Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Francisco Pozo-Martin, James Akazili, Reina Der, Amos Laar, Alma J. Adler, Peter Lamptey, Ulla K. Griffiths, Anna Vassall
Summary: The cost-effectiveness analysis of the Community-based Hypertension Improvement Project (ComHIP) in Ghana showed that the intervention may not be cost-effective, with high costs per disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) averted under both current and full local implementation scenarios. The results suggest that the societal costs of ensuring appropriate hypertension care through ComHIP are high and may not produce sufficient impact for cost-effective implementation. The effectiveness estimates are limited by the quality of evidence, which is based on observational data rather than randomized controlled studies.
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Dominique M. Bovee, Liwei Ren, Estrellita Uijl, Marian C. Clahsen-van Groningen, Richard van Veghel, Ingrid M. Garrelds, Oliver Domenig, Marko Poglitsch, Ivan Zlatev, Jae B. Kim, Stephen Huang, Lauren Melton, Xifeng Lu, Ewout J. Hoorn, Don Foster, A. H. Jan Danser
Summary: AGT siRNA demonstrates blood pressure-lowering and renal protective effects in hypertensive chronic kidney disease, independently of blood pressure, mainly through suppression of renal Ang II formation from liver-derived AGT.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mar Gil, Lareen Khouri, Imma Raurell, Diana Rafael, Fernanda Andrade, Ibane Abasolo, Simo Schwartz, Maria Martinez-Gomez, Maria Teresa Salcedo, Juan Manuel Pericas, Diana Hide, Mingxing Wei, Norman Metanis, Joan Genesca, Maria Martell
Summary: In this study, functionalized polymeric micelles (FPMs) loaded with simvastatin were developed as a drug delivery system to target liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) and preserve liver function in chronic liver disease (CLD). The functionalized micelles showed greater in vivo internalization in LSECs compared to non-functionalized micelles. Treatment with FPM-Sim reduced toxicity and moderately lowered portal pressure in bile duct ligation (BDL) rats. In a less severe model of TAA-induced cirrhosis, treatment with FPM-CD32b-Sim significantly decreased portal pressure, reduced liver fibrosis, and stimulated nitric oxide synthesis.
Article
Surgery
Alexis Colley, Joseph Lin, Logan Pierce, Christopher Johnson, Tasce Bongiovanni, Emily Finlayson, Rebecca Sudore, Elizabeth C. Wick
Summary: Advance care planning is critical for surgical patients who may lose their ability to communicate preferences. A quality improvement project was conducted to increase the completion of inpatient advance care planning notes. The project resulted in increased documentation, but progress was slow and integration into standard work was not achieved. Future efforts should focus on understanding workflow integration and providing inclusive educational programming.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kyohei Daigo, Yoshinori Katsumata, Kosho Esaki, Yuji Iwasawa, Genki Ichihara, Kotaro Miura, Kohsuke Shirakawa, Yasunori Sato, Kazuki Sato, Keiichi Fukuda
Summary: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) improves exercise tolerance and hemodynamic parameters in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. This study retrospectively analyzed 126 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension who underwent BPA and found that young age, tall height, high mean pulmonary artery pressure, short 6-minute walk distance at baseline, and high lung capacity at baseline were significant predictors of the improvement in exercise tolerance after BPA.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Olga Berillo, Ku-Geng Huo, Chantal Richer, Julio C. Fraulob-Aquino, Marie Briet, Mark L. Lipman, Daniel Sinnett, Pierre Paradis, Ernesto L. Schiffrin
Summary: A distinct transcriptomic profile was observed in gluteal subcutaneous small arteries of hypertensive patients with CKD. Down-regulated miR-338-3p could contribute to GPX3 and PTPRS up-regulation via the canonical microRNA targeting machinery in hypertensive patients with CKD.
JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Thomas L. Sutton, Kristin C. Potter, Skye C. Mayo, Rodney Pommier, Erin W. Gilbert, Brett C. Sheppard
Summary: This study analyzed the complications of distal pancreatectomy (DP) and radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) surgery and found that both methods had similar complication risks. Therefore, routine use of RAMPS is encouraged in pancreatic malignancies.
WORLD JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Patrick Schneider, Allison Lorenz, Michelle C. Menegay, Stephen Afflitto, Emily Lamb, Nancy Cossler, Kamilah Dixon, Kelly S. Gibson, Carole Lannon, Sandy Fuller, Susan Ford, Reena Oza-Frank, Ryan Everett, Justin R. Lappen
Summary: This study aimed to report the first year of data from the Maternal Safety Quality Improvement Project in Ohio, which showed meaningful changes in the identification and treatment of severe hypertension in pregnancy and the postpartum period. The project achieved improvements in process measures across all hospital levels of maternal care, and differences were not observed by race or ethnicity.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY MFM
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Raphael Braz Levigard, Henrique Salas, Henrique Serrao, Felipe Diniz, Cristiane Alves Villela Nogueira, Alicia Araujo de Oliveira, Nathalie Carvalho Leite, Marcia Ladeira, Maria Chiara Chindamo, Gustavo Pereira
Summary: This retrospective study evaluated the improvement in liver function and volume after percutaneous recanalization of chronic portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in non-cirrhotic patients. The results showed that after a mean of 12.6 months, all participants had patent portal veins and complete resolution of portal hypertension symptoms. There was a significant increase in liver volume, platelet count, and a significant decrease in total bilirubin levels. This study provides a new and promising approach for the treatment of chronic PVT.
CARDIOVASCULAR AND INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Edgar R. Miller, Haitham A. Alzahrani, Daniel S. Bregaglio, Jon K. Christensen, Sarah L. Palmer, Fawaz H. Alsharif, Ashwaq S. Matroud, Kanaan A. Kanaani, Tamara J. Sunbul, Jasintha D'almeida, Sinead Morrissey, Margaret Crockford, Selva N. Rajanayagam, Ahlam A. Sarhan, Wafa H. Azmi, Anna R. Miller, Elizabeth A. Vrany, Shahed Al Natour, Arlene T. Dalcin, Mohammed J. Ghamdi, Lawrence J. Appel
Summary: The study shows that a video-assisted, web-based diet and lifestyle intervention as a support tool for hypertension management demonstrated high participation and return rates for reassessment of blood pressure. This low-cost, automated intervention may have great potential as a scalable tool for blood pressure management, but further randomized trials are needed to fully assess its effectiveness.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Shari D. Bolen, Siran Koroukian, Jackson T. Wright, Harry Persaud, Douglas Einstadter, Jordan Fiegl, Adam T. Perzynski, Douglas Gunzler, Catherine Sullivan, Jonathan Lever, Michael Konstan, Dushka Crane, Allison Lorenz, Michelle Menegay, Doug Spence, Arun RajanBabu, Wendy Groznik, Tonni Oberly, Xiaokun Qian, Christopher R. Jordan, Phyllis Virgil, Sinead Yarberry, Emily Saunders, Alice M. Teall, Joyce Zurmehly, Melissa Nance, Stephen Albanese, Donald Wharton, Mary S. Applegate
Summary: This study aimed to improve blood pressure control among economically disadvantaged populations by establishing a statewide quality improvement infrastructure. By implementing evidence-based strategies and focusing on medication supply and outreach, the percentage of participants with controlled blood pressure increased significantly.
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Anika Vaidy, Paul Forfia, Jeremy Mazurek, Anjali Vaidya
Summary: A 66-year-old man with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension showed significant improvement in his condition after receiving medical therapy and undergoing bariatric surgery, resulting in weight loss, normal cardiac function, and improved exercise capacity.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Mitchell McManis, Tara O'Brien, Joyce Zurmehly, Laureen Smith
Summary: Over 29% of the adult population in the United States are diagnosed with hypertension, and rates are significantly higher in those adults who live in rural areas. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if using a mobile phone-based health application called Medisafe could enhance medication adherence and improve blood pressure control in rural-dwelling adults. The findings from this quality improvement project suggest the Medisafe application is useful to enhance medication adherence and blood pressure control. Future research and quality improvement initiatives are necessary to determine the broader efficacy of phone-based health applications in the rural adult population.
CIN-COMPUTERS INFORMATICS NURSING
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Monica Y. Choe, Brigit VanGraafeiland, Alyssa Parian
Summary: Implementing a new appointment scheduling protocol can potentially reduce hospital readmissions among patients with inflammatory bowel disease, although further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to assess its efficacy.
GASTROENTEROLOGY NURSING
(2021)
Article
Respiratory System
Xiao Rui Catherine Chen, Sau Nga Fu, Wing Kit Leung, Sze Wing Catherine Ng, Wing Yan Wendy Kwan, Tseng Kwong Wong, Pang Fai Chan, Man Ying Michelle Wong, Wai Kit Welchie Ko, Jun Liang, Ming Tung Eric Hui, Yim Chu Li, Wan Luk, V. K. David Chao
Summary: Through a two-phase clinical audit in Hong Kong, the quality of COPD management in primary care was significantly enhanced. By implementing quality improvement strategies, the performance on all audit criteria was improved, leading to a marked reduction in the rate of hospital admissions due to acute exacerbation of COPD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE
(2021)
