Effects of Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers on Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy - Animal studies have suggested that angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) can attenuate or reverse the progression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, while clinical...     

A Very Long-term Longitudinal Study on the Evolution and Clinical Outcomes of Persistent Iatrogenic Atrial Septal Defect After Cryoballoon Ablation

Background

Persistent iatrogenic atrial septal defect (iASD) is a common but poorly characterized complication after cryoballoon (CB) pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) procedures. We therefore investigate its prevalence, evolution, risk factors, and clinical outcomes in a prospective longitudinal study.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Organ Donation in Hong Kong: A Single-Center Observational Study

IntroductionThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was expected to have a negative impact on organ donation. With the differences in health care systems and lockdown policies in various regions, the pandemic's effect on organ donation and transplant service may vary. Most of the deceased donor organ referrals in our hospital came from non–intensive care units (ICUs). The objective of this study is to report our experience and quantify the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on deceased donor organ donation in our center.MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study comparing the deceased donor organ donation activity during the period January 23 to November 30, 2020 with the same period in 2018 in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong.ResultsThere was a 26.9% reduction in deceased donor organ donor referral in 2020 compared with 2018. No significant difference in the proportion of referrals from ICU or non-ICU areas between the 2 time periods was observed. The brain death confirmation rate was significantly higher in 2020 (40.8% vs 20.2%, P = .003). Nine patients had family consent for organ donation in 2020 (vs 7 patients in the same period in 2018). There were no significant differences in consent rate and number of recovered organs between the 2 periods.ConclusionsWith effective measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 in a community, it is possible to support the needs of both patients with COVID-19 and deceased donor organ donation services.     

Outcomes after neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy for cT2-4N0-1 non–small cell lung cancer: A propensity-matched analysis

Objective

Comparative survival between neoadjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with cT2-4N0-1M0 non–small cell lung cancer has not been extensively studied.

Development and pre/post testing of a decision aid supporting Chinese parental and young women’s HPV vaccination decision-making

ABSTRACT

We developed and tested the acceptability and utility of a novel HPV vaccination decision aid (DA) among Chinese young women aged 18–26 years and parents of adolescent girls aged 9–17 years. From March to May 2016, a total of 101 parents plus 109 young women completed baseline surveys assessing their HPV vaccination knowledge, decision self-efficacy, decision conflict, and HPV vaccination intention. Two weeks after receiving the DA, 84 (83.2%) parents and 92 (84.4%) young women completed re-assessments. Chi-square tests or t-tests were performed to compare the before-and-after differences. Cohen’s d was calculated to indicate the effect size. After reading the DA, both participating young women’s and parents’ knowledge of HPV vaccination (Cohen’s d = 0.62 among young women and d = 0.59 among parents) and decision self-efficacy (d = 0.38 among young women and d = 0.59 among parents) significantly increased. Both young women’s and parents’ decision conflict (d = ?0 · 98 and ?1.06) significantly decreased. The proportion of young women intending to receive HPV vaccination and parents deciding to vaccinate daughters against HPV significantly increased (p < 0 · 0001). The DA showed good acceptability and utility facilitating HPV vaccination decision-making for most Chinese young women and parents of adolescent girls. Further randomized controlled trials of this tool are essential.