Prognostic interaction between age and sex on outcomes following carotid endarterectomy.

The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic interaction between age and sex on peri-operative and follow-up outcomes following elective carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid stenosis. A retrospective review of all patients admitted to a single vascular unit who underwent elective CEA between January, 2015 and December, 2019 was performed. The primary endpoints of the study were overall survival (from index operation) and cumulative stroke rate at thirty days.

Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) Is Not Able to Identify Vulnerable Plaques in Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerotic Disease.

Objectives: Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has been suggested as an imaging tool for detection of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic disease (ACAD) at high risk of cerebral embolisation. The objective of this study was to evaluate CEUS and immunohistochemical (IHC) patterns in ACAD (i.e.

Are aortic coarctation and rheumatoid arthritis different models of aortic stiffness? Data from an echocardiographic study.

Background: Patients who underwent a successful repair of the aortic coarctation (CoA) show high risk for cardiovascular (CV) events. Mechanical and structural abnormalities in the ascending aorta (Ao) might have a role in the prognosis of CoA patients. We analyzed the elastic properties of Ao measured as aortic stiffness index (AoSI) in CoA patients in the long-term period and we compared AoSI with a cohort of 38 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 38 non-RA matched controls.

Clinical profile and outcome of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and abnormally high aortic stiffness.

Objectives: Ascending aorta has an increased stiffness (AoSI) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients due to their chronic inflammatory status. We assessed prevalence and factors associated with increased AoSI and its prognostic role in a large cohort of RA patients.

Methods: We prospectively analysed 226 RA patients without overt cardiac disease compared with 226 non-RA patients matched for cardiovascular risk factors (non-RA controls).

Echocardiographic markers of inducible myocardial ischemia at baseline evaluation preparatory to exercise stress echocardiography.

Background: Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) is a sensible and feasible method to detect longitudinal left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension or ischemic heart disease. In this study, we hypothesized that longitudinal LVSD assessed by TDI predicted inducible myocardial ischemia independently of other echocardiographic variables (assessed as coexisting potential markers) in patients at increased cardiovascular (CV) risk.

Methods: Two hundred one patients at high CV risk defined according to the ESC Guidelines 2012 underwent exercise stress echocardiography (ExSEcho) for primary prevention.

Insights from Cardiac Mechanics after Three Decades from Successfully Repaired Aortic Coarctation.

Background And Aims: Patients who underwent a successful repair of the aortic coarctation show chronic hyperdynamic state and normal left ventricular (LV) geometry; however, there are few data regarding the LV systolic function in the long term. Accordingly, we assessed LV systolic mechanics and factors associated with LV systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in patients with repaired CoA.

Methods: Clinical and echocardiographic data from 19 repaired CoA were analyzed 28 ± 13 years after surgery.

Radial pseudoaneurysm after a puncture for blood gas analysis.

Radial pseudoaneurysm (PA) is a rare complication of the transradial approach for the arterial catheterization.

MMP-9 microsatellite polymorphism and susceptibility to carotid arteries atherosclerosis.

Objective: The aims of this study were to compare a microsatellite polymorphism (PM) of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in patients with carotid atherosclerosis and control population, and to assess the relationship between this PM and plaque structure.

Methods And Results: One hundred fifty patients referring to vascular diagnostic centers for suspected carotid atherosclerosis (at ultrasound examination: 110 positive, 40 negative) and controls (n=110) have been genotyped for MMP-9 PM. After controlling for risk factors, allelic and genotype frequencies were significantly different among the groups, with significant prevalence of long microsatellites in patients with carotid atherosclerosis.

MMP-9 microsatellite polymorphism: association with the progression of intima-media thickening and constrictive remodeling of carotid atherosclerotic plaques.

Intima-media thickening (IMT) of carotid arteries and constrictive remodeling (CR) of atherosclerotic plaques are vascular pathologic characteristics that precede the onset of vascular events. SMC migration and proliferation are linked both to IMT and CR and are matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) dependent. A genetic polymorphism (PM) of MMP-9, a CA (13-27) microsatellite in the promoter region, which accounts for differential expression of MMP-9, could be linked to progression of IMT and CR.

[Control of anticoagulant therapy with portable prothrombin time device in patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses: two-year follow-up].

Background: Monitoring patients on oral anticoagulation is essential to prevent haemorrhage and recurrent thrombosis, but it is still difficult. We studied a group of 348 patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses to verify whether the use of a new portable prothrombin time device might improve the management of oral anticoagulant therapy.

Methods And Material: We used a new portable prothrombin time device to check the anticoagulation therapy in a group of 348 patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses to validate its results by comparing to routine I.

Percutaneous revascularization of femoropopliteal artery disease: PTA and PTA plus stent. Results after six years' follow-up.

Purpose: To compare the long-term patency after the treatment of mild-to-moderate femoropopliteal artery disease by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) alone (PTA group) and PTA plus stenting (STENT group) in a non-randomised retrospective study.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-six limbs in 64 patients (mean age 67+/-8 years, 47 males and 17 females) with femoropopliteal artery disease and symptomatic for mild-to-moderate intermittent claudication (Rutherford's category 1-2) were treated by percutaneous revascularization. None of the patients had critical lower limb ischaemia.

[Why are cardiologists to be concerned about obliterating arterial disease of the lower leg?].

Peripheral arterial disease, which is caused by atherosclerotic stenosis or occlusion of the leg arteries, is an important manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis. The age-adjusted prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease is approximately 12% in the general population. The overall prevalence and incidence of the disease is likely to increase with the aging of the population.