Warship wrecks and their munition cargos as a threat to the marine environment and humans: The V 1302 "JOHN MAHN" from World War II.

In addition to endangering sea traffic, cable routes, and wind farms, sunken warship wrecks with dangerous cargo, fuel, or munitions on board may emerge as point sources for environmental damage. Energetic compounds such as TNT (which could leak from these munitions) are known for their toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity. These compounds may cause potential adverse effects on marine life via contamination of the marine ecosystem, and their entry into the marine and human food chain could directly affect human health.

The Global Limb Anatomic Staging System (GLASS) for CLTI: Improving Inter-Observer Agreement.

Objective: The 2020 Global Vascular Guidelines aim at improving decision making in Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia (CLTI) by providing a framework for evidence-based revascularization. Herein, the Global Limb Anatomic Staging System (GLASS) serves to estimate the chance of success and patency of arterial pathway revascularization based on the extent and distribution of the atherosclerotic lesions. We report the preliminary feasibility results and observer variability of the GLASS.

Prognostic value of the Society for Vascular Surgery Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection (WIfI) classification in patients with no-option chronic limb-threatening ischemia.

Objective: The Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection (WIfI) classification was developed to assess amputation risk and hence to aid in clinical decision-making in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). WIfI has been validated in multiple CLTI cohorts worldwide. In this study, we examined the relationship between WIfI stage and clinical outcomes in a well-defined subpopulation of CLTI patients considered not eligible for conventional revascularization.

Cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with intermittent claudication and critical limb ischaemia.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate absolute mortality risks and to determine whether changes in mortality risk occurred in patients with intermittent claudication (IC) or critical limb ischaemia (CLI) in the Netherlands between 1998 and 2010.

Methods: Data for patients treated between 1998 and 2010 were obtained from Dutch nationwide registers: the Hospital Discharge Register, Population Register and Cause of Death Register. The registers were used to obtain information regarding IC and CLI hospitalizations, co-morbidities, demographic factors, and date and cause of death.

Atherosclerotic plaque characteristics are not associated with future cardiovascular events in patients undergoing iliofemoral endarterectomy.

Background: Plaque characteristics such as intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) have been associated with secondary cardiovascular events (CVE) in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. In addition, carotid plaques containing macrophage infiltration or a large lipid core size were associated with less restenosis. It is currently unknown whether iliofemoral plaque histopathologic characteristics are predictive for secondary CVE in patients with peripheral arterial disease undergoing iliofemoral endarterectomy.