Peripheral arterial disease and anaemia.

Iron deficiency anaemia is highly prevalent worldwide. In the surgical patient, anaemia of any cause implies higher morbidity and mortality in the post-operative period. This is especially important in patients with peripheral artery disease, as they have very high rates of anaemia due to iron deficiency or other causes.

Endovascular Infrarenal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Performed in a Hybrid Operating Room Versus Conventional Operating Room Using a C-Arm.

Background: To compare contrast usage and radiation exposure during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) using mobile C-arm imaging in a conventional operating room (OR) or fixed angiographic equipment in a hybrid OR (HR).

Methods: A retrospective unicenter study from May 2016 to August 2019. All consecutive patients undergoing standard EVAR were included.

Anaemia in patients who underwent vascular surgery: a significant predictor of amputation and death.

Background And Objective: In patients with peripheral artery disease requiring surgery, anaemia has been found to independently predict short and medium term higher morbidity and mortality.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively studied all patients undergoing surgery, consecutively during 2months in 12 vascular surgery units. We analysed cardiovascular risk factors and preoperative haemoglobin.

Raised Fibrinogen Levels and Outcome in Outpatients With Peripheral Artery Disease.

The influence of raised fibrinogen levels on outcome in stable outpatients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has not been consistently investigated. We used data from the Factores de Riesgo y ENfermedad Arterial (FRENA) registry to compare ischemic events, major bleeding, and mortality in stable outpatients with PAD, according to their baseline plasma fibrinogen levels. Of 1363 outpatients with PAD recruited in FRENA, 558 (41%) had fibrinogen levels >450 mg/100 mL.

Anemia and Outcome in Outpatients With Peripheral Artery Disease.

The influence of anemia on outcome in stable outpatients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) has not been consistently investigated. We used data from the Factores de Riesgo y ENfermedad Arterial (FRENA) Registry to compare ischemic events and mortality rates in stable outpatients with symptomatic PAD and anemia. Of 1663 patients with PAD, 208 (12.

Accuracy of GastroPanel for the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis.

Background: It has been suggested that GastroPanel might be a useful tool for the diagnosis of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) measuring four biomarkers in blood: basal gastrin-17 (G17), pepsinogen I and II (PGI and PGII), and Helicobacter pylori antibodies.

Aim: To determine the accuracy of GastroPanel for the diagnosis of CAG.

Methods: This was a prospective, blinded, multicenter study that included dyspeptic patients.

Cilostazol and outcome in outpatients with peripheral artery disease.

Background: Cilostazol increases the walking distance in patients with intermittent claudication, but there is scarce evidence of any effect on the risk for subsequent ischemic events, bleeding or death.

Patients And Methods: We used data from the FRENA Registry to compare the clinical outcome in stable outpatients with intermittent claudication, according to the use of cilostazol.

Results: As of January 2013, 1,317 patients with intermittent claudication were recruited in FRENA, of whom 191 (14.

Endovascular repair of traumatic thoracic aortic injury: final results from the relay endovascular registry for thoracic disease.

Background: In blunt thoracic aortic injury, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) offers a less invasive alternative to open chest surgery. New reliable and accurate stent grafts have widened the endovascular treatment options. We report our experience with the Relay stent graft Bolton Medical, Sunrise, FL; Barcelona, Spain) for treatment of this injury.

Treatment of a complicated penetrating ulcer of the descending thoracic aorta using a scalloped stent graft.

We show the use of a proximal scalloped stent graft for an pseudoaneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta to avoid occlusion of the left subclavian artery. A 63-year-old man with sudden onset dysphonia was diagnosed with left vocal fold paralysis and the presence of a lung mass. A computed tomography scan revealed saccular dilatation of the aortic arch (proximal neck: <10 mm) with suggestive images of a penetrating ulcer and degenerative pseudoaneurysm.

Usefulness of applying lidocaine in esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed under sedation with propofol.

Aim: To determine whether topical lidocaine benefits esophagogastroduoduenoscopy (EGD) by decreasing propofol dose necessary for sedation or procedure-related complications.

Methods: The study was designed as a prospective, single centre, double blind, randomised clinical trial and was conducted in 2012 between January and May (NCT01489891). Consecutive patients undergoing EGD were randomly assigned to receive supplemental topical lidocaine (L; 50 mg in an excipient solution which was applied as a spray to the oropharynx) or placebo (P; taste excipients solution without active substance, similarly delivered) prior to the standard propofol sedation procedure.

Impact of extended course duration and stricter study organization on attrition and academic performance of medical students.

Aim: To assess whether extended medical school duration, block/modular structure of subjects, not allowing students to transfer exams into the higher course year, and curriculum implementation in line with the Bologna Accord are associated with lower attrition and better academic outcomes of medical students.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated curricula at the University of Split School of Medicine and academic outcomes of 2301 medical students during a 33-year period (1979-2011). The following data were obtained: grade point average (GPA) at the end of the studies, duration of studies, graduation on time, and whether the student graduated or not.

Rubeosis iridis as a sign of underlying carotid stenosis.

Severe carotid stenosis may be associated with uncommon clinical symptoms. We report a case of ocular ischemic syndrome and subsequent rubeosis iridis due to a high-grade carotid stenosis. The patient recovered visual acuity and his normal iris coloring after carotid endarterectomy.

Predictors of attrition and academic success of medical students: a 30-year retrospective study.

Aim: To determine attrition and predictors of academic success among medical students at University of Split, Croatia.

Methods: We analysed academic records of 2054 students enrolled during 1979-2008 period.

Results: We found that 26% (533/2054) of enrolled students did not graduate.

Prospective evaluation of a clinical guideline recommending early patients discharge in bleeding peptic ulcer.

Background And Aim: To validate an early discharge policy in patients admitted with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) due to ulcers.

Methods: Patients with gastroduodenal ulcer or erosive gastritis/duodenitis were included in a previous study aiming to develop a practice guideline for early discharge of patients with UGIB. Variables associated with unfavorable evolution were analyzed in order to identify patients with low-risk of re-bleeding.

[Lymphoscintigraphy study of oedema after femoropopliteal segment surgery].

Introduction: Post-surgical oedema of the femoropopliteal segment is a frequent complication, unrelated to the severity of the previous symptoms or changes in subsequent distal arterial pressure. The aim of the study is to assess whether the oedema present in femoropopliteal bypass patients is of lymphatic origin, and the possible influence of the prosthesis and the type of intervention used.

Patients And Methods: An analytical, observational and case-control study of 30 patients who had a femoropopliteal bypass.

[Medicinal interest of Poria cocos (= Wolfiporia extensa)].

The sclerotium of Poria cocos has been used in the Chinese pharmacopoeia during thousands of years. In this note several aspects about the biology and nomenclature of this fungus are summarized, with emphasis on its composition and therapeutic applications.

Clinical outcome in patients with peripheral artery disease and renal artery stenosis.

Background: There is controversy on the influence of renal artery stenosis on outcome in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Patients And Methods: The 12-month impact of renal artery stenosis on declining renal function, control of hypertension, and incidence of major cardiovascular events in 100 consecutive patients undergoing angiography for peripheral artery disease was evaluated.

Results: A total of 60 patients had renal artery stenosis: 32 mild, 16 moderate, and 12 severe stenosis.

Development of a versatile shuttle vector for gene expression in Geobacillus spp.

An improved, versatile shuttle vector has been created for the metabolic engineering of Geobacillus spp. As kanamycin is the most thermo-tolerant of commonly used antibiotics, the gene encoding a thermostable kanamycin nucleotidyltransferase, together with the origin of replication from the G. stearothermophilus plasmid pBST1 were cloned into the Escherichia coli cloning vector pUC18.

13C-urea breath test during hospitalization for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in peptic ulcer bleeding.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of (13)C-urea breath test (UBT) to detect Helicobacter pylori infection in patients hospitalized with peptic ulcer bleeding and treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

Methods: Patients hospitalized with peptic ulcer bleeding, and treated with omeprazole, had a first UBT performed the day after resuming oral feeding. Patients with a negative UBT during hospitalization underwent a repeated UBT 15 days after stopping PPIs.

[Prevalence of renal artery stenosis in patients with critical limb ischemia].

Background And Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the prevalence of renal artery stenosis in patients with critical limb ischemia and to study any clinical or laboratory indicator that could predict this association.

Patients And Method: One hundred consecutive patients with critical limb ischemia evaluated by angiogram were included in the study from January to July 2003. Cardiovascular risk factors and renal function were analyzed.

Development of novel plasmid vectors and a promoter trap system in Francisella tularensis compatible with the pFLN10 based plasmids.

Francisella tularensis is a category A bioterror pathogen which in some cases can cause a severe and fatal human infection. Very few virulence factors are known in this species due to the difficulty in working with it as well as the lack of tools for genetic manipulation. This work describes the construction of a shuttle vector that can replicate in Escherichia coli and F.

Horizontal gene transfer in the molecular evolution of mannose PTS transporters.

The phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS) represents hitherto the only example of group translocation transport systems. PTS transporters are exclusively found in bacteria and can be grouped on the basis of sequence and structure into six classes. We have analyzed the evolution of mannose-class PTS transporters.

Complementation of a Delta ccpA mutant of Lactobacillus casei with CcpA mutants affected in the DNA- and cofactor-binding domains.

In low-G+C Gram-positive bacteria, the regulatory protein CcpA has been shown to play a major part in the so-called carbon catabolite repression (CCR) process, as well as in the induction of basic metabolic genes, for which it is considered a global regulator. A strain of Lactobacillus casei that carried a complete deletion of ccpA has been constructed and used to test the effect of CCR on N-acetylglucosaminidase activity and growth performance of a collection of seven CcpA mutations obtained by site-directed mutagenesis. The replaced amino acids were located in the DNA- and cofactor (P-Ser-HPr)-binding domains.

Cross communication between components of carbon catabolite repression of Lactobacillus casei and Bacillus megaterium.

In low-GC Gram-positive bacteria, carbon catabolite repression (CCR) is exerted by transcriptional regulation through a protein complex consisting of catabolite control protein CcpA and serine phosphorylated phosphocarrier protein HPr (HPr-ser-P). We investigated the interaction between these components of Lactobacillus casei and Bacillus megaterium. CcpA of L.