Introduction: There exists variability in the administration of in-patient sotalol therapy for symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). The impact of this variability on patient in-hospital and 30-day posthospitalization costs and outcomes is not known. Also, the cost impact of intravenous sotalol, which can accelerate drug loading to therapeutic levels, is unknown.Methods: One hundred and thirty-three AF patients admitted for oral sotalol initiation at an Intermountain Healthcare Hospital from January 2017 to December 2018 were included. Patient and dosing characteristics were described descriptively and the impact of dosing schedule was correlated with daily hospital costs/ clinical outcomes during the index hospitalization and for 30 days. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reimbursement for 3-day sotalol initiation is $9263.51. Projections of cost savings were made considering a 1-day load using intravenous sotalol that costs $2500.00 to administer. Results:The average age was 70.3 ± 12.3 years and 60.2% were male with comorbidities of hypertension (83%), diabetes (36%), and coronary artery disease (53%). The mean ejection fraction was 59.9 ± 7.8% and the median corrected QT interval was 453.7 ± 37.6 ms before sotalol dosing. No ventricular arrhythmias developed, but bradycardia (<60 bpm) was observed in 37.6% of patients. The average length of stay was 3.9 ± 4.6 (median: 2.2) days. Postdischarge outcomes and rehospitalization rates stratified by length of stay were similar. The cost per

Background Circulating plasma ceramides, a class of bioactive sphingolipids, are elevated in metabolic disorders, including obesity. Infants of women with these disorders are at 2‐ to 3‐fold greater risk for developing a neural tube defect (NTD). This study aimed to test the effects of embryonic exposure to C2‐ceramides (C2) during neural tube closure. Preliminary data shows an increase in NTDs in chick embryos after C2 exposure, and addresses potential mechanisms. Results Cell and embryo models were used to examine redox shifts after ceramide exposure. While undifferentiated P19 cells were resistant to ceramide exposure, neuronally differentiated P19 cells exhibited an oxidizing shift. Consistent with these observations, GSH E h curves revealed a shift to a more oxidized state in C2 treated embryos without increasing apoptosis or changing Pax3 expression, however cell proliferation was lower. Neural tube defects were observed in 45% of chick embryos exposed to C2, compared to 12% in control embryos. Conclusions C2 exposure during critical developmental stages increased the frequency of NTDs in the avian model. Increased ROS generation in cell culture, along with the more oxidative GSH E h profiles of C2 exposed cells and embryos, support a model wherein ceramide affects neural tube closure via altered tissue redox environments.

Objective To identify predictors of 30‐day all‐cause mortality for patients with cardiogenic shock secondary to acute coronary syndrome (ACS‐CS) who require short‐term mechanical circulatory support (ST‐MCS). Background ACS‐CS mortality is high. ST‐MCS is an attractive treatment option for hemodynamic support and stabilization of deteriorating patients. Mortality prediction modeling for ACS‐CS patients requiring ST‐MCS has not been well‐defined. Methods The Utah Cardiac Recovery (UCAR) Shock database was used to identify patients admitted with ACS‐CS requiring ST‐MCS devices between May 2008 and August 2018. Pre‐ST‐MCS clinical, laboratory, echocardiographic, and angiographic data were collected. The primary endpoint was 30‐day all‐cause mortality. A weighted score comprising of pre‐ST‐MCS variables independently associated with 30‐day all‐cause mortality was derived and internally validated. Results A total of 159 patients (mean age, 61 years; 78% male) were included. Thirty‐day all‐cause mortality was 49%. Multivariable analysis resulted in four independent predictors of 30‐day all‐cause mortality: age, lactate, SCAI CS classification, and acute kidney injury. The model had good calibration and discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve 0.80). A predictive score (ranging 0–4) comprised of age ≥ 60 years, pre‐ST‐MCS lactate ≥2.5 mmol/L, AKI at time of ST‐MCS implementation, and SCAI CS stage E effectively risk stratified our patient population. Conclusion The ACS‐MCS score is a simple and practical predictive score to risk‐stratify CS secondary to ACS patients based on their mortality risk. Effective mortality risk assessment for ACS‐CS patients could have implications on patient selection for available therapeutic strategy options.

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