Mini-skin longitudinal incision versus traditional longitudinal incision for carotid endarterectomy in patients with carotid artery stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) remains the gold standard intervention for stroke prevention in patients with carotid artery stenosis but the surgical technique continues evolving with research being conducted on minimally invasive alternatives. Mini-skin incision CEA has emerged as a more aesthetically appealing and less painful alternative to the traditional technique with a potential impact on main procedural events. We aimed to provide a review of the literature and to compare the mini-skin incision with the traditional approach.

Contemporary open surgical approaches for the management of carotid stenosis: a comprehensive review.

This study aims to provide an overview on contemporary open surgical approaches for the management of carotid artery stenosis. A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify and categorize open surgery intervention techniques for the management of carotid artery stenosis, focusing on the benefits and drawbacks of each technique. Five surgical techniques for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) have been described: CEA with primary closure, CEA with patch closure, CEA by eversion technique, CEA by modified eversion technique and CEA by partial eversion.

Blood group is a long-term cardiovascular risk factor after carotid endarterectomy.

Background: ABO blood group system has been clinically related to an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Preliminary data relating Rhesus (Rh) factor and these outcomes also have been published. Our aim was to analyse the impact of blood group on the short and long-term outcomes after carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Metastatic pituitary neuroendocrine neoplasms: A case report of a malignant prolactinoma.

We report a rare clinical case of a malignant prolactinoma in which the exponential increase of prolactin levels with minimal tumor growth and no response to treatment led to diagnosis of abdominal, thoracic, and vertebral metastases.

Study protocol of a prospective single-arm multicenter clinical study to assess the safety and performance of the aXess hemodialysis graft: The pivotal study.

Background: Arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) are used for patients deemed unsuitable for the creation of an autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or unable to await maturation of the AVF before starting hemodialysis. However, AVGs are prone to infection and thrombosis resulting in low long-term patency rates. The novel aXess Hemodialysis Graft consists of porous polymeric biomaterial allowing the infiltration by cells and the growth of neotissue, while the graft itself is gradually absorbed, ultimately resulting in a fully functional natural blood vessel.

Timing of carotid intervention in symptomatic carotid artery stenosis: a topical review.

Introduction: Criteria and optimal timing for carotid artery revascularization have been polarizing subjects for investigators and clinicians dedicated to carotid artery atherosclerotic disease. A topical review was performed with the purpose of 1) providing an overview of the evidence on the definition of index event and on the definition of delay of intervention; 2) summarizing the rationale for the current definition for the optimal timing for carotid intervention, and 3) drawing a sketch for future directions implementing the aspect of timing in daily clinical practice.

Evidence Acquisition: A literature search was performed using the Medline database and the following query ("Endarterectomy, Carotid"[Mesh]) AND ("Stroke" [Mesh] OR Symptomatic) AND "Randomized Controlled Trial").

A Delphi Consensus Study on Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy: Patient Reported Outcome Measures.

Objective: Currently, evidence is lacking for disease specific patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) for use in atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis (either symptomatic or asymptomatic) submitted to carotid endarterectomy (CEA). This study aimed to obtain expert consensus on the most important items to include in a PROM designed to capture the impact of atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis and its treatment on health related quality of life.

Methods: A three round modified Delphi consensus study was performed.

Sustainable and Active Program-Development and Application of SAVING Methodology.

The SAVING project aimed to create a sustainable and active aging program to promote the transition to sustainable aging in residential structures for the elderly (RSEs), developing research activities to apply the best strategies and good practices regarding the promotion of an active, healthy, and sustainable aging regarding social, economic, environmental, and pedagogic aspects. All this innovative methodology was built on a living-lab approach applied in one RSE, that was used as a case study. The results showed that the creation of the SAVING Brigade allowed not only increased reflection and mutual learning, but also created better conditions to face uncertainties and obstacles.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Breast Cancer Management in Portugal: A Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study of Medical Oncologists.

Introduction: Cancer care providers have faced many challenges in delivering safe care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional survey-based study investigated the impact of the pandemic on clinical practices of Portuguese medical oncologists caring for patients with breast cancer.

Methods: An anonymous online survey comprising 42 questions gathered information regarding COVID-19 testing, treatment in (neo)adjuvant and metastatic settings, and other aspects of breast cancer management.

Angiosarcoma of a Femoropopliteal Bypass Thrombosed Vein Graft.

Background: Angiosarcoma is a rare subtype of malignant vascular tumours which has been only anecdotally described in patients submitted to lower limb revascularization.

Case Presentation: This paper reports a patient previously submitted to a femoropopliteal bypass using autologous great saphenous vein (GSV). Nine years after the initial surgery, a primary angiosarcoma of the thrombosed vein graft was diagnosed, requiring surgical resection.

VCAM1, HMOX1 and NOS3 differential endothelial expression may impact sickle cell anemia vasculopathy.

Endothelial dysfunction plays a major role in sickle cell anemia (SCA) systemic vasculopathy, with upregulation of adhesion molecules (e.g., VCAM-1), decreased nitric oxide bioavailability, and oxidative stress.

Endovascular Treatment of Renal Artery Thrombosis in Living-Donor Kidney Transplant Recipient With Severe COVID-19 Disease.

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have a higher prevalence of micro-and macrovascular thrombotic events. However, the underlying mechanism for the increased thrombotic risk is not completely understood. Solid organ transplant recipients infected with SARS-CoV-2 may have an exponential increase in thrombotic risk and the best management strategy is unknown.

Editor's Choice - Timing of Carotid Intervention in Symptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This review aimed to analyse the timing of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) after the index event as well as 30 day outcomes at varying time periods within 14 days of symptom onset.

Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analysis statement, comprising an online search of the Medline and Cochrane databases. Methodical quality assessment of the included studies was performed.

Critical appraisal of evidence on bypass surgery versus endovascular treatment for intermittent claudication: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Intermittent claudication (IC) stage of peripheral artery disease (PAD) is associated with significant impairment of quality of life. In the subset of patients with disabling IC refractory to best medical treatment (BMT), revascularization procedures may be considered. However, evidence comparing open revascularization surgery, endovascular treatment and BMT focusing on the impact on quality of life is very sparse.

Predictors of adverse events in uncomplicated type B aortic dissection: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Introduction: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been selectively used for uncomplicated acute type B aortic dissection (TBAD); however, not all cases will benefit from TEVAR. A search for high risk clinical and radiographic predictors for complications is ongoing. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify predictors of major adverse events during follow-up of uncomplicated TBAD, in order to identify who might benefit from elective TEVAR.

Evaluation of the Impact and Implementation of Social Prescribing in Primary Healthcare Units in Lisbon: A Mixed-Methods Study Protocol.

Background: Social Prescribing (SP) is an intervention to link users of the primary healthcare services to non-clinical organizations based on the community to tackle social determinants of health. Despite the potential benefits of SP, the effectiveness of this complex intervention remains uncertain. This paper presents the study protocol of the evaluation of the first SP project in Portugal.

Critical analysis of the literature and standards of reporting on stroke after carotid revascularization.

Objective: Mechanisms of procedural stroke after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting are surprisingly underresearched. However, understanding the underlying mechanism could (1) assist in balancing the choice for revascularization vs conservative therapy, (2) assist in choosing either open or endovascular techniques, and (3) assist in taking appropriate periprocedural measures to further decrease procedural stroke rate. The purpose of this study was to overview mechanisms of procedural stroke after carotid revascularization and establish reporting standards to facilitate more granular investigation and individual patient data meta-analysis in the future.

Pre-operative Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio is Associated With 30 Day Death or Amputation After Revascularisation for Acute Limb Ischaemia.

Objective: Inflammation is an early feature of acute limb ischaemia (ALI), hence the potential prognostic significance of inflammatory biomarkers. This study aimed to assess the value of pre-operative inflammatory biomarkers, specifically the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), for predicting an adverse outcome after revascularisation for ALI.

Methods: All patients submitted to lower limb revascularisation for Rutherford IIa or IIb ALI at the authors' institution between 2009 and 2019 were screened retrospectively.

Association of Weight Change, Inflammation Markers and Disease Staging with Survival of Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Cancer-associated-cachexia represents a systemic syndrome of unintended weight-loss (WL) and systemic inflammation, affecting >80% patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA). We aimed to evaluate the association of weight change (WC) with survival of patients treated with chemotherapy (ChT) for PA and the influence of disease staging. We also studied the prognostic and predictive value of inflammation-based scores.

Mid-term patency of iliac venous stenting for post-thrombotic syndrome.

Introduction: Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is the most common chronic complication of deep vein thrombosis. Recent studies suggested that iliac stenting in chronic obstructive venous disease is safe and effective. However, systematic reviews focusing on mid-term efficacy of iliac stenting in post-thrombotic syndrome are lacking.

Red blood cell distribution width is associated with hypoperfusion in carotid endarterectomy under regional anesthesia.

Background: A subset of patients submitted to carotid endarterectomy under regional anesthesia develop intraoperative neurologic deficit during carotid artery crossclamping related to critical cerebral perfusion, which may be owing to low flow or embolic phenomena. This subgroup is deemed prone to worse outcomes, which highlights its clinical relevance. The main aim of this study was to identify clinical and hematological predictors for intraoperative neurologic deficit.

Effectiveness and safety of dual-layer stents in carotid artery disease: a systematic review.

Introduction: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in atherosclerotic carotid artery disease, even though the risk for procedural stroke after CAS remains significantly higher. Recently, in order to reduce embolic cerebral events after CAS, a new generation of dual-layer stents (DLS) has been developed. This review aimed to perform a detailed analysis of the available evidence on safety and efficacy of DLS in both symptomatic and asymptomatic atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis.

Endocrine therapy for the treatment of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in luminal breast cancer: a comprehensive review.

Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) represents a devastating complication of advanced breast cancer (ABC), with survival of <5 months with multimodal treatment. The role of endocrine therapy (ET), due to its favorable toxicity profile and first-line indication in luminal ABC, appears promising in the setting of LMD, where symptom stabilization and quality-of-life preservation are the main goals; however, evidenced-based data are lacking. We conducted a thorough review of published evidence, aiming to investigate the role of ET in LMD treatment in luminal ABC.