Outcomes of nurse-led clinic for patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention: A retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: With an increasing prevalence of coronary heart disease, secondary prevention forms a major cornerstone of management. A dedicated nurse-led clinic for patients post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) offers a great opportunity to address risk factors in order to reduce cardiovascular events. PURPOSE: To determine the impact of a nurse-led clinic follow up of patients post PCI in relation to the 30 day mortality rate and re-admission, and patient satisfaction. Risk factor assessment, compliance with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), and interventions at the clinic visit were also assessed. METHODS: A retrospective review of parameters recorded at clinic appointments from January 2015-December 2017. The data of patients were examined for baseline characteristics, risk factor assessment, and interventions at the clinic visit. Thirty day mortality and re-admission rates and patient satisfaction were major outcomes. RESULTS: 1325 individual patient records were retrospectively reviewed in our clinic. Mean age was 64 and 78% were males. The indications for PCI were STEMI (22.7%), NSTEMI (21.9%), and unstable and stable angina (43.1%). 5 patients (0.4%) died and 132 patients (10%) were re-admitted within 30 days after the follow-up visit. However, only 24 (1.8%) of the re-admissions were due to cardiac reasons. At the clinic appointment, 852 (64.3%) patients had non-pharmacological intervention and 473 (35.7%) patients had a pharmacological intervention. 712 (53.7%) patients had LDL-C above target and their statin therapy was amended accordingly. CONCLUSION: Nurse-led PCI clinics provide satisfactory assessment and management of risk factors achieving high patient satisfaction rates without increased risk of poor outcomes.

An analysis of the structural and functional similarities of insect hemocytes and mammalian phagocytes.

The insect immune response demonstrates a number of structural and functional similarities to the innate immune system of mammals. As a result of these conserved features insects have become popular choices for evaluating the virulence of microbial pathogens or for assessing the efficacy of antimicrobial agents and give results which are comparable to those that can be obtained using mammals. Analysis of the cellular component of the insect and mammalian immune systems demonstrates many similarities. Insect hemocytes recognize pathogens and phagocytose material in a similar manner to neutrophils. The killing of ingested microbes is achieved in both cell types by the production of superoxide and by the release of enzymes in the process of degranulation. Insect hemocytes and mammalian neutrophils are sensitive to the same inhibitors. This review highlights the strong similarities between the phagocytic cells of both groups of animals and demonstrates the potential benefits of using selected insects as in vivo screening systems.