Severe Reversible Heart Failure Enhanced by Sorafenib Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The multitarget oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib is an effective first-line treatment option in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Through its mechanism of action, it has been associated with cardiotoxicity, mainly hypertension, which is usually low-grade and well-managed with behavioral changes and antihypertensor treatment adjustment, if needed. Acute, symptomatic heart failure is rarely described.

Rare Becomes Rarer: Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Cervix With Synchronous Breast, Pancreatic, and Ovarian Metastases.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (NECC) is a rare and extremely aggressive disease. Treatment options are scarce (mainly consisting of platinum-based chemotherapy combinations), and randomized controlled trials are lacking, leading to a very poor prognosis. It is prone to early metastasis, often with more than one affected site at diagnosis.

Consistent effects of independent domestication events on the plant microbiota.

The effect of plant domestication on plant-microbe interactions remains difficult to prove. In this study, we provide evidence of a domestication effect on the composition and abundance of the plant microbiota. We focused on the genus Phaseolus, which underwent four independent domestication events within two species (P.

Novel Tissue-Engineered Multimodular Hyaluronic Acid-Polylactic Acid Conduits for the Regeneration of Sciatic Nerve Defect.

The gold standard for the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries, the autograft, presents several drawbacks, and engineered constructs are currently suitable only for short gaps or small diameter nerves. Here, we study a novel tissue-engineered multimodular nerve guidance conduit for the treatment of large nerve damages based in a polylactic acid (PLA) microfibrillar structure inserted inside several co-linear hyaluronic acid (HA) conduits. The highly aligned PLA microfibers provide a topographical cue that guides axonal growth, and the HA conduits play the role of an epineurium and retain the pre-seeded auxiliary cells.

Beta-blockers for post-acute coronary syndrome mid-range ejection fraction: a nationwide retrospective study.

Background: Patients with mid-range ejection fraction (40-49%) are in focus due to the newly defined entity of heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction. Acute coronary syndromes are a major aetiology for heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction. We aim to evaluate which therapeutic decisions are associated with inhospital survival benefit in post-acute coronary syndrome patients categorised according to the ejection fraction.

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries: a single-center retrospective study.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a heterogeneous entity often overlooked in contemporary medicine. We aim to determine MINOCA differential characteristics, the main etiologies, and prognostic outcomes.

Patients And Methods: We carried out a retrospective longitudinal analysis including 1047 patients with MI, from 1 January 2011 to 1 January 2016, subjected to coronary angiography and classified according to the presence [MI and obstructive coronary artery disease (MICAD)] or absence (MINOCA) of any coronary stenosis of at least 50%.

Prior exposure to aspirin in acute coronary syndrome patients: a cardiovascular risk marker or a predictor of adverse outcome? A contemporary data of a national registry.

Despite the known protective cardiovascular effect of aspirin, former studies identified its prior exposure to an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) as an independent risk factor for adverse events. However, those studies did not reflect contemporary approaches. In the current study, we determine whether patients exposed to aspirin before an ACS have a worse cardiovascular risk profile and if it predicts higher risk of recurrent cardiovascular events or mortality.

New concept for a regenerative and resorbable prosthesis for tendon and ligament: physicochemical and biological characterization of PLA-braided biomaterial.

We present a concept for a new regenerative and resorbable prosthesis for tendon and ligament and characterize the physicomechanical and biological behavior of one of its components, a hollow braid made of poly-lactide acid (PLA) which is the load-bearing part of the prosthesis concept. The prosthesis consists of a braid, microparticles in its interior serving as cell carriers, and a surface non-adherent coating, all these parts being made of biodegradable materials. The PLA braid has a nonlinear convex stress-strain behavior with a Young modulus of 1370 ± 90 MPa in the linear, stretched state, and after 12 months of hydrolytic degradation the modulus shows a reduction by a factor of four.