current study found that neither sarcoidosis nor CS is an independent risk factor for VTE. Rather, corticosteroid therapy was associated with an increased risk of VTE.Radiation reduction in the pediatric cardiac catheterization laboratory is well-suited for targeted quality improvement (QI) interventions. check details Transcatheter atrial septal defect (ASD) closure was chosen for this QI project based on a homogenous procedural population and inter-operator variability in radiation usage, with the aim to reduce radiation exposure during ASD device closure by 50% over 1 year. The aim for this project was defined and a Key Driver Diagram (KDD) was created with three domains for change modification of procedural practice, reporting and monitoring/feedback, and team engagement. All patients undergoing attempted transcatheter ASD closure were considered for inclusion. The primary outcome, % reduction in median radiation dose (DAP/Kg), was determined through comparison with a historical cohort. Additional radiation metrics, procedural characteristics, and adverse events (AE) were compared to the historical cohort. Radiation exposure (DAP/kg) was reduced by 55% with a median dose reduction from 26 (15, 61) in a historical cohort to 12 (6, 22) in the intervention population (p less then 0.001). Fluoroscopy time and cine acquisition utilization significantly decreased. Procedure time, procedural success (defined as successful delivery of the device) and AE did not increase in the QI cohort. Successful practice changes included standardized procedural strategies to limit fluoroscopy and cine acquisition, improved fluoroscopic practice, engagement of the multidisciplinary team, and feedback with data reporting by electronic and in-person reminders. In conclusion, application of QI methodologies such as KDD with engagement of a multidisciplinary team can effectively reduce radiation in the pediatric catheterization laboratory.Considering that there is a lack of evidence and guideline-based recommendations on the best preoperative oral anticoagulation management (OAC) for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), this cohort study aimed to evaluate bleeding, access site complications, and early safety in patients undergoing TAVI on continued OAC therapy vs no-OAC therapy. Three-hundred forty-four patients submitted to a TAVI procedure (66.3% no-OAC vs 33.7% OAC) were consecutively enrolled. Primary endpoint was defined as in-hospital VARC-2 life-threatening or disabling bleeding. Secondary endpoints were in-hospital VARC-2 major vascular complications and VARC-2 early safety at 30 days. Propensity score matching analysis was performed to reduce potential distribution bias, resulting in 2 well-balanced groups (92 patients in each arm). In the overall cohort, mean age, median EuroScore II, and STS-score were 78.7±7.6 years, 2.9% (1.7-5.9), and 2.3% (1.6-3.6), respectively. Despite being older (78 ± 8 vs 80 ± 6, p = 0.004) and having higher STS score (2.1 vs 2.6, p = 0.001), patients on OAC had similar incidence of in-hospital VARC-2 life-threatening or disabling bleeding (1.3% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.711), major vascular complications (4.8% vs 5.2%, p = 0.888), and VARC-2 early safety at 30 days (10.1% vs 12.1%, p = 0.575). No significant differences in the main outcomes were observed when propensity score matching was applied. In conclusion, the management of patients on OAC submitted to a TAVI procedure is challenging and requires balancing the risk of bleeding with the risk of thromboembolic events. The present study suggests that continued OAC was not associated with increased in-hospital VARC-2 life-threatening or disabling bleeding, major vascular complications, and VARC-2 early safety at 30 days.The use of remote monitoring technology for cardiovascular electronic implantable devices has grown significantly in recent decades, yet several key questions remain about its integration into clinical care. We performed semi-structured interviews of patients, clinicians, and device clinic technicians involved in clinical remote monitoring of cardiovascular implantable devices at our institution. Twenty-eight interviews comprised of 15 patients and 13 clinicians were conducted from October 2019 through February 2020. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a mixed inductive and deductive approach. Perspectives among clinicians and patients varied regarding familiarity, educational experiences, and preferences regarding how remote monitoring data are handled. Three key domains emerged including knowledge and understanding, managing alerts, and cost transparency. Within these domains, key findings includedvery limited understanding of how remote monitoring functions and how alerts in particular are handled. These knowledge deficits (both patients and providers) appeared to arise in part from different equipment and platforms among manufacturers, the complexity of the technology, and lack of formalized education in remote monitoring. However, interviewees expressed generally high levels of trust in the technology and care systems supporting remote monitoring. Few respondents described concerns around cybersecurity, but patients in particular did raise concerns about cost transparency and frequent billing. In conclusion, conflicting perceptions around remote monitoring persist and indicate important knowledge gaps despite high trust in the care pathway. This qualitative analysis offers insight into patient and clinician understanding of and attitudes toward remote monitoring, and may guide future efforts to improve education and patient-centeredness of remote monitoring.Rodents are generally reluctant to consume high concentrations of alcohol. However, few experiments have reported the behavior of rats when they are given access to high alcohol concentrations. Four experiments with food-deprived Wistar rats were designed to determine whether 66% alcohol could be used as a positive reinforcer for operant responses. In Experiment 1, animals learned to lick an empty sipper to gain access to 66% alcohol in a second tube; licking extinguished after it if provided a only access to water (operant licking task, OL). Experiment 2 used the OL task combined with a progressive ratio (PR) schedule in a within-subject design with the order of alcohol concentrations counterbalanced across subjects. The breakpoint (the last completed ratio in the PR schedule) was higher for 10% and 66% alcohol concentrations than for water. In Experiment 3, animals trained in the same PR task gained access to water, 10%, or 66% alcohol in a between-subject design. Breakpoints were higher for 66% alcohol than for water, but not for 10% alcohol relative to water.