Michelle M. Valkanas

Assistant Professor of Microbiology @pennwest-CA; Medical writer; Scientific writer; STEM; Women in Science; All views are my own

[EACTS @EACTS]

🎙️ A Cut Above podcast — The new episode is live now!

This episode examines the foundations of cardiopulmonary bypass, focusing on the 2024 EACTS/EACTAIC/EBCP Guidelines on cardiopulmonary bypass in adult cardiac surgery and the EBCP Expert Consensus Statement on basic qualifications and competencies for clinical perfusionists in Europe, developed in collaboration with EACTS and EACTAIC.

Joined by Alexander Wahba and Adrian Bauer, PhD, ECCP, our hosts discuss what has evolved since the 2019 recommendations, where the evidence base has strengthened, and why practice still varies across Europe. The conversation explores pump technology, minimally invasive circuit strategies, key perfusion techniques, and efforts to standardise perfusion education, highlighting how these documents aim to improve safety, consistency and outcomes in everyday cardiac surgery.

🎧 Listen now: https://t.co/I9gF2716sH

[British Journal of Anaesthesia @BJAJournals]

At the end of the year we review 2025 by the numbers.

The 5th most read article of 2025 was a guideline on adult cardiopulmonary bypass

https://t.co/gwRfNQi6Rg

[CICUdevices @CicUdevices]

📚Worth reading:
• Prevention and Management of Hemolysis when Utilizing Mechanical Circulatory Support
https://t.co/yVQM4thLxU)

Hemolysis🩸 remains a key complication, and this review highlights why vigilance and device assessment matter. 🔍🩺

#Impella #ecmo #lvad

[Society of Mechanical Ventilation @OfVentilation]

We are excited to share a mechanical ventilator simulator built in Excel! It models VC, PC, PS, APRV, and SIMV ventilation with real-time waveforms for airway pressure, flow, volume, esophageal pressure, transpulmonary pressure, and alveolar pressure.

https://t.co/Dw4u64UF8E

[American College of Cardiology @ACCinTouch]

In patients with #AFib experiencing a breakthrough ischemic stroke while on a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) regimen, switching to a different DOAC was noninferior to continuing the same DOAC.

Read more about the study ➡️ https://t.co/Hq11TNCnCV #cvCoag #cvEP

[The BMJ @bmj_latest]

Most syncope is not cardiac in aetiology, but cardiac syncope is a high risk subgroup.

How can you spot this easily missed condition? This #BMJInfographic suggests an approach.

Read the article for more guidance ⬇️ #MedEd
https://t.co/GQk3QARS8R

[ASBMB @ASBMB]

Type IV pili (T4P) are hairlike bacterial surface structures that help with movement, DNA uptake, adhesion and aggregation. A new study in @jbiolchem shows how pilus structure shapes bacterial behavior: https://t.co/qsDu7JChnq.
➡️ Access the study: https://t.co/LFl7HEthr9

[Markz Sinurat @markzroland]

CHIP-BCIS3 🚨

Routine LV unloading (Impella) in complex PCI NO benefit on MACE, but ↑ mortality signal (CV HR ~1.9). 👉 Protection ≠ outcome.

Use MCS selectively—not routinely in stable high-risk PCI.
#ACCAsia @ACCinTouch @JACCJournals

[Abdulla A. Damluji, MD, PhD @DrDamluji]

🥸The door to unload trial has market implications

😱Here are few points for discussion

👇👇👇

[Kevin S Shah, MD @KevinShahMD]

It's that time of the year - writing recommendation letters.

Keep these tips in mind to minimize #genderbias - courtesy of @uarizona https://t.co/mwAM62LyL4

#MedTwitter #CardioTwitter

[Abdulla A. Damluji, MD, PhD @DrDamluji]

Left Ventricular Unloading in High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: @NEJM

🥸 Does ventricular unloading among patients with severely impaired left ventricular function undergoing complex PCI reduced MACE events at 12 months?

😱 Let's summarize CHIP-BCIS3?

👇👇👇👇

[TCTMD @TCTMD]

The Impella CP percutaneous left ventricular assist device doesn't reduce major adverse events when used in the setting of high-risk PCI. In fact, it can cause more harm, with the risk of CV death significantly higher in the Impella group, based on the CHIP-BCIS3 trial. https://t.co/W7GZ4k6Z2y
@divaka_perera
#ACC2026

[Vinay Prasad MD MPH @VPrasadMDMPH]

My thoughts on DanGer Shock in the NEJM
A few points you haven't heard

[Shariq Shamim @ShariqShamimMD]

#ACC26 Much awaited Door to Unload trial for Anterior MI failed to show the benefit for Impella. Unload before Revasc for Ant MI. Surprisingly mean BP ~140 despite LVEDP in high 20s!

[Microbiome @MicrobiomeJ]

In #EnvironmentalMicrobiome

🔎How do microbial composition & other factors influence #ecosystem multifunctionality in degraded & restored alpine #meadow ?🌱🪻

📢#Soil organic matter composition should be considered in policy making and soil management

👉https://t.co/F7l2tfWFyR

[Zac Freedman @ZacFreedman]

I am pleased to announce the RFP for the 2024 ON Allen Soil and Environmental Microbiology Small Grants Program at UW-Madison. Grants up to $3,500. Proposals due Feb 9; writing workshop Jan 17th. Details here: https://t.co/7CjC3RxFWn

[Cameron Thrash @jcamthrash]

Phyloecology of nitrate ammonifiers and their importance relative to denitrifiers in global terrestrial biomes https://t.co/yyEDv1qxvT

[Michelle M. Valkanas @m_valkanas]

Wow!!

[NWS Pittsburgh @NWSPittsburgh]

What a difference a day makes! Here's a view of downtown Pittsburgh from this time yesterday vs. this morning.

🚨 An Air Quality Alert remains in effect for western PA through midnight tonight. #pawx

📷Webcam: https://t.co/GcRoLWXREe

[Julia Bauman @JuliaBauman2]

Can scientists be taught how to choose good projects?

I took a fantastic class taught by @mfgrp last quarter where the foundational hypothesis is: Yes, they can!

And I continually come back to these core insights as I think about project choice and direction in my 2nd year of PhD:

[Luka Negoita, PhD @lukanegoita]

Need some ecological data? 🌱📈

Don't miss our post on the TOP FIVE sources of ecological data + all the tips, tricks, and best practices for getting and using these data: https://t.co/BeENLUQ3yC

Have a good data source you love? Share it below

#Rstats #RforEcology #Research