Differential Diagnosis of Thoracoacromial Artery Pseudoaneurysm from Shoulder Inflammatory Pseudotumor: A Case Report.

Diagnosing shoulder tumors is a challenge because the joint is very complex, and a static examination can misdiagnose some tumors. However, we found that a pseudoaneurysm provides a differential diagnosis of a tumor, and to that end, we present a case that mimics shoulder infection. The patient was an 80-year-old female who had a history of coronary artery disease and end-stage renal disease under regular hemodialysis and complained of right shoulder swelling and progression.

Real-World Experience of Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibition in Reduced Ejection Fraction Heart Failure Patients With Advanced Kidney Disease.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) in real-world patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and advanced chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] < 30 mL/min per 1.73 m), which have been excluded from the landmark trials.

Patients And Methods: This study examined 3281 patients pooled from two multicenter HFrEF cohorts, and 661 patients with baseline eGFR less than 30 mL/min per 1.

Mono or Dual Antiplatelet Therapy for Treating Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease after Lower Extremity Revascularization: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The efficacy of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) after lower-limb intervention remains controversial. Currently, the prescription of DAPT after an intervention is not fully recommended in guidelines due to limited evidence. This study compares and analyzes the prognosis for symptomatic PAD patients receiving DAPT versus monotherapy after lower-limb revascularization.

Characteristics, prognostic factors, and chronological trends of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests with shockable rhythms in Taiwan - A 7-year observational study.

Background: The study aimed to explore the characteristics, predictors, and chronological trends of outcomes for adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) with shockable rhythms.

Methods: A 7-year, community-wide observational study using an Utstein-style registry was conducted. Patients who were not transported, those who experienced trauma and those who lacked electronic electrocardiography data were excluded; those with initial shockable rhythms of ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT) were included.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Very Small Vessels With the Use of a Newer-Generation 2.0 mm Drug-Eluting Stent.

Objectives: The outcomes of treating coronary artery disease (CAD) in very small vessels <2.25 mm are sparse. The present study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of the Resolute Onyx 2.

Progressing left-side sciatica revealing a common iliac artery mycotic aneurysm in an elderly patient: A CARE-compliant case report.

Rationale: Sciatica is usually caused by lumbar spine disease; the incidence of sciatica from extra-spinal causes is noted to be only about 0.09%.

Patient Concerns: We report a case of a 92-year-old man who came to the neurologist outpatient department due to left buttock pain and numbness that radiated to the left lower leg in the recent 6 months and progressed rapidly over 10 days.

Radial artery harvesting in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery-Endoscopic or open method? A meta-analysis.

We analyzed the clinical outcomes of open radial artery harvesting (OAH) and endoscopic radial artery harvesting (EAH) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We designed this meta-analysis conducted using Pubmed, Medline, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE. Articles with comparisons of OAH and EAH undergoing CABG were included.

Using an incentive spirometer reduces pulmonary complications in patients with traumatic rib fractures: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: An incentive spirometer (IS) is a mechanical device that promotes lung expansion. It is commonly used to prevent postoperative lung atelectasis and decrease pulmonary complications after cardiac, lung, or abdominal surgery. This study explored its effect on lung function and pulmonary complication rates in patients with rib fractures.

Initiation of antiplatelet medication after surgical thrombectomy jeopardized arteriovenous graft longevity.

Introduction: The efficacy of antiplatelet agents in preventing thrombosis in newly formed arteriovenous graft (AVG) in hemodialysis (HD) patients has been extensively examined. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effect of initiation of antiplatelet medications on preventing AVG thrombosis recurrence after surgical thrombectomy for acute occlusion in HD patients. Whether post-operatively antiplatelet medications have protective effects on the patency or longevity of AVG after surgical thrombectomy in HD patients has not been investigated.

The risk of diabetic renal function impairment in the first decade after diagnosed of diabetes mellitus is correlated with high variability of visit-to-visit systolic and diastolic blood pressure: a case control study.

Background: The variability of visit-to-visit (VVV) in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is proved as a predictor of renal function deterioration in patients with non-diabetic chronic kidney disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of the variability in SBP and the magnitude of renal function impairment for normal renal function patients in the first 10-years diagnosed with type II diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of 789 patients who were first diagnosed with diabetes mellitus during 2000-2002 and regularly followed for 10 years with a total of 53,284 clinic visits.

Skin autofluorescence is associated with inappropriate left ventricular mass and diastolic dysfunction in subjects at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Background: Enhanced advanced glycation end products deposition within myocardial tissue may cause diastolic dysfunction. However, whether this is related to left ventricular hypertrophy or inappropriate left ventricular mass remains unclear.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 139 subjects at risk for cardiovascular diseases.

A simple weighted scoring system to guide surgical decision-making in patients with parapneumonic pleural effusion.

Background: The selection of ideal candidates for surgical intervention among patients with parapneumonic pleural effusion remains challenging. In this retrospective study, we sought to identify the main predictors of surgical treatment and devise a simple scoring system to guide surgical decision-making.

Method: Between 2005 and 2014, we identified 276 patients with parapneumonic pleural effusion.

High Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Variability Is Correlated with the Occurrence of Peripheral Arterial Disease in the First Decade following a Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A New Biomarker from Old Measurement.

. To assess whether the visit-to-visit variability in blood pressure (BP) is a risk factor of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) 10 years after diagnosis. .

Effects of Antiplatelet Medication on Arteriovenous Fistula Patency After Surgical Thrombectomy.

Objectives: To study the effect of antiplatelet agents on preventing arteriovenous (AV) fistulae thrombosis in hemodialysis (HD) patients after surgical thrombectomy (ST) for acute AV fistulae occlusion. Whether post-operative antiplatelet drugs have similar effects on the patency of AV fistula after surgical thrombectomy in patients with end-stage renal disease who undergo HD has not been investigated.

Design, Materials And Methods: We employed the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from 1999 to 2010 to assess the recurrent occlusion requiring ST and longevity of AV fistula after ST in 1049 patients on regular HD, with or without antiplatelet drugs.

Skin Autofluorescence Is Associated with Endothelial Dysfunction in Uremic Subjects on Hemodialysis.

Background: Elevated levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) within tissues may contribute to endothelial dysfunction, an early indicator of atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate whether levels of skin AGEs could be a useful marker to predict endothelial dysfunction in uremic subjects on hemodialysis.

Methods And Results: One hundred and nineteen uremic patients on hemodialysis and 57 control subjects with moderate-to-high cardiovascular risk factors and without chronic kidney disease (CKD) were enrolled.

Direct Revascularization With the Angiosome Concept for Lower Limb Ischemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The angiosome concept provides practical information regarding the vascular anatomy of reconstructive and vascular surgery for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease and, particularly, critical lower limb ischemia.The aim of the study was to confirm the efficacy of direct revascularization with the angiosome concept (DR) for lower limb ischemia.Complementary manual searches were performed through the Pubmed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases.

Carvedilol treatment after myocardial infarct decreases cardiomyocytic apoptosis in the peri-infarct zone during cardioplegia-induced cardiac arrest.

Objective: In this study, experiments were designed to determine which parts and how carvedilol provided protection of the failed hearts under cardioplegia-induced hypoxia/reperfusion (H/R) insult.

Background: Carvedilol could improve the perioperative and postoperative prognosis of the heart failure patients. The mechanism of carvedilol in prevention of the occurrence of cardiomyocytic apoptosis and preservation of cardiac function had been rarely studied.

MicroRNA-27a regulates cardiomyocytic apoptosis during cardioplegia-induced cardiac arrest by targeting interleukin 10-related pathways.

In this study, experiments were designed to determine whether microRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in the regulation or modulation of cardiomyocytic reactions under cardioplegia-induced cardiac arrest during cardiopulmonary bypass. MicroRNAs play powerful and unexpected roles in numerous cardiovascular diseases. MicroRNA-based therapeutics may provide a unique opportunity to translate this knowledge into the clinical setting.

AMP-activated protein kinase activation during cardioplegia-induced hypoxia/reoxygenation injury attenuates cardiomyocytic apoptosis via reduction of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Cardioplegic-induced H/R injury results in cardiomyocytic apoptosis. AMPK has been shown to reduce ER stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR). Whether AMPK activation can attenuate cardiomyocytic apoptosis after cardioplegia-induced H/R injury is unknown.

Cardiomyocytic apoptosis limited by bradykinin via restoration of nitric oxide after cardioplegic arrest.

Background: Our previous studies revealed that cardioplegia-induced cardiac arrest under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) decreased cardiomyocytic nitric oxide and increased apoptosis. We hypothesized that pretreatment with bradykinin (BK) would improve the profile of anti-apoptotic proteins and inhibit cardiomyocytic apoptosis.

Materials And Methods: New Zealand white rabbits received total CPB.

Leriche's syndrome presenting as sciatica.

Sciatica is a common cause of lower back pain and claudication; the true etiology is often misunderstood. We report a case of a 53-year-old man who presented with sciatica. Clinically, there was evidence of aortoiliac obstruction with the absence of femoral pulses and a vascular index of 0.

HO-1 activation can attenuate cardiomyocytic apoptosis via inhibition of NF-kappaB and AP-1 translocation following cardiac global ischemia and reperfusion.

Background: NF-kappaB and AP-1 play important roles in regulation of inflammatory responses that lead to cardiomyocytic injury following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardiac global ischemia and reperfusion. It has been reported that heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) can block those responses. Our aim was to determine whether HO-1 activation could decrease myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury with cardioplegia during CPB and attenuate apoptosis of cardiomyocytes.

Midterm outcomes of rheumatic mitral repair versus replacement.

Mitral repair is feasible for patients with degenerative or ischemic heart disease, however, the appropriateness of repair for rheumatic heart disease remains controversial. We compared our outcomes for primary isolated mitral repair versus replacement in an elderly population. From November 1997 to July 2005, mitral repair (group I) was performed in 33 patients while 59 underwent replacement (group II).

Effects of dietary fish oil supplementation on cellular adhesion molecule expression and tissue myeloperoxidase activity in hypercholesterolemic mice with sepsis.

This study investigated the effects of fish oil on adhesion molecule expression and tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in hypercholesterolemic mice with sepsis. There were one control and two experimental groups in this study. The control group (C) was fed a regular chow diet for 7 weeks, while hypercholesterolemia in the experimental group was induced by feeding a high-fat diet (20%, w/w) with cholesterol (2%, w/w) for 4 weeks.