Association Between Chronic Kidney Disease Risk Categories and Abdominal Aortic Calcification: Insights From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is a critical indicator of cardiovascular risk, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Traditional classification systems may underestimate the risk in those with moderate CKD. This study aimed to evaluate the association between CKD risk categories - defined by both estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria - and the prevalence of severe AAC.

Coronary Intervention Outcomes in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

Purpose Of Review: This review assesses the outcomes of coronary interventions in patients with liver cirrhosis and coronary artery disease (CAD), focusing on the clinical challenges posed by cirrhosis-related hemodynamic and coagulopathic changes. It highlights essential considerations for managing these patients, who have an increased risk of adverse events during coronary procedures.

Recent Findings: Recent studies have shown that patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing PCI experience significantly higher mortality rates compared to non-cirrhotic patients, particularly in the context of STEMI and NSTEMI.

Gel nail polish does not have a negative impact on the nail bacterial burden nor on the quality of hand hygiene with an alcohol-based hand rub.

Background: We evaluated the microbial burden on gel polished nails (GPN), standard polished nails (SPN) and unpolished nails (UPN) before and after an alcohol-based hand rub (HHAB).

Methods: Three GPN, two SPN and five UPN in both hands were analyzed in 46 health-care workers volunteers. Nail length was maintained ≤2mm during the study.

Secondary prevention therapies following percutaneous coronary intervention or acute coronary syndrome in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) promotes atherosclerosis, leading to increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Diabetics represent a challenging subset of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or who have experienced an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a subset characterized by higher rates of recurrent ischemic events compared with non-diabetics. These events are caused by both patient-related accelerated atherosclerotic disease progression and worse stent-related adverse clinical outcomes translating into a higher risk for repeat revascularization.

Distal radial artery palpability and successful arterial access for coronary angiography: A post-hoc analysis from two randomized trials.

Background: Distal radial artery access (DRA) has been emerged as an alternative for conventional transradial arterial access. While palpation of radial artery is mandatory prior coronary angiography, it remains unknown the clinical impact of palpation in DRA success. Aim of our study is to explore whether the palpability of distal radial artery is linked with higher rates of successful arterial access.