Endovascular treatment of postoperative aortic coarctation aneurysms-a single center experience.

Background: Formation of local type aortic aneurysm years after surgical repair of coarctation (CoA) occurs in 10% of patients independent of the surgical technique and is a potentially life-threatening condition if left untreated with a high risk of aortic rupture. Redo open surgery is associated with 14% in-hospital mortality and a high risk of complications. Endovascular treatment appears to be a feasible alternative with a high success rate and low morbidity and mortality, but data concerning long-term results is still mandatory.

Renal structural changes and apelin receptor expression in spontaneously hypertensive rats: implications for hypertension-induced kidney injury.

Background: Arterial hypertension is a primary risk factor for kidney disease. Recent advances have implied a potential link between the apelin system and renal homeostasis.

Materials And Methods: We used 6- and 12-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats and age-matched normotensive controls to assess the changes in the renal expression of the apelin receptor by immunohistochemical method.

Unraveling the Complex Molecular Interplay and Vascular Adaptive Changes in Hypertension-Induced Kidney Disease.

Angiogenesis, the natural mechanism by which fresh blood vessels develop from preexisting ones, is altered in arterial hypertension (AH), impacting renal function. Studies have shown that hypertension-induced renal damage involves changes in capillary density (CD), indicating alterations in vascularization. We aimed to elucidate the role of the apelin receptor (APLNR), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hypertension-induced renal damage.

Are There Any Differences in the Healing Capacity between the Medial Collateral Ligament's (MCL) Proximal and Distal Parts in the Human Knee? Quantitative and Immunohistochemical Analysis of CD34, α-Smooth Muscle Actin (α-SMA), and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Expression Regarding the Epiligament (EL) Theory.

The human knee is a complex joint that comprises several ligaments, including the medial collateral ligament (MCL). The MCL provides stability to the knee and helps prevent its excessive inward movement. The MCL also has a thin layer of connective tissue known as the epiligament (EL), which adheres to the ligament.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thumb: A Case Report.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common tumor of the hand with a high tendency for local recurrence and a low rate of metastasis. Herein, we present an interesting case of SCC of the thumb of the right hand in a 68-year-old patient with one recurrence, treated with surgical excision and following radiotherapy. Five years postoperative, there are no clinical and imaging data for local recurrence, as well as the presence of metastases.

Extrapleural harvesting of the internal thoracic artery - impact on early postoperative results and pulmonary function.

The internal thoracic artery (ITA) has proven to be the best graft for surgical myocardial revascularization, especially in the configuration left ITA (LITA) to the anterior descending branch of left coronary artery (LAD). Its harvesting is usually accompanied by pleurotomy, followed by drainage tube placement into the pleural cavity, using the so called intrapleural method. Extrapleural technique for LITA harvesting is also practiced in many cardiac surgery centers and with this technique the pleura is left intact.

Plasma KL-6 as a Potential Biomarker for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Preterm Infants.

Background: KL-6 is a biomarker of interstitial lung injury and increases during repair.

Aim: Our aim was to determine the predictive value of plasma KL-6 for the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants.

Methods: Ninety-five extremely preterm infants (EPIs), born at <28 gestational age (GA), were divided into two main BPD groups as follows: the moderate/severe and the no/mild group.

Do the Differences in the Epiligament of the Proximal and Distal Parts of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Explain Their Different Healing Capacities? Quantitative and Immunohistochemical Analysis of CD34 and α-SMA Expression in Relation to the Epiligament Theory.

The aim of this study was to assess the epiligament theory by determining the normal epiligament morphology of the proximal and distal parts of the anterior cruciate ligament in humans and analyzing the differences between them and the midportion of the ligament in terms of cell numbers and expression of CD34 and α-SMA. Samples were obtained from the anterior cruciate ligaments of 12 fresh knee joints. Monoclonal antibodies against CD34 and α-SMA were used for immunohistochemistry.

Impact of Truncated Oxidized Phosphatidylcholines on Phospholipase A Activity in Mono- and Polyunsaturated Biomimetic Vesicles.

The interplay between inflammatory and redox processes is a ubiquitous and critical phenomenon in cell biology that involves numerous biological factors. Among them, secretory phospholipases A (sPLA) that catalyze the hydrolysis of the ester bond of phospholipids are key players. They can interact or be modulated by the presence of truncated oxidized phosphatidylcholines (OxPCs) produced under oxidative stress from phosphatidylcholine (PC) species.

A comparative study of the epiligament of the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments in the human knee: Immunohistochemical analysis of CD 34, α-smooth muscle actin and vascular endothelial growth factor in relation to epiligament theory.

Background: This study evaluated and compared the expression of VEGF, CD34, and α-SMA in the anterior cruciate ligaments and medial collateral ligaments in healthy human knees in order to enrich the epiligament theory regarding ligament healing after injury.

Methods: Samples from the mid-substance of the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament of 12 fresh knee joints were used. Monoclonal antibodies against CD34, α-SMA, and VEGF were used for immunohistochemical analysis.

Resveratrol Affects Sphingolipid Metabolism in A549 Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells.

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol which has various beneficial effects, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-aging, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects, among others. The anti-cancer activity of resveratrol has been related to alterations in sphingolipid metabolism. We analyzed the effect of resveratrol on the enzymes responsible for accumulation of the two sphingolipids with highest functional activity-apoptosis promoting ceramide (CER) and proliferation-stimulating sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)-in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.

Sphingolipid Catabolism and Glycerophospholipid Levels Are Altered in Erythrocytes and Plasma from Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, inflammatory, degenerative disease of the central nervous system. Changes in lipid metabolism have been suggested to play important roles in MS pathophysiology and progression. In this work we analyzed the lipid composition and sphingolipid-catabolizing enzymes in erythrocytes and plasma from MS patients and healthy controls.

Aseptic osteonecrosis of the maxilla after severe COVID-19 infection and its treatment.

The course of the new SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is unpredictable and is still being investigated. Although the majority of complications are expected to affect the respiratory system, there have been reports in literature concerning the adverse effects of the infection on bone and joint tissue. Several complications have been observed in the maxillofacial area in people who suffered from the infection, including osteonecrosis and osteomyelitis of the jaw.

One-Year COMBO Stent Outcomes in Acute Coronary Syndrome: from the COMBO Collaboration.

Purpose: The COMBO biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent includes endothelial progenitor cell capture (EPC) technology for rapid endothelialization, which may offer advantage in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We sought to analyze the performance of the COMBO stent by ACS status and ACS subtype.

Methods: The COMBO collaboration (n = 3614) is a patient-level pooled dataset from the MASCOT and REMEDEE registries.

A Case of 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Coronary Artery Vasospasm in a Patient With Salivary Gland Cancer.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), a pyrimidine analogue, is widely used in different chemotherapy regimens with established indications for the treatment of gastrointestinal, breast, head, and neck tumors. Various prospective studies including randomized controlled trials and retrospective reviews have shown a wide range of reported incidence of cardiotoxicity related to 5-FU use. This incidence is dependent on drug regimen, doses, concomitant therapy, patients' clinical characteristics, and risk factors.

1-Year COMBO stent outcomes stratified by the PARIS bleeding prediction score: From the MASCOT registry.

Background: The COMBO stent is a biodegradable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent with endothelial progenitor cell capture technology for faster endothelialization.

Objective: We analyzed COMBO stent outcomes in relation to bleeding risk using the PARIS bleeding score.

Methods: MASCOT was an international registry of all-comers undergoing attempted COMBO stent implantation.

The impact of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the clinical management of patients with lymph node metastasis of unknown primary origin.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance and the utility of F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) in the clinical management of patients presenting with lymph node metastasis of undefined primary origin (CUP). A total of 53 patients (34 males, 19 females) with a diagnosis of lymph node metastasis according to the histopathology and/or conventional imaging were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into four groups according to the initial location of their metastasis - group 1, cervical lymph nodes (n=39), group 2, axillary lymph nodes (n=6), group 3, mediastinal lymph nodes (n=2) and group 4, abdominal and pelvic lymph nodes (n=6).

Revision of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator to intermuscular pocket to prevent inappropriate shocks.

Sensing and defibrillation threshold for a S-ICD are impacted by positioning at implant or revision. The intermuscular pocket prevents device migration and provides appropriate, stable sensing vectors.

1-Year Outcomes with COMBO Stents in Small-Vessel Coronary Disease: Subgroup Analysis From the COMBO Collaboration.

Background: Small vessel diameter is associated with higher risk of target lesion revascularization (TLR) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The COMBO sirolimus-eluting biodegradable-polymer stent has a proprietary anti-CD34 antibody layer to enhance homogeneous endothelialization, which may be advantageous in treating small vessels.

Objective: We examined for differences in 1-year clinical outcomes after PCI by maximum implanted stent diameter from the COMBO collaboration.

Comparison of One-Year Outcomes in Patients >75 Versus ≤75 Years With Coronary Artery Disease Treated With COMBO Stents (From The MASCOT Registry).

Older patients who undergo coronary interventions are at greater risk of ischemic events and less likely to tolerate prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) due to bleeding risk. The COMBO biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent promotes rapid endothelialization through endothelial progenitor cell capture technology which may be advantageous in elderly patients. We compared 1-year clinical outcomes and DAPT cessation events in patients >75 versus ≤75 years from the MASCOT registry.

Adherence to ESC cardiac resynchronization therapy guidelines: findings from the ESC CRT Survey II.

Aims: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) and electrical dyssynchrony. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations indicating optimal patient selection for CRT implantation in both the 2013 European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) and the 2016 Heart Failure Association (HFA) Guidelines. We assessed the adherence to guidelines and identified factors associated with guideline adherence.

Sex differences in 1-year clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention with COMBO stents: From the COMBO collaboration.

Background: The COMBO drug eluting stent is a novel device with luminal endothelial progenitor cell capture technology for rapid homogeneous endothelialization.

Methods And Results: We examined for sex differences in 1-year outcomes after COMBO stenting from the COMBO collaboration, a pooled patient-level dataset from the MASCOT and REMEDEE multicenter registries. The primary endpoint was 1-year target lesion failure (TLF), composite of cardiac death, target vessel-myocardial infarction (TV-MI), or clinically driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR).

Management of Late-Presenting Congenital Combined Heart Defect - Bicuspid Aortic Valve and Ventricular Septal Aneurysm.

BACKGROUND Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital heart malformation, encountered in 1-2% of the population, while interventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus are the most common congenital malformations associated with bicuspid aortic valve. Although bicuspid valve can have no clinical manifestation, patients with bicuspid valve are prone to develop vascular abnormalities. Aortic dilatation is the most common of these abnormalities, which in turn can lead to serious complications and often requires surgical treatment.

1-year results after PCI with the COMBO stent in all-comers in Asia versus Europe: Geographical insights from the COMBO collaboration.

Background: The COMBO drug-eluting stent combines sirolimus-elution from a biodegradable polymer with an anti-CD34+ antibody coating for early endothelialization.

Objective: We investigated for geographical differences in outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with the COMBO stent among Asians and Europeans.

Methods: The COMBO Collaboration is a pooled patient-level analysis of the MASCOT and REMEDEE registries of all-comers undergoing attempted COMBO stent PCI.