We present results regarding the dependence and direct/indirect n

We present results regarding the dependence and direct/indirect nature of the bandgap on wire diameter and uniaxial strain as well as the ballistic conductance and effective mass. As a result of practical interest, we have found that the largest ballistic electron conductance occurs for compressively strained large-diameter [001] wires while the smallest transport electron effective mass is found for larger-diameter [110] wires under tensile stress. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3615942]“
“Purpose: To investigate sensitivity, specificity, and cancer detection rate AZD1208 manufacturer of screening mammography

according to week of menstrual cycle among premenopausal women.

Materials and Methods: In this institutional review board-approved HIPAA-compliant study, sensitivity, specificity, and cancer

detection rate of 387 218 screening mammograms linked to 1283 breast cancers in premenopausal women according to week of menstrual cycle were studied by using prospectively collected FG 4592 information from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium. Logistic regression analysis was used to test for differences in mammography performance according to week of menstrual cycle, adjusting for age and registry.

Results: Overall, screening mammography performance did not differ according to week of menstrual cycle. However, when analyses were subdivided according to prior mammography, different patterns emerged. For the 66.6% of women who had undergone regular screening (mammography had been performed within the past 2 years), sensitivity was higher in week 1 (79.5%) than in subsequent weeks (week 2, 70.3%; week 3, 67.4%; week 4, 73.0%; P = .041). In the 17.8% of women who underwent mammography for the first time in this study, sensitivity tended to be lower during the follicular

phase (week 1, 72.1%; week 2, 80.4%; week 3, 84.6%; week 4, 93.8%; P = .051). Sensitivity did not vary significantly by week in menstrual cycle in women who had undergone mammography more than 3 years earlier. There were no clinically meaningful differences in specificity selleck chemical or cancer detection rate.

Conclusion: Premenopausal women who undergo regular screening may benefit from higher sensitivity of mammography if they schedule screening mammography during the 1st week of their menstrual cycle. (C)RSNA, 2010 Supplemental material: http://radiology.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.10100974/-/DC1″
“A Bayesian threshold model was fitted to analyze the genetic parameters for farrowing mortality at the piglet level in Large White, Landrace, and Pietrain populations. Field data were collected between 1999 and 2006. They were provided by 3 pig selection nucleus farms of a commercial breeding company registered in the Spanish Pig Data Bank (BDporc).

High levels of intratesticular androgens are required for normal

High levels of intratesticular androgens are required for normal spermatogenesis in men. However, the quantitative relationship between intratesticular testosterone concentrations and male fertility is not fully understood. In the setting of impaired spermatogenesis, intratesticular

metabolites of testosterone may play a role in initiating or maintaining fertility.

Summary

Advances in the precision of androgen measurements and recent studies examining intratesticular responses to hormonal manipulation have advanced learn more our understanding of the testicular microenvironment. These advances have set the stage for future studies in this area which will be important for moving forward male hormonal contraceptive development and furthering our understanding of male reproductive pathology. Whether ‘gonadotropin-independent’ intratesticular

androgen synthesis plays a role in human spermatogenesis will likely be a focus of investigation in the coming years.”
“OBJECTIVE: Abnormal myelopoiesis especially the expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) is increasingly recognized as an important reason for the escape of tumor from immune surveillance. This study aims to investigate the role of this specific population of cells in oral cancer progression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 4-Nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) was used to induce oral cancer in C57BL/6 mice. The tongue mucosa was examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The distribution of MDSCs this website in the spleen and peripheral blood and T cell subsets in the spleen was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression Copanlisib inhibitor of MDSCs in the tongue tissues was investigated

by immunohistochemical staining, and the expression of arginase-1 (ARG-1) and NOS-2 in the tongue tissues was detected by real-time PCR.

RESULTS: We found that during tumor progression, significantly increased frequency of MDSCs was observed in the spleens and peripheral blood of 4NQO-treated mice, and the frequency of MDSCs in the spleens was positively correlated with systemic CD3(+)CD8(+) T cells. Moreover, 4NQO-treated mice showed significantly higher MDSCs infiltration and ARG-1 mRNA level in the tumor site.

CONCLUSIONS: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells contribute to oral tumor progression and represent a potential target for immunotherapy of oral cancer.”
“Angiosarcomas involving the head and neck are malignant tumors which tend to involve multiple anatomical structures with an overall dismal prognosis. Reports of primary, isolated eyelid involvement are rare. We report 4 cases of angiosarcoma involving the eyelid as either an isolated tumor or as part of a more diffuse malignant process and compare the features of these 2 tumor types to cases reported in the literature. The mean age at which patients develop angiosarcoma involving the eyelid was 72. Patients with isolated tumors most often presented complaining of a discrete mass clinically resembling a stye.

398, p = 0 029) and the left atrium size (r = -0 395, p = 0 031),

398, p = 0.029) and the left atrium size (r = -0.395, p = 0.031), whereas the pulmonary artery size had a statistically positive correlation with effective resistance (r = 0.416, p = 0.022) and specific effective resistance (r = 0.604, p = 0.0001). Surgical correction Alvocidib manufacturer of left-to-right shunt congenital heart diseases had a positive

impact on lung compliance, airway resistance, and FRC. Noninvasive echocardiographic parameters assessing pulmonary vascular engorgement and pulmonary artery pressure were closely related to these infant pulmonary function test indexes.”
“7-Enthyl-4′-phenylsulfonyldaidzein (EPD 3), a potential prodrug for daidzein 1, was synthesized in high yield and its crystal structure was reported firstly. It possesses better physical and chemical properties such as solubility, lipid/water partition coefficient LogP, and hydrolysis kinetics than its original form. The LogP value (3.07) and the half-life of the hydrolysis value (24.06 h) show that its oral bioavailability is possibly improved evidently compared with that of daidzein. These results indicate that EPD can be considered a potential prodrug for daidzein.”
“Extra-nodal natural killer T-Cell (NK/T-cell) lymphoma

is a progressive cancer with poor prognosis due to the lack of disease specific treatment. To develop Selleck Navitoclax specific therapeutic strategies, it is essential to identify tumor markers. Recent studies show that circulating microRNA (miRNA) may serve as diagnostic and/or prognostic markers for some diseases. To explore miRNAs as potential diagnostic and/or prognostic markers of NK/T-cell lymphoma, in our study, we compared BTK inhibitor circulating miR-221 levels in 79 patients and 37 normal subjects by real-time PCR amplification directly from plasma samples, and correlated patient’s miR-221 levels with their clinic features and treatment outcomes. We observed a significant difference between the patient and control groups (p = 0.038), and a correlation of plasma miR-221 level in patient with sex, as well as a reverse correlation with performance status and the overall survival after treatment. Univariate and multivariate analyses further revealed that plasma miR-221 level,

age, B symptoms, LDH level and complete response after primary treatment all present prognostic values when judged by overall survival (OS). Together, our results show that it is feasible to perform direct amplification of plasma miRNAs without total RNA extraction, and plasma miR-221 may be a diagnostic and prognostic marker for NK/T-cell lymphoma.”
“Fifty compounds in the essential oil of the flowers were identified by capillary GC and GC/MS, the most abundant of which were 2-phenylethanol (29.8 %), (E)-2-hexenal (11.8 %) and benzyl alcohol (10.4 %). The flower volatile oil was tested for antibacterial activity using the micro-dilution antibacterial assay, and anti-inflammatory activity using the cyclooxygenase inhibitory screening assay.

Results: The number of cyclin D1 and E2F-positive cells decreased

Results: The number of cyclin D1 and E2F-positive cells decreased nonsignificantly parallel to days in the 1st group, whereas there was a statistically significant decrease in the 2nd group for the same cells. The p53-positive cells in groups 1c and 2c were increased significantly.

Conclusions: Further studies

on the effects of retinoids on spermatogenesis should be conducted. It may be wise to administer contraception to male patients, especially during high-dose and long-term retinoid therapy.”
“Cold agglutinin disease although rare, can lead to serious complications for patients undergoing cardio-thoracic surgery, especially when cardiopulmonary bypass is SNX-5422 applied under hypothermic circulatory arrest. We describe normothermic total arch replacement without hypothermic circulatory arrest in a patient with cold agglutinin disease. The patient tolerated all procedures well and did not develop cerebral ischemia due to surgical maneuvers or thrombotic or haemolytic complications due to cold agglutinin disease. Although endovascular aortic repair is the first choice under such complex

conditions, this method could also serve as an alternative strategy when endovascular aortic repair is precluded. (c) 2011 Published by European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights DZNeP ic50 reserved.”
“Methanotrophs closely related to psychrotolerant members of the genera Methylobacter and Methylocella were identified in cultures enriched at 10A degrees C from landfill cover soil samples collected in the period from April to November. Mesophilic methanotrophs of the genera Methylobacter and Methylosinus were found in cultures enriched at 20A degrees C from the same cover soil samples. A thermotolerant methanotroph related to PD98059 Methylocaldum gracile was identified in the culture enriched at 40A degrees C from a sample collected in May (the temperature of the cover soil was 11.5-12.5A degrees C). In addition to methanotrophs, methylobacteria of the genera Methylotenera and Methylovorus and members of the genera Verrucomicrobium, Pseudomonas, Pseudoxanthomonas, Dokdonella, Candidatus Protochlamydia, and Thiorhodospira were

also identified in the enrichment cultures. A methanotroph closely related to the psychrotolerant species Methylobacter tundripaludum (98% sequence identity of 16S rRNA genes with the type strain SV96(T)) was isolated in pure culture. The introduction of a mixture of the methanotrophic enrichments, grown at 15A degrees C, into the landfill cover soil resulted in a decrease in methane emission from the landfill surface in autumn (October, November). The inoculum used was demonstrated to contain methanotrophs closely related to Methylobacter tundripaludum SV96.”
“BACKGROUND: Depside salts from Salvia miltiorrhiza, with active components of lithospermic acid B (LSB), rosmarinic acid (RA), and lithospermic acid (LA), are a multicomponent drug marketed in China for the treatment of coronary heart disease.

This method involves an extraction step by ultrasonication and vo

This method involves an extraction step by ultrasonication and vortex, followed by extract clean-up with Florisil solid-phase extraction cartridges and analysis of the purified extracts by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Method recoveries ranged between 76

and 127%. except for volatile OPFRs, such as triethyl phosphate (TEP) and tri-(n-propyl) phosphate (TnPP), which were partially lost during evaporation steps. The between day precision on spiked dust samples was <14% for individual OPFRs, except for TEP, tri-iso-butyl phosphate (TiBP) and tri (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP). Method limit of quantifications (LOQ) ranged between 0.02 mu g/g (TnPP and tris(1-chloro-2-propyl phosphate (TCPP)) and 0.50 mu g/g (TiBP). The method was further applied for the analysis of indoor dust samples taken from Flemish homes and stores. TiBP, TBEP and TCPP were most abundant OPFR with median concentrations of 2.99, 2.03 and 1.38 mu g/g in house selleckchem dust and of 1.04, 3.61, and 2.94 mu g/g in store dust, respectively. The concentration of all OPFRs was at least 20 to 30 times higher compared to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs). Estimated exposure to OPFRs from dust ingestion ranged for individual OPFRs between <1 and 50 ng/kg body weight for adults

and toddlers, respectively. The estimated body burdens were 1000 to 100 times below reference dose (RID) values, except for the scenario with high dust ingestion and high concentrations of TBEP in toddlers, where find more intake was only 5 times below RID. Exposure of non-working and working adults to OPFRs appeared to be similar, but in specific work environments, R406 manufacturer exposure to some OPFRs (e.g. TDCPP) was increased by a factor >5. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Autobiographical memory (AM) comprises representation of both specific (episodic) and generic

(semantic) personal information. Depression is characterized by a shift from episodic to semantic AM retrieval. According to theoretical models, this process(“”over-generalization”"), would be linked to reduced executive resources. Moreover, “”overgeneral”" memories, accompanied by a negativity bias in depression, lead to a pervasive negative self-representation. As executive functions and AM specificity are also closely intricate among “”non-clinical”" population, “”overgeneral”" memories could result in depressive emotional responses. Consequently, our hypothesis was that the neurocognitive profile of healthy subjects showing a rigid negative self-image would mimic that of patients. Executive functions and self-image were measure and brain activity was recorded, by means of fMRI, during episodic AMs retrieval in young healthy subjects. The results show an inverse correlation, that is a more rigid and negative self-image produces lower performances in both executive and specific memories.

There are no differences between megakaryocyte quantification Al

There are no differences between megakaryocyte quantification. Although there is no correlation between reticulated platelet values and megakaryocyte in bone marrow cytology, the interpretation of reticulated platelet values can be based both on absolute or relative corrected values. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Bulk reactions of phenolic compounds (bisphenol-A and alpha,omega-diphenol

oligosulfone) or thiols (thiophenol and bis(4-mercaptophenyl)sulfide) with bisoxazoline coupling agents, namely 2,2′-(1,3-phenylene)bis-(2-oxazoline) (mbox), 2,2′-(1,4-phenylene)bis(2-oxazoline) (pybox), were carried out in the bulk at 140-240 degrees C. The reactions were followed by viscosimetry, size exclusion chromatography, and (1)H- and (13)C-NMR spectroscopy. The phenol/ bisoxazoline bulk reactions at 240 degrees C required the presence of Trichostatin A manufacturer sodium methoxide catalyst. Thiol and dithiol/bisoxazoline reactions BI 2536 in vitro were faster and did not require any catalyst. High-molar-mass polymers were obtained within 5 min at 200 degrees C while using

bis(4-mercaptophenyl)sulfide (BMPS) and any of the bisoxazolines. The NMR spectra of model compounds and polymers were fully assigned, showing that the oxazoline/phenol and oxazoline/thiophenol (tph) polyaddition reactions proceed in the expected way, without any noticeable side reaction. All polymers were amorphous and displayed good thermal stability. Bisoxazolines were also used as coupling agents for the preparation of copolymers of BMPS and alpha,omega-dicarboxy polyamide-12 and for the preparation of polysulfone-polyamide-12 see more block copolymers. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 113:

628-636, 2009″
“nonlinear (NL) refractive index, n(2), of NaPO3-WO3-Bi2O3 glass with different relative amounts of the constituents was measured at 1064 and 800 nm using the Z-scan and the thermally managed eclipse Z-scan techniques, respectively. The values of n(2) >= 10(-15) cm(2)/W and negligible NL absorption coefficient were determined. The large values of the NL refractive index and the very small NL absorption indicate that these materials have large potential for all-optical switching applications. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3212972]“
“The causes of clinical signs associated with syringomyelia in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS) are incompletely understood. In this study we compared expression of two pain-related neuropeptides: substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), in the spinal cord dorsal horn of normal dogs with that in CKCS with and without clinical signs of syringomyelia. There was a decrease in expression of both peptides in CKCS with ‘symptomatic’ syringomyelia that was also associated with significant asymmetry in SP-I and similar, though non-significant, asymmetry in CGRP-I compared with other groups.

From a knowledge of specimen dimensions, processing temperatures,

From a knowledge of specimen dimensions, processing temperatures, and material properties, residual stress distributions LDC000067 within the structure can be determined by implementing the model with a simple computer program. A case study for the plasma sprayed NiCoCrAlY on Inconel 718 system was performed finally. Besides some similar phenomena observed from the

present study as compared with previous elastic model reported in literature, the elastoplastic model also provides some interesting features for prediction of the residual stresses. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3374710]“
“Background: Primary tumors are rare and those localized to a single location offer the potential for cure. To achieve this, early recognition of the primary tumor and proper workup and treatment are essential.

Methods: The authors reviewed the literature and best practices to provide recommendations on primary spine tumor treatment. Appropriate workup of primary spine tumors

and treatment algorithms are also discussed.

Results: Patients suspected of a primary spine Selleck Dinaciclib tumor should undergo fine-needle aspirate biopsy following consultation with the surgical team to ensure the biopsy tract is surgically resectable should the need arise. Once pathology is confirmed, metastatic workup should be performed to guide the level of treatment. If a localized lesion with poor radiation and chemotherapeutic response is diagnosed, then AZD2014 mouse en bloc resection may be required for cure. If en bloc resection is not feasible or metastatic lesions are present, then radiation and medical oncology specialists must work in conjunction with the surgical team to determine the best treatment options.

Conclusions: Patients with suspected primary tumors of the spine should be treated in a multidisciplinary fashion from the outset. With thoughtful management, these lesions offer the opportunity for surgical cure.”
“This paper describes the preliminary work required to understand cultural differences

in palliative care in the United Kingdom and three countries in the Asia-Pacific region, in preparation for a cross-country study. The study is intended to address cultural understandings of palliative care, the role of the family in end of life care, what constitutes good care and the ethical issues in each country. Suggestions are then made to shape the scope of the study and to be considered as outcomes to improve care of the dying in these countries. It is anticipated that the method used to achieve consensus on cross-country palliative care issues will be both qualitative and quantitative. Identifying key priorities in the delivery and quality measures of palliative care will involve participants in focus groups, a Delphi survey and in the development of clinical indicators towards creating standards of palliative care common to the Asian Pacific region.

API produced using a conventional batch cooling crystallization p

API produced using a conventional batch cooling crystallization process resulted in content uniformity issues. Hammer milling increased fine particle formation resulting in reduced content uniformity and increased degradation

compared to sonocrystallized and HSWM API in the formulation. To ensure at least a 2-year shelf life based on predictions using an Accelerated Stability Assessment Program, this API should have a D [v, 0.1] of 55 mu m and a D [v, 0.5] of 140 mu m. The particle size of the chief excipient in the drug product formulation needed to be close to that of the API to avoid content uniformity and stability issues but large enough to reduce selleckchem lactam formation. The novel methodology described here has potential for application to other APIs.”
“Patients with cluster Doramapimod mouse headache (CH) have a higher prevalence of sleep apnea, and a possible relationship between these two conditions has been proposed. Although patients suffering from CH attacks often wake up from sleep, sleep apnea has been suggested to be a trigger or an associated abnormality in CH. It has been proposed that regulation of the hypothalamus may be responsible for sleep apnea, and that similiarly CH is generated in the hypothalamus. However, there is evidence that CH and obstructive sleep apnea are not causal, but rather parallel processes both generated in the hypothalamus. The exact

role that sleep apnea plays in the perpetuation or precipitation of CH is still to be determined. This paper discusses the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms of these two entities and the possible relationship between CH and sleep apnea.”
“Background: Reports of severe cases and increasing levels of drug resistance highlight the importance of improved Plasmodium vivax case management. Whereas monitoring P. vivax resistance to anti-malarial drug by in vivo and in vitro

tests remain challenging, molecular markers of resistance represent a valuable tool for high-scale analysis and surveillance studies. A new high-throughput assay for detecting the most relevant markers related to P. vivax drug resistance SIS3 chemical structure was developed and assessed on Papua New Guinea (PNG) patient isolates.

Methods: Pvdhfr, pvdhps and pvmdr1 fragments were amplified by multiplex nested PCR. Then, PCR products were processed through an LDR-FMA (ligase detection reaction -fluorescent microsphere assay). 23 SNPs, including pvdhfr 57-58-61 and 173, pvdhps 382-383, 553, 647 and pvmdr1 976, were simultaneously screened in 366 PNG P. vivax samples.

Results: Genotyping was successful in 95.4% of the samples for at least one gene. The coexistence of multiple distinct haplotypes in the parasite population necessitated the introduction of a computer-assisted approach to data analysis. Whereas 73.1% of patients were infected with at least one wild-type genotype at codons 57, 58 and 61 of pvdhfr, a triple mutant genotype was detected in 65.

Moreover, a PCR-TGGE approach highlighted the differences observe

Moreover, a PCR-TGGE approach highlighted the differences observed. The results obtained showed that an HRT of 0.5 day reduced bacterial biodiversity in the biofilms, 4-Hydroxytamoxifen mouse which were mainly formed by Nitrosomonas and Diaphorobacter. In contrast, an HRT of 0.4 day facilitated the formation of heterogeneous biofilms formed by nitrifying bacteria, such as Nitrosomonas sp., Nitrosospira sp., and Nitrosovibrio sp.).”
“Objective. To evaluate L-arginine (L-Arg) supplementation in pregnant women

with chronic hypertension and its effects on blood pressure ( BP) and maternal and neonatal complications.

Methods. We enrolled 80 women affected by mild chronic hypertension referred to the High Risk Clinic of the Mother-Infant Department of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. Each woman after obtaining oral consent was randomized to receive oral l-Arg versus placebo and thereafter submitted to 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring. The primary outcome was BP change after 10-12 weeks of treatment. Secondary outcomes were as follows: percentage of women on antihypertensive treatment at delivery, maternal, and fetal outcome.

Results. The BP changes after 10-12 weeks of treatment did not differ between groups. A lower percentage of women received antihypertensive drugs in the l-Arg group than the placebo TL32711 group. The incidence of superimposed preeclampsia indicated delivery before the 34th weeks and certain neonatal complications tended to be higher

in the placebo group.

Conclusions. l-Arg supplementation in pregnant women with mild chronic hypertension does not significantly affect overall BP but is associated with less need for antihypertensive medications and a trend toward fewer maternal and neonatal complications. The results of the study were limited by the small sample size and by the exclusion of women with severe chronic hypertension. In our policy, these patients needed many hypertensive drugs and were normally managed by the cardiologist. Nevertheless, considering the promising results on maternal and fetal outcome, we believe Selleck VX 770 that further studies should be performed to confirm such data and to clarify the role of l-Arg as a protective supplement

in high-risk pregnancy.”
“This paper focuses on the feasibility of unconventional aqueous two-phase systems for bromelain purification from pineapple processing waste. The main difference in comparison with conventional systems is the integration of the liquid-liquid extraction technique with fractional precipitation, which can decrease the protein content with no loss of biological activity by removing of unwanted molecules. The analysis of the results was based on the response surface methodology and revealed that the use of the desirability optimisation methodology (DOM) was necessary to achieve higher purification factor values and greater bromelain recovery. The use of DOM yielded an 11.80-fold purification factor and 66.

Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to eval

Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to evaluate each variable’s effect on referral and clinic attendance. Overall, 251 of 375 (67%) antibody positive patients were referred to HCV specialists. Of the 251 referrals, 166 (66%) attended at least one specialty clinic appointment. Patients were more likely to be referred if their

HCV antibody was ordered in the outpatient setting (77% outpatient vs 38% inpatient, P < 0.001) ordered by a family practitioner (79% FP vs 64% for internal medicine doctor vs 58% for all other specialties, P = 0.01) had detectable RNA (88% detectable vs 65% not detectable vs 23% RNA status not available, P < 0.001) or elevation of alanine aminotransferase (75% elevated vs 56% not elevated, P < 0.001). Location, Lazertinib concentration HCV RNA status and ALT elevation remained significant in a multivariate logistic regression model. These data confirm that up to one-third of HCV antibody-positive patients are not referred

to HCV specialists, despite the availability of improved treatment regimens. Additional patients are lost to follow-up after being referred. The reasons for suboptimal referral and specialty clinic attendance rates https://www.selleckchem.com/products/BI6727-Volasertib.html are probably multifactorial. Institution of reflexive RNA testing for positive antibody tests and additional education of those physicians who encounter HCV-positive individuals may improve both rates.”
“BACKGROUND:

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is performed more frequently in individuals who are older and sicker than in previous years. Increased patient acuity and reduced hospital length of stays leave individuals ill prepared for their recovery.

OBJECTIVES:

To test the feasibility of a peer support program and determine indicators of the effects of peer support on recovery outcomes of individuals following CABG surgery.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

A pre-post test pilot randomized Selleckchem AG-881 clinical trial design enrolled men and women undergoing first-time nonemergency CABG surgery at a single site in Ontario. Patients were randomly assigned to either usual

care or peer support. Patients allocated to usual care (n=50) received standard preoperative and postoperative education. Patients in the peer support group (n=45) received individualized education and support via telephone from trained cardiac surgery peer volunteers for eight weeks following hospital discharge. Most (93 %) peer volunteers believed they were prepared for their role, with 98 % of peer volunteers initiating calls within 72 h of the patient’s discharge. Peer volunteers made an average of 12 calls, less than 30 min in duration over the eight-week recovery period. Patients were satisfied with their peer support (n=45, 98 %). The intervention group reported statistical trends toward improved physical function (physical component score) (t [89]=-1.6; P=0.12) role function (t [93]=-1.9; P=0.06), less pain (t [93]=1.30; P=0.20) and improved cardiac rehabilitation enrollment (x(2)=2.