Ascending aortic replacement versus aortic root replacement in patients with type A aortic dissection involving the aortic root.

Background: Extensive surgical resection of the thoracic aorta in patients with type A aortic dissection (TAAD) is thought to reduce the risk of late aortic wall degeneration and the need for repeat aortic operations.

Objectives: We evaluated the early and late outcomes after aortic root replacement and supracoronary ascending aortic replacement in patients with TAAD involving the aortic root.

Design: Retrospective, multicenter cohort study.

Belatacept in Kidney Transplantation: A Single-center Experience.

Belatacept was introduced as an immunosuppressant for kidney transplantation in 2010, but its use in Spain remains limited. Since its commercialization, 15 kidney transplant recipients have received immunosuppressive treatment with belatacept at the Cruces University Hospital. This observational and retrospective study analyzes the reasons for switching to belatacept, its impact on kidney function, and the drug's safety profile.

Transapical beating heart septal myectomy learning curve and training of future surgeons: an observational study.

Background: Description of the learning curve for transapical beating heart septal myectomy (TA-BSM) helps to understand the potential for wider adaptability. The authors elaborate and examine a competency-based training assessment for TA-BSM that could serve to disseminate septal myectomy expertise.

Materials And Methods: Data on 177 consecutive patients who underwent the TA-BSM for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) between April 2022 and June 2023 was collected prospectively, which was registered on ClinicalTrials.

In Vitro Activity of Ampicillin Plus Ceftriaxone Against Non- and Non- Enterococcal Isolates With/Without VanC Phenotype: Clinical Implications for Infective Endocarditis.

(1) Background: Alternative antibiotics are needed to treat infective endocarditis (IE) caused by non-/non- enterococci; we aimed to assess the in vitro activity of ampicillin plus ceftriaxone (AMP + CTR) against these enterococci and to describe its clinical efficacy in IE cases. (2) Methods: Time-kill curves with standard (ISI) and high (IHI) inocula were performed to test isolates [3 (ECAS) and 1 (EGALL)] and non- isolates [1 (EDUR), 1 (EHIR) and 1 (ERAF)]. The narrative literature review of IE cases treated with AMP + CTR was analyzed alongside three study cases.

Survival after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection in octogenarians.

Objective: To evaluate the benefits of surgical repair acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) on survival of octogenarians.

Methods: Patients who underwent surgery for acute ATAAD from the multicenter European Registry of Type A Aortic Dissection (ERTAAD) were the subjects of the present analysis.

Results: 326 (8.

The David Versus the Bentall Procedure for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

: Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) is a life-threatening condition which requires prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment. When TAAD involves the aortic root, aortic valve-sparing or Bentall procedures are the main surgical treatment options. The subjects of this analysis were 3735 patients included in the European Registry of Type A Aortic Dissection (ERTAAD).

A Contemporary Picture of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal Endocarditis: A Nationwide GAMES Cohort Study.

Background: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are an increasingly common cause of infective endocarditis (IE) and lack recent data from large studies.

Objectives: Our aim was to describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of staphylococcal IE in a contemporary nationwide cohort study, while comparing coagulase-negative staphylococcal IE (CoNSIE) to IE from Staphylococcus aureus (SAIE), and among IE caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis (SE), S. lugdunensis (SL), and other CoNS.

Malperfusion syndrome in patients undergoing repair for acute type A aortic dissection: Presentation, mortality, and utility of the Penn classification.

Background: The current study aims to report the presentation of the malperfusion syndrome in patients with acute type A aortic dissection admitted to surgery and its impact on mortality.

Methods: Data were retrieved from the multicenter European Registry of Type A Aortic Dissection. The Penn classification was used to categorize malperfusion syndromes.

A Dynamic System to Control the Entry of Non-Authorized Visitors and Detect Superspreader Farms in Strongly Interconnected Systems.

This study explores the critical challenges the livestock sector faces, particularly those related to biosecurity, animal welfare, and antibiotic use restrictions. It highlights the need to implement advanced information and communication technologies to enhance operational sustainability and decision-making. We introduce the Biorisk External platform, a cloud-based visit control system designed to optimize biosecurity management by accurately tracking visitor activity through QR codes and GPS geolocation.

Randomized trial in rural Native American homes heated with wood stoves: results from the EldersAIR study.

Residential wood burning has both practical and traditional value among many indigenous communities of the United States Mountain West, although household biomass burning also results in emissions that are harmful to health. In a household-level three-arm placebo-controlled randomized trial we tested the efficacy of portable filtration units and education interventions on improving pulmonary function and blood pressure measures among elder participants that use wood stoves for residential heating. A total of 143 participants were assigned to the Education (n=49), Filter (n=47), and Control (n=47) arms.

Combining RAS(ON) G12C-selective inhibitor with SHP2 inhibition sensitises lung tumours to immune checkpoint blockade.

Mutant selective drugs targeting the inactive, GDP-bound form of KRAS have been approved for use in lung cancer, but resistance develops rapidly. Here we use an inhibitor, (RMC-4998) that targets RAS in its active, GTP-bound form, to treat KRAS mutant lung cancer in various immune competent mouse models. RAS pathway reactivation after RMC-4998 treatment could be delayed using combined treatment with a SHP2 inhibitor, which not only impacts tumour cell RAS signalling but also remodels the tumour microenvironment to be less immunosuppressive.

Cardiac transplantation after HeartMate3.

Heart transplant remains the gold standard treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure. However, given the limited availability of donor hearts, alternative approaches and strategies are required. The development of a variety of mechanical circulation support options, including left ventricular assist devices and total artificial heart, have allowed improved quality of life and eventually have facilitated a bridge to heart transplantation strategies for certain patients.

Total aortic arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk technique for intramural haematoma of the thoracic aorta.

Presenting this video tutorial, we want to demonstrate a step-by-step surgical approach to acute intramural haematoma of the thoracic aorta without a definite entry tear. Limited by the aortic valve proximally, the intramural haematoma involved the aortic root, ascending aorta, aortic arch, including adjacent parts of supra-aortic branches, and descending aorta extending to the diaphragmatic level. The operative strategy involved urgent total aortic arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk technique and anatomical reimplantation of the three supra-aortic vessels.

Clinical cases referring to the 2023 EACTS/STS Guidelines for diagnosing and treating acute and chronic syndromes of the aortic organ.

Clinical cases referring to the EACTS/STS Guidelines for diagnosing and treating acute and chronic syndromes of the aortic organ aim to assist physicians in selecting the best management strategies for individual patients with a given condition. These expert opinions consider the impact on patient outcomes as well as the risk-benefit ratio of different diagnostic or therapeutic methods. These cases serve as a vital tool to aid physicians in making decisions in their daily practice.

Re-sternotomy in complex aortic surgery: careful individualized planning for a safe opening.

An increasing number of patients have required cardiac reoperations in recent decades, and this trend is expected to continue. Hence, re-sternotomy is and will be a common practice in high-volume centres. Re-sternotomy in complex aortic reinterventions carries a high risk of injuring major vascular and heart structures.

Implantation and removal of central temporary paracorporeal biventricular support for COVID-19-associated myocarditis.

This case report illustrates how to implant a central paracorporeal temporary biventricular assist device in a 17-year-old patient with acute heart failure due to a fulminant form of coronavirus disease 2019 myocarditis. The procedure was carried out after prior veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. Myocardial biopsies and biventricular assist device explants are also included in the report.

A two-years real-word study with fingolimod: early predictors of efficacy and an association between EBNA-1 IgG titers and multiple sclerosis progression.

Background: Although fingolimod, a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor agonist, has shown to be an effective treatment reducing relapse rate and also slowing down the disability progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients, it is important to quickly identify those suboptimal responders.

Objective: The main objective was to assess different clinical, radiological, genetic and environmental factors as possible early predictors of response in MS patients treated with fingolimod for 24 months. The secondary objective was to analyze the possible contribution of the environmental factors analyzed to the progression and activity of the disease along the 2-years of follow-up.

Partial heart transplantation for destructive infective endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis frequently spreads beyond the valve tissue, especially in the aortic location. Invasive endocarditis may lead to abscess formation or fistula, with substantial tissue loss. Here, the case of a 31-year-old male patient with destructive aortic and pulmonary valve endocarditis and a subaortic mural defect who underwent patch closure of the ventricular septal defect and aortic and pulmonary root replacement and right coronary artery bypass graft is presented.