Cavoatrial junction stenting in vascular hemodialysis catheter malfunction.

In patients undergoing hemodialytic treatment via intravascular catheters, stenosis or occlusion of central veins is common. Despite an extensive characterization of Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (SVCS) no data is available about CavoAtrial Junction (CAJ) stenosis. We report the case of two patients with a story of multiple catheter failures due to thrombosis or infection.

Modified upside-down technique with Gore tapered iliac limbs for isolated iliac artery aneurysms.

Purpose: To describe the off-label use of tapered iliac limbs for the treatment of isolated iliac aneurysms with proximal landing zone significantly larger than distal landing zone.

Technique: Inversion of a Gore Excluder tapered leg (W. L.

Reproducing a decision-making network in a virtual visual discrimination task.

We reproduced a decision-making network model using the neural simulator software neural simulation tool (NEST), and we embedded the spiking neural network in a virtual robotic agent performing a simulated behavioral task. The present work builds upon the concept of replicability in neuroscience, preserving most of the computational properties in the initial model although employing a different software tool. The proposed implementation successfully obtains equivalent results from the original study, reproducing the salient features of the neural processes underlying a binary decision.

Early periaortic hematoma development after EVAR in the presence of severely calcified and modestly conical-shaped aortic neck: A potential trigger for sudden aneurysm progression toward rupture.

Objective: The aim of this report is to present a singular case of early post-endovascular aneurysm repair abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture and discuss the possible etiopathogenic mechanism promoting the sudden aneurysm progression toward rupture. An 84-year-old man was submitted to endovascular aneurysm repair via second-generation endograft (Cordis-Incraft Stent-graft) during which, the left occluded common iliac artery was recanalized via balloon-expandable covered-stent-graft (Atrium-Advanta-V12). The aneurysm presented a severely calcified and modestly conical-shaped aortic-neck.

Transcriptional Regulation Factors of the Human Mitochondrial Aspartate/Glutamate Carrier Gene, Isoform 2 (): USF1 as Basal Factor and FOXA2 as Activator in Liver Cells.

Mitochondrial carriers catalyse the translocation of numerous metabolites across the inner mitochondrial membrane, playing a key role in different cell functions. For this reason, mitochondrial carrier gene expression needs tight regulation. The human gene, encoding for the mitochondrial aspartate/glutamate carrier isoform 2 (AGC2), catalyses the electrogenic exchange of aspartate for glutamate plus a proton, thus taking part in many metabolic processes including the malate-aspartate shuttle.

Insights into Structure-Activity Relationships of 3-Arylhydrazonoindolin-2-One Derivatives for Their Multitarget Activity on β-Amyloid Aggregation and Neurotoxicity.

Despite the controversial outcomes of clinical trials executed so far, the prevention of β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and neurotoxicity by small molecule inhibitors of Aβ aggregation remains a target intensively pursued in the search of effective drugs for treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related neurodegeneration syndromes. As a continuation of previous studies, a series of new 3-(2-arylhydrazono)indolin-2-one derivatives was synthesized and assayed, investigating the effects of substitutions on both the indole core and arylhydrazone moiety. Compared with the reference compound , we disclosed equipotent derivatives bearing alkyl substituents at the indole nitrogen, and fairly tolerated bioisosteric replacements at the arylhydrazone moiety.

Medial gastrocnemius vein aneurysm development after compressive trauma in the knee.

Objectives Venous aneurysms are uncommon. They can involve both superficial and deep venous systems. We hereby present a unique case of gastrocnemius venous aneurysm developed after compressive knee trauma.

Factors Affecting Long-Term Results of Above-Knee Femoropopliteal Bypass: A Single-Center Contemporary Study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess whether individual patients' or bypass characteristics may influence long-term results of prosthetic above-knee femoropopliteal bypasses in patients with claudication in today's endovascular era.

Methods: Seventy-one consecutivee Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) bypasses were considered. All patients presented a debilitating claudication.

Robotic Total Gastrectomy With Intracorporeal Robot-Sewn Anastomosis: A Novel Approach Adopting the Double-Loop Reconstruction Method.

Gastric cancer constitutes a major health problem. Robotic surgery has been progressively developed in this field. Although the feasibility of robotic procedures has been demonstrated, there are unresolved aspects being debated, including the reproducibility of intracorporeal in place of extracorporeal anastomosis.

A Prospective Nonrandomized Study on Carotid Surgery Performed under General Anesthesia without Intraoperative Cerebral Monitoring.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess our experience of carotid surgery habitually performed under general anesthesia without intraoperative intracerebral monitoring, and following a pre-established perioperative protocol, which includes extensive use of an intraoperative shunt (IOS).

Methods: This study included 311 consecutive carotid operations performed over 32 months. This patient cohort represents 14% of our total experience in carotid surgery (2219 operations, major stroke/mortality rate: 1.

Multiple Pancreatoduodenal Artery Arcade Aneurysms Associated with Celiac Axis Root Segmental Stenosis Presenting as Aneurysm Rupture.

A 57-year-old woman was admitted to our unit suffering from hemorrhagic shock and upper abdominal pain. An enhanced computerized tomography (CT) scan evidenced a large retroperitoneal hematoma due to visceral arteries aneurysm rupture and a significant celiac axis root segmental stenosis due to median arcuate ligament compression. A selective splanchnic arteries angiography showed 3 saccular pancreaticoduodenal artery arcade aneurysm (PDAAs), 2 in the inferior posterior pancreaticoduodenal artery, and 1 smaller in the superior anterior pancreaticoduodenal artery.

Robotic pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy: Technical considerations.

Laparoscopy has revolutionized the way of thinking abdominal surgery, however, to date there are still limitations making it difficult to apply this technique to some types of surgical procedures considered technically demanding even when performed by open surgery, such as the pancreaticoduodenectomy. This technical note provides a complete description of the surgical procedure performed for the execution of a robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy through the use of the "Da Vinci Si" robotic system. Robotic systems represent a real evolution in minimally invasive surgery.

Myocarditis in athlete and myocardial bridge: An innocent bystander?

Myocarditis is a bacterial or viral inflammatory disease, often unnoticed or misdiagnosed. Athletes with myocarditis must stop practicing their activity since International medical Literature described some cases of sudden death. In the present report, we describe a case of an asymptomatic, apparently healthy, competitive athletes, who was diagnosed a myocarditis and as incidental finding a myocardial bridging.

Detection of small (≤ 2 cm) pancreatic adenocarcinoma and surrounding parenchyma: correlations between enhancement patterns at triphasic MDCT and histologic features.

Background: The aim is to assess the time-density curves (TDCs) and correlate the histologic results for small (≤ 2 cm) PDA and surrounding parenchyma at triphasic Multidetector-row CT (MDCT).

Methods: Triphasic MDCT scans of 38 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for a small PDA were retrospectively reviewed. The TDCs were analyzed and compared with histologic examination of the PDA and pancreas upstream/downstream in all cases.

Diffuse aneurysmal degeneration of the brachial artery after long-standing high-flow arteriovenous fistula closure for hemodialysis at elbow level.

While the possibility of development of a panarterial dilatation proximal to a long-standing high-flow posttraumatic arteriovenous fistula is well known, to the best of our knowledge, this event has never been described after vascular access for hemodialysis closure. We describe a man in whom a diffuse aneurysmal degeneration of the brachial artery has been highlighted 6 months after long-standing high-flow arteriovenous fistula closure. A 47-year-old man developed a painful pulsatile mass in the anterior distal third of his arm 6 months after long-standing high-flow arteriovenous fistula closure at the level of his elbow.

An unusual ST-segment elevation: apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy shows the ace up its sleeve.

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is part of the broad clinical and morphologic spectrum of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We report a patient with electrocardiographic abnormalities in whom acute coronary syndrome was excluded and apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was demonstrated by careful differential diagnosis.

Endovascular exclusion coupled with operative anterior leg compartment decompression in a case of postthromboembolectomy tibialis anterior false aneurysm.

The aim of this study was to present a case of iatrogenic thromboembolectomy-related tibialis anterior false aneurysm (FA) treated with endovascular FA exclusion and anterior leg compartment (ALC) operative decompression and to assess the current management options in posttraumatic leg vessel FAs. A 68-year-old man had a painful pulsating mass in the superior ALC 2 months after a thromboembolectomy was performed during popliteal aneurysm repair. He had been discharged under oral anticoagulation and had ALC manual massages for mild post-revascularization leg edema.

Multiple aneurysms of the radial artery in a woman with neurofibromatosis type 1 presenting as aneurysm rupture.

A 48-year-old woman with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) experienced progressive forearm swelling coupled with impending compartment syndrome. Computed tomography angiography revealed a ruptured aneurysm of the proximal radial artery, multiple fusiform radial artery aneurysms, and a high independent ulnar artery origin. Compartment syndrome required prompt hematoma evacuation.

N-(Phenoxyalkyl)amides as MT(1) and MT(2) ligands: antioxidant properties and inhibition of Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent kinase II.

Recently a series of chiral N-(phenoxyalkyl)amides have been reported as potent MT(1) and MT(2) melatonergic ligands. Some of these compounds were selected and tested for their antioxidant properties by measuring their reducing effect against oxidation of 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH) in the DCFH-diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay. Among the tested compounds, N-[2-(3-methoxyphenoxy)propyl]butanamide displayed potent antioxidant activity that was stereoselective, the (R)-enantiomer performing as the eutomer.

Internal carotid artery dissection after inferior alveolar nerve block for third molar dental care presented as hypoglossal nerve palsy.

Cervicocephalic artery dissections occurring during dental care have exceptionally been reported. We describe a case of internal carotid artery dissection, presenting as hypoglossal nerve palsy, occurring immediately after difficult inferior alveolar nerve anesthetic block for third inferior molar dental care. Carotid dissection was successfully treated with anticoagulation therapy while hypoglossal nerve palsy recovered with carotid dissection shrinkage.

New N-(phenoxydecyl)phthalimide derivatives displaying potent inhibition activity towards alpha-glucosidase.

Several members of a new family of non-sugar-type alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, bearing a phthalimide moiety connected to a variously substituted phenoxy ring by an alkyl chain, were synthesized and their activities were investigated. The efficacy of the inhibition activity appeared to be governed by the chain length of the substrate. Substrates possessing 10 carbons afforded the highest levels of activity, which were one to two orders of magnitude more potent than the known inhibitor 1-deoxynojirimycin (dNM).

The ratio between metastatic and examined lymph nodes (N ratio) is an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer regardless of the type of lymphadenectomy: results from an Italian multicentric study in 1853 patients.

Purpose: To investigate whether the ratio between metastatic and examined lymph nodes (N ratio) is a better prognostic factor as compared with traditional staging systems in patients with gastric cancer regardless of the extension of lymph node dissection.

Patients & Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 1853 patients who underwent radical resection for gastric carcinoma at 6 Italian centers. Patients with >15 (group 1, n = 1421) and those with View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Transcription of the mitochondrial citrate carrier gene: role of SREBP-1, upregulation by insulin and downregulation by PUFA.

In this study we investigated the transcriptional role of the sterol regulatory element (SRE) present in the promoter of the mitochondrial citrate carrier (CIC). We show that wild-type (but not mutated) CIC SRE cloned in front of the luciferase promoter confers transcriptional activation of the gene reporter. We also demonstrate that insulin activates, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) inhibit, the gene reporter activity driven by the CIC promoter containing wild-type (but not mutated) SRE.

Biphasic transoesophageal vs. transthoracic electrical cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of transoesophageal (TOC) vs. transthoracic (TTC) electrical cardioversion, both with biphasic shocks, for sinus rhythm (SR) restoration in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: We randomised 210 patients (151 male, 59 female, mean age 66 +/- 9 years) with persistent AF into two groups: group 1 (n = 104) undergoing TOC with a step-up protocol of 30, 50, 70 and 100 J, and group 2 (n = 106) undergoing TTC with a step-up protocol of 70, 100, 120 and 150 J.

Does resection line involvement affect prognosis in early gastric cancer patients? An Italian multicentric study.

Background: Resection line involvement has been indicated as an important prognostic factor for gastric cancer. Its late detection renders the choice of treatment difficult for surgeons.

Materials And Methods: We describe the multicenter experience of a group of 11 patients with early gastric carcinoma (EGC) and positive resection confirmed at histological examination who did not undergo surgical retreatment for reasons of associated disease, surgical considerations on duodenal stump, or patient refusal.